*THIS IS MY FIRST TIGER*

I bought this kit thinking "Hotel Foxtrot, what am I getting myself into?"....After I won the DMoM Novice class for June I figure what the heck. I am not a big history buff when it comes to Tigers so mind the discrepancies, but do point them out please. So I decided to go with the Late Command version. This kit doesn't come with zimmerit, and that was another first. I referenced Ron Goins' Return of the Tiger and David Byrden's Site So here are some Late WIP pictures.

All comments/corrections welcome!!

-Photo Etch was shaped with Mr. Fold It from the ARMORY-Review coming soon/supplied wire used for Tow lines.
-Zimmerit was done with Squadron Green Putty (pain in the arse) after my attempt with Miliput failed. Used the Tamiya Zimmerit Tool and AFV Club Zimmerit Roller
-Oh yeah I primed my progress with a Rust colored primer in hopes to have the chipping effect when painting begins.

















So that is it for now, again all comments and suggestions are welcome


I AM HAVING TECH DIFF WITH PICS

Aaarrgghhhh!!! MY EYES!!!!!!!

Sorry Alex, but I could not stand viewing your pics...

damn that bad huh??

Alex

I'm no expert on the Tiger but the quality of your work looks good. Having not attempted Zimmerit myself yet, I applaud your efforts. I also agree with Marco that the bright red colour makes the pics a liitle hard on the eyes. The one you have posted that is in a brown tone is easier to look at and shows more detail. Maybe you could colour-correct them so they're not as bright red. Look forward to seeing more.

Also, I would recommend that you ask the site admins to change the title of your post. There are some, including children who use this site, that may be offended by your use of language in the title - I'm just saying.


Bob

crap good point on the name...wasnt even thinking

Title Edited.

Cheers guys, appreciate it. Looking forward to see more of your Tiger Alex. I was thinking of using Tamiya White Putty on my Dragon Jagdpanther when I get up the courage to try zimmerit.


Bob

Thanks again Grumpy and Bob....again my apologies....let me know if the photos turn out better.

what color does the tank have on parts where the zimmerit has been chipped??

Realy like the beat up rough looking ZIM. i think it looks great, nice to see Zim all chipped and ununiformed. Like it alot, looking forward to seeing some colour on it. Great 1st attemp at Zim, great start. Cheers Geraint

thanks chicken....its great that some of the pros help the amateurs....So do you know the color the skin of the tank is when the zim is chipped

Hi Alex! This looks like it's going to be a cracker! I like the battle damage to the zimmerit especially, you often see this kind of distress on Tigers in images on the 'Ostfront' where the 'heavier' nature of the atmospherics, would get under the zimmerit of the Tiger, especially if some damage had already occurred.
Now the colours that are shown when such flaking, peeling and damage, follow a reverse procedure from the application of primer, zimmerit, base coat, and camo.
Stay with me on this...
The hull and all metal would be primed in a red oxide hue, followed by an application of zimmerit in two stages, firstly a single thinnish layer would be applied on the vertical and some angled aspects of the Tigers hull. When surface dried a further layer of the paste was added, before the pattern was impressed with the tools, the surface was face cured with a blow torch( the ingredients used all had a pale colour bias, light greys white, 'sawdust'! And in some of the recipes cited, a yellow ochre pigment, I expect that this would differ slightly from the 'Dunkelgelb' basecoat.). Then after a few days drying time the Tank would be basecoated in dark yellow, and dispatched to the assigned units, where their take on camo would be applied, by the work/maintenance echelon.
So if you reverse the process you should have a fair representation of the exposed layers.




Looking forwards to the progress, cheers Phil.

WOW Phil thanks a mil!!!. So you think using some sort of masking technique would help on the parts with the chipped zimmerit? I was even daring into using the hairspray technique and going back later and removing paint to show the oxide primer underneath???

Good job, Alex...I find your honesty (first Tiger, etc) a real asset, and it will show in more of your work. Don't change nothin' about your work effort. I have never built a piece of armor, but I know you're on the right track, 'cause it shows, and I know Marines persevere. Good build...look forward to more.

Semper Fi....birthday soon,
Matt

Hi Alex! There are quite a few ways to 'mask' off the primered and other areas you don't want painting with either basecoat or camouflage. Hairspray is an excellent method, for this type of application, a more local heavier covering would be required, you can do this by spraying some into the cans cap, then using a fine to medium detail brush to apply it where you want it to go. you can also use 'hair gel' and Steve zaloga has been known to utilise 'Toothpaste' (for that fresh minty AFV zing!) before putting down your paint layers. Then when all is dry, a little gentle to medium 'scrubbing' with a coarser stubby brush moisted with warm water, should give you the desired, flaked and distressed look you desire!

When your friends and family catch you using such 'modelling supplies' though, that is when this hobby really starts to take some explaining eh?

Good luck with the kitty, Phil

What is so offensive with the title "This Is My First Tiger " ? ( just curious) Maybe i missed something. Also the paint .

The original title was - "popping my Tiger/Zimmerit cherry" a bit innapropriate




Im not quite sure what you mean by Also the paint, kinda incomplete sentence...

Thanks for the update on the initial title.. I missed that. You'er right , it was'nt appropriate. As to the color. it seems some took issue with the color of your base coat.I really did'nt see anything wrong with it, thats all. Thanks again . Your Tiger is lookin GOOD!!!!

Frank

Got some more work done today....please scrutinize!!!










A lot of epoxy glue left, gotta clean it up later








My lovely workspace

Got a lot done today!

I decided something crazy and attempted to "preshade" the Tiger, I am not too good at Post Shading and since the build was going good so far I didnt want to chance it. I used Tamiyas Flat Yellow Acryl and took it from there,








From here I lightly sprayed Tamiya's Desert Tan over the Flat Yellow, I think the idea works ??






After letting the light coat dry for about 4 hours, I came back to the man cave and sprayed the model with Tamiya Dark Green freehand based on the pictures and instructions of course with my own little twist.







After about two hours I came back and free handed the Tamiya Red Brown. I was a bit reserved about how this one turned out, but I think it turned out ok. The Spots you see are to resemble the damaged zimmerit. I got this effect by taking a stiff brush soaked in windex and started to scrub away until I got to the primer, the yellow worked hand in hand to replicate the yellowish tint that the zimmerit had (according to some pics above)

looking good alex keep up the good work that pre shadeing came out nice

Looking great Alex. Way to go.

Thanks a lot guys

Got some more done

To get the white in the chipped zimmerit I thinned some Mr. Putty with Lacquer thinner until it was a bit chunky and spread it over the spots that needed it. Once dry I took some Lacquer thinner on a brush and blended it in to the model a bit. After this was dry I applied a heavy coat of future for decal application. I decided to go with Tank 304 because I figured the difference in the light blue and yellow to the RedBrown/DarkGreen mix would stand out a bit more. After another coat of future and about an hour to dry I painted the tools and tow cables, I mixed revell aqua line's steel and flat black for the metallic look. Another coat of future to seal that up!!

Hi Alex,

Nice Tiger...I'm making the same at the moment.
1 remark....you have placed the brackets for the spare tracks on the turret the wrong way round (upside down). That's why the top brackets are hanging down.
Perhaps it is not too late to put it right.

Good luck with the rest of the tiger; I'll be following this!

Greetz.

Martin

good catch, actually i have been waiting for someone to say it I caught it only after I went back to attach the spare tracks....its deffinately too late though, you have some pics of yours??