It will be a while before I can join the fray but it's nice to see the starts that have... er... started. 

I can tell you though... if there is ANY brass in the Tiger box... I may have to choose something else

Thanks Jack, You confirmed pretty much what I was thinking. Ah, Hull Red! Indeed, Thanks for reminding me of that as my other red/browns appeared to dark.

                                                              Joe

I can't say for sure either, but considering it was applied at the factory, it would make sense only primer was located underneath and the whole vehicle would be painted afterwards?  The zimmerit was also 'baked' on with a blow torch so that certainly would fuse it to the primer.  Also have to consider how this coating chipped off - combat damage or scraped off from normal driving conditions.

Some interesting museum pics here:

http://planetarmor.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5940

regards,

Jack

I would wait for clarification on that though as i am not 100% certain. Its hard to tell from the B/W photos that show chipped Zimm.

Thanks Bish, makes sense to me!

I'm pretty certain that the Zimm was applied ontop of the primer, but i am not sure if when the Zim came off it would pull some of the primer off as well.If just small chips, i think i would paint it primer red underneath.

Funny Joe just jogged my mind with a similar question. The areas of the hull where zimmerit chipped off the base paint would be what? Mustard yellow, primer red, something else?

And unpainted zimmerit is a light grey something like concrete?

I've been using Gator Grip on the resin Cavalier zimmerit, apply a few gobs with a toothpick, rub it around the surface of the model with my fingertip, and then slap the zimmerit panel in place and adjust it.

Joe,

... a few other options for attaching PE is the gel form of superglue - it does have a bit of a window in drying time.  I've also heard of future used as an adhesive.

The grey chipping could be the actual metal showing.  Also it is possible it is panzer grey as this was the main colour of vehicles until it was replaced with dark yellow in February of 1943.  The latter though is less likely chipping, which is a rather harsh result of weathering, but maybe some mild form of paint wear? 

I believe hull red is a good option for the primer colour.

regards,

Jack

Hasenpfeffer

Hi Hinsky,

You may have to wait for payday to purchase any kit? The one Bish linked to on eBay looks like it is still available. If you miss out on that one or the Tiger at Wonderland, other alternatives may be:

These kits currently in stock @ Sprue Brothers (I've had very good experiences with them - although US based - don't know if that matters to you)

#6303 King Tiger (Henschel) w/zimmerit  20th Anniversary ($42.49 USD ~27 GBP)

#6493 Jagdtiger (Porsche) w/zimmerit ($49.49 USD ~31 GBP)

#6428 Panther Ausf. D w/zimmerit ($46.49 USD ~29 GBP)

#6494 Jagdpanther Ausf. G1 Early w/zimmerit ($46.49 USD)

Just a few suggestions.

Good hunting!

I have ordered from Sprue a few times and even with shipping they are often cheaper than in the UK, and great service to.

Hinksy

Darnitt,

The UK distributors seem to be out of everything that is German, 1/35 scale and suitable for this GB!

I can see that Wonderland have ONE Tiger I Ausf E in (the one I really want) but I won't be able to make purchase until the 21st which is pay-day.

If I can't get that one I will either build something else whilst I wait for new stock to arrive or look at another build to enter.

It needs to Dragon, 1/35, a 'Steel Cat, and preferably with Zim? Suggestions?

I have built the non-steel wheel Panther G already btw.

What you reckon guys,

Ben

Just checked hannants, and your right, options are limited. But of course you are limiting yourself to dragon, but there are some great none Dragon kist out there. And of course, they don't all have to carry Zimm.

You could go for the Panther II. And there are a few Tiger options you could go for.

http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/index.php?product_category_id=&product_division_id=&manufacturer_id=7984&code=&product_type_id=1899&scale_id=954&keyword_search=Tiger&setPerPage=100&currency_id=

But thats one advantage of building up a good stash.

Oops. got the 2nd and 3rd photos backwards. Ya'll get the idea.

Here be some pics. of my progress. The second pic shows the one PE zimm panel I've glued on using CA Gel. Was hoping that would give me a moment to adjust the panel into its exact fit but found that ain't happening. Fortunately I got the panel on with only a slight skew. Thus, I will be experimenting with some alternatives. The first wil be with Gator Glue. If you are not familiar with this product it's sort of like Elmers on steroids. Being as it is water based it is easy to clean up around and dries slow enough to allow some fiddle time. The other is with spray adhesive, either 3M or Elmers. Got this idea from a reader who submitted this in the latest issue of FSM. The last pic is of the paints I'll be using.

 So, now for one of my potentially many questions. What was the color of primer used on German armor. I've read it was a red/brown colr yet I have seen a number of models where the chipping was done in a dark gray?

                              Joe 

Hi Hinsky,

You may have to wait for payday to purchase any kit? The one Bish linked to on eBay looks like it is still available. If you miss out on that one or the Tiger at Wonderland, other alternatives may be:

These kits currently in stock @ Sprue Brothers (I've had very good experiences with them - although US based - don't know if that matters to you)

#6303 King Tiger (Henschel) w/zimmerit  20th Anniversary ($42.49 USD ~27 GBP)

#6493 Jagdtiger (Porsche) w/zimmerit ($49.49 USD ~31 GBP)

#6428 Panther Ausf. D w/zimmerit ($46.49 USD ~29 GBP)

#6494 Jagdpanther Ausf. G1 Early w/zimmerit ($46.49 USD)

Just a few suggestions.

Good hunting!

Darnitt,

The UK distributors seem to be out of everything that is German, 1/35 scale and suitable for this GB!

I can see that Wonderland have ONE Tiger I Ausf E in (the one I really want) but I won't be able to make purchase until the 21st which is pay-day.

If I can't get that one I will either build something else whilst I wait for new stock to arrive or look at another build to enter.

It needs to Dragon, 1/35, a 'Steel Cat, and preferably with Zim? Suggestions?

I have built the non-steel wheel Panther G already btw.

What you reckon guys,

Ben

Pictures guys, pictures if possible. I too will do an update after some more work.

Joe, nice collection of readers there. I have just one book on my Jagdpanther, a Kagero. comes with some decals, which might be better then my Tamiya's.

Shell, no I didn't, but I agree with you that they must be about the same length. I might get them. I wouldn't mind an aluminum barrel too.

tigerman

Stupid question, but is the Panther and Jagdpanther's tow-cable the same length? I'm eyeing some Panther Karaya tow cables right now and might pick them up.

Did you get an answer ? It would seem that they are the same length Eric .

SMJmodeler

JOE RIX

Steve, Build the Mid. Prod. C'mon stay with me here Buddy!!

When are you starting yours?  I got the OK from Eric so I think I wll do the Mid.  All I need is an aluminum barrel...

I've already started Steve. Got the suspension on, cut out some of the PE Zimmerit and test fitted and I am currently sanding wheels. I'll be posting some photos and questions here in short order. Glad to hear you're going with the Mid.

Thought I would share real quick the reference library I compiled prior to the GB. As I stated before, I am a reference book junkie far more than I am kit stash hoarder. I aquired these off of Amazon and Abe Books. Ususally waiting patiently until the price dropped to affordable levels. Some of these were to familiarize myself with the Tiger I in general. Others were to get pics and history of Tigers in Abt.101 specifically.

Armor86 - A couple of months ago I found a copy of that "Complete and Comprehensive Modelers Guide to the Tiger I" on Abe books. It was going for over $150.00. Just checked back on it and it apparently sold. You might just have a little investment there.

                                                   Joe

Man, everybody's bizz-zee! I actually got the idlers, final drive housings and rear plate assembled, and a few pieces of rod stock in place on the hull rear/side junction that will be weld beads, but no time to even get pics. Hopefully more early next week..

I do need to find a good pic of the hull front, specifically of the lower glacis/final drive, to see if there should be welds there as well.

JOE RIX

Steve, Build the Mid. Prod. C'mon stay with me here Buddy!!

It seems to be out of stock all over the place. I bet it won't be back in for some time, thats seems to be the usual with Dragon kits.

Saw one at a show 2 years ago sealed for only $35. I still slap myself for not getting it. I thought I was going to buy more planes, but I never build the bloody things.

And Wounderland Models seem to have it in, pretty good price as well.

www.wonderlandmodels.com/.../dragon-135-tiger-i-late-production-zimmerit

Hinksy

All off to good starts guys,

I'm not sure what's happeniing here in England but I called my LHS yesterday to check on the status of the order for my kit for this GB (Dragon Tiger I Ausf E kit #6383) and they chased the order, rang me back and proceeded to tell me that the UK distibutor is out of stock of this kit. I asked them to check stock of certain pre-zimmed Panthers from Dragon and they are all out of stock too!

I've surfed several UK websites and it does seem that Tiger 6383 and most of their Panthers cannot be found in the UK?

I'm able to wait as I'm still working on my Panzer II but Tiger 6383 cannot be found? God darn it - they better have it by the end of September!

What's going on?

Cheers guys,

Ben

Theres one on E-Bay thats in the UK.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dragon-1-35-TiGER-1-Zimmerit-German-tank-kit-6383-/300773609341?pt=UK_ToysGames_ModelKits_ModelKits_JN&hash=item4607810f7d

armor86

Couple more reference books on Tiger Tanks - photo below ... Tigers in Combat I and Tigers in Combat II by Wolfgang Schneider - Stackpole publisher (2003 - 2005) and Verlinden Publications 'On Target N 1 Modelling Special "The German Tiger Tanks" (1998) .... Armor86 

All off to good starts guys,

I'm not sure what's happeniing here in England but I called my LHS yesterday to check on the status of the order for my kit for this GB (Dragon Tiger I Ausf E kit #6383) and they chased the order, rang me back and proceeded to tell me that the UK distibutor is out of stock of this kit. I asked them to check stock of certain pre-zimmed Panthers from Dragon and they are all out of stock too!

I've surfed several UK websites and it does seem that Tiger 6383 and most of their Panthers cannot be found in the UK?

I'm able to wait as I'm still working on my Panzer II but Tiger 6383 cannot be found? God darn it - they better have it by the end of September!

What's going on?

Cheers guys,

Ben

Steve, Build the Mid. Prod. C'mon stay with me here Buddy!!

tigerman

Steve, it doesn't sound like your too far along. You can build it if you'd like.

Cool!  I just might do that.  I still like the idea of building the Early version too...hmmm.....

Stupid question, but is the Panther and Jagdpanther's tow-cable the same length? I'm eyeing some Panther Karaya tow cables right now and might pick them up.

I like this tip / technique Hasenpfeffer. The PHOTO of your technique is very helpful. Thanks for sharing!