John Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 I've been building up a small collection of Rubicon 1/56th scale models, mostly wheeled transport but including their impressive Crusader II/III. Seems like a good time to add something from the opposition: TigerTiger1 by John Walker, on Flickr I bought it especially for this GB, and also acquired the Panzer Commanders figure set. I'll be going for a Tunisian or Italian campaign vehicle. They are safely tucked away in my desk drawer at work, so I'm not tempted to jump the gun. Just hope I remember to bring them home tomorrow... John 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted May 17, 2019 Share Posted May 17, 2019 Hi John and welcome to the GB. I haven't seen this kit manufacturer before so it will be intersting to see how it goes together. Don't forget to take it home this evening! Kind regards, Stix 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted May 17, 2019 Share Posted May 17, 2019 Welcome John, I’ve seen a few Rubicon kits come together. They look fantastic kits, looking forward to seeing this one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 17, 2019 Author Share Posted May 17, 2019 Rubicon has grown out of the 28mm wargaming scene, along with other manufacturers like Bolt Action. Italeri also have quite a few kits in their range, many of which are reboxed by Bolt Action. My eye was originally caught by the Rubicon CMP 15 cwt truck at the Carronade show this time last year. I bought one and it was a fun build. It needed some help to reach a reasonable display standard, glazing the windscreen and adding other things like the wing mirrors but it certainly looks the part when it's finished. It isn't as detailed as, for example, the Airfix Bedford MWD but it's also somewhat smaller. I followed the truck with the Crusader, finished as a MkII in Tunisia. Again it needs some detail added but it looks really good and is presently sitting on my computer desk. The kits have become more sophisticated with the sdkfz 222 and the recent Kubelwagen needing less help to get to a good display standard. The Tiger is a bit older so I'm expecting a bit of scratch building for the smaller details. 1/56th scale produces models of a nice manageable size, better for my aging eyesight than 1/72. Uncharacteristically I did remember to pick up the kit on my way out of work, so we're all set for Sunday. John 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 19, 2019 Author Share Posted May 19, 2019 OK, we're off. First thing on the agenda is to take a look at the multipose-style crew figures, available separately from the vehicle kits: TigerTiger2 by John Walker, on Flickr There are 2 sprues of assorted body parts which allow you to make a total of 4 figures: TigerTiger3 by John Walker, on Flickr TigerTiger4 by John Walker, on Flickr The parts look a bit shiny because they're moulded in ABS, as are the vehicle kits. This isn't a problem as it reacts well enough to most polystyrene cements I've tried on it. I usually use a Humbrol precision applicator or Tamiya Extra Thin for small parts and either Humbrol tube glue or Plastic Weld for more structural joins. Nothing's fallen apart so far... John 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 Nice addition John, figures definitely bring vehicles to life. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 19, 2019 Author Share Posted May 19, 2019 So, what's in the big box? 4 individually bagged ABS sprues: TigerTiger5 by John Walker, on Flickr Rubicon's trademark glossy instruction booklet: TigerTiger6 by John Walker, on Flickr TigerTiger7 by John Walker, on Flickr TigerTiger8 by John Walker, on Flickr Rubicon's trademark generic decal sheet, nicely printed and individually bagged: TigerTiger9 by John Walker, on Flickr The kit is designed to produce early, mid or late production Tigers so there are a lot of alternatives including 2 different styles of road wheel and 3 turret roofs: TigerTiger10 by John Walker, on Flickr TigerTiger11 by John Walker, on Flickr TigerTiger12 by John Walker, on Flickr TigerTiger13 by John Walker, on Flickr The tracks and some of the wheels are moulded as one piece with other wheels being added so we'll have to see how they build up. I want a Tunisian vehicle so fortunately the air pre-cleaners are included: TigerTiger14 by John Walker, on Flickr John 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 Hi John, That's not a scale I would ever venture into, but it certainly looks more enticing than 1/72nd. I like that you have options to build a early, mid or late, am impressed by the fine detailing on the upper deck, and I really like the fact that the tracks and outer wheels are moulded in one part, and the inner wheels are separate. Top marks to the kit pattern-maker/designer! Looking forward to seeing how this one turns out. Rearguards, Badder 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 That does look to be a really nicely detailed kit. Hope you manage to get it started soon. Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 20, 2019 Author Share Posted May 20, 2019 Getting started, no problem. Finishing it, on the other hand... John 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 A comprehensive kit John, unusual scale, is it aimed a war gamers generally, It does, as stix said look very nicley detailed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 27, 2019 Author Share Posted May 27, 2019 I finally had a couple of hours of happy kitbashing last night. First up was assembling the lower hull: Unlike more conventionally moulded kits this one has the lower hull in 2 halves, joined down the middle. There are 2 substantial lugs and a rebate around the edge so the fit is very good. The axles are moulded in. The rear hull plate goes on the back, again fit is very positive: Nice detail moulded on too. The top of the hull has more nicely moulded detail. This is likely to be a pain to paint. John 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Nice Start John, you've got plenty of time to get this one finished. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 Good to see you are underway. Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 29, 2019 Author Share Posted May 29, 2019 I like the colour schemes that were carried by both sides during the Tunisian campaign. On the Allied side there were desert and European schemes while the Axis seems to have had vehicles in the early and late tropical schemes. Given my interest it's probably inevitable that this model is going to be one of the original batch sent to North Africa. I've pretty much zeroed in on Tiger 112 of s. Pz.Abt.501. This vehicle would have been finished in the RAL 8000/RAL 7008 scheme, same as Tiger 131 at Bovington. The turret stowage bin and the engine air precleaners may have been supplied by the contractor in the later RAL 8020 shade. There are also photos which suggest it was fitted with a new mantlet and gun, maybe as a result of battle damage. The mantlet could also be RAL 8020 while the barrel could be grey. Add in some nice red Tunisian weathering and you have an interesting basis for a model, allowing for the ifs, buts and maybes... John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted May 29, 2019 Share Posted May 29, 2019 Hey John - That looks like a really nice kit - the sprues very reminiscent of PSC. Fantastic choice of decals too - I will follow with interest as I've never done any 1/56 - but they look good. Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted June 4, 2019 Author Share Posted June 4, 2019 Adding a bit of definition and battle damage to the side skirts: Turret. The pistol port on the rear quarter is a separate part and needs a mounting hole cleaned out: John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 Well,I've spent so much time recently playing with my little froggies that the big pussy has been neglected 🙁 I'll start a thread over on Armour in Progress, as I am actually still working on the kit. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Not to worry John, I can move this one up to the Wip area if you want? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 Thanks, that would be great. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted October 19, 2020 Author Share Posted October 19, 2020 Well it's been a while, but I've finally got back to my Tunisian Tiger. The plan had been to go to Bovingdon this Summer to see Tiger 131 up close but sadly that hasn't been possible and looks like it won't be until next Summer so judgements on colour and detail have had to be drawn from the web, particularly this excellent video from the Tank Museum: I used Humbrol 225 Middle Stone for the RAL 8000, lighter than the real colour but the effect looks quite good to my eye: For the low contrast disruptor I used Humbrol 84 Mid Stone. The effect is very subtle in real life but the camera picks up a great deal more contrast: I've used Revell 17 Africa Brown for the RAL 8020 that may have been used on the gun mantlet and stowage box on some of these vehicles. I'll use the same colour on the air cleaners. The glossy base coat on the gun is Humbrol 5 Admiralty Dark Grey. John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted October 21, 2020 Author Share Posted October 21, 2020 Although these kits are intended as gaming miniatures, Rubicon do provide extra enhancements for some of them, including the Tiger. In this case they provide resin running gear with extra detail on the tracks and wheels: I've acquired a set, so we'll see how they look. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nheather Posted October 21, 2020 Share Posted October 21, 2020 On 10/19/2020 at 5:16 PM, John said: Well it's been a while, but I've finally got back to my Tunisian Tiger. The plan had been to go to Bovingdon this Summer to see Tiger 131 up close but sadly that hasn't been possible and looks like it won't be until next Summer so judgements on colour and detail have had to be drawn from the web, particularly this excellent video from the Tank Museum: I’d love to see The Tank Museum’s companion video ”Painting Matilda Tanks - or How We Fooled Model Companies for Decades” To be fair, I was at the museum a couple of months ago and they appear to have repainted a lot of their AFVs including the Matilda, which now sports a caunter scheme that Mr Starmer would be happy with. 😀 Cheers, Nigel 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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