1/35 Tamiya Tiger I -DONE!!! several pic's

Hi SMJ!

Looks good!

It seems that you have every step figured out. Can't wait to see that paint streaking technique. The results looked awesome on your boxcars.

IMHO your  second alternative sounds most interesting...

/Tony

I wil be looking forward to this one

I'd love to see that rock salt method, Steve---I've been wanting to use a "salt" method for a while but haven't gotten around to it--I'd love to see a good tutorial on it from you!

Should be a fun ride. I'd better buckle up!

Are you aiming to represent a specific real Tiger? Because I don't think any of these ones were painted Dunkelgelb or grey.

David

SMJ is BACK!!! WOW!!! Just when I was about to give him up for dead, he reappears! How the heck are ya, man. Great to see you - I'll be keeping an eye on this one, that is for sure!

Byrden

Are you aiming to represent a specific real Tiger? Because I don't think any of these ones were painted Dunkelgelb or grey.

David

 

Hi David!

How where they painted then?

/Tony

No problemo on the barrels...let me know if you have any issues locating one.

This Tiger is going to get it's ass kicked, I'm guessing.

This kit is for Tigers that were sent to Africa. If you wanted to backdate it, you could get a grey Leningrad Tiger without much difficulty, but the decals are all for Africa.

People still argue about the colour of these Tigers, but it seems that at least some of them were overall green, maybe only at first;  and the rest had another colour added to make a low-contrast camouflage pattern.

Bovington museum have reproduced it carefully:

David

back Steve!  I remember following your great builds when I joined FSM three years ago.  Please count me in... sitting on first row with a big bowl of popcorn and a cold bottle of .  

Guys:  Thanks for following along,...it's always great to have some support and encouragement...I'm really excited to build at 1:35 again!

Update:  Got the hull and axles done last night.  The wheels are de-sprued and sanded...WOW, I forgot how tedious this part is...my son was hanging out with me as I sanded though, good bonding time!

Further thoughts on the paint scheme...I could use some creative suggestions please:  I'd like to layer up the finishes from exposed primer, to base color, to maybe even a repaint/ camo' and  I'm struggling with this a bit.  I have this "dual -theater" idea in mind...let me explain.  These Tigers started in Afrika (theater I), painted dunkelgelb...yeah fine, been there seen that...BUT did any of these tanks see further action at a later time in a different theater/ season?  OR was there ANOTHER theater (Russia?) where they were gray first?  Or maybe even started dunkelgelb THEN painted over in grey and MAYBE even white camo' over that?!

The salt technique I mentioned in the intro to this thread Is KILLER for this multi-layer thing and that's what I really want to try... AND, I've always liked when I see some  red-orange primer showing through (doog has done this well..his winter camo' King Tiger comes to mind)

doog: The salt technique is time sensitive because I don't ever let the salt dry completely.  I'll do my best though to describe/photo what I can.  The technique is so easy and adds such a random effect that  I just love it!  FYI: I may have mis-spoke when I said coarse rock salt...It's actually a table/cooking sea salt that's much larger than regular salt.

Byrden: I fall into the "it's plausible" group of modelers.  I do try to keep my builds somewhat historically accurate but I don't let that trump a cool idea/ or a challenging weathering idea!  Thanks for the input on the green color scheme,...I actually considered/liked one I saw on the net.

-SMJmodeler-

Oh wow...I will be following this build! I usually do A/C but have been streching out into buying armor after my little Sherman build and I would love to watch this project coming along.

Well, I don't want to tell you how to paint your kit; it's yours, have fun with it.

But let's not spread misinformation. These tanks were earmarked for Africa and Dunkelgelb was not appropriate for them. A "tropical" scheme was in force for African vehicles, and in photos we can see at least some of them bearing it. Others seem to have a single colour, which could be one of the two "tropical" colours since it has been described as "green".

None of these tanks fought anywhere but Africa and they were not brought back to Europe.

David

Byrden

<clip>A "tropical" scheme was in force for African vehicles, and in photos we can see at least some of them bearing it. Others seem to have a single colour, which could be one of the two "tropical" colours since it has been described as "green".

Thanks for the reminder!!!  I totally forgot about this scheme I had sketched up awhile ago...this will have to be paint scheme option 4:

Steve,

If you're just intending to build something that "looks" like a Tiger in order to play around with paint and weathering approaches for a given scheme or look, then what you've proposed will work just fine. It's a three-tone scheme that wasn't seen/used on Afrika Tigers though just as a side note. Tropen schemes were only 2-tone schemes.

I am looking forward to seeing what you do with this one regardless.  

wbill76

 ...Tropen schemes were only 2-tone schemes.

Any recommended resources to view this/these scheme?... besides the "Tiger I in-Action" book... which I'll pull out tonight.

It's the scheme that the Tiger in Bovington Museum has been wearing for some years now. A brownish green and a greenish brown. Broad wavy bands.  You'll find plenty of pics of this tank via Google Images.

There is also a rare colour photo of a destroyed Tiger in Africa, and on the side you can see these two colours under the dust;

David

Bryden: Thanks for taking the time to post those photos, I'll go on the net to find more. 

I read Tiger in Action last night and it confirmed what you said about the initial tanks.  According to that resource they went out in brown or light green...versus DK.  It didn't say light, med or dark brown but the text went on to say that the later browns  were more red-brown.  Sooooo, looking at my paints I gravitated towards Tamiya XF-72...which is DARN close to the darker shade of the first photo you show and almost a ringer-of-a-match for the brownish color on that second Tiger wreck photo.   

The Tamiya Buff next to the XF-72 is perfect for the lighter shading effects I want to show and that goes back to my intro post for this thread...so I think I'm heading in the right direction. 

Thanks again!

Maybe you should add a German flag for aerial recognition...

I have seen in some games the scheme that was discussed earlier, two- tone, dukengleb underneath and brown (or green) over that in patches. 

I'm not sure this would be prototypical or not, but it would make an interesting scheme...

If you are intending to put figures in or on the Tiger, remember to put them in Tropical tank uniforms! I haven't built this kit before, but they might not be correct. Maybe the answer is on Wikipedia...

Have fun with the project!  

Maybe you should add a German flag for aerial recognition...

I have seen in some games the scheme that was discussed earlier, two- tone, dukengleb underneath and brown (or green) over that in patches. 

I'm not sure this would be prototypical or not, but it would make an interesting scheme...

If you are intending to put figures in or on the Tiger, remember to put them in Tropical tank uniforms! I haven't built this kit before, but they might not be correct. Maybe the answer is on Wikipedia...

Have fun with the project!  

Maybe you should add a German flag for aerial recognition...

I have seen in some games the scheme that was discussed earlier, two- tone, dukengleb underneath and brown (or green) over that in patches. 

I'm not sure this would be prototypical or not, but it would make an interesting scheme...

If you are intending to put figures in or on the Tiger with a tropical scheme, remember to put them in Tropical tank uniforms! I haven't built this kit before, but they might not be correct. Maybe the answer is on Wikipedia...

Have fun with the project!  

Whoops, sorry about the repeats!

Nice to see you back, and what a kit to start with. I have this one in the stash and i got the full Aber PE set that includes a rather nice barrel. Though it is very pricey. And looking forward to seeing your weathering.

Guys:  Here's an update on my Tiger.  I was planning to keep this pretty much OOB except for the aluminum barrel and PE grilles but I decided to add a few custom touches.  Here's the overall view:

Here's a close-up of the brackets and fenders, both were made from aluminum baking pans.  I wasn't sure of the shape of the brackets so I improvised...I like the results.  I will be bending the fenders later (after priming) to show abuse:

I made an exhaust shroud to replace the kit part...it will get a big dent in it later...I plan to leave the other shroud off:

Some weld beads made from stretched sprue:

Lastly, some wires to add a bit of detail:

A few more small brackets for tools and this BAD BOY is readyfor paint!...

Aluminum baking pan?  Jeez!  Never thought about this.  A great way to save $20 or even more... everything is looking great!

What did you use for the tubings in the rear?  Black tapes? 

Love the improvisions.

Looking gooid, and ye, nice improvments.

Looking good so far Steve!