Dragon 1/35 Elefant - "102" 1/653 Italy - WIP - FineScale Modeler - Essential magazine for scale model builders, model kit reviews, how-to scale modeling, and scale modeling products

ps1scw

Member since
June 2006
From: Michigan

Posted by ps1scw on Monday, October 8, 2007 5:55 PM

where is this one?

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espins1

Member since
December 2002
From: Reno, NV

Posted by espins1 on Monday, October 8, 2007 5:31 PM

There is a foundation which raises money for the Ordnance Museum. The big fund drive right now is to build a permanent facility so all the tanks and vehicles can be moved inside.

The story of the Elefant is still unknown. At the time I was there I was told it had been bought by someone or an organization so it could be restored. It all came to naught when they tried to transport it over to the rail spur so it could be shipped via flatbed rail car. The tow cables snapped due to the extreme weight of the Elefant. They tried removing the superstructure, but that didn't work either, still too heavy.

It had been sitting out there in the field for probably at least a year or more before I saw it. I heard a rumor that it had finally been moved, but I can find no evidence to back that up.

You can find out more about the foundation here.

http://www.ordmusfound.org/foundation.htm

I make a contribution every year. I was so bumbed about the state of the Elefant when I saw it that I coughed up a hundred bucks to try to help.

Scott Espin - IPMS Reno High Rollers My Reviews

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ps1scw

Member since
June 2006
From: Michigan

Posted by ps1scw on Monday, October 8, 2007 5:20 PM

the doog wrote:

I still wanna know why the Elefant is sitting out there in a field, derelict and unloved!
SOMEBODY SAVE HORTON!!!!

restoration work by private donations only?

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the doog

Member since
January 2007

Posted by the doog on Monday, October 8, 2007 5:09 PM

I still wanna know why the Elefant is sitting out there in a field, derelict and unloved!

SOMEBODY SAVE HORTON!!!!

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espins1

Member since
December 2002
From: Reno, NV

Posted by espins1 on Monday, October 8, 2007 3:22 PM

There are a couple of impact gouges on the Aberdeen Elefant. One is on the front of the gun mantlet and the other is on the front plate of the gun box just to the right of the mantlet.

There doesn't appear to be any impact damage anywhere on the front bow plates.

If you're interested in my Aberdeen Elefant pics, you can see them here:

http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y106/Zushia/Elefant%20Aberdeen/

Here is a front shot of the JagdTiger at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. There is a big impact gouge out of the gun mantlet, and two gouges on the front bow plate.

Scott Espin - IPMS Reno High Rollers My Reviews

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Monday, October 8, 2007 2:35 PM

44Mac wrote:

Like your elefant. now i gotta buy one. Its been over 20 years since i was at aberdeen but seems like everything was grey and rusty then. Was it the elefant that had the impressive round strikes on it? Impressive in that they didnt penetrate. Are they still in such a sad state or have they done any work on them yet?

I've never been there, but have seen a few pics. Some rounds struck the gun mantlet. There is a Jagdtiger with some gouges on the glacis plate, maybe that is what you're think of.

If you decide to get this kit, consider the Premium Edition. It comes with PE upgrades, an aluminum barrel, and I believe corrected Magic Tracks, which are easier to assemble then kit #6126.

Eric

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44Mac

Member since
January 2005
From: Österreich

Posted by 44Mac on Monday, October 8, 2007 1:29 PM

Like your elefant. now i gotta buy one. Its been over 20 years since i was at aberdeen but seems like everything was grey and rusty then. Was it the elefant that had the impressive round strikes on it? Impressive in that they didnt penetrate. Are they still in such a sad state or have they done any work on them yet?

Strike the tents...

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jthurston

Member since
October 2004
From: Katy, TX

Posted by jthurston on Monday, October 8, 2007 11:54 AM

Lookin dadgum beautiful, man!!!

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frangkly

Member since
March 2007
From: Alberta

Posted by frangkly on Monday, October 8, 2007 3:25 AM

great job, I cant wait to see the finish one....

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the doog

Member since
January 2007

Posted by the doog on Monday, October 8, 2007 12:33 AM

Can't wait to see it all rusted up! Should loook really cool!

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Sunday, October 7, 2007 5:57 PM

I love Elefants. Glad to see this guy up and at em again. Good luck on the camo.

Eric

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bufflehead

Member since
July 2006
From: San Francisco Bay Area

Posted by bufflehead on Sunday, October 7, 2007 5:08 PM

Hey Scott, that's a nice Elephant you got there! Everything looks good so far, can't wait to see the camo on it and all weathered up! Funny you started working on this one again after a couple of years...just last week I decided to finish up two builds that have languished since last year. They're not quite as far along as your Elephant, but they should be ready for paint by next weekend...I hope!

So the question now is when are you going to build the other kits Personally I'd luv to see you do the Aberdeen Elephant!

Ernest

Last Armor Build - 1/35 Dragon M-26A1, 1/35 Emhar Mk.IV Female

Last Aircraft Builds - Hobby Boss 1/72 F4F Wildcat & FW-190A8

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m1garand

Member since
November 2005
From: Somewhere over the rainbow

Posted by m1garand on Sunday, October 7, 2007 4:45 PM

Kit looks good with that Zim on it. Well, can't wait to see the finished product.

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espins1

Member since
December 2002
From: Reno, NV

Dragon 1/35 Elefant - "102" 1/653 Italy - WIP

Posted by espins1 on Sunday, October 7, 2007 4:33 PM

Here is a project that I resurrected from the dead. I had originally started this several years ago for the Elefant GB hosted by Tigerman but since I still had to travel a lot back then for my work I was unable to finish it. It has languished in a box on the shelf for 2 years. Well, I have become totally fascinated with the Porsche Tiger prototype VK4501(P) and all the vehicles based on it and now have a whole series of builds lined up based on this chassis:

Dragon 1/35 Ferdinand Premium Edition #6317 (w/Verlinden Interior set, also planning on scratchbuilding the engines, electric generators and electric motors)
Dragon 1/35 Bergepanzer Tiger(P) #6226
Cyber Hobby 1/35 Fahrgestell Nr. 150100 Ferdinand Final Production Vehicle
Dragon 1/35 Elefant Premium Edition which will be built exactly as the Aberdeen Elefant appeared when I saw it summer 2005, rust and all
Dragon 1/35 Elefant #6126 with Cavalier Zimmerit, Friulmodel tracks, turned aluminum barrel

I'm nearing completion of the last one in the list (haven't started any of the others yet). It is being built as #102 1/653 Schwere PanzerJaeger Abteilung as it appeared in Italy not too long before it had a mechanical breakdown and was captured by the Americans. It now resides at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland.

The basic assembly has been completed, to include the excellent resin Cavalier zimmerit set which replaces the rear hatch and front bow plate and provides thin applique sections of zimmerit which were attached to the hull using 2 part epoxy.

As you can see the Dunkelgelb has been applied. It's hard to see in the photos but I varied the tint of the Dunkel Gelb by doing some post shading (added 25% XF-57 Buff to the XF-60) and spraying it splotchy and randomly all over the vehicle.

Later today I'm going to spray the grean and brown irregular splotches all over the vehicle. The build itself is decent, although keep in mind most of the assembly was done 2 years ago, and my skills have improved a lot since then.