Chiefs AFV Club 1/35 late Tiger

[chief5437]

This is what I'll be doing for Emperor Coen's Tiger fest. Got a bit of PE (not much ) to go with it. I think I'm going to have a go at my first real dio with this. No figures as yet, as I'm hoping to do an 'in action' scene, so the Tiger will be all buttoned up.

That's the plan anyway. But no plan survives first contact with the enemy, lol!

[Coen]

I like your plan Chief!
I had that kit not long ago, I ended up giving away as a gift. It's got some nice goodies in the box.
Should be an interesting build.

[rsrdevon]

Ive seen this kit for sale before and wondered if it were any good. Look forward to seeing how it comes out.

[chief5437]

I do hope it turns out ok! I've read some good reviews for it, a few minus points for the tracks and the odd small inaccuracy.

[Paul]

Nice chief

[MarkVerploeg]

Cool looking kit Chief
I actually used the camo from the boxart of this kit for my big tiger
Looking forward to your build and good luck
Cheers Mark

[psydeviant]

kool , i think its pretty much the same tooling as the other AFV late tiger that im building but with combat tracks

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

I do not believe it..... Exactly the same kitty cat as I'm going to build....
Do you have plant a camera here mate?
Great kit, agreed about the tracks. Will replace them for Friul tracks though.
Good luck building this beast!
I will start building after you, so I can peek....

[chief5437]

Finally got a start on this the other day!

Quick shot of the sprues.



Got a fair bit done. Started with the wheels and suspension, all workable. If you check out Frans' thread you can see a video of it in action, very cool!



Then I started on the upper hull. Couple of minor problems. Upper hull was a bit warped, but quite flexible, so shouldn't be too hard to just glue in place.



The other fault being a break in the hull, indicated by the arrow. Again, not a real problem.



I added a piece of scrap plastic card below the engine deck, otherwise it'd just be a huge void below! As you can see, it's been used for testing colours previously, lol!



And a view from above. With PE grills fitted.



Fitted the front light bracket from the PE set. I left the actual light off as I'm intending to display this tiger 'in action'. Also replaced the moulded in light cable with copper wire.



Added exhaust caps and covers from PE. Also fitted the jack brackets and clamps. They're fully workable, and I think they look cool as they are. So I'm considering 'losing' the jack and leaving the brackets as is.



Hard to see in this pic, but I cut off the moulded hatch jams on the engine hatch, and replaced with brass tube, so it could be posed 'open' for extra cooling. Also replaced the lifting handles with wire ones.



Zimmerit was applied with Humbrol filler, then pattern created with a zimmerit tool. Generously provided by Frans, cheers buddy, much appreciated!

At first I thought I'd gone a bit OTT with it, but after checking references, it looks like it was applied a bit hap hazzardly! So I think it will look fine once painted. When it had dried, I chipped parts off to give a worn appearance.



Next up was the turret. From my refs, the only obvious omission on this kit is the weld line across the turret roof. Strange, as they've included some nice weld/torch cut details elsewhere!

I cut a notch were the weld would be, with a razor saw. Then glued a thin rod of plastic in the notch. This was then softened with cement and stippled with a stiff brush and knife, to give a weld effect. The moulded rain channels on the commanders position were also re-cut to give a more 'torch cut' effect.



And that's when I came to a stand still. As you can see, the metal barrel is solid. However, the idea I have for display requires a hollow barrel. Lacking my own lathe, I need to find a way to drill out the full length of the barrel



So, that's where I am right now. If I can't get the barrel drilled out, I'm gonna have to rethink my display options, which would be a shame, as I wanted this tribute build to be my first real 'dio'. well, we shall see what happens!

Thanks for looking guys there's some awesome builds going on in this GB, kutgw!

[rwsmith14]

Looking Good !! the Jack brackets looks nice !!

[Coen]

Oh I think that you should leave the jack off as well Chief. That bracket is well built buddy, looks fantastic. So does the zimmerit.
The scribed roof seam and rescrhibed drains are also well done.
This is going to be a hell of a build it think.
I honestly can't remember if you had said what your plans for the dio were or not, so I can't imagine why you'd need to drill out the whole lenght of one.
I can say that I'm interesting in finding out.

[chief5437]

Thanks for the encouragement Coen! I haven't said too much about what I'm planning as I've never tried it before, it may go horribly wrong, lol! Also, I know Frans will be spying and probably have the same idea! Ha ha! Thanks again buddy, much appreciated!

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Thanks for the encouragement Coen! I haven't said too much about what I'm planning as I've never tried it before, it may go horribly wrong, lol! Also, I know Frans will be spying and probably have the same idea! Ha ha! Thanks again buddy, much appreciated!

Lol! No spying Chief, just admiring your build right now!
Funny thing, you got a different coulour of parts then I have in my box! Guess the green parts are older. I too have a warped upper hull, put it in hot water to soften it so I could bend it straight again.
I havent got a go at applying zimmerit, got some putty to order first. My ideas for this tiger are not clear. Got no idea about figures or display. The only thing I do know is that I will not build a diorama. A vignette maybe

Great job on bending the pe
I new you could do it!
The weld line on the turret is something I spotted too, have to execute that too. The Dutchman's way..
Keep up the great work mate!

[chief5437]

Quick update on this, nothing more done! Got a new barrel but it's only partly drilled out. I started drilling it out myself, which was going swimmingly until the drill bit snapped! Leaving half of it deep inside the barrel

So that's that idea scuppered! I'd have been better off with a plastic barrel, but the kit doesn't provide one!

Did tigers ever have cam nets or bushes wrapped round the barrel?

Cheers guys!

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Quick update on this, nothing more done! Got a new barrel but it's only partly drilled out. I started drilling it out myself, which was going swimmingly until the drill bit snapped! Leaving half of it deep inside the barrel

So that's that idea scuppered! I'd have been better off with a plastic barrel, but the kit doesn't provide one!

Did tigers ever have cam nets or bushes wrapped round the barrel?

Cheers guys!

Ah maaaan! That sucks!
No plastic barrel in my kit either, so can't help you out with that one......
As for the cam nets, I think I have seen some pics of tigers that had them, but not sure.
I think Coen is your best source here

If you screw it up too much, I would go for this camouflage....



Sucks with that drill stuck inside buddy, but what were you planning? Shoot real rounds?
Hope it will get sorted mate, good luck!

[chief5437]

Ha ha! Cheers Frans! shooting real rounds?! Have you set up a spy camera in my cave now? Lol!

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Ha ha! Cheers Frans! shooting real rounds?! Have you set up a spy camera in my cave now? Lol!

Lol! I spy with my little eye....

[chief5437]

Cheers for the pic Frans, looks like the gun would be cam'd up eventually! Found this on too...



So, two period pics is good enough in my book. Trees it is! Lol!

Thanks again buddy!

[chief5437]

Cheers for the pic Frans, looks like the gun would be cam'd up eventually! Found this on too...



So, two period pics is good enough in my book. Trees it is! Lol!

Thanks again buddy!

Ps, they loved those buckets!!

[Coen]

Buckets were life to a tanker...
that's no joke. A bucket was as important as water to the crew. They were treasured items.

You can also add a dust cover to the muzzle brake dust cover to hide the damage too. You can make them out of putty or tissue paper soaked in watered down white glue.

[chief5437]

cheers for the info Coen, deffo going to find a bucket now!

[Donkeywalloper]

God Chief, your really going to town on this build.
See, I like your idea of a "Buttoned Up" Tiger, its kinda of what I was planning.
Flicking through photo's of Tigers in action, they are not clean and precise vehicles.
Bits hanging off and crew kit and pieces missing left right and centre.
I keep looking at my masses of PE and then at kit and feel I maybe overdoing it.
Think I may hang back and try and get a more battered and bruised look.
Your thread and work is inspirational to me. You really are doing a ace job mate.
John

[wappynutter]

Looking good so far Chief...
Gonna be a sweet build when all finished..
All the best mate...

[chief5437]

Right then! Haven't touched this in ages. I got so annoyed trying to sort the barrel, I totally lost interest in models!

So, to get back in the saddle, I knocked up a 1/48 tiger and panzer IV. The tiger was already part built. Being tamiya, they built like a dream!





I got myself another barrel for the AFV Club Tiger. But I'm not going to try and modify (break) this one. To that end, my original plans will probably have to change I'll see how I'm doing for time later on.

I'd best get cracking!

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Right then! Haven't touched this in ages. I got so annoyed trying to sort the barrel, I totally lost interest in models!

So, to get back in the saddle, I knocked up a 1/48 tiger and panzer IV. The tiger was already part built. Being tamiya, they built like a dream!

I got myself another barrel for the AFV Club Tiger. But I'm not going to try and modify (break) this one. To that end, my original plans will probably have to change I'll see how I'm doing for time later on.

I'd best get cracking!

OH! Those 1:48 models are looking terrific!
So a change of plans eh? Good luck mate!
Whatever your plan will be, I'm sure it will be a blast!
I'm done building my Tiger, planning on painting and maybe weathering her this weekend.
Now go back in that saddle chief and amaze us like you just did with these two 1:48 models.
Go Go Go!

[Coen]

Those are splendid DAK vehicles chief. Knocked together eh? I can't wait to see what happenes when you mean business,

[PaulAyrey]

Yeah, they look great!

[chief5437]

Hi guys! I'll start this update with one word... AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Long story short I had big ideas for this build, really wanted to go to town on it for Coen. However, after various set backs, loss of mojo and time constraints, I'm going to have to go with something a bit 'off the wall' with this. If it doesn't meet with the GB guidelines, so be it. I'd rather have something to show than not finish in time!

So I got all the main assembly finished, but as you can see, I've lost one set of road wheels somewhere! Don't ask me how, the whole kit has been sat in the same box for ages. How does one wheel go missing?!



Hopefully I can find that missing wheel, and get some paint down!

Cheers fellas

[rwsmith14]

Your not the only one Chief.. for some reason I have been losing parts on the last few builds I've done I lost all the pieces to the wing flap/brake assembly on my A-4 that I did for the Vietnam GB.. still have not found the piece,that has been since October. had to steal them from my other kit. Now have a kit with missing parts. Just lost a piece to my 1/48 BAC Lightning E,E so that's on hold now.

Hopefully your wheel will show up. looking forward to the rest of your build

[chief5437]

Your not the only one Chief.. for some reason I have been losing parts on the last few builds I've done I lost all the pieces to the wing flap/brake assembly on my A-4 that I did for the Vietnam GB.. still have not found the piece,that has been since October. had to steal them from my other kit. Now have a kit with missing parts. Just lost a piece to my 1/48 BAC Lightning E,E so that's on hold now.

Hopefully your wheel will show up. looking forward to the rest of your build

Cheers buddy

What parts are you missing from your Lightning? Is it the Airfix F2a/F6 kit? I've got two in the stash if I can help with the missing bits.

[Coen]

You could still model the tiger with the missing road wheel Chief.
There's lots of reference of tigers still in service that lost a wheel or even two to mines or artillery hits.
Early tigers like these removed the first wheel to stop mud and debris from riding up the sprocket and taking the tracks off, but you can see one other wheel missing from Wittmann's tank as well.