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Tiger I “131” in Tunisia* - 1/35 Dragon - update 23/07/18 - ##FINISHED##


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PM away Stix any opportunity to have a mooch around the local shop, nice work on the turret she's growing nicely.

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Thank you Ozzy! 

 

Yesterday's progress - '131' decals applied - as I usually do I actually cut all the clear carrier film away to avoid any silvering using a scalpel blade and then I started work on the base weathering on the turret:

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I used some lead wire to represent the wiring on the back of the smoke launchers:

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Next up - more weathering.

 

Comments and suggestions welcome.

 

Kind regards,

 

Stix

Edited by PlaStix
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20 hours ago, Ozzy said:

Looking good Stix,

Thank you Ozzy.

 

Yesterday I ended up finishing off the next stage of weathering - various washes and streaks before adding all the remaining kit parts. With all these in place I started experimenting on the lower parts with some Vallejo Light Mud to represent the dust and dirt kicked up from the sand - you may be able to see it in some of the many photos I took. The light was quite nice later on yesterday afternoon:

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When I get chance I will be trying out more experiments with the Light Mud, but won't be going too overboard, as '131' didn't look in too bad a state before it's capture. I will also be trying to sort out some figures and a base for it - plus trying to paint the DS cacti that came with the kit!

 

Comments and suggestions welcome.

 

Kind regards,

 

Stix

 

Edited by PlaStix
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Hi Stix,

Grand work.

 

You're getting really good at the chipping/wear/rust/dirt effects on the edges of such things as the hatches and the turret and 'edges' generally.

 

Now then, I had a brief look at the preceding pages, looking for signs that you might do some more work on the side skirts and wheels, but couldn't find anything. I say that because to me the side skirts seem to be lacking in chips (or maybe my eyesight is just poor) I think a little more chipping, even if it's just a few patches here and there, would increase the realism. Also, in some of the photos the wheels look a shade or two lighter than the rest of the yellow bits. I don't know if that's a lighting issue or an actual difference. Would a slightly dirtier yellow wash be on the cards?

 

Great to read that you'll be making a diorama/vignetter for this one.

 

Rearguards

Badder

 

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Awesome Tiger Stix 😮

 

I am purposely not following too closely as your armour builds always distract me from my wingy things, and I have already fallen behind with my Stirling build at the Airfix GB.

 

Looking great, and I am looking forward to seeing what you do for a base and figures. 

 

All the best 

 

Cheers Greg

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On 26/06/2018 at 08:11, modelling minion said:

Excellent work Stix.

The weathering is fantastic, extremely realistic.

I'm looking forward to seeing the cacti, will you be adding 1/35 needles to them?

Thank you very much Craig - you are most kind. You can see the results of my playing with mud in the photos below. The cacti isn't as good as I hoped it might be - partly due to the fact it is very soft and quite difficult to paint and dry-brush - here is a photo:

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It may look okay once it's in place on the base - I will wait and see.

 

On 26/06/2018 at 17:46, Badder said:

Hi Stix,

Grand work.

You're getting really good at the chipping/wear/rust/dirt effects on the edges of such things as the hatches and the turret and 'edges' generally.

Now then, I had a brief look at the preceding pages, looking for signs that you might do some more work on the side skirts and wheels, but couldn't find anything. I say that because to me the side skirts seem to be lacking in chips (or maybe my eyesight is just poor) I think a little more chipping, even if it's just a few patches here and there, would increase the realism. Also, in some of the photos the wheels look a shade or two lighter than the rest of the yellow bits. I don't know if that's a lighting issue or an actual difference. Would a slightly dirtier yellow wash be on the cards?

Great to read that you'll be making a diorama/vignetter for this one.

Rearguards

Badder

Hi Badder and thank you for your comments and thoughts. In reply to your questions/thoughts - I knew I was going to be adding a reasonable amount of dirt/dust to them so didn't want to spend too much time applying any more chipping - there is some - but not a lot. You can see the dust/dirt application in the photos of my model below. It has pretty much covered what chipping there was. With regards the wheels - in photos of '131' the wheels do look slightly lighter - whether this is due to lighting conditions - or perhaps they got cleaned more because they were more easy to get to - I don't know. Both of these photos are from http://www.themodellingnews.com/2015/08/build-review-35th-scale-tiger-i-131.html

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The wheel that was added to replace the missing front wheel looks obviously darker in the photo above.

 

Both photos are taken after '131' had been captured, as far as I can tell, and this one (below) shows that the front wheel added on this side and looks cleaner than the others - but they still look lighter than the hull and turret:

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If there is any problem with these photos being posted here please let me know and I will remove them. The hull and turret look quite dirty in the photo above but I have decided that this happened after it's capture! :winkgrin:

 

Anyway - since the photos of my model in my posts above, I have added some light mud to represent the sand/dirst on the wheels. With regards the vignette I have started making up some figures.

 

On 28/06/2018 at 01:18, Hewy said:

Gorgeous stix, so much to like about this, 

Thank you very Glynn - most kind!

 

On 30/06/2018 at 17:03, GREG DESTEC said:

Awesome Tiger Stix 😮

I am purposely not following too closely as your armour builds always distract me from my wingy things, and I have already fallen behind with my Stirling build at the Airfix GB.

Looking great, and I am looking forward to seeing what you do for a base and figures. 

All the best 

Cheers Greg

Hi Greg and thank you. I know what you mean. There are so many people's work who I follow on here, but some of them are quite prolific! So I try to ration how often I try and catch up - otherwise I'd get no building done! I hope you are able to get back to your Stirling soon.

 

On 30/06/2018 at 19:06, sithman said:

I'm just wondering if I can "translate" this technique to Panzer grey!

I'm working on a Panzer 3 and am thinking of trying this!

I don't see why not. I used the same techniques on my Tamiya 1/48 Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf.E/F - here.

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The WIP can be found in the first post in the link above.

 

So over the weekend - as well as working on a new project - Tamiya's 1/48 P-47 Thunderbolt, in the STGB - I did some more messing about with Vallejo's Light Mud to represent the sand/dirt/dust areas. Most of it was applied with stippling brushes - trying to create a more dusty, dirty look rather than muddy. I also added some more streaks/runs over this. Lots of photos again!:

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I have added more dirt and dust on the upper surfaces too:

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A couple of closer views of the front and back:

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The areas I am least happy with are the inner, rear and front wheels on both sides - they look too clean. I managed to miss them somehow when doing the weathering on the wheels. I will correct that soon. I also need to add the aerial. I have started work on some figures and I will post some photos of those soon.

 

Kind regards,

 

Stix

Edited by PlaStix
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Hi Stix,

Looking at the period photos it seems to me that the wheels are a few shades lighter because they were covered in what looks like a sandy slurry which dried. There's definitely a lot of lighter coloured substance on the black tyres and that stuff must be on the wheel discs as well.

 

Having said all of that, you have indeed dirtied up the sub-hull parts and I have to say it's looking absolutely fantastic! I didn't notice the 'missed' weathering on the wheels until you pointed it out. Of course, you'll put that right.

 

Even without the correction, it's a stunning Tiger,, superbly weathered. I could list all of the things that I think are wonderfully painted, but I'll do my usual thing of picking out a tiny detail which some might overlook, and that's the burnished bear metal showing on the handle of that little round hatch towards the rear of the turret top. A gem of a handle!

 

Looking forward to the vignette/diorama.

 

Rearguards

Badder

 

 

 

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Wonderful photos Stix,

 

They really show off your Tiger to a tee.

 

Great weathering and dry brushing has really made the details pop out,

 

Top notch 🏆 

 

Cheers Greg 

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I followed your link and read the entire thread and I gotta say I AM SOLD!!

 

I love the "old school" way you drilled out the barrels and the box!   Just the way it used to be before we (me included) spent obscene amounts of money of add ons to accomplish this!

 

I also LOVE the effect you get!   the tank looks like a realistic representation of an actual tank not a blue and overly "modulated" piece nor does it look like a lot of kits I see that appear to have sat outside in a scrap yard for 75 years!

 

 

VERY nice and inspirational!
 

Thank you for sharing

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On ‎03‎/‎07‎/‎2018 at 17:12, Badder said:

Hi Stix,

Looking at the period photos it seems to me that the wheels are a few shades lighter because they were covered in what looks like a sandy slurry which dried. There's definitely a lot of lighter coloured substance on the black tyres and that stuff must be on the wheel discs as well.

Having said all of that, you have indeed dirtied up the sub-hull parts and I have to say it's looking absolutely fantastic! I didn't notice the 'missed' weathering on the wheels until you pointed it out. Of course, you'll put that right.

Even without the correction, it's a stunning Tiger,, superbly weathered. I could list all of the things that I think are wonderfully painted, but I'll do my usual thing of picking out a tiny detail which some might overlook, and that's the burnished bear metal showing on the handle of that little round hatch towards the rear of the turret top. A gem of a handle!

Looking forward to the vignette/diorama.

Rearguards

Badder

Hi Badder. Hope you are well and having a good weekend. Yeah you are quite correct about what looks to be mud. I think it got in more of a state after it had been captured as the odd photo from before doesn't seem to show it as bad. I am now at a point with it where I am going to wait until I have got the base started and then decide if any further weathering is needed. I'm sure I'll decide to add a little more. Thank you for your very kind comments as well. All I have done with regards the scene is make the figures and find the mdf board for the base - which actually took a while because I managed to hide it the last time I put the stuff away!!

 

On ‎03‎/‎07‎/‎2018 at 17:28, modelling minion said:

Looking absolutely superb Stix.

I really like the dust and dirt effects you have done, they truly are very realistic. Your faithful following of  the pictures is highly commendable, no "artistic licence" here!

Keep up the excellent work mate.

Thank you for your comments Craig! Most kind! :thumbsup: Hope you are well and having a good weekend.

 

On ‎03‎/‎07‎/‎2018 at 19:30, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

:worthy: ... Beautiful Tiger Stix !

Thank you very much Corsairfoxfouruncle!

 

On ‎03‎/‎07‎/‎2018 at 20:00, GREG DESTEC said:

Wonderful photos Stix,

They really show off your Tiger to a tee.

Great weathering and dry brushing has really made the details pop out,

Top notch 🏆 

Cheers Greg 

Hi Greg. Hope you are well and having a good weekend. Thank you very much - you are too kind.

 

On ‎04‎/‎07‎/‎2018 at 23:06, sithman said:

I followed your link and read the entire thread and I gotta say I AM SOLD!!

I love the "old school" way you drilled out the barrels and the box!   Just the way it used to be before we (me included) spent obscene amounts of money of add ons to accomplish this!

I also LOVE the effect you get!   the tank looks like a realistic representation of an actual tank not a blue and overly "modulated" piece nor does it look like a lot of kits I see that appear to have sat outside in a scrap yard for 75 years!

VERY nice and inspirational!

Thank you for sharing

Thank you very much sithman - I'm glad you found it useful.

 

On ‎06‎/‎07‎/‎2018 at 13:19, Ozzy said:

Looking very nice Stix, the weathering is spot on.

Thank you Ozzy, most kind.

 

On ‎07‎/‎07‎/‎2018 at 00:04, stevej60 said:

Superb finish as we've come to expect Stix.

Thank you Steve for you kind comments.

 

12 hours ago, Franz75 said:

Very nice, well done, excellent job ............

Hi Franz and thank you. :thumbsup:

 

These weekend I spent most of my modelling time working on my P-47D build but I did make up the figures I am going to use:

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I also fitted the radio aerial on '131' but didn't take a photo.

 

Next weekend I hope to get started on the actual base and start painting the figures.

 

Comments and suggestions welcome.

 

Kind regards,

 

Stix

 

 

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10 minutes ago, PlaStix said:

28406960997_ca9f296578_b.jpg

Now, that's a cracking set of figures! Great details and nice poses. I must get me some! I suspect you've probably mentioned them already, but what's the manufacturer?

 

Rearguards

Badder

 

Edited by Badder
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Hi Badder. They are very nicely detailed. I don't seem to have mentioned the name - can't find it anyway - but they are from Master Box - Rommel and German Tank Crew, DAK. I'm going to do the Rommel figure a just a senior officer.

Kind regards,

Stix

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They do look a nice set of figures, either I've not been looking very hard but there a limited DAK and 8th Army figures about. I used the mini art figures paratroopers and tankers set the moulding is very nice, and scrub up with minimal filler.

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On 08/07/2018 at 22:12, Ozzy said:

They do look a nice set of figures, either I've not been looking very hard but there a limited DAK and 8th Army figures about. I used the mini art figures paratroopers and tankers set the moulding is very nice, and scrub up with minimal filler.

Hi Ozzy, Yes they are very good but you are right about there being seemingly few good DAK figures around. Which is a surprise really seeing how many AFVs from the MTO area/period there are in kit form. I struggled to find any suitable and, quite a few I have seen, seem to be posed for Pz IIIs and IVs. I think this set is as well, but I have found suitable locations on 131 where they should look okay - well, all except one figure from the set which seems to be leaning on something at quite an angle - he can hang around in the box for another kit.

 

As I am working on the figures at the moment I thought I would try and do a bit of research on the mysterious crew themselves. In doing so I found out more about '131' that I wasn't aware of. Some of you may be already aware of this but I managed to miss it. It turns out that, as of September 2017, new research has shown that '131' was probably disabled quite a few miles away from where originally thought. The new location is at Point 174 rather than near Djebel Djaffa. Anyway - rather than me re-explaining it - more information can be found here:

http://tankmuseum.org/year-news/bovnews63935

 

and here:

http://blog.tiger-tank.com/tanks/happened-point-174-part-vi/

 

Interesting stuff!

 

Kind regards,

 

Stix

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Not a lot done on this project recently - been concentrating on my P-47 build. I did give the figures a base coat of thinned Revell Anthracite:

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I think I may do a bit of work on the base tomorrow and perhaps start painting the figures.

 

Kind regards,

 

Stix

 

 

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Yesterday I decided to concentrate on moving this project forward. The actual Tiger 1 is now in itself complete - with added aerial - and I have done a little more weathering - although more of the latter may be added once I see how the display base turns out.

 

Just one photo of how it looks at present - I have taken loads but I will save them for the RFI section and Gallery:

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I have cut out the base shape from 4mm MDF - I'm doing it in a similar fashion to the one I did for my recent Sherman:

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....and a photo of '131' plonked on it:

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As I usually do, I will cut the areas for the tracks into the top to make it look like the weight of the tank is settling it into the surface.

 

I have started painting the figures but I still need to do some of the detail work:

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More later this week.

 

Comments and suggestions welcome.

 

Kind regards,

 

Stix

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