Red Storm on the Reich GB - Sept. 8, 2008 - May 9, 2009

Moose421 - Wow!  That's quite the smorgasbord of parts you have there for your Tiger!  You're making lots of progress too, keep up the good work!   

Marc - That's some fantastic work there!  Too bad about the engineering of the suspension pivots.  Keep up the excellent work my friend!

Erik - Glad to hear your missing part situation is being rectified. 

Looking good guys so far! 

I haven't started the Panther yet, but I at leased broke the seal and stared at the trees.  I really want to start this weekend, but t looks like I'm doing OT on Saturday so that means my entire weekend is shot (mentally speaking).  Oh well, I need the money anyways. 

Except for a few tiny bits that need to go in after painting, the interior is done.

I pinned the seats so the backs and seat fold.  The shift levers from the kit where a bit stubby so I made new ones with a bit of wire dipped alternately in thick CA and zip kicker to build up a round knob.

Egads Wing_nut - when exactly did you start building armor?!? Killer.

Can you tell me whose PE set you're using again? I'd look back but...dialup. Meh.

Thanks dupes.

They are the Voyerger sets E35116 for the suspension and E35167 for the deatils set.  I found the fender set online seperately. Gotta think about that one

SMJ - I'm hoping you got him the old Italeri kit, and not the DML boxing???

It CAN be made into a halfway decent build...for about a quarter of the cost.

dupes wrote:

SMJ - I'm hoping you got him the old Italeri kit, and not the DML boxing??? It CAN be made into a halfway decent build...for about a quarter of the cost.

What do you mean half way?  Looks 100 % to me  And  let's not get crazy... I didn't quadruple the total cost... just a tad more than double.

Interior painted and dirtied up pretty good and I scratched a tiny set of headphones for the radio.

Whoa-ho-hoah! That interior is awesome!

So that's what you get for the extra money over the Italeri kit...trust me, the inside of mine doesn't look anything like that! I'll take it for 10 bucks, though.

I hope beyond hope there's a way for you to open up some panels and hatches to have the interior be visible...wow.

Beautiful work on the interior Marc! 

I've decided to switch gears a bit and am going to build something Russian for a change.  

I'm going with Tamiya's 1/35 JS-2 Model 1944 ChKZ which I've just reviewed for Armorama.  If you're interested you can check it out here:  Tamiya JS-2 Model 1944 ChKZ Review   

Along with these Aber Accessories

Russian 122mm D-25T tank Barrel for IS-2 Review 

Grilles for Soviet Heavy Tank JS-2 or Tank Destroyers JSU-122/15
Review

Looks like a fun build, Scott. Nice review, too! Do I see PE grills in the box for this kit?

I take it that your semi-absence from the forum of late has been to write for Armorama? I hope you get lots of free stuff.

wing_nut  Your interior is looking totaly sweet.  Love the weathering that you did.  Looking forward to the rest of your build.

Just a little update on my b-berg kitty.  Sorry no pictures yet, will have them up tomorrow.  I managed to get most of the turret built.  Finally got most of the turret basket built.  WOW the PE for it is fun, NOT.   But it is taking shape.  Nothing a little filler won't solve.  Also most of the mufflers are built.  Hope to get even more done tomorrow.

Till then have a happy, happy, joy, joy time tonight.

dupes wrote:

Looks like a fun build, Scott. Nice review, too! Do I see PE grills in the box for this kit? I take it that your semi-absence from the forum of late has been to write for Armorama? I hope you get lots of free stuff.

Thanks dupes!  Well, to answer your question, yes and no.  The biggest reason I haven't been on much or building much is because I've just been too busy with work and family.  What little free time I'm left with is spent working on my reviews (often times on my lunch hour) and occasionally I am able to squeeze in some bench time.  

I've started the JS-2, all the wheel assemblies are finished as is the lower hull except for the suspension arms.  Once I get those on I'll post some pics.

Marc-very impressive detail work.  Looking forward for more updates.

Moose-looking forward to seeing pics of your Tiger.  You've put a lot of research in it so far.

Scott-Hopefully you can get some bench time soon.  I fully understand & appriciate the demands of work & family.  Quite frankly, I find the work thing terribly overrated.....

I'll be fortunate if I start on my King Tiger before '09.

bobbaily   thanks for the complement.

Here is the latest update with pictures.  One thing after reviewing the pictures of the tiger in front of b-berg gates, I noticed that it had no front fenders as well.  Out came the dremel.  Then got a little to happy with the dremel and had to fill some back in.

I also primed the inside of the muffler guard and tops of the mufflers.  Figured it would be kinda hard to paint after the guards were installed.  Didn't want the nice shinny brass to show. I also thinned out some plastic rod to install on the intake pipe.  I tired to just cut off the extra off the kit piece, but it didn't want to thin out.  I added the lion roar PE clamps to the new intake pipes. 

Next up the turret.  I have installed the tiger workshop roof with coupla.  One small note, there was a gap all the way around the turret sides.  I filled this and tried my hand at making a weld bead for the first time.  I used testors liquid cement and 0.050 plastic rod.  I also made grab handles from wire.  Some minor grinding was required to fit the armoscale barrel into the tiger workshop mantlet.  All, I can say is the barrel went together and looks beautiful in the new mantlet.

Next on the building bench is to finish the turret basket. Add some details to the right side headlight socket.  Then scatch build the side fender mounts.  It seams this tiger didn't have alot fenders. 

wing_nut:  Fantastic looking interior!  If it's any indication of where this one is going, she'll be one sweet build!!!

moose421: Another great job on that PE!!!

dupes wrote:

SMJ - I'm hoping you got him the old Italeri kit, and not the DML boxing??? It CAN be made into a halfway decent build...for about a quarter of the cost.

dupes: Yep...that's the one he has (got it for $10 at Natty's) and he's doing a really nice job too!!!  I had to help him on the suspension but he's done the rest!..by the way, this is Corbin's build (the younger one that you met)

Moose - I'm still amazed that all of that stuff will fit onto a single Tiger chassis...

Looking REALLY good! Those weld beads are sweet.

SMJ - yeah, those Italeri's are good for a simple build. Think I still have the 234/3 kicking around in the stashola somewhere...that may accidentally get replaced with the DML at some point.

Hey guys, look!  I'm actually working on a GB at the beginning of the GB for a change!  LOL

So far it's been a pretty easy build with minimal cleanup on the sprue attachment points.  As you can see the build is pretty straightforward so far.  I plan on adding the suspension arms this evening.

Looking good, Scott!

Being a Tamiya, I should think it would be a pretty speedy build...which could be (*cough*) accelerated further by (*cough*) taking a "sick day" off from work (*cough*)?

dupes wrote:

Looking good, Scott! Being a Tamiya, I should think it would be a pretty speedy build...which could be (*cough*) accelerated further by (*cough*) taking a "sick day" off from work (*cough*)?

Trust me, the thought had crossed my mind   

Moose........looking good,nice progress,     I however am still looking at the box that contains my DML T-34/85.........oh well still got plenty of time till May.

Scott...... will certainly enjoy the progress of your JS-2'maybe I can get some tips off your build for my T-34/85

Certainly enjoying everyones work !!!!

I thought I picked an easy kit to build, AFV's Pak 40. OMG, so far, parts don't fit well and they are attached by numerous points. LOTS of sanding and puttying. Maybe I ought to build my SU-100 instead LOL. Stay tuned.

Moose...NICE

Feels good to get started doesn't it Scott?  I have not had teh chance to read your article, but I iwll.

wing_nut wrote:

Moose...NICE Feels good to get started doesn't it Scott?  I have not had teh chance to read your article, but I iwll.

Yes it does, and it's nice to be working on a build without mountains of PE, I may actually finish this thing!  LOL