Here is my latest project, a monster 1:16 Tiger Early Edition.
This is my first time building this size of model scale, and get this… I’m building this not for me, but for a friend of mine who ask me to build it. Isn’t that nice ? He bought it, but let me have all the fun.
Not much being done to this tank, just some texturing on the sides and the gun part. Most of it will be just plain OOB since I dont know what to expect from this build.
The camo will represent the S33 PzReg2. And weathering will be kept to a minimum. Just some old fashion washes and rain steaks, and mud
The tank has been primed and given the base color plain grey.
Now, how do you guys suggest how should I begin the paint process ? Especially them tracks.
Do I just paint them just like 35th scale ?
Glad to see someone working on one of these. I’m so jealous I wish I could be working on mine too!! Pretty nice friend to let you work on his baby.
I’d approach the painting like you usually do except that you may have to break it up in sections occasionally depending on what color your shooting due to the size of the project. That S33 scheme should look pretty hot when your done. I’m going for an Early/Mid production thats more of the traditional type tri-color ambush scheme you see a lot of Tigers painted. I have a specific Tiger picked out to model. Just researching it was a lot of fun and took awhile.
If your shooting Tamiya acrylics you might wanna be careful. From what I gather Tamiya had to switch paint manufacturers so I hear shelf supplies are low right now.
As for the tracks I’d say paint them up like you’d normally paint up your 1/35’s. Depending on how much you drive that Tiger around the paint will wear off the tracks eventually. People who use aftermarket metal tracks enjoy it when they break there tracks in cuz it naturally shows the metal wear but with plastic you’d still need to do that with paints.
Show some more pic’s as you go!! GL with your build.
It just surprises me that his tank takes a lot of priming. I guess I wasted a good 2 ratle cans, plus another bottle of Mr. Surface 1200 that I had to spray it manually.
Room smells like hell now.
Now, the base color Dark Yellow, should I apply it using rattle can or airbrush ? [%-)]
It sure does gobble up your paints. I feel your pain. I dont’ think I want to start back to work on mine til I get some kinda paint booth setup. That could take some time. Its no fun sniffing those vapors this time of year when you can’t open windows with fans a blowing.
Not sure what to tell you about laying down your coat of dark yellow. I’ve read posts and seen pictures of guys who went the spray can method. They complained a lot about the number of cans they went thru to get decent coverage. I’m gonna go the airbrush method but you can just imagine how many of those little bottles I’ll have to go thru. You get better control with the airbrush but you’d get faster coverage with the cans. The only thing about cans is they tend to have higher pressure when you first start off and then when they start gettin low the pressure starts to fall off kinda quick. But I think with care you could get a the finish your looking for (I think when Finescale reviewed this kit that person used tamiya rattle cans for his dark yellow main coat). And then I guess you’d do the dark green with an airbrush?
Hiya Ben [:)]–Seasons Greetings dude!!-- the 1/16 Tiger is a big beautiful brute!!–I built one before I built the T-34–Don’t have to many suggestions for ya-- painting follows the same guildlines as 1/35-- just a little more paint-- from an economic point and lookswise I definately would go the AB route–I know lotsa guys have great success with rattle cans,but IMHO, they have a sort of ‘thickness’ to them that is perceptible to my eye–don’t care for them–anyhoo,panzer gray is also an option for Tamiyas big tiger as it depicts a model from about february or march of 1943 (if my memory serves me) if you are gonna go with the kit decals and numbers, the color should be gray-- best regards man keep comming with some update pics-- look forward to 'em – Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours----tread[8D]
I agree with you with the ratle can. It is hard to get that nice even coat since they just blast everything in the path.
However, I will just use it to just give an uneven coat and to cover great areas. The rest I will blast it with the ol’ airbrush. I believe that will create some shadowing effect that I want to have.
As of right now, the big cat had swallow, half of my Mr. Surfacer 500 and a whole bottle of Tamiya liquid primer.
Post up some more progress pic’s when you get a chance Ben!! [swg]
Just an FYI (you might already know about this but just thought I’d mention it). Some people have complained about the tracks coming apart after some use and having to convert to metal ones. Thats gotta vary with usage though. And from what I gather people who switched to metal tracks then began to see lots of stress on there gearboxes. My guess is its probably gonna hold up fine if your just running your Tiger around your backyard chasing your cat or squirrels but if you go to RC meets it would require some upgrading. I see tons of upgrade stuff out on the net but its really pricey (but cool upgrades for sure).
I’m wondering if your going to do a clearcoat then weather that big beast? I see your doing a little battle damage. Looks good. Is your friend giving you some input on how “worn” he wants his Tiger?
Will definately do that JR, but right now I’m back thinking on best way to paint this beast.
My friend does not tell me as how battle worn. But I believe just bending fenders does not constitute battle damage since the fenders can be easily bend or damage during tank movement.
Maybe passing a narrow street or just miss-driving it…
I have completely airbrushed the entire surface with dark yellow. It is completely odd that the rattle can dark yellow is somewhat more green-ish compare to the bottle one.
I wonder if I’m the only one that has this issue.
The exhaust has been weathered and sealed with flat coat. The final weathering of the exhaust will happen when everything is in place.
The mallet has been re-textured. I just use tamiya putty and just use my finger to spread them over. After that smooth with brush wet with lacquer.
I prime my 1:16 work with Krylon #1318 rattlecan,great coverage and great shrinkage,DOES NOT obscure detail/texture…I second the note re. respirator protection,even with an AB you generate abunch of fumes and "dust"on a project this size,painting it can be a sort of unpleasant endurance test… Regards, Mike
