Italeri Tiger 1 1:35 scale. A first kitbashing adventure

Do you want some photos of relevant Tigers? Did you choose a unit?

David

Looking forward to your updates on this one Richard.

As always
Boarder

Byrden,

Haven't really chosen yet but there are a few that caught my eye... Will post a pic of a profile as soon as i make up my mind. I have Osprey's book on the tiger as well as a polish book called "tank power; tigers at kursk". It contains some profile pictures.

Labour In Vain,

Thank you!

Not much to show at the moment... I am cleaning a plethora

yes... a plethora of roadwheels at the moment

Richard

Always fun to strike out for new territory and stretch your legs as a modeler! You never know until you try and you've got a good philosophy/approach to the build. Will be following with interest.

wbill76,

Thank you sir![y[ I must admit i am really testing new ground here but it makes the build all the more exciting!

Not much in the way of progress to report... life gets in the way of things sometimes... However, today my rbmodels barrel came in from Hong Kong. Picked up from ebay it was half as expensive as a similar barrel i found in the UK... The ten day wait was worth it in that respect

The one problem i am encountering at the moment is the complete lack of any instructions for it. Tinkering with it i figured out the basic construction, also helped by a pic from rbmodels' website but i seem to be left with some parts i cant figure out where and how to place. I have marked them with question marks in the next picture:

Are these supposed to come without instructions? And does anybody know how to assemble this particular barrel? I am at a complete loss here...

Richard

Hi Richard....     great subject and great endeavor       will be watching the progress

Not familiar with the barrell / instructions however.. sorry

Bill

RB models don't come with instructions as a rule. It's one of the reasons why they are cheaper vs say Armorscale or Aber.

The parts you're having trouble with are part of the muzzle brake and baffle system. The large round brass piece on the far right goes in between the two halves of the muzzle brake (should slip right into place, probably with the rear half), The PE fret contains detail parts to add to the large brass insert. The three rings "stack" on top of each other to simulate the detail that would be present and visible...that's why there's a raised "lip" in the center around the round opening (you may only need to use 2 of the rings instead of all three, different brakes have different details). The two smaller pieces on the PE fret are meant to represent the locking nut that secures the muzzle brake to the actual barrel after it was threaded into position. HTH! 

wbill76

RB models don't come with instructions as a rule. It's one of the reasons why they are cheaper vs say Armorscale or Aber.

The parts you're having trouble with are part of the muzzle brake and baffle system. The large round brass piece on the far right goes in between the two halves of the muzzle brake (should slip right into place, probably with the rear half), The PE fret contains detail parts to add to the large brass insert. The three rings "stack" on top of each other to simulate the detail that would be present and visible...that's why there's a raised "lip" in the center around the round opening (you may only need to use 2 of the rings instead of all three, different brakes have different details). The two smaller pieces on the PE fret are meant to represent the locking nut that secures the muzzle brake to the actual barrel after it was threaded into position. HTH! 

Bill the 3rd ring is actually a spacer between the muzzle brake and the barrel. Place it on the barrel then screw on the muzzle brake and it provides the correct spacing.

 I have RB Models barrels for the Stug III and the Panther and the muzzle brakes of all three are similar to the Tiger I brakes in design and parts breakdown.

Richard, isn't this the kit you're building for the Ostfront 2 GB? In any event, I'm watching this one!  I've seen this kit on eBay so many times...always wondered how it built up!  I like how you're approaching it - putting enough detail to spruce up what it lacks, but not worrying about all the minor details!  Thanks for posting the WIP on the Armor forum for all to see!!

Guys,

Thank you each and everyone for your invaluable help! Im sure, with wbill's explanation (and mikeym's correction) i can assemble the barrel if i put my three braincells to it...

Bufflehead,

Yup! Same one. Every now and then i do post a build thread here and this particular build is a big deal to me as i am scratching for the first time (seatbelts dont count) and working with PE for pretty much the first time, especially on this scale. So i can use all the knowledge i can get

Progress is little... the last two weeks i havent gotten much done due to life's issues but i did get some good time in tonight:

Front hatches (nasty glue residue has been summarily dealt with after seeing the first picture appear on my screen:

Engine compartiment. Basic engine but effective enough as it will be mostly hidden away from view. Satin gloss black, aluminum and drybrushes with white and gunmetal, all acrylic:

And these PE bolts spice up the area underneath the front a bit. The original area was bare plastic:

So much for now...

Richard

Yup Rich I'm pretty sure the assembly of the barrel will be so easy even a caveman could do it.*

(* appologies in advance to any cavemen or cavewomen on this board)

PE additions are looking pretty good Richard!

Very nice start Richard.

Guys, Thanks for the kind words. I must say that working with the PE sofar has been very enjoyable even though it is sometimes a bit of work when you have to carefully fold it into shape.

Front mudguards:

Grilles and assembly of the mufflers:

More soon!

Richard

A question...

Working on the rear mudguards, a multi piece PE replacement of the kit part, there is two things that are frustrating me at the moment...

How do you guys manage to glue PE at it's edge? Even with CA this takes a couple of tries to sort of work and the end result is never very very sturdy...

And if you would take a look at the next picture:

How do you guys fold a "lip" as delicate as this one next to the arrow?? Mind you, the huge white giant thing in the picture is a standard q-tip. Up until this point in the build i managed to fold PE using fine tipped tweezers or my beloved reverse action tweezer but this.... i am slightly frustrated to say the least...

Other than that i must say that the PE has been working out fantastic for me and makes the model look so much better every time a new piece is added/ replaced.

Richard

Richard,

Gluing PE edge-on can be a challenge with CA. Gator Grip can help but some things can only really get a sturdy join using solder. As far as your question aboud folding lip edges, I use a bending tool called a FenderBender (they don't make them any more) that's similar to the types of tools put out by Hold 'N Fold or Etchmate. If you foresee doing a lot of PE in the future, it's a great tool to add to the arsenal for just the type of bends you are encountering. You could also try using needle nosed pliers to hold the edge of the lip and use the body fo the PE to create a hinge/fold point but that's a tricky proposition at best.

Nice work on the details so far!

Great work so far Richard. Would never have thought it was your first kit bask.

Terry.

Wbill,

Thank you for your tips. Since this PE business is proving to be rather fun i will certainly look into the matter and consider investing in some specific tools like the bender and possibly even a fine tipped soldering iron if i can find one... For now i have managed to get things done with the things at hand. I did buy a different brand of CA glue and that helped a little. I will have pics to show for it soon

Terry,

Thank you!

THE PROBLEM AT HAND:

Last night i decided to do some work on the turret and barrel. Thanks to Wbills advice the latter did not pose much of a problem and i actually had to use only one of the little rings to have the muzzle turned into position just right.

During my initial questions i was shown a problem that appearantly is common with this particular kit: The turret front plate is tilted!:

Currently my theory is that one of the locating rings inside the turret is dislocated:

So you guys can see i have my work cut out for me to have this nastyness sorted out...

Richard

I am gonna watch how you tackle this issue kermit. I suppose some filing on the inside surface of the mounting rings and on the matching surface of the lugs could correct it.

Stik,

I think i may have solved it already and quite easily...

First i tried to hollow out the locating ring, hoping that the extra room to move would make the front plate tilt back to where i want it. It did help but was too little.

I cut off the pin that goes into the locating ring completely now and glued the other side, as well as the front plate where it touches the turret body. The barrel wont be able to be adjusted in elevation this way but since it is a static model i am not too concerned with that.

Letting the glue harden out completely overnight so i can remove the tape used for securing everything into place. Pics comin up!

Richard

Seems to have worked out fine:

Richard

Nice details with your Tiger friend!

Regards,
Rodolfo

Good Save Kermit!

Any updates on this Kermit? I have begun mine as of last weekend and will be following in your Tiger's tracks (sort of)....

Stik,

Thank you so much for your interest in my fiddling around

Lately i haven't been modeling alot since the pre-holiday weeks are very busy at work..... Combine that with a bit of a modelers block and an upcoming visit to the USA (6 blissful weeks!) and you might imagine that the Tiger has moved to the "to do later" list...

I will be returning to this lovely model but i am afraid that wont be until late february.... My sincere apologies...

Nevertheless i expect to be online and lurking during my holiday so i will watch your progress with interest

Richard

Mine will not be jumping to the front of my "to do" line up too often. I have too many builds in front that are "higher priority". It is part of a Group Build at the local AMPS Chapter where we are building a batch of 1/35 Tigers (every conceivable variant) for entry in a local contest in 2013 so we have lots of time . If you come to California during your visit to the USA Kermit, say hello. So far, I just have the basic hull built and need to begin work on the suspension next.

I am afraid my voyage will take me to Washington state.... Vetteman is dying to meet me too LOL. Maybe one day ill head down south...

Looking forward to following your progress. Sounds like a fun group thing in your AMPS chapter! Wonder if theres such a thing in Wa. too.... From the looks of it ill be setting up shop overthere in about a year.

Richard

Oh there is nothing wrong with Washington state... except perhaps the weather... Bring your rain gear If you do end up setting up shop in Washington and find the time to come south to warmer climes, I'm pretty sure I'll be around to meet and greet. Yes the AMPS Tiger Group Build is pretty fun. A LOT of great guys doing some very nice builds, exchanging ideas, help, tips, etc. A couple of the guys building Dragon's Tigers have found a flaw in instructions the hard way and brought it out in the open for those who have not reached that point yet- that sort of thing is great to see. I am really looking forward to seeing the completed tanks. I think we will have a battalions worth of Tigers when it's all finished.

Would you be willing to share those problems with us all? I'm keeping a record of instruction issues in Tiger kits; http://tiger1.info/kits.html

David