This is my second attempt at a braille scale kit and with this one I really wanted to try adding some extra detail.
The first thing I new that I had to do was add zimmerit. Since there was no way that I would be able to do it in my usual method of poly putty and a zimm tool I opted to use a soldering iron with an x-acto blade attachment. I dipped the blade in some water every now and then to keep it from melting too much of the plastic. I smoothed it all up by going over it with some fine steel wool followed by a coating of liquid glue.
Since I didn’t want to rush the zimm work I would take a break now and then and work on some of the other details that were a little lacking.
After cutting off the mloded on mounting pins for the exhaust lids I made new ones using streched sprue. I also added lifting lugs for the armored covers. Lifting lugs were also added to the turret since the kit didn’t include them. The tow hitch was opened up using an x-acto saw blade and a hole for the tow pin was drilled using a pin vise and one of my micro drill bits. The exhaust shields were way to thick so I thinned them using a round file. The dents were added using a round file and then gone over with some steel wool.
Since I’m building this as a late war vehicle that’s seen its share of combat I removed all the fenders. There were gaps on both sides of the rear plate where the rear fenders would have been and these were filled with some plastic strips.
Next the molded on periscopes and guards on the drivers and radio operator’s hatches were removed and I scratched some new ones using some plastic and brass strip.
So this is where I’m at now the zimm is all done and next I’ll be tackling the road wheels and tracks and scratching some intake screens for the rear deck.
Any tips, suggestions or critiques are most welcome.
Impressive work so far on the zimmerit. This is going to be pretty cool.
You have a steady hand and the patience of a saint. Looks great Steve. Nice teeny weeny details too[:)]
Awesome, man!
When I built this kit, I think I scratched the zimmerit in with an exacto blade?I remember this being a great little kit!
Your method looks great! Nice use of detailing too!
Nice work dressing up this “little” Tiger Steve. Can definitely see where taking frequent breaks would be a necessity when adding in the zim! Are you leaving a slightly damaged piece on the front hull sans zim? [tup]
That’s way too small for my eyes. She’s looking awesome Steve, Zimm on 1/76 awesome.
Rob
Thanks all
Marc the patience of one but that’s about it[;)].
Doog scratching in by hand! That must have been right up there with making all those track horns for your Kanonen.
Correct Bill. There are a couple of other spots were I left some bare patches also. They’ll be easier to see once the paint is on.
Scratchmod if it wasn’t for my magnifier there’s no way I would be able to do this either.
Okay so here’s tonight’s update;
I made some intake screens using some brass screens that I found at this store downtown. Interesting place had all these funky clothes and black light posters all over the walls[:-^]. Kinda reminded me of ‘That 70’s Show’.
Next using some scrap plastic, stretched sprue and a whole lot of patience I added the spare track hangers, track cable brackets and the side skirts mounting lugs.
The molded on gunners periscope was removed and a new one was made using plastic and brass. I added some mounting brackets and a piece of sprue to the jack to give it a little more detail.
I decide I really wanted to add an mg mount to the tc hatch so after a lot of trial and error and swearing[:(!] I finally managed to piece a decent one together using some more plastic strip and stretched sprue.
That’s all for now my eyes and hands are telling me enough already. More tomorrow.
Steve
Just fantastic work matey - I wish I had the level of paitence to add that level of detail, its awesome …
Brent
Most excellent work!
Seems braille scale is catching on!
Cheers
Mike
Panzer guy, that zimm looks brilliant, there are a lot of people who could not get that effect in 35th, so that makes it a job to be proud of.
looking forward to seeing this kit progress.
Terry.
P.s my only gripe with braille scale is that I can’t see it.
Looking sharp Steve! I suppose that now that you’ve got the cupola MG added, you’re going to have to have the TC in there to man it, right? [:-^]
Mike Brent thanks guys.Means a lot coming from two great braille scale vet’s[:D]
Terry thank also. If it was’nt for my magnifier I would’nt be able to either[X-)]
Bill touché [;)]
So here’s last nights progress;
Added a track cable and a new hull mg using stretched sprue. I scratched a new headlight-mounting bracket out of some plastic strip and the power cord using more of the sprue.
Using the same plastic strip I added some detail to the turret storage bin.
After everything was dry I gave it a light coat of flat blk and touched up areas that needed attention.
I should have the painting done by tonight and will start the weathering tomorrow.
Steve