Steel Cats (Sept. 2012-Aug. 2013)

Ben, Carl and Armor86, great work guys. Just awesome.

Theres some great looking weld beads going on here. Carl, Armour, some nice builds there.

Hey Eric , up late again ?  Thanks .

Armor , good looking welds and texturing .

Armor and Bish thanks guys .

Hinksy, Shellback, Armor86, all fantastic work! I feel I'm learning a lot about welds here -- I used the strip plastic technique on my Academy Tiger I Early for Big Cats way back, but not done much since then, I must do some of these when I build a non-zim beast. The current project is not so obvious as the welds are all effectively covered by the zim.

I'm thinking of getting to grips with paint shortly, starting with a basic overall green, as this was the most predominant colour in the scheme...

Cheers, M/TB379

Cheers guys,

Bish - I think they are RB Shackles. Either way they are from Steve at Armour Models.

http://www.armour-models.co.uk/product_catalogue/shackles_4pcs_123/index.html

Hope this help matey,

Ben

Carl, the welds are fantastic.  Improving or adding welds and the cutting torch marks on plate edges are a couple of details that are easy to do, not done often enough and really add something to the build.  When I do a nice weld I will sit back with a kind of, "Look what I just did." grin.  If you want a lot of practice... build and Enigma

I want to try Bondo but have a question about the working time...  What is the working time?   I find Sq. green putty get dry(ish) quickly and becomes difficult to spread evenly and smoothly.

Ben, Really nice work.  Love it.  The barrel and shackles look great

Armor86,  I have not had god luck using styrene rod for welds but you have a nice job f it.

Ben - The shackles do indeed look awesome. Glad I got myself a set. Beautiful work overall.

Carl & Armor  - The weld seams are just simply well done. Seeing this has led me to an epiphany. I had this misguided conception that taking a break from aircraft to construct a tank would be less time consuming. And now weld beads. Weld Beads!! Oh, for the love of Pete!!!! What exactly did I get myself involved with. No, seriously it is fantastic to learn all the nuances of armor building and I'm grateful for all the great tips I am getting here.

               Joe 

Thunder , yyes , not much need for doing weld beads on a Zimmed up Cat is there ? I'll be watching for the green cat .

Some very fine work going on in here guys

Have been lurking

Joe , thank you and glad to have you join us here on the "darkside ". Here's a recruiting poster .

Marc , first off thanks for your comment ! About the Bondo , yes it does dry fast . I squeezed mine out of the tube and into an empty Tamiya paint jar ( the big mouth makes it easy to scoop out of ) then i thin it with some lacquer thinner to about the consistency of tooth paste (before its used ) . Dont make it overly thinned or it runs and ruins the plastic under the tape . I know you know 90% of the above but i had ramble on .

P.S. When the Bondo gets to dry to work with on the model i apply a little Testors plastic cement .....with the pink label to soften it up again .If that dont work then i scrape it off and start over .

My big mouth ................paint jar that is .

Good evening folks,

I've been building all afternoon and have a stonking headache so I'll keep the update brief - it's nothing a good meal and a cup of Tea won't sort cure!

The basic build is now pretty much complete. I'll be thinking about wheels next weekend and getting them sorted and then onto paint. I'm going to post a few photos showing progress from today and then I have a question or two concerning the Tiger I in general and a couple re my build.

Today the turret has been completed (minus the PE padlocks for the Turret stowage bin lids). The Cupola is on along with the turret hatches - all exposed handles have been replaced with Brass rod of the same diameter. I think I'm going to make up the escape hatch at the back of the turret so it just sits slighty open showing the Ivory colour interior around the edges of the doors and door frame to add a little splash of colour.

I've fitted the little spiky things that the spare track links for the sides of the turret will sit on - I still have the top parts that hold the links from the top to fit. I need to mark out the area on the turret where the links will sit (5 links on the left side and 2 on the right) as I'm going to leave the two small areas free of cammo and have it painted with Dunky only. Looking at photos that seems to have been done where the crew have field applied cammo and obviously gone round the link covered area.

QUESTIONS:

Below: This was how I was going to have the final build looking. I was going to have two or three empty cases on the rear engine deck as if they'd been chucked out of the escape/reloading hatch. I was just going to add some black pigment to show they'd been fired, like a rifle cartridge.

Is this a realistic scenario - this could easily have happened I'm assuming?

Below: What is this MC1 item that the instructions would have me put on the front Glacis? I'm not sure what the heck this is? Have I got the right piece? Is it needed? As you can see I have placed it on the top corner of the bottom photo - it's like a grill thingy?

Question: The clear transparent plastic convoy light tube - most modellers shw it as being Blue but I've just seen a link showing details on these and it was actually GREEN? What colour to use?

I'll be using a Humbrol Clear Cote colour to paint it after the basecoat is on - what about the periscope lenses too? Blue?

Question: I might fit an MG to the Cupola. Should it be an MG34 or 42? I'm assuming it would have a round, side mount magazine fitted and not a bullet belt trailing from it? 

Thanks guys - I hope you like her so far,

Have a good week,

Ben

Ben , she looks really great

As far as the convoy light i always thought it was blue also ........................

Rob , good to have you lurking !

Ben, I love that head on shot of the Tiger.  You definitely convinced me to build my Tiger next.

I hope to get the road wheels and other parts painted today. I doubt I will lay a camo scheme, but need to soon before moving onto the tracks.

Hi lads,

Glad you are liking here so far. What a great kit that makes for one VERY enjoyable build.

I saw a recent post where this convoy light tube was green inside but I'd always thought it to be blue too? I can't find the link right now but have checked again and am seeing comments on changing colours from Blue to Green over the course of the war?

Hmmmm?

Ben

Ben I imagine certain lighting makes the color appear to change. I think it's supposed to be green.

Her's a little update picture of my Karaya tow cables from Poland. They are much thinner then the kits styrene ones.

They'll be a lot better Eric!

Are they the Tamiya ones that you need to heat and bend? I had them on my old Tamiya JP - God what a nightmare!

Did you see these Lion Roar ones that I'm using on my Tiger to replace the big cables on the top deck. You have to build them up from scratch - superb detail!

You have to see this link and you'll be ordering a set tomorrow. The wire provided is so soft it just sits down flat!

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/lionroar/le35092.html

Cheers buddy,

Ben

Those are sweet Ben. How much did they ding you for?

Yes, I'm replacing the Tamiya ones. I didn't want to have to heat them to bend.

Thanks Carl.  Do you have a picture, or product number, of the tube you have. I went to the auto part store and all the had was a can... said "original" on so i figured it was a paste in a can.  This is a 2 part stuff, a can of gray paste that stinks beyond bad. Bad enough I would never use indoors.  And a tiny packet of red hardener.  I am guessing this is the wrong stuff.

Tigerman - I picked the Lionroar cables up at a show earlier in the year for £6.50 ($10?) which I think is the proper price anyway as I've seen them advertised since then? There is enough cable and 4 ends and collars so I'll be able to make up two 'Tiger I size' cables - perfect for the top deck as I'm not keen on using the PE cables.

Not the cheapest but I'm happy to fork out on detailing up the occasional big build!

Ben :-)

Marc , sorry but it sounds like you got the wrong stuff . Sounds like you got some body putty . This stuff i have does not have to be mixed with a catalyst ..just use it out of the tube .

Heres the pic . I bought this stuff 20 yrs ago so it might be packaged differently by now  but the main thing its called glazing and spot putty . The tube is about 6 inches long .

Carl i have no idea what the armor equivalent of a "steelie eyed missile man" is ... but you're it

wing_nut

Carl i have no idea what the armor equivalent of a "steelie eyed missile man" is ... but you're it

I dont know either Marc ......................... i just had 2 beers with my steak so i cant conjure up an answer right now .........burppppppp .............

Hi Ben,

We had somewhat broached the subject around page 21 of this thread regarding the MG34 - this was the gun used for AA purpose on the commander's copula. 

There was a canvas bag designed called the gurtsack that held 150 rounds and numerous bags of this ammo was stowed inside as it also was utilized for the other guns as well.  I've no idea of the introduction date for this ammo 'pouch' nor can I say for certain it superceded the use of the round drum feed.

Did find a couple 1/35 samples:

RoyalModel

TANK

regards,

Jack

Guys- Plenty of great action here... six pages since my last update.  Was in Philly for a family wedding so I wasn't able to keep up with you guys.  Thanks for the comments earlier!  I am afraid I may have missed somebody... 

Armor86- Dig the surface on the Tiger!  

Marc- Few days later and your build is almost complete!  Slow down or you are making me look bad. LOL 

Carl- Great tip how to add weld beads!  KT looking real good...

Ben- Love those RB aftermarkets!  

Didn't have the chance to post this before my Philly trip.  Update on the tool box... 

Only one more thing to work on the rear... the jack then I can finally move on to next step.  Thanks for looking!

Looks good Andy ! Did you borrow Marc's big penny ?

alrighty fellows...  i finally got a chance to get some pics on here...  ive been able to follow at least and i must say theres alot of awesome work being done...  hope you guys like, and of course any suggestions are appreciated...

M.D. .............sure looks good .Lots of brass !