Academy 1/35 Tiger I Early (with interior)

Post by **alextheblue** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:52 pm

I bought this kit a short while ago with the intention of building it once I had cleared my workbench - yeah, right!! In fairness, I have just finished a couple of builds and whilst I should be cracking on with the D-Day GB entry, I just couldn't help myself. So, before I could talk myself out of it, I peeled back the lid and dived in.

Box art - like!

I didn't bother taking pictures of all the sprues, after all wheels are wheels and tracks are tracks right. It's a fairly big box and as you would expect it is jam-packed full of plastic.

There's a couple of bits of PE, and enough decals to depict one of four different Tigers I believe.

Instructions are in the form of an A4 booklet, which is always preferable over the fold-out sheets. The instructions seem quite clear and straightforward and there's even some cut-away pics of the interior as well as some "in progress" shots.

The build starts with the usual steps, lower hull, wheels, suspension parts etc.

Next step is to build the huge Maybach engine and there's some very nice detail. Being someone who used to like tinkering around under the bonnet of a car (back in the days before you needed a degree in computer programming!), I would love to get my hands on one of these things. Closest I have ever come to it though is a big block Hemi a mate and me shoe-horned into an old Camaro - ahhhh, happy days!!

And what's an engine without a gearbox.

Finally, a quick dry-fit to make sure everything goes together nicely and this is starting to look like a proper tank!

Now, I'm going to have to be quite disciplined with this one, as my usual tendency is to press on and get everything built as I prefer to paint the details etc. once they are in place. However, this clearly isn't going to work for this one as all of the interior details will need painting in sub-assembly stylee - blimey, this must be what building a flighty thing is like!

So next thing is to get some primer down and then start painting the interior, which I'm hoping to get done in the next day or two.

Thanks for taking a look!

Website · Post by **Gav0909** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 7:10 pm

Nice start Alex. Nothing like jumping into a new kit with wild abandon!

Looks like it will build into a cracking model as well. I always wondered though. If the crew are within the turret basket bit (the bit that hangs below the turret into the hull), how does the loader get the shells out of their storage positions in the sides of the tank hull. Looks like there ain't much room to be handling those big rounds in there.

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 7:50 pm

Aha Alex.
This is gonna be one of those fine, fine builds.
Nothing like post build blues than to jump right in the water, this build is the answer.
I love your threads and builds so will watch closely (no pressure

).
Your skill level and experience this will be a lovely build.
Good luck mate.
John

Post by **cib2265** » Thu Jul 24, 2014 1:00 am

That looks great Alex!

I have this kit and the mid production model TBD - it does look the dogs danglies!

Biting to get started but have just begun a JagdPanther for the Panther SiG.

Will definitely watch this one with interest!

Post by **AchtungPanzer** » Thu Jul 24, 2014 6:54 am

Awesome model. Engine looks super. Good luck Alex

Post by **Ozzie21** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 12:55 am

Nice one Alex, should build into one awesome kit.

Post by **rm6239** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 6:44 am

Aah Didn't I see you doing something else as well, how many things on the go do you have mate?

This looks like a pretty nice little kit OOB, you're not doing my Tiger addiction any good.

"Hello I'm Ross, it's been 3 years 67 days, 8 hours and 42 minutes since I've last built a Tiger"

Coming along for the ride.

cheers

Rossco

Post by **alextheblue** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 9:45 am

Gav0909 wrote:Nice start Alex. Nothing like jumping into a new kit with wild abandon!

Looks like it will build into a cracking model as well. I always wondered though. If the crew are within the turret basket bit (the bit that hangs below the turret into the hull), how does the loader get the shells out of their storage positions in the sides of the tank hull. Looks like there ain't much room to be handling those big rounds in there.

Thanks Gav and you're absolutely right, just how did the loader get the shells out of the racks??? Maybe the tank commander is Snow White - if you know what I mean!

Post by **alextheblue** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 9:47 am

Donkeywalloper wrote:Aha Alex.
This is gonna be one of those fine, fine builds.
Nothing like post build blues than to jump right in the water, this build is the answer.
I love your threads and builds so will watch closely (no pressure ).
Your skill level and experience this will be a lovely build.
Good luck mate.
John

Thanks John, you're making me blush now!

It's a bit daunting when you see all the bits and then you remember that everything will need painting separately - just hope I can do it justice.

Post by **alextheblue** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 9:49 am

cib2265 wrote:That looks great Alex!

I have this kit and the mid production model TBD - it does look the dogs danglies!

Biting to get started but have just begun a JagdPanther for the Panther SiG.

Will definitely watch this one with interest!

Thanks Chris!

Must say, I'm very tempted by that mid production kit as well. Best of luck with your Jagdpanther,

Post by **alextheblue** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 9:50 am

AchtungPanzer wrote:Awesome model. Engine looks super. Good luck Alex

Thanks Eryk. Have loved building the engine, some great detail!

Post by **alextheblue** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 9:51 am

Ozzie21 wrote:Nice one Alex, should build into one awesome kit.

Thanks Charles, it's a great kit!

Post by **alextheblue** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 9:56 am

rm6239 wrote:Aah Didn't I see you doing something else as well, how many things on the go do you have mate?

This looks like a pretty nice little kit OOB, you're not doing my Tiger addiction any good.

"Hello I'm Ross, it's been 3 years 67 days, 8 hours and 42 minutes since I've last built a Tiger"

Coming along for the ride.

cheers

Rossco

Thanks Rossco, very glad to have you along for the ride!

Not too much on the go for a change, just finished a Merk 3 and the Dangerous cat SiG, so just got this one, the D-Day GB and a T34 that I'm attempting my first winter camo on, but keep bottling out of!

And from a fellow Tiger addict, say after me, "I build Tigers but I don't have a problem, I build Tigers but I don't have a problem........."

Post by **alextheblue** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 10:20 am

Got a bit more done on this one, I must say I'm thoroughly enjoying this build. It's forcing me to think about the whole project a bit more, plus I'm doing a hell-of lot more research than I would usually do. There seems to be a lot of conflicting information about the colours used on the interior as some people suggest using an off white, whilst others insist that it has a hint of green. I think I'm just going to have to make a judgement call on it and go with what I think is right. Everything was primed with Vallejo grey surface primer and then the interior was painted using shades of light and dark grey. I decided to use grey rather than off-white as personally I think this scales better, as the white can sometimes look a little too yellowy. However, I may well regret this choice a bit further down the build. The exterior is courtesy of Vallejos hull red primer.

Next up is the engine and this is where my first dilemma kicks in. Do I build this as pristinely clean "model" build or do I do the usual weathering job. I've left the engine factory clean,but this can easily be weathered later. It looks quite "blue" in the pics, but I think this is the green of the mat reflecting off of the metal finishes.

And just to finish off, I made a start on the upper hull deck. This is actually made up of three separate parts and it was concerned that this might cause some fit issues,but everything went together very nicely.

Did I mention, I'm thoroughly enjoying this one!!

Thanks for taking a look!

Post by **alextheblue** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 8:17 pm

Well, it's now official, I need professional help - I just can't seem to leave this thing alone! So much so, the landing craft I'm building for the D-Day GB has phoned social services and has reported me for neglect!! Before they cart me off to the funny farm, I thought I'd quickly posts dome pics of my progress.

I've tentatively decided to paint this one Panzer grey and with this in mind I have made a start with the wheels. I've actually painted them Vallejo Air German grey and whilst this isn't quite "blue" enough, I think it's a good base colour for the road wheels etc.

Got a couple of the base colours down on the transmission, but this is still a long way from being finished.

And the rest of the upper hull is painted in hull red primer.

More details added to the back plate and this are also given a coat of hull red primer.

Exhaust shrouds also painted but these won't be added until everything at the rear has been painted.

And that's about it, but wait............what's that lurking in there!?

Managed to get the engine compartment wall put in and the engine has been dry fitted. This won't be fixed until I'm sure the prop shaft connects to the transmission properly.

I'm apply some light weathering as I go along and then everything will receive a final touch-up once everything is in place, to ensure some uniformity. Next up is to finish the gear box and prop shaft and fit them in place.

Shoot, better go.....think that's social services at the front door!!

Thanks for taking a look!

http://m.youtube.com/user/MrBobsBuilds · Post by **Rob** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 8:59 pm

Ooooh, that's nice

Post by **localjedi** » Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:22 pm

Looking very good already. Nice weathering on the interior!

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Sat Aug 02, 2014 8:06 pm

I love the primer colour, leave it like that.....

What a fantastic looking job your doing Alex.
No smoke to blow up proverbial yet, as your not finished.
Don't answer the door, they can wait till your finished.
John

Post by **AchtungPanzer** » Sat Aug 02, 2014 8:15 pm

Good colour and good work Friend. Engine and interior very nice

I look forward to more

Post by **Tiger131** » Sat Aug 02, 2014 9:58 pm

always wanted this kit i know the rivet counters out there will say thats not right or that should be on this tank but from the work you have done so far it looks superb look forward to seeing more of this build

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:01 pm

Tiger131 wrote:always wanted this kit i know the rivet counters out there will say thats not right or that should be on this tank but from the work you have done so far it looks superb look forward to seeing more of this build

Rivet Counters are the worst breed of this fantastic hobby / art.
To busy being exact and not seeing the beauty of a great build.

John

Post by **Tiger131** » Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:25 pm

hell yes!!!

Post by **mannloon** » Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:28 pm

Oh man, just found this thread. That looks great. Been stopping myself from buying this kit for a while. I have too many Dragon Tigers in the stash already. You're making me want to buy it.

Post by **alextheblue** » Mon Aug 04, 2014 12:02 pm

Rob, Localjedi, Eryk, Mannloon, thanks for the kind words fellas and thanks for taking the time to stop by!

John - kinda like the colour myself, maybe I could do a Mars landscape dio so it blends in - or maybe not!! As for answering the door, I have staff for that kind of thing (well technically they're my kids, but still saves me from doing it!!)

Tiger - know what you mean about the rivet counters. The longest part of this build has been checking reference books, pics etc to try and work out what colour everything should be and what should be where. In the end I decided to take the Frank Sinatra approach - "I did it...... mmmmmmmy way!"

Post by **alextheblue** » Mon Aug 04, 2014 12:25 pm

Managed to get a bit more done to this one over the weekend and it really is quite time consuming to build a bit, paint it and then attach it. I've always admired the skills of aircraft builders, but this is giving me a whole new level of respect for them. The transmission is now painted along with the prop shaft and this has been married up to the big Maybach engine. Batteries are in, I have left the covers on for these as once the turret basket is in these aren't really going to be seen anyway. The rads and blowers have had some base colour applied and I've quickly dry fitted these to make sure everything fits in ok. Everything has been given a light weathering as its been painted, but a final application will be given to everything once the interior is all in, so hopefully this will give a more universal look.

First off the wheels. The tyres have been painted (good old Vallejo Model Colour dark rubber), but they don't don't really show as I've decided to paint this one in panzer grey. The wheels have actually been painted with VMA German Grey as I think this gives a better colour. The wheels will end up covered in washes and all kinds of dirt anyway, so the colour only needs to be there or thereabouts.

And with tranny and drive shaft.

Battery boxes added

And rads and blowers dry-fitted with base colours added.

As much as it pains me to say it, but I really must side-line this one for a very short while as I really need to press on with the D-Day GB. I was ahead of the game with that one, but I'm rapidly falling behind with all the time that I've being putting in on this one. But on the other hand, it's a nice straight forward build and there's so many nice and shiny things to keep me distracted!!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and having a look!

Post by **Coen** » Mon Aug 04, 2014 12:29 pm

Holy beans and franks Alex!! That is truly spectacular work buddy. That gentle interior wash and chipping combined with the hull red, interior white and that dark grey is just eye popping. Right off the factory floor. It looks like a museum restoration or a newly minted tiger. If you decide to do the hair spray technique you are perfectly set.
Jon Hayward (Scalemodelmedic) has a fantastic tutorial on it that you should check out if you do.
This is wonderful work Alex and I really mean that!

Post by **cib2265** » Mon Aug 04, 2014 12:59 pm

Coen wrote:Holy beans and franks Alex!! That is truly spectacular work buddy. That gentle interior wash and chipping combined with the hull red, interior white and that dark grey is just eye popping. Right off the factory floor. It looks like a museum restoration or a newly minted tiger. If you decide to do the hair spray technique you are perfectly set.
Jon Hayward (Scalemodelmedic) has a fantastic tutorial on it that you should check out if you do.
This is wonderful work Alex and I really mean that!

What Mike said - I am so looking forward to building my two Academy Tigers (I have this one, the Early and the Mid, both interior versions) - this is making jump at the bit to get started!

Post by **Coen** » Mon Aug 04, 2014 1:18 pm

It's certainly inspiring the hell out of me!!!!
Dammm youuuuu!!!! Daaaaaammmm yoooooooou Alex!!!

hahaha!

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Mon Aug 04, 2014 3:13 pm

Mike has said it all really Alex.
Eye popingly

good.
Understand having to get on with your GB, but gonna miss this as you really have started something and we need more.....

Love it Alex, love it.
Now, believe it or not, I am in my little Man-cave with every job done in the house and free-time till the missus arrives back.
So AB out and spray some colour on to VK.

John

Post by **alextheblue** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 9:47 am

Coen wrote:Holy beans and franks Alex!! That is truly spectacular work buddy. That gentle interior wash and chipping combined with the hull red, interior white and that dark grey is just eye popping. Right off the factory floor. It looks like a museum restoration or a newly minted tiger. If you decide to do the hair spray technique you are perfectly set.
Jon Hayward (Scalemodelmedic) has a fantastic tutorial on it that you should check out if you do.
This is wonderful work Alex and I really mean that!

Thanks Mike, really appreciate your comments, means a lot. I have watched a lot of Mr Hayward's vids, but I am definitely going to take a look at that tutorial - appreciate the heads-up!!

Post by **alextheblue** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 9:48 am

cib2265 wrote:
Coen wrote:Holy beans and franks Alex!! That is truly spectacular work buddy. That gentle interior wash and chipping combined with the hull red, interior white and that dark grey is just eye popping. Right off the factory floor. It looks like a museum restoration or a newly minted tiger. If you decide to do the hair spray technique you are perfectly set.
Jon Hayward (Scalemodelmedic) has a fantastic tutorial on it that you should check out if you do.
This is wonderful work Alex and I really mean that!
What Mike said - I am so looking forward to building my two Academy Tigers (I have this one, the Early and the Mid, both interior versions) - this is making jump at the bit to get started!

Thanks Chris!

Go on, pop the lid on one of those kits and take a look - what harm can it do!!

Post by **alextheblue** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 9:50 am

Coen wrote:It's certainly inspiring the hell out of me!!!!
Dammm youuuuu!!!! Daaaaaammmm yoooooooou Alex!!!

hahaha!

Always glad to be of assistance!!

Post by **alextheblue** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 9:53 am

Donkeywalloper wrote:Mike has said it all really Alex.
Eye popingly good.
Understand having to get on with your GB, but gonna miss this as you really have started something and we need more.....
Love it Alex, love it.
Now, believe it or not, I am in my little Man-cave with every job done in the house and free-time till the missus arrives back.
So AB out and spray some colour on to VK.

John

Thanks John, appreciate your kind words!

Hope you managed to get all the work done that you planned to do and I'm looking forward to seeing your next installment on that crazy looking beast, it's really coming on a treat!

Post by **Grinjer** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 11:00 am

Hi Alex. I'm new here and still finding my way about but I'm impressed with what I've seen so far. Your build is particularly nice and I'll be following it through to the end.

I'm not criticising, but have you tried the fit of the front plate that covers the gear box yet? I built this some years ago and the gearbox sat too high so I had to file off most of the top detail. It could have been my fault of course, but it might be worth looking at.

Grinjer

Post by **JohnP** » Fri Aug 08, 2014 5:28 pm

Holy hell Mr. Alex, that is wicked work. You're really doing this kit justice!

Post by **AchtungPanzer** » Sat Aug 09, 2014 1:20 pm

Excellent work with Interior Alex

Post by **alextheblue** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 10:40 am

Grinjer wrote:Hi Alex. I'm new here and still finding my way about but I'm impressed with what I've seen so far. Your build is particularly nice and I'll be following it through to the end.

I'm not criticising, but have you tried the fit of the front plate that covers the gear box yet? I built this some years ago and the gearbox sat too high so I had to file off most of the top detail. It could have been my fault of course, but it might be worth looking at.

Grinjer

Thanks for the heads-up Grinjer - I did give it a quick check and it did seem ok, a bit tight, but ok - phew! Having said that, I did have some fit issues that are sorta related - all will be revealed!

Post by **alextheblue** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 10:40 am

JohnP, Eryk - thanks fellas!!

Post by **alextheblue** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 11:10 am

Well, I know I did say that I would be leaving this one alone for a while so I could crack on with my D-Day build, but what can I say - I'm a weak man and when the styrene calls, I gotta just go running. Plus, painting and weathering is always my favourite bit of the build, so it was inevitable that I would do a bit more. After reading Grinjer's warning about the front plate clearance, I decided to assemble the rest of the upper hull and this is when the fun began - not! There's three parts involved, the main deck of the upper hull, the front plate that covers the tranny and the vertical front part of the upper hull (I'm sure this part has an proper name, but I'll be blowed if I know what it is!). Individually the all fit great, but put them together and it's like trying to fit three puppies in a sack - as you get two in the third one pops out, you put him back and the first one pops out - jeesh, let me outta here!!!

I must have fiddled with this for over an hour, sanding, filing, re-shaping, but nothing I did seemed to work. I've tacked them together for now and I'll probably leave the main hull deck as a separate part and fix it that way. Because you need to be able to remove these parts in order to see the interior, that's whats causing the trouble. If this was going to be buttoned-up, you could clamp and cajole it into position and it would be fine - hey-ho!

And the offending gap

So to console myself, I decided to weather-up the rads and fans a bit and then fix them in place, purely as a therapeutic exercise you understand

Makes the air filters on the engine seem super-clean now, but they'll get their turn! Realising I had some time on my hands, I thought I'd make a small start on the turret - well, that was the plan. Fast forward a couple of hours...........

Would be a shame not to quickly pop it in place to see what it will look like......

And I wonder what it would look like with the gun added as well........

With all this work that I've managed to get done, it would be a shame not to at least get some primer down and then I really will call it a day!!

So let that be a lesson, what started as a, "I'll just have a quick look, just to see.......", turned out to be a full on session at the workbench. Hell, we wouldn't do it if we didn't love it.

But now I must really leave this to one side and press on with the landing craft.....or I could just........no, stop it, focus man, focus!!

Thanks for taking a look!

Post by **AchtungPanzer** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 2:06 pm

As will be finished ... buy it in the dark . I pay in gold

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 2:55 pm

Alex, your threads are turning into the best thing on ISM.
It's making me feel how I did when I was a boy, with my Saturday morning Pocket Money of 10p.
The best thing was not the bag of sweets (four sweets for 1/2 pence..what days

).
It was the Victor or Battle & Action comic (sometimes Beano, and once the Bunty

but lets not go there...).
To sit on the bed or in a Den, and open a new comic and absorb everything inside like a sponge.
That is how I look forward to your threads mate.
A few minutes of tinkering or just looking is not possible.
I can do it.....but it's not easy.
This a beautiful build, really beautiful.
I upset myself today Alex.
I looked at some images of my Meng on the Web......they are all better by far

I have not got the skills that I need....yeah it will come, but I need to learn more, and more, and more.
"Cramming Three Puppies in a bag" is really making my day (not because that is something I would do out of spite or cruelty), but the mental image of that, and you aligning upper hulls and lower hulls.....priceless.
Keep going mate, keep going.
John

Post by **mannloon** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 3:53 pm

just awesome. This thread is seriously going to make me buy that kit.

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 4:19 pm

mannloon wrote:just awesome. This thread is seriously going to make me buy that kit.

ML, your bench is going to collapse under weight man

John

Post by **alextheblue** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 5:01 pm

Donkeywalloper wrote: Keep going mate, keep going.
John

Thanks John, your comments are very generous and I feel that they over-flatter my literary dirge and feeble efforts, but I very much appreciate them, you're a gent!

I'm with you all the way on those comics, especially Action!! I was 10 when that came out (1976 I think??) and I thought it was the most awesome thing I'd ever seen - Hook Jaw, Hellman of Hammer Force, Dredger - violence, big guns and lots of blood.

It was no wonder it was banned later on that same year - oh, those innocent happy days of boyhood!

And as for your skills, I've been following your Meng and Chief builds and you've got skills aplenty dude, they're both fantastic builds!!

Post by **alextheblue** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 5:03 pm

mannloon wrote:just awesome. This thread is seriously going to make me buy that kit.

Thanks dude!

As for buying the kit - go for it! It's bad for your constitution to deny yourself the odd pleasure or three every now and then!

Post by **MikeyKb** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 7:20 pm

wonderful job, mate. truly amazing. you're making me want to buy this kit too! I don't own a Tiger 1 yet, but I'll need one come January....
Keep it up! I'm going to go check out your D-Day build now....

Post by **PaulAyrey** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 9:43 pm

Superb stuff Alex, looks really good, amazing in fact!

Post by **Grinjer** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:19 am

I'm glad you don't have to ruin your splendid efforts on the interior to fit the upper deck parts! I have no doubts you'll solve the remaining problem and end up with something super.

Post by **rm6239** » Mon Aug 18, 2014 8:03 am

Alex

Such a great interior mate. Looking forward to more.

cheers

Rossco