45DegreesModelling

Love the DPM!

Thank you! Well a couple of weeks have passed and I’ve moved the needle. Next up was the wheels which I gave a Matt Black from Humbrol. Because of the angle of the photo, they don’t look that neat but they are, I was really satisfied with how they came out. The wheels have had the same treatment as the hulk. Tow cables was next, which I gave a base coat of neutral grey, then some Mr Hobby Silver and rust wash, which you’ll see in the later photos. The metal work on the tools was painted German Grey then dry brushed with silver. The metal work was then given a wash with some Vallejo Rust and Ammo Light Rust. The woodwork was base coated in Iraqi Sand, then painted with Burnt Umber oil paint and a small brush was used to try and add some grain effect. I couldn’t get any closer as my phone wouldn’t focus 😭 The tow cables have had some Mr Hobby Silver to contrast slightly and some of the rust wash. The next part will be decals, get them sealed in and onto the winter camouflage which I’m really looking forward to. Thanks for looking, Tom

So after the last update where I said I wasn’t satisfied with how it was looking, I gave the tank a mist coat of Dunkelgelb to tone down the camouflage and I was a lot more satisfied. Finally satisfied with the base coat I moved onto a wash. I didn’t put any gloss down at this stage, just went straight in with Ammo’s Brown Wash for German Dark Yellow. I carefully applied it in the panel lines to highlight the weld seams etc. This was then followed up by applying some Ammo Chipping colour. This vehicle probably wasn’t as weathered/run down as I’m making it, but I want it to look like it’s had a tough life on the Eastern Front. Plus it will all be toned down by the winter camouflage (I hope). I then got the Newton and Windsor oil paint Burnt Sienna out to blend a few of the chips with the paint work. I sparingly applied this just to give the tank a weathered look. All photos from the time are black and white, and in those winter conditions, there’s bound to be a bit of rust, well I would like to think. Next up will be painting the tow cables and tools before applying the decals. I’m really starting to like the look of this model now, as it’s how I envisioned it at this stage. I forgot to add that if you stand up and look at the tank, all the weathering so far is nice and subtle. Thanks for your messages after the last update and thanks for looking, Tom

That's brilliant, thank you. It was the guys on britmodeller that helped me with the orange peel. I'm working on a Tiger at the minute, but a Mercedes AMG -GT3 from Tamiya arrived in the post last week

G'day Matt, welcome to the forum. I'm a keen F1 model builder and this place has plenty of great people who offer encouragement and support if you ever get stuck, so you're in safe hands! Tom

Thanks Keith, you're right. I need to remember that it's 1\48 sometimes lol. I've given the model a mist cost of the dunklegelb and it looks a little better now. I'm a lot more satisfied with it!

Thank you guys, you’re probably both right. It’s just not how I visualised it 😂 I’m looking forward to getting the winter cam on!

So more progress has been made. Before I began with priming I gave the wheels some superficial damage, which once primed, looked pretty decent. The tank was then primed in Mr Surfacer 1000 black. I then followed this up with some XF64 Red Brown, with a drop of XF7 Flat Red to simulate the under coat that the tanks had in real life. I then gave it a mist of Ammo Mig Scratches effect, then once that was dry I gave the tank it’s base coat in Dunkelgelb. Next came the part I’d been dreading and I’ll be honest, I’m not too happy with the result. The colours used were olivgrun and schokobraun. I used a .2mm needle, different ratios of thinner and PSI, but I still couldn’t get a satisfying result. Thankfully all this will be hidden under winter cammo, hence why I wanted to practise with this model. With the paint on, I could then moisten a metal brush and chip away at the tank. Again, this will be hidden by winter cam which again will be heavily weathered so I went a bit OTT. But if you stand up and look at the tank it’s not too noticeable, so I may have hit a sweet spot. I also got out the chipping paint from Ammo to top up the chipping look and add some variance. All in all, I’m feeling a bit ‘meh’ with how it’s looking at the minute. Hopefully the winter cam, oil paints and mud effects will satisfy me with the sub par camouflage. Anyhow, thanks for looking, Tom

Lovely work. A kit very much on my wish list!

I have the needle moving on this now. It has just been a case of doing all the details on the upper hull… which is a lot. Here it is part finished: And here is the finished Tiger 1 (Minus the wheels which are in a pot). This kit by USTAR has been an absolute pleasure to build. So much detail, you really do get your moneys worth. I can’t wait to paint and weather this now, I've literally been waiting months lol. Thanks for looking, Tom

I would honestly think this was a real full size aircraft if I wasn't looking on a model forum! Incredible work.

Thank you, I’m slowly getting there!

Thank you guys, to be honest it isn’t too bad, the 1/48 Tiger is about the same size as a 1/35 Panzer II, but the kit is really detailed for its size!

Absolutely (and I cannot say this enough) stunning!

Well it’s certainly been a while since I posted an update, thank you to everyone for your comments. It’s been a busy period over Xmas but I’ve finally finished the turret. If anyone would like a detailed look at the interior of the Tiger, I have made a video which can be found here. The turret went together much the same as the hull. For 1/48 I really have to say this kit is highly detailed and well engineered. While constructing and painting the turret I have been busy elsewhere, predominantly on the exterior of the hull, adding additional details to the outside. Again, all parts like wheels and exhausts have been sorted into pots ready for painting separately. There isn’t much more to say really. The needle should start ticking along nicely now most of the time consuming part is finished. Thanks for looking, Tom