BIG CATS GROUP BUILD 2008

SMJ - it's not as complicated as it may seem.

Panzer is a shortened form of Panzerkampfwagen (usually abbreviated PzKpfw), which translates to Armored Fighting Vehicle. All the German gun tanks (as opposed to command or observation tanks) were called PzKpfw I-VI. The Panther was Panzer V and the Tiger I & II were called Panzer VI.

All German military vehicles were given a Sonderkraftfahrzeug (SdKfz or special purpose vehicle) number which was their official designation. That might be the best way to keep track...

SdKfz 171 Panzerkampwagen V 'Panther' 

SdKfz 173 Jagdpanzer V 'Jagdpanther'

SdKfz 181 Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. E 'Tiger'

SdKfz 182 Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. B 'Tiger II'

SdKfz 185 Jagdpanzer VI 'Jagdtiger' (88mm PaK 43 L/71)

SdKfz 186 Jagdpanzer VI 'Jagdtiger' (128mm PaK 44 L/55)

Sdkfz 267/268 Panzerbefehlswagen V 'Panther' (Panther command tank)

Sdkfz 267/268 Panzerbefehlswagen VI 'Tiger' (Tiger command tank) 

Vehicles other than gun tanks based on Panther or Tiger hulls have a different purpose and a different number, or no number at all in the case of the field-conversions, the Tiger I-based Bergetiger and the Sturmtiger.

SdKfz 179 Bergepanther

Bergetiger

Sturmpanzer VI 'Sturmtiger'

Started Italeri Jagdpanther. Have constructed lower hull and wheels and have added Cavalier damaged zimmeritt. need to use filler with this zimm as i think it was made for another manufacturer.

Hermesminiatures:  Any chance you have photos you could post of the Tiger (P) and Tiger I  Ausf. E?

Here is a shot of th P and the caption that was under it online.  This is the only marking set that comes withthe DML kit.

Only one completed Tiger(P) with chassis number 150013 saw combat service as a command tank - Panzerbefehlswagen VI(P) with schwere Heeres Panzerjager Abteilung 653. It was used by its commander, Hauptmann Grillenberg (turret number 003), on the Eastern Front in early/mid of 1944.

wing_nut wrote:

wing_nut: Looks good to me!!!

I'll put you down for 1/35 Dragon, Tiger I (P), is that correct?

How do SMJ?    Sorry I haven't been around for a while, had a residence move that took a while, then the fight with the "internet people" getting this thing up and running again.

Got room for another in the Big Cats GB?    1/35  Dragon Tiger I, not sure about early or late yet, both are here, just needing AM bits and pieces.

Good to see your GB's are gathering so many folks SMJ. Your making great choices on the subjects.

Dale 

Sorry I forgot to include the kit mfg.  Also didn't follow the Gb over to the Gb site.  Brain dead for sure.  That and my job this week sucked the life from me.  It will be 1/35 scale dragon kit.  I've got the battle of the bludge kit.  Lionroar PE, fenders barrel and big f'in PE detail set.

Slightly Altered wrote:

Got room for another in the Big Cats GB?...plenty of room, glad to have you back on line!!! Good to see your GB's are gathering so many folks SMJ. Your making great choices on the subjects.-Thanks...can't go wrong with Panthers and Tigers, huh?!?!?

...I'll put your info in right away

moose421:  I just made the edits, thanks.

SMJmodeler wrote:

wing_nut wrote: wing_nut: Looks good to me!!! I'll put you down for 1/35 Dragon, Tiger I (P), is that correct?

YIPPIE... er... I apologize for that out burst.  (ahem)  I mean... Yes, Stephen, that is quite correct 

still yippie....

Hi SMJ and all,

Ah-ha, a dedicated GB forum -- that was the problem, I never scrolled down far enough to spot it!

I'd like to come aboard, I have over a dozen big-cat armor pieces in my stash to work with. Hot tip at the moment is:

Tamiya 1:35 Tiger II (Porsche) w/PE screens and Cavalier zim  or

Tamiya 1:35 Tiger I Early, w/- zim

I have so many to choose from -- decisions, decisions!

TB379

Thunderbolt379:  I'll put you down with a ??? on the build...let me know what you decide, glad to have you aboard.

Guys:  Here's a WIP pic'.  I went with the barrel from the kit...generous helping of glue, seven clamps, dry overnight, a little sanding and the seams are gone!!!  Time to start painting

Yikes!  I thought we were doing this GB in the armor forum, hence my late registration.  I'll be in with a DML King Tiger Battle of the Bulge kit 6254.  

I'll probably be starting around July, but hopefully sooner than that.

 Awesome! Count me in on this one. Initial Tamiya Tiger I Afrika Scheme. Take me a couple of weeks to get started I have the kit but still waiting on the p/e and the turned barrel. Too bad the Tiger I tattoo'd on my shoulder doesnt count. Man, you guys are a bad influence

This is too much fun! Thanks, Doug................uh, the one in Indiana, oh yeah 1/35 scale

Douglas1: You're in...start whenever you're ready!

dupes: Already got the dark yellow done...I have do do the "clouding" next.  This is going to be a cool urban camo' scheme...go see my "Need help for Panther G color scheme authenticity" if you're interested.

*edit* "clouding" completed and the road wheels are on!...I need to clean-up some overspray and touch-up the black a bit though...

Started putting tracks together,  done front halfs ,finnished engine compartment and done top zimmeritt. Next is fine details and maybe a new ali gun.

Bodge -- MEAN Jagdpanther, man! Superb! Is this Dragon's kit with Cavalier zim?

SMJ -- I just took a look in my stash and my eyebrows have disappeared into my hairline! The front runners are now:

Academy Tiger I Early or

Tamiya Tiger II Adrennes Edition

I buy so much stuff I forget what I've got -- the King Tiger has an Eduard barrel, a Modelkasten working trackset and Tamiya PE grills, all in the one box!

I'd better decide what I'm doing, soon!

TB379

Okay (rumble of thunder) -- I've decided. It'll be Academy's Tiger I Early.

Anybody recommend a good grille set for this one? PE grilles are about the only thing it's missing by the box shots. I might consider replacement tracks at a later date, I'll see what the kit tracks look like as I go.

TB379

Thunderbolt379: Glad you finally decided!!!

Guys: WIP-I cut strips of paper in geometric patterns to get this look...I figured for an urban look it would be more appropriate than traditional camo'.  I wanted the edges to be soft, but I still need to fix a few (overspray)...pretty cool look, huh?!?!?:

I'm going to add some red-brown next, either smaller geo' shapes or random size dots...not sure yet

Whoah, looking pretty sweet SMJ! Historical accuracy questions aside it looks very good.

You going to be able to finish this up before the big move?  

dupes wrote:

Historical accuracy questions aside it looks very good.

Ahhh... one of the good things about knowing nearly nothing about armor.... I wouldn't have known.  I just think it looks great.

In the end Steve... I will probably end up doing both kits for this build.  I just scored the out of production kit #6253 Late Tiger I with all the PE and brass goodies and the AL barrel.  I can see the advantages of the smart kits... but all that... "STUFF"  And the Cav zim is on the way too.

wing_nut wrote:

dupes wrote: Historical accuracy questions aside it looks very good. Ahhh... one of the good things about knowing nearly nothing about armor.... I wouldn't have known.  I DON'T KNOW MUCH EITHER...SOMETIMES IGNORANCE IS BLISS...

Thanks dupes!   It's not impossible, but unlikely, I'll be done before I move.

Guys: Here is a WIP pic' with a red brown zig-zag/cargo net camo' look.  Somewhat like the AC guys do...MAN it's tough getting those thin lines...ANOTHER reason I build tanks...I'm having a lot of fun with this build!!!...let me know what you think.

Now that's some funky looking camo!

So how long are you going to have to take off mid-build? 3-4 weeks? 

SMJ - looks "funkily good" to me! :)  I see the tools are also "camo-overed" (is that a word? lol) Do they also get painted within the camo scheme? Im not picking, just ignorant :)  Cheers!

dupes: "funky"...good word to describe that camo'!!! 

I'll be taking about a 4 week hiatius from the builds...I hope I don't get withdrawls...any idea what I might take if I notice symptons arise

JMart: "funkily"...even better word!!!  About the tools, I'm not sure if I should paint them like tools or leave them camo'...good catch, I wondered that too...great minds think alike, huh?!