Hessler's King Tiger (original post)

Modeling Subjects Armor
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Hi foks![:)]
Here are some more pix of another model of mine you’re probably sick of seeing![:D] But I got some new pix, taken, so…

Yup, it’s my old Italeri M-47 Patton, finished as “Hessler’s King Tiger R-01” from the much-maligned 1966 Warner Brothers film, “Battle of the Bulge.”
Here are the pix:





Much has been written about the myriad of glaring technical and historical inaccuracies in this film, the least of which (in my opinion) is the choice of M-47s as Tiger IIs and M-24 Chaffees as Shermans. What could you expect filmakers in 1966 to do? Sure, there were some Shermans available back then, but Tiger IIs? Where would anybody since the end of WWII get a bunch of Tiger IIs for filming? Anyway, I love this old film. At the very least, you get to see tanks, tanks, and more tanks! [:p]

Sure, sure, they painted 'em Panzer Gray, too…I know, I know. Who knows why? Stubborn director liked gray? At any rate, looking closely at the M-47s in the film, it seems to me that they made some effort to make them look a little more Tiger-like.

For example, all the bore evacuators have been removed, as have the rear storage bins on the turret bustles. They were probably just lucky that the muzzle brakes were of the more Tigerly design, rather than the T-shaped muzzle brake. Other than that, although the Panzer Gray is way wrong, they did appear to spray it on the rubber wheels as well, in what may have been an attempt to portray the Tiger’s steel wheels.

This is of course all speculation on my part, based on details I noticed when doing the research to turn the Italeri kit into Hessler’s steed. These vehicles may well have been simply in this condition when the filmakers took control of them for shooting.

The build is pretty straightforward, but I replaced the barrel with Jordi Rubio’s 90mm metal item, using one of the muzzle brakes form the Italeri kit. I also used some bits from Eduard’s M-46 PE set, added a wire and white metal cable to the rear, and added some other bits from other sources here and there.

This was the very first model I ever used an airbrush on, and I was just happy that there were no runs! The build has lots of little problems here and there, but I like the overall effect.

Looks like Hessler’s King Tiger to me![:)]
The figure, however looks nothing like Robert Shaw.
Must be the stunt double![:p]

I’d love to hear any comments or criticism about this model.
(Give the flick a break though, OK? It’s been bashed enough!)[:D]

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What a great idea! Modelling tanks from movies (and bad ones at that!).
Your tank looks great! Since this represents a Hollywood effort, it seems like you can get away with more, particularly in the accuracy department, unless you’re trying to make it accurate to the Hollywood original.
Got any more? WE NEED PICS!!
Keep up the good work.
Gip Winecoff

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I thought I remember seeing this model before… It was also in that model show in Japan that you posted earlier. Very nice. I also remember seeing the movie when it came out years ago. You’re right; tanks, tanks and more tanks!! It just killed me to see US tanks being used to portray German ones. I’ve always been a fan of German armor. Perhaps it’s their overall designs based on functionality.

Roy

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Believe it or not, this is my first time seeing this model. It looks great!

I had never thought of actually doing that from the movie, because of the inaccuracies. However that is a fine job!

The ONLY thing that I see missing, is Robert Shaw’s mole on the cheek [:p]

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Awesome J-Hulk. Very imaginative. You did a tremendous job on this kit, the fading and varying shades of the base color really stand out. Use of the coblestone street helps add to the mood. Maybe you should tackle one of the Panzer IV’s from the Movie Patten [;)]

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Thanks, guys![:)]

Styrene, I actually did more research on this vehicle than any other I’ve built! I scoured every second of screentime that Hessler’s R-01 vehicle appeared in, and I believe I faithfully captured every last detail of the vehicle as it appears on film.

Some may ask WHY??? Why model such a dopey topic??? I dunno…I happened to find the vid for about 10 bux at a local shop, and sat down to watch it one afternoon. I had seen it many times since I was a kid, and I was well aware of all the accuracy problems, but when I watched it again after all those years, something inside of me screamed, BUILD IT!! BUILD IT!!! Really, I had never had such an obsessive need to build a particular vehicle before. I’ve always been a big fan of M-47s, and you all know how much I love Panzer Gray, so I suppose several factors merged to guide my hand here.

Yeah Erock, no mole, and this guy really doesn’t look like “Quint” at all, but even in the film ,sometimes it’s obviously another guy in the cupola, too! By the way, this guy was from the same set as the dude I used with my E-100. I think I swapped a head to get that uniform-cap combination, as worn by Shaw (and his double!) in the film.

Yup, Roy, this is the same model on that Kansai AFV no kai link. My buds here really got a kick out of it! everyone recognizes the flaws of that film, but most people love it nonetheless![:p]

Moses, yeah, those were M-47s as Rommel’s Pzr IIIs and IVs, eh? Shermans played by M-41s? Let’s do 'em!

You know fellas, if you think about it , there’s no difference between an M-47 playing a Tiger II and George C. Scott playing Patton! They both KINDA look like the roles they were hired to play!
Men and machines, both acting![:D]

Styrene, I have one more sorta reduntant pic of this “actor.” Just a close-up of the rear, but here it is:

There ya go!
They’re ain’t no more!!

Did I hear someone say, “Thank goodness?”[:D][:D][:D]

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Ouch! Looking at that last pic I just realized the fit of the transmission housing is awful!! How’d I miss that? Maybe it’s so bad I figured that’s how it must have really been. Oh well!

Oh, and here’s a question for everybody:
What the heck is that pipe sticking up out of the ventilator cover towards the rear of the turret? I couldn’t find it on any other M-47 I’ve seen, but it’s on Hesslers, just like that.

Any ideas???

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Hulk,
It’s always a pleasure to see your kits on here. This one is definately no exception. Like movies, I enjoy seeing models to be entertained, and to see another’s craftsmanship. Who cares about accuracies? If you build it, they will applaud! Great job on an interesting subject!

demono69

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Looks great
did you ever do the M24 Chaffee Sherman?
ive got a Dragon 1/6th Hessler figure, i was looking in all my history books for a picture of the real bloke [:I]and then i rememberd he was out of the Battle of the Bulge lol

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Umm… Stupid question… On the rear deck of the tank, do I spy a barrel rest-clampy-thing?

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yeah looks like one

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I echo demono69’s comments. Fine work. I won’t bash Battle of the Bulge, but I will applaud Band of Brothers, which I’m borrowing from my friend. Great series. They did a marvelous job on the Jadgpanther and Stug III. The Stug is a converted British infantry vehicle that they actually cut and stretched out to add a sixth road wheel. With todays current technology, it would be neat to see an updated version of Battle of the Bulge.

“It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it.”-R.E.Lee

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Yes, Tigerman. I would love to see an updated version of this film. I had a copy of it. I love tanks but I would just sleep through it if I watch it again. Not like Kelly’s Heroes or Band of Brothers, huh?

BTW, very nice work J-Hulk. Always a pleasure seeing those monsters of yours.

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Michealvk , it’s called a “travel lock” in the army. we had them on the front of our howitzers. j-hulk: “From now on your infantry VILL go ahead of my TANKS!”

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Thanks for all the nice comments, folks!

LOL, 13b20!! That’s a great quote!
Little did Hessler know that guy was gonna end up sharing the gold in “Kelly’s Heroes!”

Michaelvk, yup, that’s a travel lock on the rear deck. All M-47s had 'em, as far as I know.

Caveman, I do have Guffy’s “Sherman” just about finished. And it’s been like that for over a year! Just gotta add a few more details and paint 'er up. I’m fretting over the stenciling on the turret, though. My hand is nowhere near steady enough to paint it on, and I haven’t been able to find any appropriate letter transfers or decals. I wonder if I could use my computer somehow…

So, anybody have any ideas about what that pipe is on the M-47’s ventilator cover??

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Hey, J-Hulk. Good to see this build again. Are you building Guffy’s “Sherman” in the "before the hit"configuration or the “after” ? :slight_smile: - Ed

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Thanks, Ed!

Nah, I’m doing the intact Kojak wagon, pre-hit.
That post-hit rascal would be an interesting build though, eh? Half a turret, cannon just laying around…
You could do the scene where Guffy’s pushes over the Tiger-killing drums of petrol!! Oh, the drama!

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Did you guys change movies on us mid stream??

Hey hulk, I got an answer for you on that pipe…It’s a pipe sticking out of the ventilator! Not good enough?? Sorry. Maybe they used it like one of those little desk note holders, only to impale victims on!

Bill

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Bill, you’re a funny guy![:D]

Now, really…what is that pipe?? Ya reckon the producers stuck it on there for whatever reason (a misplaced machinegun mount?), or is it something found on the ocassional M-47?
I don’t have a ton of ref pix on the M-47, but none of them have that pesky pipe!

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J-hulk if yer talkin’ about the one over the aft part of the track, it’s probably supposed to be an exhaust pipe. Duh! looked at it again!!! Could be an aux .30 cal mount? Or possibly for the M-12 disentegrator ray( thanx marvin-martian) Sorry guys! Couldn’t resist!!