All those models look great.

Andy,

My Voyager set doesn't have the same rear mudguards as yours does, I build them but it doesn't look right. It's the right set for my Dragon model and has the model number on it but it's totally different from the model mudguards and yours. I guess I'll use the model rear mudguards.

I haven't been around for a few days and catching up sure was fun. Can't wait till I can join in, you guys are doing great.

I have a quick question for those of you stateside that have bought from the fellow in Poland recently, how long did it take your package to arrive? Tomorrow will be three weeks for me and still no joy. I don't doubt that it was shipped, just beginning to wonder if something happened to it.

Tony

Wingman_kz

I haven't been around for a few days and catching up sure was fun. Can't wait till I can join in, you guys are doing great.

I have a quick question for those of you stateside that have bought from the fellow in Poland recently, how long did it take your package to arrive? Tomorrow will be three weeks for me and still no joy. I don't doubt that it was shipped, just beginning to wonder if something happened to it.

Tony

As for me? Disappointment. I got next to nothing done. I tried gluing on the mantlet. Needs super-glue and mine dried up.  I worked a bit on the gun with putty. Not sure it will meet my standards, but we'll see. I probably won't get back to it until next weekend. 

Shellback:  Top notch weld work there, those details really pay off later.  Great photos, very helpful! Thanks for the bondo info too, I may go grab a tube!

Hinksy: Sounds like the build time was cut a bit, bummer...Looking good though, love those shackles.

armor 86: Old school styrene weld beads, executed well...

deafpanzer:  WOW, nice detail work!

malone duck:  You could start your own brass section...LOL!  Lookin' good!

Guys:  HUGE WEEKEND at the workbench for me!  I added the base coat (50% Dark Yellow/ 50% Deck Tan)...this mix was given to me by Phil_H...It is a PERFECT color IMO for dunkelbgelb.  I painted the barrel dark gray but I didn't like and have repainted it.

A little post shading with XF-49 Khaki:

I then applied three coats of AK Interactive heavy chipping effects fluid...then sprayed the whitewash:

Looking good Steve. I envy your progress.

Steve that is really looking hot man.

I worked on the paper zim over the weekend so here’s a WP update and a product review/opinion.  

Having seen and example of what can be done with this product at AMPS East I had to give it a try.  Especially since it looked so nice in 1/48.  (Hmmm? That sounded awfully familiar.  I am guessing I’ve said that already in another post somewhere.)

There is a lot of potential with this product but I think it takes, at least for me, a couple of tries at it to get used to the properties and application techniques.  

The sheet that comes with the laser cut card stock has he pieces labeled and recommendations for methods of attaching the zim to the model.  

The preferred method is to use thinned white glue over a primed surface.  This does work as can be seen on the turret.  There is a long(ish) time for the glue to absorb and stick and I still had some problems with corners peeling up.  The wetter the paper gets to more susceptible to damage while you’re working it into place.  I ended up using some CA to get them to stay down.  I switched over to slow acting CA gel for the hull pieces.  Still time to move it around and accelerator can be brushed on the paper to get it to set.  It does not affect the texture.  I found this also help with trimming since with the white glue the edges where soft and even with a new scalpel blade there was to fraying of the edges.

There are also recommendations as to the order in which some pieces should be applied due to the way the edge overlap.  Fit of the pieces was pretty good overall.  

My issues with the product are with the overall and how the materials blend at the corners.  The paper is thick(ish) There is a learning curve for this part I guess. My biggest complaint is the pieces for the upper hull.  The sheet says that a slot can be cut to accommodate for the rail.  Since this is a standard piece on the side of the tank I wonder why they didn’t cut the pieces separately.  The small size and delicate nature of the piece due to the various holes made this difficult.  The area at the rear broke easily so it had to be patched so now there is a seam and I am not sure how to handle that so it is not apparent.  I am thinking this will end up being a chipped/damaged area of the zim as a cheat. The seams on the mantlet where tough to deal with and I am not going to see how that looks until it gets a coat of primer.  With resin zim sets this piece is usually cast with the zim on it and this would be a big improvement to the set.

Are the problems I had of my own doing being the 1st time I am trying paper zim? Maybe.  I will say though that my 1st time using resin zim went smooth as glass.

A quick progress report on my end:

The construction is coming along nicely, almost complete. I won't be using any aftermarket bits on this build, it's only my second piece of armour after all. It does actually have the basic colour down, although it's hard to see because my camera's being a bit weird...

Anyway, some photo's

To make sure I don't leave anyone out I'm simply going to say 'GREAT WORK EVERYONE!!!'

I sprayed my Tiger Sat with the pre-shade and discovered there were seam lines where I'd glued the resin zimmerit panels to the hull and turret. So I've puttied them and will be lightly sanding them. Hopefully that should take care of most of construction.  

SMJ , paint looks lgood . I saw a model of a King Tiger with a gray barrel anf the difference makes for an interesting chage .so will yours ! i like it and am leaning towards doing the same with my kit .

Marc , a truely in depth discription of the paper zim .thanks . The results look tretty good to me . Like you said there's a learning curve , as with any new product and hats off to you for using this one and accomplishing your results .

Alex , thanks for the pics , looks good .

Marc, really like your zim sir. How much does it run for 1/35?

Alex, solid start. Looking good.

Andy, sweet toolbox.

Thanks guys.  I should have a coat of primer down so and we will see what we will see.

Both were $22 at the show.  The 1/35 sheets are on the same size card but without the cross/turret stencils or the tracks hangers or schurzen.

I didn;t mention above but  another test of the edge blending will be coming up.  The little thing in the lower right corner with the wedge shapes is for the front MG blister.  That should cause a few hairs to fall out.

Shellback: I liked the gray barrel concept but I didn't like it after I painted it.  I switched it back to dunkelgelb with white camo.  BUT,...I still do like the idea and may end up switching the color on the Tiger I Late when I start that build for this GB. 

wing_nut: Thanks man!

Alex Shaw:  Is that the Tamiya kit?  She's looking good so far!  You may be experiecing photo problems if your lighting is fluorescent...it throws the light meter off for some reason.

Guys:  Moving right along on the Mid!: Worn white camo' completed;

Stenciled numbering:

ROAD WHEELS!!!:

Close-up of worn winter camo' finish:

Tanks for looking!

Great looking whitewash Steve. Did you use the hairspray method?

SJM- Excellent result with the worn out winter camo!!!  Nice touch with the fading numbers and red streaks...

Marc- I think your work on Zimm looks great!  I am still very interested to hear your final opinion between paper and resin Zimm sets.  I have both brass and resin sets in stash.  

Alex- Your second armor build?  Looking real good already! 

KY Colonel- Maybe we have different Voyager sets?  Mine was made specifically for DML 6252 and 6600.  it was $25 via eBay from a Voyager distributor.  The model set mud guards still look good and it comes in fewer pieces.  

Malone- PLEASE in the future warn us first to put on our sunglasses.  I nearly got blinded for looking at all of your brass.  Beautiful work! 

Carl- Marc's big penny?  Still have it somewhere... you just gave me a great idea about it. LOL  Thanks buddy!

Eric- Thanks! 

Steve - Now that is Nice!!! Excellent job!

That's looking great SJM, I'll have to try whitewashing sometime. And yes, mine is a Tamiya 1/35.

SMJ , not gray but it all looks very nicely done !

Andy ........an idea huh ? OH Boy !

I tried that white wash effect once ..................

Actually , not a picture of me ........i'm much more powdery .

Steve: Great job there! Dang, if the figures I have for my Tiger didn't have their sleeves rolled up I might try a whitewash on my tank too.

Carl: Lol! That isn't from one of Manny's infamous sugar coated doughnuts was it?

Thanks for the comments guys.  I had to throw on my primer coat today. I have to say it was tough... I almost didn't want to cover the tigers jewelry...  So hopefully by the weekend ill have some pics with some color.  SMS I really dig the damage on that rear stowage bin...   I got a question anyone know any manufacturers that make the different style turret stowage bin that were mounted on tigers from abt. 503. Or maybe a publication that has drawings.  

Hi guys -- too much jaw-dropping work to comment on individually, just a collective INCREDIBLE!

Feeling like I'm getting left behind, I started painting my KT earlier. It'll take another session, possibly two, there's a lot of hull on this kitty! And that's just the basecoat! I need to mask the exhausts and axles, then take a shot of the main hull, so far I've done the turret, barrel and one side of the wheels... Everything's going into green, as that was the predominant colour on this particular vehicle. Yellow and brown to add over the top -- it'll be interesting to see it happen in this order.

Pics soon,

M/TB379

This Tiger from Tamiya comes with the inboard portion of the front fender molded with the upper hull as one piece .

This cat is not going to have any skirts so some surgery was necessary . All i want left is the hing parts that are welded to the front glacis . I put some cutting torch marks on the ends of the armor plates .

Rear fenders are a different story .they are a separate part/ parts . Some surgery was necessary to get the hing parts i wanted and then attach them .

I attached the small parts to a piece of masking tape , thereby saving them , and me , from a trip into oblivion .

Here thet are attached to the rear hull . I think i'm done with the weld beads also . Also , i roughed up the ends of the armor plates

Shellback, I honestly feel as though I should be paying 18.95 to view your build.  I'm taking notes...

Malon Duke .............

That's insane Carl. 

Totally awesome work, everyone!

Malone, not sure if the smaller bin you are looking for is of the panzer IV type, but both ABER and Voyager have PE renditions.  I've also seen period photos of a third type that seems similar in shape to the above mentioned bin, and simplified in construction - but did not notice it being available as PE.

regards,

Jack

Tigerman: I didn't use hairspray but the product I used is intended to simulate that technique.  I used AK Interactive Heavy Chipping Effects Fluid.  It was my first time using the stuff but I'm a real fan of it already!

deafpanzer: Glad you noticed the subtle fading on the numbers...thanks for the comments.

JOE RIX/ Alex Shaw/ Gamera/ malone duke:  Thanks for the comments guys!!!

Shellback: Thanks for your comments on my Mid.  I'm really enjoying watching your detail work...impressive surgery on the fenders!

Carl- Nice work taking care of the fender hinges!  Pay you $18.95?  Little too much but one or two  would be sufficient?  

WOW guys... outstanding work a cross the board.

Last update before painting begins.  YIPPIE!!!

One of the problems with the paper zim is that fact that it’s paper.  Sanding and “chipping” leaves a frayed edge.  Just like when you tear a piece of paper.  I soaked the paper with thin CA and dabbing off the excess with a q-tip before it sets.

A little fuzzy but you get the idea.

I only did the CA on one side and it does not affect the surface at all.  But is does make it a bit more durable.

With CA

Without CA

The gun blister was a nightmare and in the end didn’t work at all.  The piece with the cut segment did not fit.  I couldn’t get all the gaps to close.    Needing more work time I used the white glue instead of the gel CA and the segments got pretty soaked and were tearing off as i tried to work them together. I think the seams would have looked mad anyway.  They give you round disk to wet and, in their woods, “stretch” over the bulge.  Wet paper doesn’t stretch… it tears.  So that was a bust. I ended up softening the plastic with liquid glue and tried to replicate the pattern.  Not great but it is what it is.  A couple of pics of how I shaped the zim before putting it on in the event someone else tries this stuff and gets it to work better than I did.

You can sort of see them blister here.

The bit of raised plastic on the side of the hull that is supposed to be the rack for the extra tread was chiseled off to make room for the paper ones from the zim set.  I don’t plan to put any treads on the hull and use these to hang on the turret.  The Tread where separated so they could be linked.    The thing with the 2 bends is a strip I cut off the paper sheet to test soaking it in thin CA to make it stiff.  One end with bent then soaked and the other was soaked, cured and then bent.  The latter actually cracked so when making the rack I went with bend first.  Make some pins from wire. The cable loop is there for a test fit since I will attach one end of the cable on the bracket.

Not sure the function of that piece by the fan but it is on a 1/35 “G” I have so I made one.

Well , what an ordeal .By the sounds of your discription i'd say it takes some patience ! But the results look like they came out well . The "bow tie"shaped thing next to the fan is a stowed cover for the engine ventilation fan .........i believe it was used as a restriction on the air flow for use durring cold winter operation to cause the engine to run warmer ...kinda like when you see Diesel trucks partially cover their radiator shrouds in cold climates ...........................................

Carl - Holy cow!! With the skills and attention to detail you demonstrate you're the dadgum poster child for The Dark Side. Absolutely awesome work.

 I've managed to finish up touching up the  PE zim on the gun mantle. Looks half descent. Atached the rear plate and added some of the PE zim there. I'll get some pics here soon.

Wing Nut - Nice job on the paper zim. Looks great.