ARMOR - Tamiya 1/16 Tiger 1 Group Build

Ok Eric, I'm in and btw I got my barrel in the mail today.

uh oh, this means I really have to start working on it, doesn't it??!! (as Erock68 slaps me in the face with his glove then throws it down... )

Have you gotten any of your detail stuff yet Eric??

(Thanks also, Dave)

Eric (echo)

Yes, you DO have to start

As for me, nothing at my door yet. Should all be arriving sometime later this week. I'm still trying to come across some good pictures of # S04(anyone with any sort of pictures I can use, please let me know) I have the books "Tigers in the East" and "Tiger Ace" but the pictures are not too revealing. The whitewash effect has me a little leary at this point. Will have to do some major practicing before applying to my beast.

NOTE: I will also be keeping some pictures on my website so, if you have a digi-cam or pictures to scan and you want them displayed, just email to me. (This goes for all in the build)

I cannot join in this build since i only have the BOX for the FUll Option (owner of LHS let me have it:) anywho i have Tigers in Combat I maybe i can find some photos for you Erock...now is it S04 or 504??? Anywho let me know as your guys models will help me with my 1 /35th:)

Erock68 Here's a couple links I found on Wittmann for you but they have different numbers for his tank too. ????? Anyway take a look and see if you can make sense of it.

http://users.pandora.be/dave.depickere/Text/wittman.html

http://www.panzer-vi.fsnet.co.uk/tigeraces.html

Both of them place Witmann as being assigned no. S21 (sorry about the mix up on the other post, 205 was when he was on the western front). Now for my opinion... If you can find a german history source it will be the most accurate probably. You know how most history is, the victor gets to write it... anyway I would go with S21, S04 or S08 or any other that you can find good pictures of and that reports place him in. One thing in my book the guy said that there were always at least one other Tiger at Wittmans disposal in case his was disabled or being repaired or maintained. This makes sense as they would want him fighting and not sitting around while his tank is being worked on. So the fact is that he didn't get all his kills in one tank probably. I would just pick which ever one you want that he was reported in and go with that. Hope this is of some help and not just more confusion

Eric

Hello, Gentlemen!
Count me in!
This is precisely the type of motivation I've needed to get to work on that monster. I only hope I can do it justice.

Now, I need to choose a vehicle...

The only aftermarket parts I'll use are a Hobby Fan (AFV Club) metal barrel and the crazy Aber PE (and everything else!) set. And whatever's laying around the house!

So who is in? Let's get a list:
Erock68
erush
J-Hulk
okieboy?

Is that right?
Are we going to try to shoot for a completion date, or just have fun, relax, and let it come naturally?

I don't think think that we need to set a deadline. I know that I don't want to rush this build to meet a date. This is just so the forum doesn't have 20 different threads about the same topic

erush,

I read the same about Wittman. He could have been in any number of tanks (like #222 he commanded at Villers-Bocage). Being #S04, was a well known early Tiger version, is the reason I chose it. I don't want to start a full conversion to make it a Mid or Late type.

Excellent! I can't stand deadlines!
I've got an October 25th deadline for a Tiger II contest I'm scrambling to meet right now, and it's killin' me!

I really look forward to seeing everybody's work.

J-Hulk you've got the list right so far.

Completion date?!?!?!?!? What are you trying to do to me?!?!?!?!

I'm going to have to take it as it goes. No pressure here as I'll be taking my time especially on the Aber set. I'm new to that level of p/e and I'm not going to rush anything on this model. Too much $$$ at stake here. None of this was really intended to be any kind of competition ( I don't think ), just a log of sorts of our progress and so we can help each other as we go on the build and share with the forum.

Eric

I'm with ya on all of that, erush. No rush! No competition!

Definitely want to do this big boy right. As you said, too much invested.
As I've mentioned before, I've had the kit and that Aber set for over a year now, trying to build the skills and confidence necessary to do it justice.

Gonna be fun bouncing ideas around and getting moral support from everybody!

I'm glad you agree Brian. At the rate I build I figure it'll take me 2-3 months just to build each hatch with those Aber parts!! It's going to be quite a challange that's for sure. Hopefully I can get my stuff better organized and some room cleared out soon so I can work a little more efficiently.

Eric

Hey, if all goes well, maybe FSM can do a story about this (hint, hint, hint)

Seriously though,

I am looking into picking up the "Etch Mate" for bending the parts. My normal setup will be too small to bend the larger parts. I don't want to spend the money on PE and have them crooked

Yeah, I'd better get one, too.
They're 8,000 yen here in Japan (68 bux US). What are they going for over there? Might be cheaper for me to order one from the States.

Hulk,

They are about the same over here (when you can find them). Check the listing for them at greatmodels.com. Then you can compare directly.

Best of building to all you guys.

Bill

QUOTE: Originally posted by Erock68 Dave will be doing the "Sticky" for this thread (Thanks again Dave!)

Done as requested.

For all of you undertaking this monster project, I hope for the best. I'll be looking forward to reading the progress reports. Sounds like it should be fun.

Not undertaking this project at this time, but I would like to share something with all of you. Below is a link to some pics of a Tamiya 1/16th scale Tiger 1 modelled by a very good friend of mine named Dan "Dano" Capuano. I have seen this beast in person, and believe me..ithese pictures do not give it justice. He is probably the best modeler I have met and grateful to be able to buy him pizza for some of his techniques

http://www.ww2modelmaker.com/modelpages/DCkusktiger.htm

He did a good job on that Moses!! Thanks for sharing.

Eric

Thanks Moses,

That is one knock-out build. I can't wait to get started on mine. I'm trying to get all the info I can for this project and that link is definately some inspiration.

I won't actually start building until the beginning of next month (Sept 6) I'm not allowed to open the actual kit until my Birthday (wifes orders) Until then, I can drool all over the replacement aluminum barrel, PE parts and replacement tracks.

I also went ahead and ordered the "Etch-Mate". 17 sheets of PE is too expensive to try and bend by hand.

Thanks, Moses. Tell your bud that's a beautiful model!
I still want to do a Panzer Gray Tiger, but seeing that camo job is making me think otherwise...
Nah! I love the gray!

What's this .... no pictures yet guys .... I'm so disappointed.

You've had a whole week already !!!!

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak What's this .... no pictures yet guys .... I'm so disappointed. You've had a whole week already !!!!

Eric

Robert, I'm sure you've aleady seen it in the box, so a posted pic right now wouldn't be very interesting!
Heck, I haven't even taken it out of the closet yet!

I figured you guys would be up to the final drybrush by now!! lol
Understand, we're all just waiting with baited breath to see and learn from what you guys do.
But, patience must reign. (If I didn't have a little patience, I'd go nuts looking at all the models I've have to work on that never get touched!) Hmmm, maybe too much patience can be a bad thing. What do you think? Maybe that's why I never get any done!

Have a fun build.

Bill

Hah!
Yeah, I'm pretty fired up about jumping into this project, but I can't touch it till after October 25. Got a contest deadline to meet, and I've just started that product!

Ok, here's a question for the "crew".

If you haven't gotten your Aber set and looked at it yet, it includes small 1mm bolts for attaching the fenders. Here's the kicker, they tell you to use a 1mm tap to cut the threads and here's the question. Any of y'all know where to find a 1mm tap cheap? I think I found a link that has 3 for $12. All the other places are like $40+ea. so I'm wondering if that's right. Does anyone know a jeweler you could steal some from?? Or get a supplier??

I'll probably just drill the hole close and glue them in but thought I'd check.

Eric

With all the money going into this, I might as well hire a 1/16 mechanic to drill em' out for me

Hey guys, having had a while to check the Aber set out, as far as I'm concerned there's quite a bit of ridiculous stuff I'm probably not going to use from the set. Aber wants us to create hex nuts from flat bits? I don't think so! If I don't think it's going to substantially improve the accuracy or reality of the Tamiya kit, it ain't gonna get used.

What about this bit: Aber wants us to make the tow cable collars by cuttung the end of a tube and stuffing the cable in, then fairing it all up with solder. I don't think that's gonna work at all! Two widths of cable will not fit in the tube. I'm probably going to cut the Tamiya collars and loops off and use them with the Aber cable.

You fellas noticed any other unnecessary inclusions?

The only thing is, it was so expensive I'll feel like I'm cheating myself if I don't use every single bit!!

Geez, I already know I'm not gonna use the turret track hangers...and they look so nice, too!

ERock68 ask your 1/16 machinist if he'll give cut rates for more than 1 job!!

J-HulkI hear you on the quandrys with the aber set, I figure I'll try most of it but if it's too much trouble... On the cables though I think you have to trim it to end back at the top of the sleeve because you're right, you wouldn't fit it back in there. The track hangers are sweet too aren't they?
Here's a question, are there extra links on the track in the kit to hang on them?? Or do we have to try to find some A/M for spares. I don't like the looks of the spare for the front that comes with the kit with no detail on the tread side but it may be unnoticeable once it's on. ???

Moses Could you ask your friend where he got the spare track links for the turret hangers? I would appreciate it and I'm sure the others would too.

Eric

Erush,
I believe the Tamiya instructions indicate taking a link or two off of each side, but I haven't looked at it in a while, so I could be mistaken. At best, you'd only get 4 links.
Wasn't somebody talking about some AM metal trax? I've never heard of them. I really would like something with the holes in the track shoe horns! At this scale, they are very, very noticeble, and I'm pretty sure every type of Tiger track (maybe not the trasport trax) had these holes.
The Tamiya spare track for the front won't suffer from the lack of detail on the back, but I think it looks too stiff and straight, and again, no holes in the horns.
I'm very interested in those AM metal trax!

hulk,

Check out e-bay. go to toys, models, armor, and do a category search for tiger. I'm not sure if there are any out there right now, but I've been seeing 2 or 3 sets most of the time. Good hunting.

Bill