Wittmann's Kursk Tiger 1331

[Coen]

One of my favourite tigers is Michael Wittmann's Tiger I from the battle of Kursk July 1943.
An early production vehicle built sometime between March and April of 1943 that there isn't a single photograph of.
It's one that I've built four times now.
I keep rebuilding it every few years as my skills improve and access to better kits becomes apparent.
The current one on my shelf is about 4 or 5 years old now and my skills have matured considerably since then as well as my access to better materials to paint and weather.
I haven't been happy with the old build for many years, but it was a very expensive kit bash at the time of the build and it was done long before I new about ordering decals online, or even was aware of the vast array of aftermarket.
All I had was a couple of kits, a lot of books that I barely understood, and some tools.

Not a lot had changed since then, except that the kits that I have are better... I just need the one and some bits from my spares bins.
And I have better books and a better understanding of what's in them.

Here is the build that currently sits on the shelf... most likely it will either be renumbered to another member of Wittmann's company. The font of the current turret numbers is wrong.
Or it will be recycled for parts.



This is the kit that I'll be using to build the new version.
It's of a later production of the early tiger than what Wittmann had at Kursk, but it's nothing that I can't easily fix with a hobby knife and some bits from the spares drawer.



The build was fairly straight forward, better than most dragon kits in fact.
But I've built so many tigers that I don't think that I would notice an error in the instructions... I actually don't look at them much anymore.




I used the pin method to apply the proper sag to the tracks and I also added some battle damage here and there. Hoping to depict the tiger on day two or three of Operation Zitadel, nearing Prokhorovka. She would have many dents and dings by then.



Just some of the spares that I'm using... I could almost build a tiger just from my extra parts.



The lower hull almost done...



I've already built this kit and I know that it's builds very well with a weird fit issue at the bow and behind the glacis plates, this kit was no different. It had the exact same issues. I fixed it the same way as the previous build with some thin styrene card to fill some gaps and a wee bit of filler.



Next I'll start in on the turret and then I'll sort out some figures for it.

[arilo76]

Nice work Coen

[OneSmallStep1966]

I'll be watching this build closely especially as I have two Dragon Tiger 1 kits just waiting to be built in my stash (6253 & 6820)

[Coen]

The last few days I've been picking away at this and I've managed to finish it and make it ready for paint.
The figures will be striped and repainted in their proper camo and some putty work will be tended to.

No major issues with the build other than what I've already mentioned. It went together fairly well and fairly fast.
Just like the last one.
I had to make a few alterations to the turret to make it appropriate to a March/April Prod 43 Tiger, so a dip into the spares bin was needed.
The previous build I did of 1331 I chose to model it after another modellers references, where he decided to make his tiger one of the 25 that had 8 spare track links on the turret rather than 7. There's no evidence one way or the other that Wittmann's tiger was one of those, so this time I built it as one with 7 links.

I will also be replacing the kit DS tracks with some Fruil tracks that I have already made up. Saves me some time and I don't need the pins in the hull.

















I also sorted out some of the Wittmann figures that I have in my stash so that the correct Mike is with the correct kitty.
This I finished painting last night.



I'm going to work on a couple of my other projects for a bit, but I hope to get some paint on this in a few days.

[mick]

great work

[SMAddict66]

Coen, I could genuinely look at your build work almost all day. The speed is incredible but being able to produce such consistent quality is mind numbing for me.

Long may it continue

[HamilkarBarkas]

Sweet model, gets everyone in the mood to build a tiger

[Coen]

Sweet model, gets everyone in the mood to build a tiger

I'm always in the mood to build a Tiger Michael
If I had the room, the money, and the reference material I'd build every tiger I there are records for.

[Coen]

Doing some work on figures today, I'm trying to come up with a story to tell with them.
I have a figure of Michael (the fella with the field glasses, used the head from the original kit) and I have a Bobby Woll figure (the fella with the wierd camouflage uniform). I think that I'll use some zvezda figs that I have and replace the heads with the heads from the original kit.

[InitialProduction1]

Sweet build coen, love the tiger, love the kursk battle, so I get the best of both worlds. Next build I do is Wittmann's 007, heard a story on Wittmann, that I want to verify from you. Anyway Really like watching your builds, especially your tigers. But I'm a tiger nut, So you always have my attention.

[Coen]

Sweet build coen, love the tiger, love the kursk battle, so I get the best of both worlds. Next build I do is Wittmann's 007, heard a story on Wittmann, that I want to verify from you. Anyway Really like watching your builds, especially your tigers. But I'm a tiger nut, So you always have my attention.

What's the story?

[Coen]

I think that I've finished the figures.
A bit of Frankensteining of heads and figure set may have done it.
The fella with the field glasses(Wittmann) may end up turned to his right so that he is looking off in the distance at something.
I'm not completely sold as yet, but it's speaking to me... Or it's my sandwich... Too much mr. Surfacer again

[mincemeat]

Another lovely and fantastic build Coen! Would you mind adding the link to your "pin" method video? I know I've seen it, but not sure which video it is on your YouTube channel list. I need to start getting serious with track sag if I'm going to continue with German armor and rubber band tracks. I think I'm past the point with my Stug, but there's always the next one!

[InitialProduction1]

Wittmann was offered a panther before kursk Offensive, but he turned it down for its unfamiliarity to the army.? I have never heard this before, and I thought I was up on Wittmann, and his tank life. Any ideas?

[Coen]

Wittmann was offered a panther before kursk Offensive, but he turned it down for its unfamiliarity to the army.? I have never heard this before, and I thought I was up on Wittmann, and his tank life. Any ideas?

I've heard that tale before, though I don't remember ever finding it backed up in any reference material as yet... Though I wasn't actually looking for it so I may have some that sheds light on it.
It's possible, though the panthers were operating in a different group than Wittmann's, he would have had to transfer to get to command one.

[Coen]

Another lovely and fantastic build Coen! Would you mind adding the link to your "pin" method video? I know I've seen it, but not sure which video it is on your YouTube channel list. I need to start getting serious with track sag if I'm going to continue with German armor and rubber band tracks. I think I'm past the point with my Stug, but there's always the next one!

I think this is it...

[youtube]XMdh9zovtT0[/youtube]

[mannloon]

Wittmann was offered a panther before kursk Offensive, but he turned it down for its unfamiliarity to the army.? I have never heard this before, and I thought I was up on Wittmann, and his tank life. Any ideas?

Leibstandarte was not issued Panthers at that time. All Panthers were issued to the units that made up the Panther Regiment. So that story sounds unlikely.

I obviously have done a fair amount of research on the Tigers delivered to Wittmann's unit so I'm curious what modifications you thought needed to be made to the kit Michael.

[Icemannique]

Boys are identifying birds ! Looking forward to see whats coming up !

[Coen]

Wittmann was offered a panther before kursk Offensive, but he turned it down for its unfamiliarity to the army.? I have never heard this before, and I thought I was up on Wittmann, and his tank life. Any ideas?

Leibstandarte was not issued Panthers at that time. All Panthers were issued to the units that made up the Panther Regiment. So that story sounds unlikely.

I obviously have done a fair amount of research on the Tigers delivered to Wittmann's unit so I'm curious what modifications you thought needed to be made to the kit Michael.

I think that the only parts that I had to go outside the kit for was the mantlet and I think the rear hull plate, the rest I just deviated from the parts in the instructions and used the extra parts in the kit designated as not for use for S04. S04 was a later production than Wittmann's Kursk tiger and for my build I assumed that his was a March/April prod vehicle. Though no knows for sure.

I deleted all of the command variant parts, and I chose a standard early prod rear hull plate. I used the glacis with the deleted drivers binoc ports and I used the welded loaders hatch.
I used the mine launcher arms for the turret but cut them off close to the hull to represent the field deletion. I filled all of the location holes on the hull deck and placed all of the tools according to the March/April config, though I think that they were mostly the same. I also added the engine hatch stands to the engine hatch, though I didn't position them in use.

That was about as much detail as I had the energy to go into with the mods. I could have picked up a pe set and fixed up the exhaust shrouds, tool clamps, fenders and mud flaps, but I wasn't really in the mood to this time.
Maybe in another four or five years when I build it again hahaha.

[InitialProduction1]

Wittmann was offered a panther before kursk Offensive, but he turned it down for its unfamiliarity to the army.? I have never heard this before, and I thought I was up on Wittmann, and his tank life. Any ideas?

Leibstandarte was not issued Panthers at that time. All Panthers were issued to the units that made up the Panther Regiment. So that story sounds unlikely.

I obviously have done a fair amount of research on the Tigers delivered to Wittmann's unit so I'm curious what modifications you thought

I've heard that tale before, though I don't remember ever finding it backed up in any reference material as yet... Though I wasn't actually looking for it so I may have some that sheds light on it.
It's possible, though the panthers were operating in a different group than Wittmann's, he would have had to transfer to get to command one.

Thanks coen and Adam, I just couldn't see that, I knew you could help. looking forward to my model meeting next month, I run into a lot of strong minded people on WWII anymore, I usually just give up, I'm at the age now where i just don't argue over this stuff anymore, unless I've read the heck out of it, and know it for a fact, or until I read or I learn from someone else who knows more about it. Thanks again.

[InitialProduction1]

WHERE THE HECK IS coens quote? I added coens and Adams, well I thought I did. UGH. Anyway thanks guys.

[ForbesHutton]

WHERE THE HECK IS coens quote? I added coens and Adams, well I thought I did. UGH. Anyway thanks guys.

That would require the "multi-quote" feature on the forum be enabled, and it's not.

[InitialProduction1]

thanks ForbesHutton, like I've said, I'm not computer or Web smart, but I keep plugging away at it, lol.

[mannloon]

I forgot that was a command vehicle, so you had to modify that.

[Coen]

Thanks coen and Adam, I just couldn't see that, I knew you could help. looking forward to my model meeting next month, I run into a lot of strong minded people on WWII anymore, I usually just give up, I'm at the age now where i just don't argue over this stuff anymore, unless I've read the heck out of it, and know it for a fact, or until I read or I learn from someone else who knows more about it. Thanks again.

I never pretend nor profess to know anthing, then I can't argue about it and no one asks me too.

[InitialProduction1]

Thanks coen and Adam, I just couldn't see that, I knew you could help. looking forward to my model meeting next month, I run into a lot of strong minded people on WWII anymore, I usually just give up, I'm at the age now where i just don't argue over this stuff anymore, unless I've read the heck out of it, and know it for a fact, or until I read or I learn from someone else who knows more about it. Thanks again.

I never pretend nor profess to know anthing, then I can't argue about it and no one asks me too.

Lol, and coen, there lie's the problem, I feel the need to know, "why" I don't know, I must follow your teachings, sir night of the realm.

[Coen]

Lol, and coen, there lie's the problem, I feel the need to know, "why" I don't know, I must follow your teachings, sir night of the realm.

Ha!
Then me son... you truly are lost Muhahahahahaha!

[Coen]

Just when I thought that it was safe to go back into the water.
My H&S Evo is still not working properly. I've no idea what the hell is wrong with it now. The only original parts left on it are the nozzle, needle holder thingy, and the airhose connector. The body was swapped out as I thought that the air channel was fouled beyond repair.
That doesn't seem to be the case.
The badger anthem seems to work like it's supposed to using the same compressor and hose, so I don't think that's the issue.
I be stymied.
I've ordered a new air valve to see if that's what's causing the problem. Once that's replaced it's pretty much a brand new H&S Evo.

Sadly I tried painting the tiger with the anthem... well it just doesn't have the fine control that I can get from the evo. Even at low pressures it's still a fire hose.
I'm not happy at all with the camouflage pattern and I had to do numerous touch ups.
But I already have the decals on and it's too late to do anything now. I'm not one for patience.
In four or five more years I'll just build it again. Last time it was the decals that I didn't like, this time it's the camo.
















I've started with the detail painting and I hope that by the end of the day I'll have it gloss coated and I can start chipping.

[InitialProduction1]

As his evil laugh rings in my head, lol. Back to my stopping by, your really making another show winner. Thank you for showing the armored cover on the vent, a lot of guys think that's two different styles of covers, not vent and the lid. Looking at your superb dragon build, I wish rye field would have copied the dragon more, like making no pin marks on the loaders hatch for one, copy there feifel filters. And have some orange peel, is that to much to ask. again very great build.

[Coen]

I usually pose the armoured vent covers like this. I hate wasting them.
In reality they most often stowed them in the turret bin or somewhere in the fighting compartment.

One day someone will kit the perfect tiger I.... But then what would we have to complain about?
Hahaha

I spent the afternoon messing with my airbrush and I think that I may have got it working... The O ring at the base of the pinch tip seems to be failing and it might have been messing with the airflow.
I took it off and cleaned it (I don't have a replacement) and the brush worked better.
Since I just placed my order with Martin at air-craft.net for a new valve and he's already shipped it, I'll wait till tomorrow and order a new set of rings and while I'm at it I may as well order a new needle Chuck assembly and trigger. It's all that I need to make a new evolution. Haha

Anyway, I resprayed the tiger while the brush was working and I'm happier with it now. All of the overspray from the badger brush is gone and all I have to do is repaint the Balkenkreuz and the transition line for the areas under the side fenders.

[InitialProduction1]

aah sir coen, what an awesome paint and build, love the battlefield damage, just amazing.

[Coen]

I've started on the chipping now, it's pretty slow going as I decided to use the multilayer chipping this time.

Wittmann's unit was shelled several times before and during the battle of Kursk and more so leading up to the battle of Prokhorovka. So the paint on the tiger would have take many small hits form shrapnel from near misses. Any sheet metal parts would have had some perforation as well.
All of the photos of the tigers form Wittmann's unit seem to be from near the beginning of the battle when the tigers were almost in brand new condition, some were only a couple of months old. So it's hard to tell what they looked like as they reached the outskirts of Prokhorovka and the extremely intense close quarter fighting there.

Since I and depicting this as being his tiger as the battle for the Obyan Road and Prokhorovka started I chose to show it as having several hits from tank shells, soviet anti-tank rifles, as well as many shrapnel hits.

First I painted all of the major impacts from shell hits or from the anti-tank rifles with Ammo's gunmetal, then I did the light background around the hits to show the fresh exposed paint for all the the areas to be chipped. Ammo Dunklegelb Hightlite was used for that.



Then I took some Vallejo Model Colour Germ. Black Brown and used it to do the centres of all the chips to represent the exposed metal beneath. Later I'll drybrush these with some gunmetal or I'll use and HB pencil to do it, depending on which is easiest to get in there.
I never use a shiny or bright metal paint for exposed metal. It's overscale and unrealistic. Only a very fresh hit would have any real shine. Hits a day or two old would have started to tarnish and the shine would be gone.
All of the areas that had the paint rubbed off from crew passage would also not have any real shine, they would be a dull metal colour.



There's a huge amount of contrast to the chips at the moment, but it always looks like that. Once I apply the washes and filters all of that goes away and they start to blend in.
Like this... this is also multilayer chipping.

[InitialProduction1]

Really great looking coen, looks like S22 of Reich, that tank took a beating at kursk, as all the divisions did. Anyway you really captured the look. Well done.

[Coen]

I may have gotten carried away, but that seems to be the style these days. Over weathering of vechicles.
What I see as being overzealous others see as a popular trend.
Everyone seems to want to make their vehicles look as though they've been in a farmer's field for 30 years.
That's totally cool, if that's what you're modelling. But if you're modelling an in service vehicle it's a bit over the top.

Anyway, I've finished the detail painting and I'll be gloss coating it later today.
Then I'll start on the washes.

[InitialProduction1]

Looking good, where do you get your tow cables from?, your's are looking good, and I think there not adding copper cable anymore, or am I wrong? I have some spares, there in copper, but after that I'm buying from my local hobby shop. you have to heat it, and I think it's to small, so you can never stop looking for a better alternative, again great build coen.

[Coen]

I normally use karaya tow cables, but I'm out at the moment, all I have is the track cable left. So I used some picture wire instead.
It's completely the wrong braid for a, tiger tow cable, but it's all that I had.
I wanted to have one cable hanging in a ready position buy I didn't want to wait three weeks for more cable to arrive on order.
No patience you see.

[InitialProduction1]

Man do I know what you mean, lol, I've use picture wire because of shear desperation, in fact I think that's when I stopped going to model contests, I'll look up karaya tow cables, see what I can get. Thanks coen.

[Coen]

Wash On... Wash off

Just finished the Ultimate Dark Dirt wash.
Did exactly as I hoped and expected... as usual
I put it on last night but I was too nackered to take it off so I left it till this morning.
The cool thing about a clay based wash is once it's dry (20-30 minutes) you can take it off anytime. two hours or two months later.

[InitialProduction1]

Really awesome coen, love that beat up look, very nice.

[Coen]

Thanks
By, buy, bye.
I know... It's a silly language bud.
I'll one up ya Hendrik... Here in Nova Scotia we even have a forth one...
Byee = dude, fella, bud...
Howz she goin byee?
Who's yer fadder byee?

The land of the ridiculous.


Anyway... Not much to report for today. Sprayed some Testors Dullcote on her and called it a day.










Next is a filter. Most likely a blue one or a dark yellow. Blue would age it and yellow would darken it as well as make it look newer.
Then I'll do a dot filter and some rust work.

[d6mst0]

Looking forward to the next set of pictures. Great work.

[HIghAltitudeScale]

Dammit Michael you keep turning out these great looking builds. I am in awe of your skills.

[Tiger213]

splendid job, I love the battle damage

[Stokesy44]

That is just outstanding

[Coen]

Thanks fellas.

I've been busy with her today.
Now that the flat coat is on I did a few bright yellow filters to try and get the yellow to come back a bit.
For the most part it worked, but the yellow that I have is just some cheap oil that doesn't even have the colour name written on the tube. So it's not the best. It tends to leave a film rather than a glaze.
Some quality Winsor Newton yellows are on the shopping list now.



Then I added the rust work...



Then I added some Ultimate earth to the lower hull and back sides of the wheels, then a layer of mud made from dried Ultimate earth, pastel chalks, static grass, water, and white glue to the lower hull, wheels and tracks. Then I installed them.
Then I added some dark brown pigments to the turret roof and crew hatches to show the crew passage.





Next I need to add some clear tinted gloss to the vision blocks and some gunmetal shine to some of the wear edges.
I also need to finish the figures and build a small vignette base.

[Stokesy44]

I'm sitting in the corner repeating to myself - its ok, its ok, don't feel bad....

Only joking - another fine piece of work. Words fail me.

[OneSmallStep1966]

It's not just the quality that's incredible but the speed Coen builds them at

[Coen]

nah... This part of the build is always faster than that others. Mud and pigments only take a few minutes to do.


These take a little longer.
Started in on the figures. There's still a little detail left to do, but they're nearly ready for a wash.

[InitialProduction1]

Fun to watch this build come alive coen, great looking figures.

[Coen]

I still have to add the fuel and grease stains as well as a little bit of pigment work to the figures uniforms and the road wheels, but she's almost finished.
The base is just a piece for photos and isn't permanent.