Tojo72

That's better Ben,I hoped you weren't waitng for ATL-16,those are for the King Tiger

Yep-they'd have been a bit of a squeeze! I'd actually asked the chap who supplies Friuls and Brass goddies in the UK for AT-16 tracks for the Initial Production Tiger. When I realised my mistake I phoned him and he said he knew exactly what I wanted. He'll be posting them tomorrow.

I'm assuming that these will be two runs of left handed tracks - the right side tracks being left handed but fitted reversed?

If I wanted handed tracks what would I need (the 25's I assume)? That said it wouldn't be an 'accurate' Tiger '100' then as that had a pair of left handed tracks?

Is it a big deal or just a case of if you wanted to be as accurate as possible? I mean, it wouldn't be a disaster to fit early handed tracks-just the way to go to make a true Tiger '100'?

Thanks guys,

Ben

That's better Ben,I hoped you weren't waitng for ATL-16,those are for the King Tiger

I know the Fruil's are great tracks but have a look at the AFV ones as well. They are styrene but look great when built and will cost you at most half the price of the Fruil's. I cant remember if the ones I have for my early Tiger are mirrors but they are well worth a look

Phil

Byrden

Yes, it's ATL-116.

David

Hi guys,

Thanks for taking the time to debate what tracks I should use!

The kit supplied DS tracks total three lengths. there is one pair of left and right handed tracks and an additional track which is left handed so you can make up a tank with left handers on either side-one side (right) having reversed lefties.

As David said - these look like the beasties! Cheers David

Cheers guys,

Ben

Yes, it's ATL-116.

David

Well, does fruilmodel make the mirrored sets?

ATL-25 is not right for Tiger "100".

It had mirrored left-right tracks.

David

Tojo72

Hey Ben,your project is looking great,but I believe that ATL-16 Fruils are for King Tiger and Jagdtiger,aren't they ?

Try these:

  It is looking better and better every time you post an update.  I am glad you are taking your time with this.  That's a huge difference there... looking forward to see it done.

Hey Ben,your project is looking great,but I believe that ATL-16 Fruils are for King Tiger and Jagdtiger,aren't they ?

Stuart: Wow, very nice work there.

Ben: Congrads on the bonus! And double congrads on blowing most of it on models and supplies Haven't said much since the others giving you advice know waaaaaayyyyyy more than me. Still I will say nice work!

Cliff

Hey chaps,

As I mentioned previously I knew I'd be working from home all weekend covering the 'emergency technical support phone' for work so I knew I'd not be doing a great deal this weekend. What I did want to do was complete the tyres.

I mounted the wheels on extra long matchsticks which have a very broad 'stick' and the wheels push onto them nicely. The match end was pushed into Oasis flower arranging foam which is very solid and ideal for this job. I made up a rough 'rubber' mix which is Tamiya Dark Grey 70% and 30% Flat Black.

I painted the entire wheels with this colour as the ones the sit back nearest the tank won't be having the hubs painted - all the others will. I was going to paint the hubs later on yesterday but then remembered what happened last time I used Quick Wheel Masks - the sticky bit that you push the rubber bit that has to be masked pulled off some of the rubber colour so I left them as they were yesterday when painted 'Rubber' and I'm going to seal them with a Matt coat before going back and hitting the hubs - I hope this will stop the rubber being pulled away in any places.

Anyway, I've done a dry fit and they look and fit ok. The ATL-16 Friuls for the Early Tiger I's are now ordered and I also ordered some AK Blackening Fluid to try to colour them. I'm not too worried about the wheels being PERFECT as there's going to be a lot of mud down there!

The kit offers the option of leaving the front outside roadwheel off and a 'thingy' put on the end of the 'thingy it would oush onto. Apparently this was done a lot as the mud would clog up around the front drive sprockets when all the outside roadwheels were fitted? I think this option looks pretty cool.

Next weekend is all mine and I'm going to trying this low-lighting and sponge chippping on the white using the basecoat colour to show the white wearing off. You can also see my RB Bucket too. I wanted one as the original version of this kit came with a bucket and I'm planning to paint it up blue like a bucket pinched from the civilians and I'll paint the inside bottom all white so it looks like a whitewash bucket!

Here she is with dry fitted wheels - remember to ignore the hubs as they are yet to be paint:

Thanks guys,

Sorry I don't have more to show but it was a busy old weekend with work and all

Take care,

Ben

Stuart06

I would have used the tools with the moulded clamps...but I didn't notice them...would have saved frustration and time.....

I plan to use the Dragon kit supplied tracks.

I did take some shots of the build as i went, but not to many, and then stopped.  One day I would like to do what you are doing in posting the build as it goes,  but as the stages complete, sometimes I forget to take a picture and before I know it,,,the kit is assembled.

We have a long weekend here so  I hope ot get a bit done in the next three days.

Hey Stuart,

If you could post a progress photo or five at the end of your long weekend (lucky sod) that would be great!!!!!! I'm loving your build and it will be great to see how you get on.

One thing I did notice on your build that you may want to change is the starter plate between the two rear exhausts. If you study the instructions they ask you to remove the two 'stubs' and not to fit the plate when building Tiger '100'. David Byrden confirmed this info to be correct on a previous post in this thread, obviously it's up to you - I just want my build to be as accurate as I can get it. Saying that I've seen a lot of these Tiger '100's assembled with the plate left intact but I'm sure you could remove the two stubs very easily and cover up any marks left behind.

I was going to use the DS tracks but yesterday it was announced that in our February pay packet we will be getting our quarterly bonus as the company has massively surpassed it's targets so that's an extra £100 to play with which will easily pay for Friuls, a bottle of the new AK Blackening solution for white metal tracks which I want to try AND the Dragon Soviet SU-85M I have on order with the LHS

I'm working from home today and tomorrow (2pm - 10pm). Not busy work, only covering the emergency phone and laptop to assist users of our service who are having problems. It's lashing it down with rain so that will hopefully keep them indoors this weekend. I'll really get stuck into the Tiger next weekend which is totally free so this weekend I'll be painting the road wheels only. If I try to do anymore the phone always rings and totally ruins my concentration!

Take care matey,

Ben

I would have used the tools with the moulded clamps...but I didn't notice them...would have saved frustration and time.....

I plan to use the Dragon kit supplied tracks.

I did take some shots of the build as i went, but not to many, and then stopped.  One day I would like to do what you are doing in posting the build as it goes,  but as the stages complete, sometimes I forget to take a picture and before I know it,,,the kit is assembled.

We have a long weekend here so  I hope ot get a bit done in the next three days.

Stuart06

OK,,here is where I am at.  Almost simultaneous build.....

Still needs a bit of touch up, and some parts needs repaint (i.e. wooden tools and block on the back of the tank).  Also in process of applying the white wash to the wheels.

After that it's the mud, wash, streaking  and highlighting 

Hey Stuart,

Some mighty fine work buddy! Top job!

We are almost at the same place exactly - 2 modellers on the opposite sides of the globe (nearly), building the exact same kit and at the exact same point!

I've got all my tools to do too and as I'm working from home this weekend I'm not commiting myself to any 'serious' work like weathering as the phone will ring when I'm about to start, it always does. This is my last overtime weekend for a while so after this weekend it's all systems go! I shouldn't really be working Saturday but I offered to cover it for my buddy who's missus is expecting any time now - I was already down from Sunday anyway.

Anyway, All I'll be doing is getting the tools painted (not sure if I'm going to use the PE clamps yet - I might just use the tools with the moulded clamps as they look very good. I hate them bloody clamps in PE! The instructions give you a choice of both so I'm undecided as yet.

I'll also be painting the wheels and the RB Models Brass bucket I have for it too.

I don't know if you are blogging your build anywhere (I don't recall seeing it) but I'd love it if you wanted to post any progress photos on my thread - please feel free buddy.

Oh, are you using the DS kit tracks or Friuls out of interest?

Take care Stuart,

Ben

  Now y'all cookin'....

OK,,here is where I am at.  Almost simultaneous build.....

Still needs a bit of touch up, and some parts needs repaint (i.e. wooden tools and block on the back of the tank).  Also in process of applying the white wash to the wheels.

After that it's the mud, wash, streaking  and highlighting 

  I love the streakin' too.....

Hey Stuart,

I've tried the Hairspray method once and really liked it (I used my old Tamiya Hetzer as a test bed) and it worked ok. I actually used too much water and in the end I removed too much white so I'll be going back to that Hetzer and doing it again as that first hairspray attempt underneath will make a great base to show through. Doog said it was better to build up a few lighter layers than do it all in one big sweep so it's going ok.

Having paid a fair wedge of cash for the kit I'm a bit apprehensive about using the method on this kit. I need to buy a few cheaper Tamiya builds and get to grips with it on that before commiting to Dragon kits-I've seen a few ruined hairspray jobs and they ain't pretty!

I've got AK's entire range (just about) and love the Streaking Grimes they do. Mig's rainmarks are also effective but nothing beats the old oil paint dot streaking imo as long as it's done well (I only do my rust streaking with Mig and W&N oils - the other streaking is all AK or Mig).

I've spoke to Karl about his ideas and, wanting to increase my arsenal of weathering effects, will definately be trying the low-lighting he suggests. I've got to hit him for some more info yet before I start but it seems pretty straight forward.

I'd love to see photos btw buddy!

Thanks for dropping by Stuart,

All the best,

Ben

Hinksy,

Good job on the painting.  I am at a very similar stage as you with my tank

I used the hair spray method for the whitewash (first time) and I liked the effect because in some areas it came off completely and in other areas it cracked or came off in little patches that made it look real natural.  I liked the hair spary method because I always found it very tedious to paint small patches or short lines to show paint wear.  I usually overdo it or something stupid.  With the H.S. method, it almost seems idiot proof.  (my kind of method).

(I can post pics if you wish)

I purchased AK Interactive's (I think) premixed washes for winter vehicles.  I may use this to weather my tiger, but I like Doog's suggestion and he never steered me wrong when reading his builds.

.

Hinksy

 

disastermaster:

 

  Jus' messin' with 'ya!

 

 

I know you are DM! It's nice having you along on the thread buddy to liven things up! Cheers and Happy Valentines too LOL!

Tigerman - you are so going to love this kit my friend! Are you building Tiger '100' with the ears like mine or one of the other variants with the rear stowage bin?

I think Tiger '3' (pictured on the last couple of pages-very white) could be a good build in as far as that paint scheme offers a lot of choice for the very experienced modeller like yourself i.e. it's a perfect candidate for a hairspray job!

I'm painting the wheels and additional bits this weekend - unfortunately I'm working a shift on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend so time may be limited-depends how busy we get. Hopefully it'll be totally dead as the kids are on half term break this week and the office is real quiet!

I'm trying to decide between using the DS tracks supplied with the kit which are very good OR splashing out on Friuls? I mean, DS tracks are great where sag isn't needed on return rollers like this Tiger but Friuls are just so cool-AK have bought out that blackening fluid for Friuls now which I want to try too!

Too much to think about - either way the tracks will wait, there's a long way to go yet!

Thanks for dropping in fellas,

Take care,

Ben

Actually, I have the Tiger I Late by Dragon. Number 6406 I think with DS tracks. I wanted to start that one after I completed my H-39 and then chose the Semovente instead. I finally scored some HTF Cavalier zimmerit for it.

  A lot of good people here, see what I mean?

Ben, its prolly to late but if you need them (ie you wanted to redo the paint) I have spare set of decals from that kit (I' have AM ones).

Andrew

disastermaster

  Jus' messin' with 'ya!

I know you are DM! It's nice having you along on the thread buddy to liven things up! Cheers and Happy Valentines too LOL!

Tigerman - you are so going to love this kit my friend! Are you building Tiger '100' with the ears like mine or one of the other variants with the rear stowage bin?

I think Tiger '3' (pictured on the last couple of pages-very white) could be a good build in as far as that paint scheme offers a lot of choice for the very experienced modeller like yourself i.e. it's a perfect candidate for a hairspray job!

I'm painting the wheels and additional bits this weekend - unfortunately I'm working a shift on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend so time may be limited-depends how busy we get. Hopefully it'll be totally dead as the kids are on half term break this week and the office is real quiet!

I'm trying to decide between using the DS tracks supplied with the kit which are very good OR splashing out on Friuls? I mean, DS tracks are great where sag isn't needed on return rollers like this Tiger but Friuls are just so cool-AK have bought out that blackening fluid for Friuls now which I want to try too!

Too much to think about - either way the tracks will wait, there's a long way to go yet!

Thanks for dropping in fellas,

Take care,

Ben

  Jus' messin' with 'ya!

I'm so building my Tiger I after I finish this Semovente I'm working on. 

Hang in there Ben it will all come together. 

Hey,

You saw that there DM!

You know your input is HIGHLY appreciated! Always!

Cheers buddy,

Ben

Okaaaaaayyy......

Cheers guys,

Karl - some nice tips and I like the one about using thinners to remove the wash from the white patches. Great stuff buddy.

David and DM - You two are talking like I'm gutted with my build and want to start over - no freakin' way  I'm loving it and she's moving along nicely. Shame on you

I have my plans for the build and am sticking to them-the idea of using a grey filter prior to the white application was something I should have thought of myself DM but no problem.

Like you say, I want my Tiger to have ears so she'll be staying as Tiger '100'!

Everything is going to plan very nicely and the paintwork in the flesh came out better than I'd ever hoped for  

All the best guys and on a serious note thanks for all the helpful input, it's really appreciated

Ben

That's right but I think he wants those "EARS" though.