Tamiya 1/48 Sturmtiger

[Quax]

So whilst waiting for a GB to be decided on I thought I would start this just to fill in some time and give me a little practice at a different scale. So....










And I thought I'd give the zimmeritt decals a go



As this is Tamiya it all goes together quite easily although I seem to be missing some small poly caps which is overcome able



The only irritation so far are the push out mark's that litter the tracks, these do stand off ok and it's only the outer ones that are visible



Paul

[Kevthemodeller]

Oh 1/48 Paul didn't know you was a fan of that scale. Looking forward to following along mate

[CygnusX1]

I like the idea of 48th scale, mainly because I'm running out of storage space.
Seems awfully small for some of those details though; is this essentially the 35th kit scaled down? Looks like it from what I can see.

Anyway, sure you'll make something decent from it; will be following along.

[Oddball007]

I've been interested in getting into 1/48th scale, I'll be watching this build for inspiration to bite the bullet and get a 1/48th Tiger.

[Quax]

Thanks guys, this is my first 1/48th armour kit so it's a trial for me too..I cant comment on whether it's a scaled down 1/35th as I've not made a Sturmtiger in that scale. I did quite like the zimmeritt, it's a peel off sticker and goes on well, it's not an instant grab so you do have a chance to correct and to be honest doing putty style zim at this scale would be a faff!
As its Tamiya it's almost click together and here it is build and primed




Cheers for looking
Paul

[Hawkmoon]

Coming together nicely and top work

[KalebB]

Looking good!! And as you said, trying to get Zim at the correct thickness at that scale would be a pain as well as getting the pattern right.

[Kevthemodeller]

Beautifully laid down premier Paul what have you used and thinned it with if you have?

[ElCapitan]

That's looking great. I've never tried building armour in this scale either. Would you recommend it?

[Donkeywalloper]

What a lovely build of this cracking looking tank.
Love the Zim and the build is pure Tamiya.
DW

[Quax]

Beautifully laid down premier Paul what have you used and thinned it with if you have?

Kev you blasphemer! there can be only one primer on this site.... it is of course U M P Black

would I recommend, well its Tamiya, there arent too many obscenely small parts, the link and length tracks hate me but they always do so... There's a very good couple of Youtube videos by Sergio Solo making this kit and he does far more with it. He just says (in Spanish) "do this, clip here, push there" and seconds later you have wonderful tracks. I find myself an hour later wishing I was one of the Xmen with extra arms and I still have to get them back on the tank in one piece... What larks Pip, what larks...

Paul
ps: this keeps autocorrecting U M P to Ultimate, to say U.M.P I have to put in spaces or periods, this is annoying!

[Kevthemodeller]

Cheers Paul, I thought it might have been, it's what I use Ultimate I mean. But what did you use to thin it with if you did? I've a good few of videos by Sergio Solo, all very good Like many of these video's it all looks very easy, until you try and do it, you find there's lots of little bits they've not showed or told you

I'm not having the auto correct/suggestion issue your having, try turning off the suggested words

[Quax]

Cheers Paul, I thought it might have been, it's what I use Ultimate I mean. But what did you use to thin it with if you did? I've a good few of videos by Sergio Solo, all very good Like many of these video's it all looks very easy, until you try and do it, you find there's lots of little bits they've not showed or told you

I'm not having the auto correct/suggestion issue your having, try turning off the suggested words

No I never thin it, just blast it out of my Apex 0.3 at about 30psi, the only issue I have is when doing alot of priming it can build up on the tip but that's an easy clean and that's why it's so good; no chemistry degree required
Paul

[Kevthemodeller]

Cheers Paul, I thought it might have been, it's what I use Ultimate I mean. But what did you use to thin it with if you did? I've a good few of videos by Sergio Solo, all very good Like many of these video's it all looks very easy, until you try and do it, you find there's lots of little bits they've not showed or told you

I'm not having the auto correct/suggestion issue your having, try turning off the suggested words

No I never thin it, just blast it out of my Apex 0.3 at about 30psi, the only issue I have is when doing alot of priming it can build up on the tip but that's an easy clean and that's why it's so good; no chemistry degree required
Paul

Paul

[Oddball007]

Its coming to together nicely, watching with keen interest.

[CygnusX1]

Looks good; those Zim stickers look like they went on all OK too.

Tamiya's Sturmtiger in 35th is... OK. If you're a Tiger fanatic, then you'll need some different tracks for it, but elsewise, I think it's a pretty good kit.

[Quax]

Thanks for the encouragement chaps

I had some free time this afternoon so got some red primer on, a mix of Tamiya flat red hull red and white. That was followed by a quick splurge of Matt varnish (because I'm heavy handed at chipping) then Worn effects followed on the wheels with AK Real Color dunkelgelb and a quick chip. I meant to say all the wheels had first been given a spray with Xtreme matt Aluminium for the contact points.










Cheers
Paul

[KalebB]

Looks like she's getting along quite well!

Great chipping on the road wheels

[alextheblue]

Looking great Paul. All the prep work with the aluminium and red oxide is really paying off - great red colour by the way, might pinch that tip!

[Quax]

Looking great Paul. All the prep work with the aluminium and red oxide is really paying off - great red colour by the way, might pinch that tip!

Feel free
I managed to get the dunkelgelb coat on this morning and do a bit of chipping with that, I thought it looks ok as theres still the two cammo colours to go on. This is it for the weekend as I booked a valentine's weekend away for the wife and I ( I had to take her as all my other girlfriends were busy... ) and we're going to a pub on the coast at West Bay. My UK friends will know that I chose a weekend that Dennis is coming to play so I suspect the next 24 hours will be locked in a pub, but what's to do...If I don't post again I I've drowned either in seawater or beer...






Cheers hic..
Paul

[CygnusX1]

Looks superb.
What are you using for you dunkelgelb?

[Stokesy44]

Just seen this. Beautiful work. Those wheels look awesome

[Oddball007]

It's coming along nicely

[Quax]

Looks superb.
What are you using for you dunkelgelb?

Thanks Cygnus this is AK Real colors RC060 dunkelgelb RAL 7028

Paul

[CygnusX1]

Thanks Cygnus this is AK Real colors RC060 dunkelgelb RAL 7028

Paul

I've never used Real Colour - but that looks superb, like a very nice late war DG.
AK Real Colours are ready to spray out of the bottle or do you need to thin? If you thin, what do you use?

And sorry for the minor thread hijack

[Quax]

Thanks Cygnus this is AK Real colors RC060 dunkelgelb RAL 7028

Paul

I've never used Real Colour - but that looks superb, like a very nice late war DG.
AK Real Colours are ready to spray out of the bottle or do you need to thin? If you thin, what do you use?

And sorry for the minor thread hijack

No worries, I compare it to how Tamiya should have been as the colours are all correct rather than having to mix. As they're an acrylic lacquer I use MLT and it goes on without issue and levels perfectly. I use an Apex at various pressures

Paul

[CygnusX1]

No worries, I compare it to how Tamiya should have been as the colours are all correct rather than having to mix. As they're an acrylic lacquer I use MLT and it goes on without issue and levels perfectly. I use an Apex at various pressures

Paul

Cool - put them on my shopping list... that DG really does look great.

[Quax]

Just a quick wheel update, mostly oils with a filter and black panel liner. A coat of varnish with dust and dirt to end.





Cheers
Paul

[KalebB]

Road Wheels are looking nice and grimey Quax!

Very realistic looking imo

[Quax]

Bit more colour and a chip







Cheers
Paul

[RangerNeil]

That's really looking good!!
Do you have the full set of Tiger variants now???

[Kevthemodeller]

These wheels look superb, very nice cammo with some equally great looking weathering and just for starters I'm thinking

[Quax]

Ambush added and a bit of oil weathering started. Quite enjoyable really







Cheers
Paul

[KalebB]

Your ambush camouflage is looking superb sir!

Can't wait to see it all nicely weathered up

[Quax]

Many thanks Kaleb, its enjoyable in a weird way

@rangerneil apologies for not replying, I had to look at my windowsill of doom and realised that I don't have an initial so I guess it will be a 131 kit at some point plus the Elefant, Ferdinand jagdtiger and bergetiger... I wonder how the wife will take it when I say I need a bigger windowsill??

Paul

[Meliodas2019]

Ambush added and a bit of oil weathering started. Quite enjoyable really







Cheers
Paul

Paul loving the camo it looks stunning ill have to study yours for when I come to mine

man after my own heart going for all the variants of the tiger, good luck in getting a larger windowsill, I made the mistake though of getting a Tiger 1 from every brand..dont have enough room now god knows what ill do when I start buying variants!

[RangerNeil]

Many thanks Kaleb, its enjoyable in a weird way

@rangerneil apologies for not replying, I had to look at my windowsill of doom and realised that I don't have an initial so I guess it will be a 131 kit at some point plus the Elefant, Ferdinand jagdtiger and bergetiger... I wonder how the wife will take it when I say I need a bigger windowsill??

Paul

No probs The Sturm Tiger is looking excellent - really looking forwards to the finished reveal!

Many, many years ago <cough cough> when I was a lad I had built the Tiger 1, King Tiger with Porsche and Henschel turrets, Jagd Tiger and Elefant. The Berg Tiger and Sturm Tiger were not available as kits at that time. All the Tigers were a wonder of engineering - just totally unsuited to the war going on at the time!!

[Kevthemodeller]

Oh yes looking real good there Paul

[Quax]

Thank you to all for your kind comments.

Other side and rear deck done , now moving onto the tools etc.





Cheers
Paul

[KalebB]

With that three tone camouflage, did you mask off to make the pattern or did you free hand it Quax?

[Oddball007]

That's looking outstanding

[Quax]

With that three tone camouflage, did you mask off to make the pattern or did you free hand it Quax?

hi Kaleb, its freehand using AK Real Colors thinned with MLT through the ever reliable Apex at about 15psi (ish).

cheers

Paul

[CygnusX1]

hi Kaleb, its freehand using AK Real Colors thinned with MLT through the ever reliable Apex at about 15psi (ish).

I take it you're hand painting your ambush spots?
And I've given that AK paint a go - only tested it so far on some paint mules, but it seems like fantastic paint. You thin about 50/50 using MLT?
Anyway, looks great so far, doing a fantastic job.

[Quax]

I buy bulk plastic shot glasses from evilbay to mix in along with whoever's has cheap pipettes, that being said I don't mix exactly but judge how it runs in the cup but 50-50 isn't far off, usually around 20psi but fiddle to be happy with it up or down. It's a Sparmax compressor with an analog gauge so who really knows?. I have a sheet of plastic card I use along with an old tamiya Panther. The one thing Real Color are a bit temperamental with is chipping and it can take some effort (the top colours were chipped with a toothbrush and the olivegrun was still resistant...)
Sorry if that's too much info
Paul

[CygnusX1]

I buy bulk plastic shot glasses from evilbay to mix in along with whoever's has cheap pipettes, that being said I don't mix exactly but judge how it runs in the cup but 50-50 isn't far off, usually around 20psi but fiddle to be happy with it up or down. It's a Sparmax compressor with an analog gauge so who really knows?. I have a sheet of plastic card I use along with an old tamiya Panther. The one thing Real Color are a bit temperamental with is chipping and it can take some effort (the top colours were chipped with a toothbrush and the olivegrun was still resistant...)
Sorry if that's too much info
Paul

I'm just testing/playing with AK Real Colour at the moment and I reckoned 'about' 50/50 with MLT gave pretty good results. I'll have a look at the pressure on my compressor though too - I normally keep it at around 25psi, which is good for both Ultimate Primer and Tamiya paint (I have a huge store of Tamiya, as way back when it was what I used almost exclusively) but have been really impressed with AK RC so far - when I was testing I did a section where I practically hosed it on - took a little longer to dry, but no runs, no orange peel...
Your ambush scheme is looking really good though, really impressed.

[Quax]

Calling this finito like Benito or a dorito if you prefer...the link and length tracks were again a mare I hasten to add at this point I have a chronic inability to make l&l tracks work, it's me not the kit.














Thanks for all the kind comments and now it's back to the 80's!
Paul

[Kevthemodeller]

Another lovely build Paul, superb balance of weathering

If I didn't no it was 1/48 I'd wouldn't have guessed, are you now converted to 1/48? They're somewhat cheaper (I think) and easier to display than 1/35.

[KalebB]

Looks awesome Quax

It was fun following this build along. I may get some 1/48th scale kits just because why not

[RangerNeil]

Very impressive - I like the final outcome enough to consider 1/48 as well. Not a scale I usually look at.

[CygnusX1]

Looks superb. Amazing job on that ambush scheme. Hand painted spots or did you airbrush them?
Either way, it looks superb. Great build.