Trumpeter King Tiger

[Mark Hoffmanly]

Im going to do that once I get my firewall sub-assembly glued into place. I figured it will be easier to glue the Maybach into its corrected position between the two walls and then dropping the whole thing into the lower hull. I'm thinking about leaving the back end of the tank off so that you are able to see the some of the engine. But that is still far down the road. 

 

That's good news, I know I paid a pretty penny for my ATAK zimmerit, I cannot imagine the shipping cost for you. And thats really the best part about buying new model supplies or kits, is waiting anxiously for the box to arrive in your postal box or your front door. 

 

Mark

[Mark Hoffmanly]

Update:

Turret and turret basket are now 99% just have to wire the mics and head sets then ill be able to start weathering. Here is the pre-weathered state.

This last pic, is my favorite picture so far that I have taken during this build. Hope you guys all enjoy it as much as i do. 

 

Mark

[BlackMax12]

That's looking really good Mark and yes the last couple of pics are great but they all are so it's hard to pick one.

 

There is quite a difference in the layout between the Henschel and Porsche turrets. Everything seems more cramped in the Porsche.

It's kind of disappointing too that I was able to make the top of the Henschel turret removable on the first KT but I don't think I can do

that on this one The way the Porsche turret fits together it pretty much has to be glued together to stay together. I have sanded and filed and sanded

trying to make the top and base a slip fit so I can take them apart for show but it's just not happening. I know the turret could be cut

apart for display and I really don't want to do that, this kit is too expensive for me to risk butchering, and I probably would end up with a wreck.

 

Yours is really coming along though and should be on the prowl right shortly. Oh yes and I like the way you have that mg ammo threaded from

the sack up over the gun and into the breech. That looks realistic to me and wish I could do that in the other turret but not enough room for fat fingers.

 

Is the 88 in it's final position as it looks lower on the right when looking at it from the breech end, sort of twisted clockwise.

 

Take care,

 

Lloyd

[Mark Hoffmanly]

Yes the turret is in final position, but in person it looks fine, Im pretty sure it looks crooked because of how I had to take the pictures (leaning out of my chair) The turret looks big because I havent added the ammo racks yet, once thats done it will be very very jam packed. 

 

Mark

[BlackMax12]

Sometimes to get good close ups one has to almost stand on one's head and it does make things look a little crooked. or maybe it was those last 2 Coors Lites I had before.

 

I put all of the racks and ammo into the Henschel turret when I built it and it sure does get cramped but I can still get the top (or the whole upper turret ) off to look inside. Did

yours come with the metal gun barrel? I found it too heavy for the silly little spring they supplied so I glued the gun in a fixed position. To take the turret apart I remove the actual barrel

and the big piece that has the hole for the turret machine gun in it and then the top comes off the turret. Yes I used the big recoil spring, it's a little Mickey Mouse but what the heck?

 

The Porsche turret version comes with 2 plastic barrels as they are different for the H or the P turret. They are of course two piece so there's a seam to fill. Even the muzzle brakes are

different, the Porsche barrel has a huge muzzle brake. The Henschel has a built up gun with the back part of the barrel being larger in diameter but the Porsche barrel is one long piece

that tapers towards the muzzle so they aren't interchangeable. Kinda dumb why they would do that, two different 88 barrels doesn't make a lot of sense unless it was cheaper

and easier to make a multi piece barrel. Anyways it sure makes the turret and gun look different between the two versions.

 

I was thinking of building up the Henschel turret and using it as some sort of pillbox but there's so many parts that are common between the two and I already used them on

the Porsche turret so that's probably not possible. Unless it's a knocked out pillbox that's had a lot of the external hardware removed.

 

Take care,

 

Lloyd

Edited September 3, 2018 by BlackMax12

[Mark Hoffmanly]

I bought the metal barrel off of ebay for a grand total of almost 90 USD. I completely did away with Trumpeters tiny spring and replaced it with one of AFVs' resin parts that has the corrected look to it. I made sure to score both surfaces before applying my CA glue as I knew before hand that this will be the area where all the weight will go. Also I forgot to mention but with the guns main assembly you had probably noticed that there is quite a bit of empty space, enough for some weights. I went out and bought some lead BB's and smashed them to allow for more to be placed in the gun breach, this added a significant amount of weight, I then proceeded to take some tacky glue and pour a substantial  amount  down the breach where the BB's are at to hold the BB's in place and to add as much counter weight as I could. Finally the last bit of reinforcements I did was take some baking soda and place it around the guns hinges(?)(No idea what they're called, but I think you know what I'm talking about). The reason for the baking soda is because it adds even more strength when using CA glue, it can be built up in multiple layers and is almost impossible to break apart. (Ill upload some pictures when I get home from school.) 

 

For your porsche turret situation, have you tired to remove the turret roof? I took a new razor blade and traced out where I wanted to cut (with pencil) and proceeded to make many many passes and replaced many blades, but it is well worth it in the end. 

 

Mark

[BlackMax12]

Hi Mark

 

My first KT came with the metal barrel but the second one didn't, no big deal. The Porsche style gun is quite

different and the plastic version is ok.

 

Removing the roof is a good idea and on the Henschel version it's pretty straight forward as the roof lines are mostly

straight, well actually curved but you know what I mean. On the Porsche turret the left side bulges out around the commanders cupola

so not so simple or easy to remove. I don't want to bugger it at this stage so I'll settle for just making the whole upper

turret removable. Besides I have the inner liner glued in place now so cutting the roof off is not happening.

 

The Porsche barrel hinges or trunnions or whatever they are called are quite a bit further apart, almost to the edges of the turret floor

and a lot stronger than those on the Henschel turret so they shouldn't need reinforcing.

On both of the Trumpeter 1/16 Panzer IVs I built I filled up the empty shell basket behind the breech with lead wheel balance

weighs to counter balance the gun barrel. Worked well and since the turret top isn't removable on the Panzer IV you

can't see the lead weights. The plastic barrel on this KT isn't heavy enough to worry about so I'll just glue it in a sort

of semi-elevated position and leave it.

 

Working on 3 different kinds of shells today. What a pain and sure glad there are only something like 66 total. I painted

some with the later anodized steel shell casing and most with the earlier brass casing just to make it different. The decals show

really well on the brass but not so much on the steel casings. Still haven't decided whether I'll actually

add any shells to the racks in the turret though.  Easier to see thru the rear hatch without shells in the way and they were

directed to not load shells in the turret racks during the later part of the war.  So I have a valid excuse.

 

Take care,

 

Lloyd

 

 

 

[Mark Hoffmanly]

Its kind of hard to see, but if you looks at the hinge you'll be able to see the baking soda and CA glue concoction I made up, Id much rather have to gun impossible to remove than have it constantly sagging and needing repair.  But its all untested so crossing my fingers for the best. 

 

I might also use your excuse about leaving the turret ammo racks empty.

 

Mark 

[Mark Hoffmanly]

Heres an update;I have finished the turret. Just need to install the headsets and then ill be done. But I decided t move onto the lower hull and assemble that, turns out it took a whole of 5min to assemble w/ it ll painted. going to start weathering sometime tomorrow.  This has come together very quickly, with the turret being "finished" it marks a large milestone for me and this project that has taken over a year and some change, along with tons of money. (But thats the point right?) Anyways here are the pictures. Enjoy!

 

[Mark Hoffmanly]

Finished up the lower hull weathering, still have some touch-ups but now I am moving onto the exterior, and all of the misc. parts.

 

Mark

[Cokey2412]

lovely so far cant wait to see it complete

[BlackMax12]

Looking really good Mark. Having the roof off the turret sure makes a difference and is it ever cluttered in there. No

room to swing the proverbial cat around either. All of those mg ammo sacks on the forward bulkhead sure add to the 

lower hull and the extra piping and detail sure makes it look more realistic.

 

What kind of camo scheme are you going with?  

 

Take care

[Mark Hoffmanly]

1 hour ago, BlackMax12 said:

Looking really good Mark. Having the roof off the turret sure makes a difference and is it ever cluttered in there. No

room to swing the proverbial cat around either. All of those mg ammo sacks on the forward bulkhead sure add to the 

lower hull and the extra piping and detail sure makes it look more realistic.

 

What kind of camo scheme are you going with?  

 

Take care

I was able to mill out some metal from my barrel which made it lighter and allows for the cannot to be able to held in place w/o any needed support. I decided to add come multiputty round the gun to add some more support and take some ease off of the turret basket. I have roughly 15 more ammo pouches that need to be added around the top of the turret ring by the firewall. I am debating on weather  I should add them or not, since I plan on making the upper hull removable and that will probably interfere with it.  And to answer your question I haven't decided on one yet,  I know I want to do a late war paint job since my muzzle break is late war, and all of my shells are anodized steel. I have a book with tons of different recorded KT paint jobs and when they were made. 

 

Mark 

[Mark Hoffmanly]

Got everything masked off and ready for a new coat of the red primer then I love onto the base coat of dark yellow. I have decided that I'm going to do a Normandy themed paint job since its unique and something that I haven't done before. 

 

[J.P.]

Impressive so far.

[Mark Hoffmanly]

Update: after many setbacks, including running out of paint, airbush nozzle breaking and having to order a new one and needle. I have finally gotten  the exterior done. I still need to touch up some over spray and do some stenciling but overall I am in the homestretch.   

 

[BlackMax12]

That's a unique camo scheme Mark. 

 

Lloyd

[BlackMax12]

How's it coming? Did you get bogged down on that Panther production line?

 

Haven't heard from you in a while.

 

Lloyd

[Mark Hoffmanly]

Im 99% done with the KT, I just have the tracks to do and then ill be done. I am waiting on some of A.migs 'Dark track' paint to arrive from Poland of all places! But I have started on a Messerchmit BF109G as a birthday present for a friend.  

Also, I had noticed trumpeter released the 1/16 Panther a while ago, so I was able to snag one off of ebay, and it arrived yesterday. Looks to be a very promising kit just like the KT. The only problem is my surplus of models I have yet to build... Including two of takoms 1/35 full interior panthers. 2019 will be filled with making multiple models of the panther, and I look forward to that madness! 

 

Mark

[Blaubar]

Mark,

Can't wait to see your 1/16 Panther and the smaller brothers. The standard you have set here is quite high. I have followed silently since late 17  and it has always been a pleasure looking at your photos.

Hopefully the paint from Poland arrives rather sooner than later.

Prost,

/Stefan

[Soeren]

I would advise: go fort the panthers right away. Don't stop. Don't take 4grand.

[BIG X]

Simply Awesome - Brilliant work.

[mick]

great work

[Mark Hoffmanly]

So the paint arrived last Friday sometime while at school, so it was a nice little surprise. So with that, I got started on the tracks for the KT and started to weather them. My goal is to get the beast 100% done by Thanksgiving so that I can show it off to the family while in town. Here are progress pics catching you guys up to date. Enjoy!

 

And now here's a 'little' size comparison between my 1/15 Takom Panther, vs. Trumpeters' 1/16 Panther. 

 

Edited November 19, 2018 by Mark Hoffmanly

[KonigsStreegan]

Very cool, it looks awesome