WIP - Tamiya Tiger I (1/48) Build Suspended - Permanently!

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Good morning folks,

I’ve been phoning around and have been told that some of the items that I want for my Sherman IC Firefly that I’m getting for my Birthday are on backorder so I’ve decided to build my Tiger I - some of you may recall that I opened the box before only to find that it had a sprue missing! The sprue with the turret bits on!

The Firefly has now become my New Year ‘big’ build!

My LHS ordered my replacement Tiger I sprue but, in the meantime, to keep me happy, they pinched me another sprue from another Tiger I on the shelf!

I’m not building OOB - I’ve got 1/48 Early Tiger Friuls, a turned Aluminium barrel and a Verlinden Stowage set. I’ve also got the Tamiya Field Maintenance Crew set that is complete with several figures, tools and ammo. I was thinking of making a simple base showing three figures, one unloading ammo from the boxes and passing the rounds to his buddy who in turn is passing them up to another guy standing on the engine deck feeding fresh rounds into the turret. It’s got potential.

I built this Tiger as my very first build - EVER! It was in May 2009. It was my first ever kit so it was pretty poor so I decided long ago that I wanted to do it again. I hand painted it with Humbrol Enamels and at that point all I had was cement, three brushes and some various Enamels colours! God it’s amazing how quickly your stash builds up - I’ve now got an AB and more paint and tools than I can count and am running out of room - FAST! It’s a good kit with great potential imo.

Obviously this Tiger I preceded Zimmerit (according to my research they started applying Zim around July 1943 so I’m on the edge of changeover - I’ll have to say my Tank has ben serving on the Eastern Front for a good few months and was sent out without Zim applied!

I’ve chosen option ‘C’ in the build guide: That is Tank No. S33, PzReg 2, Russia, Summer, 1943.

I’ll be starting this build tomorrow and I’m sure this will take me up to Christmas at least - particularly if I choose to use the Maintenance Crew!

Box Art & Replacement Barrel/Muzzle Brake**…**

Verlinden German Stowage Set (Resin)…

This is the option that I have chosen-Option C: Dunkelgelb Base colour with Dark Green Random Stripes (sorry about the blurry photo)…

Here is a link to my Field Maintenance Crew (Tamiya # 32547) - as of yet I am undecided on wether to use the crew as my figure painting skills are awful in 1/35, I dread to think what a 1/48 figure will look like and I’m worried that it will distract from my main build if the figures are ‘poor’…what do you guys think?

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=32547

I hope you guys like this idea for a build and would love to hear of any suggestions etc that you may have to improve it.

WIP begins tomorrow morning!

ATVB

Ben [H]

2

Hinksy, I have the same kit and I saw it built up very nice last year in the weekend madness GB, Very nice kit, not to much in the drama department. I will be very interested to see how this goes (I was thinking of the AM barrel at least for mine. Will love to see how the tracks look.

Andrew

3

Heh Ben,

Looks like a good project. That is a lot of AM accessories for the Tamiya kit, I built their 1/48 scale Sherman and purchased the Legends stowage resin set. I have enough stowage left over for another kit! (well it will need to be a similar Allied tank or AFV)

Figures? The ‘maintenance’ theme has been done a lot. Look for figures with excellent face sculpts like found on AM resin figures. This will make painting them easier with washes & dry brushing vrs actual detail painting.

I think you will like 1/48 scale. Post your progress!

4

Should be good Ben,1/48 is a good scale ,a nice change of pace,they have been adding lots of acessories,looking foward to yor project.

5

Thanks Andrew,

The only thing that let’s it down (imo) are the moulded-on tools but apart from that she’s a great ket.

I hated the Tamiya barrel because of the seam so an AM barrel was a must and I really had problems with the L & L tracks so Friuls are also a must (for me, at least)!

ATVB

Ben [Y]

6

Thanks for the replies chaps [Y]

I’ll be making a start shortly.

I tried the barrel in the mantlet last night only to find it waaay too tight a bit of careful work with a half round file sorted it out fine though. I really didn’t want to use the Tamiya barrel as it is VERY ugly and the seam is terribly visable. The way the two halves sit together is bad - where they meet they sort of ‘dip’ so it would be very difficult to even gently rub it down flush - the barrel would be half the diameter it is now!

The AM barrel looks sweet though. I fitted the Tamiya barrel and inside the mantlet half of it is blocked off to ensure you get the Tamiya barrel straight (one half is slightly longer than the other and pushes past the blocked section - I’m sure you know what I mean). I marked with a pencil on the Tamiya barrel where it protuded from the mantlet then filed the inside of the mantlet so I could get the AM barrel poking out at the correct length.

I would like to paint this barrel in ‘primer grey’ to look like a replacement unpainted barrel as I think it contrasts nicely with the Dunkelgelb tank body. Any suggestions on the best grey to use to paint the barrel?

An update will be posted tonight!

ATVB

Ben [:D]

7

Hinsky, while I havnt really looked at my tiger’s barrel, I have the Tamiya 48 scale Panther G next to me 75% done with OOB barrel and the seam is near on invisable, I might check my tiger’s box later and see what the barrel in their would be like.

As for the molded on tools my 8 y/o is 1/2 way through building a the AFV club 48 scale early tiger, I have noted it doesnt have molded on tools. I wonder why Tamiya went this way, also considering their panther doesnt have molded on tools either (they are molded onto their racks though)

Andrew

8

Hi Andrew,

The barrel, I’m afraid, isn’t great [N] On the plus side it was no problem to source an aftermarket turned Aluminium barrel for £4.80 (isn’t that about 7 Dollars).

Like I say, where the halves meet they ‘dip’ down so I can’t work out how you could sort this (unless you used netting to cover the barrel, Sherman Style). Some Mr Surfacer would hide the dip but of course that would provide a cast texture so you would need to hit the barrel with Emery Paper and turn the barrel in the paper to give it that ‘Lathe turned’ look. Perhaps You might find it very easy to sort as I’m a relative newbie!

The tools are a PITA. There is a separate shovel to go on the Glacis and other bits but the wire cutters and Jack Block (al least) are moulded on. I might use the Dremel to smooth them over and fit 1/48 tools from the spare box and make PE clasps? When painted well they do look okay though.

This is an older 1/48 Tamiya kit and the last 1/48 Tamiya kit that I built (251 Halftrack) had no moulded on tools and was much crisper with the panel lines being far more defined. I think Tamiya looked at reviews of this kit and decided that moulded on tools were not the way to go!

The only other thing I dislike about this kit is the Die-Cast hull, not nice to work with imo. It makes things easier but I’d rather have a plastic tub but it could be a lot worse! With Friuls fitted and a Die-Cast chassis this tank will definately weigh a bit!

I’m going to do some research and parts clean up so I might not start the WIP until tomorrow now. I’ve got three days off next week for my Birthday so loads of build time!

ATVB

Ben [H]

9

Good evening gents,

I’ve made my first dent into the part count of this Tiger and can confirm that the WIP is well and truly underway!

I’ve fitted the drive and idler wheels via the push-on method so I can remove them for track installation later on. The top deck is in place as is the front glacis and the rear panel. I’m going to leave off a lot of the items for fitting after the base colour and cammo stripes have been applied ie the tow cables, tools and other OOB loose boxes/stowage. As with all my build the road wheels will go on last to allow for proper weathering behind the running gear.

I’ve completed the hull today and will start the turret on Tuesday (I’ve got three days off for my Birthday this week-sweeeet). So far so good and no major problems to report apart from a slight slip with the scalpel which resulted in a slither of the bottom of the LHS rear fender being removed. I’ve made a fix as best I can but this will be hidden by muck/spatter when I get to the weathering stage.

I’ve a couple of quick questions…

  • What is the case/block type thing that sits above the rear LHS fender? I’m struggling to find out what it was used for and what it actually is.
  • I’m planning to paint the barrel in a grey primer colour to replicate an unpainted replacement barrel - any recommendations of what type of Tamiya colour to use?

Here’s the progress so far - slow going as I’m trying to be very careful but the ball is rolling!

The Die-Cast Hull…

Moulded on tools and Jack Block - not my favourite!

Front Glacis fitted with holes for the large shovel drilled out. Filters also in place and exhausts fitted…

I know it looks like a nasty seam on the tope of the filter box but it is super smooth! Only paint will hide that now!

Note the ‘mishap’ with the base of the rear fender on the LHS!

Front Glacis…

Thanks for looking guys!

Any advice / suggestions re a grey primered barrel will be much appreciated!

WIP update on Tuesday when the turret will be constructed,

ATVB

Ben [:D]

10

What is the case/block type thing that sits above the rear LHS fender?

A box of tools for working on the tracks. Stored in an open metal frame with two metal straps.

David Byrden

11

Looks good Ben.

The problem with molded on stuff is flat side on things like handles. I take a shape blade and under cut the sides a little. It helps give it the appearance of a separate piece.

Dave, thanks for that photo. I recall the conversation about it in the braille scale section of Armorama. I had wondered what the box looked like. Sorry Ben, not trying to take over your thread.

12

Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies,

Thanks for the advice re the moulded tools Wingnut and cheers for the picture Dave!

Don’t worry about using this thread for discussing Tiger related stuff - it all helps me!

ATVB

Ben [:D]

13

Nice work so far on your mini Tiger Ben!

14

Thanks Jester!

It’s not actually that small. It’s a fair chunk bigger than my 1/35 Panzer and of similar dimensions to my 1/35 Marder III. I just haven’t got room for one of these things in 1/35 at the minute!

It’s a lovely kit let down by the Die-Cast chassis and moulded on detail but I can work with these things ok. Ther’ll be some strategically placed stowage to cover some moulded on detail and I’ve plenty of 1/48 tools in the spares bin to fit too.

I doubt you remember when I built this kit before - it was my first ever build! I built it last year around May. The L & L tracks were a nightmare so Friuls had to be a definate must have. It was a dismal build as builds go but it was my first and I thought she was great!

I’m on holiday for the next three days now so there might be some paint on her come Thursday!

Note: Any thoughts on the grey primered barrel guys? Any XF colour recommendations for a good primer grey?

ATVB

Ben [H]

15

I’m no Tiger expert, but i think that if the gun tube was destroyed, the armorer’s would just have replaced the entire gun, the reason being, if it was destroyed by a direct hit, on the tube it prolly screwed up the breech just by the force of the explosion, and besides, there were prolly more than a cpl of Tigers sitting around that were mechanicly beyond repair, that could donate an entire gun, turret included, and i don’t think i’ve ever heard of one being burned out by firing it.

16

There are only a few photos where we can see a grey replacement barrel that’s not been painted up to match its tank. This is an obvious one:

And another:

!(http://www.tiif.de/bilder/505O300 4.jpg)

!(http://www.tiif.de/bilder/505O300 7.jpg)

On a large copy of that last photo, it’s clear that the muzzle brake was also painted grey.

I can’t advise you on the shade of grey to use, but it looks medium dark.

David

17

Thanks David - some very helpful info there buddy [Y]

I’ve seen several builds where the tank barrel - mainly Tigers - have been painted in a primer grey to suggest a replacement barrel (yes I know I’m not supposed to use other builds as research as such) but I always think that on a Dunky Yellow tank it looked kinda cool and stood out beautifuly against the main body colour.

Perhaps the builders of these models had used a bit of ‘artistic license’ maybe? Davids photos have shown at least one with an unpainted barrel and I’ve seen a couple myself in books etc.

If I can’t get that perfect grey colour I’m not going to do it - they all seem to have this very dark grey colour to them, almost Panzer Grey?

Interesting!

Three days off now and some build time so I’m going to get cracking!

ATVB & thanks again,

Ben [:D]

18

Hello guys,

I hope you are all very well!

WIP photos are at the bottom of this post btw…

Okay, WIP update: I’ve just this minute completed the basic assembly. I’m going to paint all of the tow cables and tools etc separately and fit them after the paint has been applied (before weathering obviously).

I like the barrel - it really is a huge improvement on the kit offering! I’ll be painting the road wheels when I paint the tank but they will also be going on last to permit full access to the lower hull for weathering.

I’ve also added small Scalpel slits down the joins of each fender so they look more individual and not like ‘one piece’ as they come supplied. I might lose one panel yet as a damage effect.

Two (urgent) questions:

  • I’m thinking about using my Dremel tool the grind off the moulded on tools (shovel and axe) and instead use a 1/48 shovel and axe from the spares tub? What do you think?
  • I’m going to let this cement cure for 30 minutes whilst I have a shower and then Im going to prime my model using Humbrol Rattlecan Primer. Will the barrel need a coating of metal primer before I add the Humbrol Primer?

Thanks guys - I look forward to your replies!

Here are the moulded on tools - should I remove them (apart from the cutters as I don’t have any)?

ATVB & many thanks,

Ben [:D]

19

Looking good! I’d get rid of those molded tools if I have spares in 1/48 handy! I don’t have a Dremel tool yet but its on top of my Christmas list. [;)] I’d prime the aluminum barrel so it can catch paint better afterward… it is just a habit of mine to prime everything before I paint. Some guys don’t… its just our preferences.

20

Hi Andy,

The tools are about to go but do you mean the Humbrol Primer for Acrylic Paint will be ok for the metal barrel or will I need to use my proper car metal primer on the barrel?

ATVB

Ben [:D]