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Calling it done: Dragon 1/35 Tiger I late/final

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  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Goffstown, NH
Calling it done: Dragon 1/35 Tiger I late/final
Posted by New Hampshire on Sunday, November 10, 2013 7:06 PM

Pics first:

So this is the product of about several months of off and on, slow puttering work.  As it is the least several weeks saw me pretty inactive on this because I have been doing 50 hour work weeks, and coming home I had trouble motivating myself to spend some time at the bench.  But today I finished up some odds and ends on it to get it to where I am happy to call it pretty much done.  I achieved what I wanted out of this, basically a test of some new weather techniques.  I am happy with the results and I think I have found the groove in which I want to work with.

So basically this is the Dragon Tiger I Late/Early built out of the box except for the tracks.  For some reason the Dragon magic tracks were way too long.  I did not realize this until I had glued the bands together...not that I could have done much about it anyway.  So I went looking and found that AFV club made some workable styrene replacement tracks.  Despite having 2 sink marks on each link that needed cleaning they actually turned out to be a pretty cost effective, and I think much better, replacement for the dragon tracks.  Base coat is Krylon "Red Oxide".  That was followed up with a couple coats of hairspray and then the usual Tamiya acrylics in appropriate colors for base and camo.  From there it was extensive use of Windsor and Newton oils, Mig pigments, and a mixture of brands and types of paints for detail painting, dry brushing, etc.

Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys.  Comments and critique are of course welcome...one can never always objectively see all the details that need tweaking for the future. Cool

Brian

  • Member since
    November 2010
  • From: Florida-West Central
Posted by Eagle90 on Sunday, November 10, 2013 7:13 PM

Hey Brian, that is one sweet looking Tiger!  I'll be starting my first armor kit soon and you guys are an inspiration!  Thanks for sharing!

Eagle90

 

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: California
Posted by SprueOne on Sunday, November 10, 2013 7:50 PM

Looks pretty dang good. The tracks were handled well.

Only thing I can see right now is the brand new cables secured on top and the port side. 

These would have been painted over with the camo or if left unpainted, would be rusting looking within 48 hours (scale hours of course) 

Anyone with a good car don't need to be justified - Hazel Motes

 

Iron Rails 2015 by Wayne Cassell Weekend Madness sprueone

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Washington State
Posted by leemitcheltree on Sunday, November 10, 2013 7:57 PM

New Hampshire....first - let me say.....that Tiger is beautiful.  Awesome.

The build quality is excellent, and the paint is superb.  The weathering is very restrained (maybe too "clean" for me) - but it really is very impressive.  A very, very nice job.  You do excellent work.

And thank you for posting the pictures - I love looking at superb models - it makes me try very hard to do better.  Nicely done - very nicely done.

Cheers, LeeTree
Remember, Safety Fast!!!

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Goffstown, NH
Posted by New Hampshire on Sunday, November 10, 2013 8:03 PM

Thanks everyone.  It was a fun build if not a long one.  If only I could get paid to build models.... Big Smile

SprueOne

Only thing I can see right now is the brand new cables secured on top and the port side. 

These would have been painted over with the camo or if left unpainted, would be rusting looking within 48 hours (scale hours of course) 

Interesting.  I seemed to recall a conversation here not too long ago where it was said that the cables would almost never be painted over, and that they would always be kept well oiled (because a rusty tow cable is an unsafe cable).  But I will be interested to hear what others have to say on the matter as I am by far no expert on the matter.  Cool

Brian

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: San Francisco Bay Area
Posted by bufflehead on Sunday, November 10, 2013 9:29 PM

Every tank builder needs to build a Tiger kit and yours' looks great Brian!  I also used the AFV tracks on my Tiger (built years ago!) and they worked out quite well!  Way cheaper than Friuls....a bit harder to put together, but well worth the price!  The only nitpick I have is the same as SprueOne....the tow cable would not be that shiny; the same color that you used on your spare tracks would be much better IMHO.  Check out wbill76's recent post of his Dragon Tiger....he just added the tow cables.

Other than that....YesYes

Ernest

Last Armor Build - 1/35 Dragon M-26A1, 1/35 Emhar Mk.IV Female

     

Last Aircraft Builds - Hobby Boss 1/72 F4F Wildcat & FW-190A8

     

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Currently Moscow, Russia
Posted by Coldsteel6d on Sunday, November 10, 2013 9:37 PM

I can tell you that on modern vehicles tow cables are painted. Prevents them from rusting out. If they get a lot of use the paint will wear off some but whenever it comes time to paint the vehicle again they get painted over. Wasn't around when Tigers were roaming the battlefields but I would wager they painted theirs as well.

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Sunday, November 10, 2013 9:43 PM

That is arguably one of the best camo schemes I've seen painted. Perfect.  Excellent job on the Tiger.

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Monday, November 11, 2013 6:48 AM

Beautiful job with the camo,blends together real nice.Good amount of mud on lower hull ,running gear,and tracks.what scale is it,hard to tell because of the great work.

One thing needs mentioning,is that it's needs Zimm to br accurate,otherwise,great job.

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Austria
Posted by Byrden on Monday, November 11, 2013 11:31 AM

Nice job! I can see just a few things to pick at;

- You forgot to install the lifting lugs on the turret cheeks

- Weathering is nice but it's very uniform. It shows no signs of actual use, e.g. footprints, fuel leaks, in the appropriate places.

- You didn't model a specific Tiger, it's more of a what-if. Of course that's a whole other level of madness if you want to go that way.

David

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Monday, November 11, 2013 11:49 AM

Loving it, Brian---excellent use of pinwashes and detail painting! The tools and fittings are all very nicely defined and the whole tank has a very clean, classic look!

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Goffstown, NH
Posted by New Hampshire on Monday, November 11, 2013 5:18 PM

Thanks again everyone. 

bufflehead, you have settled it, next time the tow cables get a darker shade of metallic. Cool

coldsteel6d.  I will say that I did paint the cables using pictures of a Tiger I found online (the Bovington I think?...been a while so I can't remember off hand exactly where I saw it), but I fully admit that a modern restore may not be the most historically accurate reference.  Thanks for having a look and for your comment! Toast

Tigerman, those are some kind words.  I appreciate them.  I will be honest, the top surfaces I just had to pretty much wing it.  The instructions gave me a basis for the sides and front, but all variations in the decaling section conspicuously lacked any overhead views to work with. Angry

Tojo72, Yeah I was reminded about the zim until well into the project.  By that time it was beyond the point of fixing.  But I don't mind because this was mostly about testing some new weather techniques I wanted to try, so it was more about that than historical accuracy.  That is what I am trying to convince myself at least. Big Smile  And it is 1/35.  It is Dragons 3 in 1 kit.

Doog, I always appreciate your encouragement. Yes

Byrden

- You forgot to install the lifting lugs on the turret cheeks

D'oh!  You are right.  Darn Dragon instructions are complicated and busy, and even though I did my best to methodically check off each part as I applied it I somehow managed to miss these parts completely.

And you are right about modeling a specific tank.  Basically I chose this particular decal set because I thought the blue numbers with yellow border would make for a nice contrast on the paint. As I mention above I had to pretty much just go with the flow for the top surfaces do to a lack of any in-instruction painting references.  So this is by no means representative of any specific vehicle. Smile

Brian

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Texas
Posted by wbill76 on Monday, November 11, 2013 7:40 PM

Have to say that's an impressive camo scheme you've pulled off here Brian, very nice! Yes

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: El Dorado Hills, CA
Posted by IBuild148 on Monday, November 11, 2013 10:05 PM

Well done Brian! Yes That camo really "pops"! After seeing yours and watching Bills WIP I am going to build a KT after my Nashorn.

IBuildOne48

Teach modeling to youth!

Scalefinishes.com

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww122/randysmodels/NMF%20Group%20build%20II/Group%20Badge/NMFIIGBbadgesmall.jpg

 

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Goffstown, NH
Posted by New Hampshire on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 6:21 PM

Thanks Bill and IBuild148!  The tough part now becomes the decision on what to build next.   A couple of kits in the stash are calling at me!

Brian

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: S.W. Missouri
Posted by Pvt Mutt on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 8:24 PM

N I C E YesStarStarStar

Tony lee

Shoot Low Boys They're Ridin Ponys

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Goffstown, NH
Posted by New Hampshire on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 5:30 AM

Gracias Tony! Cool

Brian

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Texas
Posted by wbill76 on Thursday, November 14, 2013 7:47 PM

Go with whichever one is loudest! Big Smile

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Goffstown, NH
Posted by New Hampshire on Friday, November 15, 2013 6:52 PM

wbill76

Go with whichever one is loudest! Big Smile

Right now what seems to be yelling the loudest is a pair of Pz Mk III's I have (well, those plus one of those floating thingys from the good old Imperial Japanese Navy, but with all the photo etch goin' on that thing I will need a little armor build or two to give me a distraction so I can keep my sanity!) Big Smile

Brian

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Posted by subfixer on Saturday, November 16, 2013 8:54 AM

Great job, Brian, me likes!

lee

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Michigan
Posted by ps1scw on Saturday, November 16, 2013 10:59 AM

I like it very much

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Goffstown, NH
Posted by New Hampshire on Saturday, November 16, 2013 6:46 PM

Thanks subfixer and ps1scw, glad you like it. Toast

Brian

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