Hi chaps,

The site has been down all weekend (as you no doubt know) so I'll show you where I'm at - I started work on my Tiger I today-looks like some nice work going on already:

So, I'm going to be building this great looking kit - the Dragon 6363 Tiger I Ausf E with Zim.

I've worked through the parts and instructions and have narrowed down the options of markings and paint to two or three - either Normandy or Italy.

I'll be using Friuls and an RB Barrel but otherwise it's all OOB. The Zim is moulded perfectly. It's moulded to look realistic - like it's been applied a bit haphazard and isn't totally uniform and neat like other Zim I've seen on some Dragon kits.

Box Art:

Nicely moulded Zim on the Turret:

PE for the intakes, a 2 metre RB Brass Antennae and a selection of Brass RB Tiger shell cases and separate projectiles. You can make up whole rounds but I was going to have the port door at the back of the turret open and a few spent cases littering the deck behind the turret:

I have this kit from Lion Roar which allows you to make up proper tow-cables. I was going to use these in place of the plastic ones that go on the deck:

Now, this scared me! Below is a section of the instructions where you are asked to make 4 x padlocks plus clasps to go on the rear turret bin! God - I thought tool clasps were small and fiddly!

The instructions are very good and I really like the options. You need to choose which of the 5 marking option you want to build before you start work as several times you come to a part of the instruction that has two opposite pointing arrows giving a choice of 2 optional items. You need to look at the tank you want to build to see if one of the two listed parts to choose from are on there - it's helped me already select the right type of drive sprockets to build my choice.

I decided on s.Pz.Abt.508, Italy 1944. It has a nice scheme that leaves the bulk of the basecoat Dunkelgelb basecoat visible and asks for just hard-edged 'slithers' of Olivgrun and Rotbraun. The main decal is a simple hollow '1' with a white outline. Most of the other schemes have huge red or green numbers that will detract from the build imo. The lack of cammo and very visible yellow basecoat will definately help with the weathering too.

My 'Italian Job' Option (note the recommended parts listing)

I was originally looking at 2./s Pz.Abt.101, Normandy 1944 but didn't like the huge red turret numbers and I preferred the Italian paint scheme:

First bit of work completed - suspension arms in place and Drives and Idlers assembled - I decided to fit the Sprockets and Idlers last when I fit the roadwheels:

Apart from fitting the roadwheels that's sections 1-4 sorted. Tomorrow I have the day off but a lot to do but will get section 5 done where the rear fenders and exhausts & guards get fitted.

Cheers for looking guys - update tomorrow:

Ben

Armor86 - That is some really nice work you done so far. How did you simulate the weld seams?

 My update - I've managed to get the PE Zimm on the gun mantlet. This was without a doubt a bit of a challenge what with the interesting bends required. Thank God for the physics of annealing metal as heating each panel with a lighter made bending much easier. The fit of the panels is not perfect more due to to not really knowing in which order to put them on.  Nothing a little putty, filing and sanding won't fix in order to get it all smoothed out. I attached the panels with thick CA. The Gator Grip glue wasn't cutting it as the panels would just pop off when I would file on them. Also completed my RB barrel. Glued with thick CA. I regret the quality of my pics. I'll be to gettin' some better ones.

Armor86, great job on  the Tiger. I want an AM barrel. Where did you get yours and how much?

I ordered the Karaya tow-cables from Poland, so they won't be here for a couple of weeks, but that's okay. They will be a definite upgrade.

I have all but the barrel finished for the upper half. I hope to get a base on the lower half today!

Steel Cats Update - Tiger I (DAK) - Tamiya Kit - Texture the surface and high weld beads (haarsh marks will need to softened with light application of Tamiya Ultra-thin cement to smoother results ... photos below. 

Installing hatches and replacing handles with bend wire / PE stuff added, drilled holes ... major work still needed on the turret (has no weld) ...

RB Barrel completed ... I use CE ....

The rear also lacks any weld bead .... Armor86

You might want to try looking at the old red storm GB.  I would have to look though my old hard drive for the pictures I have of the Brandenburg Tiger.  She was a mess.  A early tiger with late tracks.  Missing most of the fenders and a bunch of the outer road wheels.

Nice to see you Ben. i look forward to the zimmed-up Tiger.

Pyrman, I look forward to the Panther.

Greetings,

Well, I did my weekly friday evening trip to the LHS for the usual get together building session.  I took my Tamiya Panther ausf G w/steel wheels and managed to start on the chassis and hull....pics to follow after(if?) it stops raining.

moose421

About the only time that units would be in total desrepair would be at the end of the war.  Like the units in the fall of Berlin.

Kim

Would anybody have any pictures of some units in and around Berlin at the end of the war? I've only seen 3 Tiger I's and would love to see more.

About the only time that units would be in total desrepair would be at the end of the war.  Like the units in the fall of Berlin.

Kim

Thanks Bish,

I've decided to go with one of the Normandy vehicles. I've had a good Google and there is information galore out there.

Of the variants listed is there a particular option that would make a good choice over the others?

Cheers buddy,

Ben

I can't recall the tgime frame of the Late production vehicles, but i am sure it was early 44. So they would still be no more than a few months old. And s. SS Pz Abt 101 & 102 spent that period mainly in western europe in training. So the vehciles would not be that battered, at least at the start of the Normandy campaign.

s.SS.Pz.Abt 101 in Normandy was heavily photographed, so there are lots of photos out there of their Tiger's.

Hi lads,

Ahhh, the time has come! I can start building my GB entry! I'd previously said that by the time I'd finished my last wip I'd be in October but it looks like I'm ahead of schedule!

I was working on the latest Tamiya Pz II (French Campaign) which turned out to one helluva build - a personal best (imo).

For this GB I have Dragons 6383 Tiger I Ausf E with Zim - build will be basically OOB apart from Friuls and an RB main barrel.

The one Thing I cannot decide on is the painting/markings. I'm not going with the box art paint - I want something I can 'freehand' with the airbrush! There are some great options (see list below)

http://www.dragon-models.com/html/6383-reviews-frank.htm

http://www.dragon-models.com/html/6383-poster.htm

• "134" - 1./s.Pz.Abt.102, Normandy, 1944

• "221" - 2./s.Pz.Abt.101, Normandy, 1944

• "933" - 9./Pz.Rgt.3, "Totenkopf", Poland, 1944

• "242" - 2./s.Pz.Abt.102, Normandy, 1944

• "112" - 1./s.Pz.Abt.101, Normandy, 1944

• "1" - s.Pz.Abt. 102, Normandy, 1944

Would these Tigers be in a state of real disrepair at this point of the war or can I model it as 'normal'? I like to heavily weather and chip my builds but I want to hold back on all that with this one and instead concentrate on using different methods to make a really attractive looking tank.

If you look at the links are there any options that would be a definate 'go for it'? Also, are there any that are pretty 'dubious' options. I like the Italian option - a simple number 1 that is just a white outline, the centre isn't blocked in. The paint guide also looks good with a Dunky basecoat and hard edged slithers or Rotbraun and Olivgrun - the cammo on the Normandy and Polish one's (except for the box art Normandy one) can be sprayed freehand.

Also - this is probably a daft question but I am correct in saying that this is a steel-wheeled Tiger I?

Please let me know what you think guys!

Work begins tomorrow!

Ben

got a little carried away with the stuff word looks like. Anyway those things work.....GOOD.

Mike. I was on here because my good buddy Joe Rix is building a Tiger in this build and saw the whole move thing you are going through. My wife and I have moved about 9 times in 16 years and let me tell you I hear and feel your pain. Something that has made not only moving as well as storage safer for my stuff is military "Gorilla" storage/ shipping crates used to ship stuff over seas. I've had pretty good luck not having any of my kits or parts of kits damaged in these things. You can stack tons of stuff on them and they can take a hellacious beating but the stuff inside is protected.

On the bright side if we get the home we're looking at, there's a small shed out back that's been given the green light as a hobby shop.

Ah ok, I know what you mean, when I detach parts from the sprue somehow they do tend to vanish.  

I could but probably not prudent to. We have the house, 2 car garage filled with junk and 3 large sized public storage lockers and the schedule I'm being given is 3 months-ish to get it all cleaned out, garage sale,packed, thrown out, etc... I'd feel better keeping stuff in kit form where the chance of breakage, scratches, and w/e is less.

Mike: Sorry to hear that. Can you maybe work on the tank crew figures or divide the kit up into sub-assemblies that you can tackle as small projects?

Dupes: Sounds cool, looking forward to seeing how the kit bash goes off.

Sinks now because I can't build really, but I'll sure be glad to get the heck out of Los Angeles.

Hey dupes!!!  Great to hear you're officially joining in on this one.  I'll be working on myTiger I - Mid first...I'm busy at the office right now though so workbench time is limited.  You're bash approach sounds cool...I'll be looking forward to seeing it!

Great to have you aboard Dupes with the Bergetiger. Something a little different.

Mike, bummer about your move. Hope it all goes well.

corvettemike

Yup it's official I have to drop. The order from base command "do not start any more projects, you can do some little men or something but no big builds".

Mike, your household-6 is a real buzz kill, man!

dupes

Hoooo boy...been a while since I logged in here! 

Haven't forgotten about your GB T-man - in fact, I even picked up a little something over the summer especially for it. Going to do the ancient (OOP) CMK BergeTiger kit, seen here:

http://www.greatmodels.com/~smartcart/cgi/display.cgi?item_num=CMK35001

In the box is the even more ancient original Tamiya Tiger I circa 1968, a conversion kit for the berge-turret, and a sheet of etchy type stuff. Going to scrap the Tamiya bits and mate the rest of it to one of my Academy Tiger Is...complete list of aftermarket and accessories still TBD.

Most likely won't get started until after the fall shows (which for me are late October and early November) as I'm trying to finish up a pile of builds for those, but after that I'm cracking into it!

I will be looking forward to seeing this one dupes. I have had the same kit in the stash for quite a few years now. I was tempted to do it for this GB, but decided to go for a panther this time. I didn't realise the base kit was that old, i thought 70's.

Yup it's official I have to drop. The order from base command "do not start any more projects, you can do some little men or something but no big builds".

Hoooo boy...been a while since I logged in here! 

Haven't forgotten about your GB T-man - in fact, I even picked up a little something over the summer especially for it. Going to do the ancient (OOP) CMK BergeTiger kit, seen here:

http://www.greatmodels.com/~smartcart/cgi/display.cgi?item_num=CMK35001

In the box is the even more ancient original Tamiya Tiger I circa 1968, a conversion kit for the berge-turret, and a sheet of etchy type stuff. Going to scrap the Tamiya bits and mate the rest of it to one of my Academy Tiger Is...complete list of aftermarket and accessories still TBD.

Most likely won't get started until after the fall shows (which for me are late October and early November) as I'm trying to finish up a pile of builds for those, but after that I'm cracking into it!

Mike: I hope things go well, gosh I hate having to move.

KC: I dunno, if the torsion bars were worn maybe it could ride a little lower than normal? Sorry I'm not a mechanic or an engineer but I'd think it could droop a little bit.

Kentucky Colonel

I'm finally getting started but I still do not have a lot of free time yet so this will be a long drawn out build for me.

One question. I want to build a "hard used Tiger" and I remember reading somewhere that the Tiger I's always overweight and had suspension failure. To make it set kind of low he cut off the positing stub at the back of each axle arm and lowered their angle slighty.

I'm not sure what he's talking about and I sure do not want to cut the wrong thing. Does anybody have any ideas what he's talking about or have another idea how to help it set kind of low?

I can't say i have ever heard that. The Tiger used a torsion bar suspension and it would be very unlikely for all the bars to fail at once, and its pretty obvious when just one fails. And if the suspension went completely, the tank would be in-operable.

Nothing's definitive right now but I might have to drop out of this one. The "boss" wants to relocate us to the Sacramento area by New Years which the date they gave on my Tiger was mid-October arrival. If it arrives then I'll be having to help pack through Nov and Dec, tearing my bench down probably mid Nov. Then on the other side I might not be able to get set up until Feb and on a full cut away project like this with PE and other mods there would be no way I could meet the deadline. We'll see if this move goes forward, chances are 90% certain it will happen though.

Jack-thanks for the info.  I think I'll pull the kit barrel out and compare it to the photos at the seller's site.

I'm finally getting started but I still do not have a lot of free time yet so this will be a long drawn out build for me.

One question. I want to build a "hard used Tiger" and I remember reading somewhere that the Tiger I's always overweight and had suspension failure. To make it set kind of low he cut off the positing stub at the back of each axle arm and lowered their angle slighty.

I'm not sure what he's talking about and I sure do not want to cut the wrong thing. Does anybody have any ideas what he's talking about or have another idea how to help it set kind of low?