Hi There,

Well this is my first post on here after being recommended the site by my friend Adie Roberts.

So, on with the build. I have wanted to get this kit or some time and recently took the plunge. I have read mixed reviews on it but the general opinion seems to be a good starting point for those who want to build a big Kitty.

Here is the obligatory box shot.


Upon opening you are greeted by more boxes.


I did not want to use any of the kit decal options so I will be using these Peddinghaus decals.....


to build Uscha Heinrich Ritter,s 304.





Here is a picture of the top hull next to a brew to give you an idea of the size.


Here is the underside of the lower hull to show the kits RC origins.


Hobby Boss kindly supply some fiddly bits/screws/nuts in a sectioned tray.


Box of wheels.


Box of track links, pins and tyres.


And the supplied turret.


So there a number of corrections and scratch building I plan to do starting with the side skirts. Apparently the kit ones are the wrong type so they had to go. They will be replaced with some etch ones.


Next to go are the front fenders. The kit ones are ok but I want to use some etch ones.


Next to go were a couple of bumps which were to allow for the toothed cog on the final drive wheels but not seen on the real thing.


These have been roughly filled with some scrap plastic from the cut off fenders. Doesn't matter if they look a bit rough as this area will be covered with zimmerit.


The kit has working suspension which was fitted next.This comprises of a spring and arm on the inside.....


which is bolted to the suspension arm. The central seam on the suspension arms are supposed to be there as it is a casting mark.


That's all I have done just now. there is some etch and metal upgrade parts on their way as I plan to upgrade as much as I can to build a decent looking Tiger. I will also need to scratch build a gun travel lock for the rear hull as the kit does not have one and there is no AM one available.

Any comments/criticisms/help will be gratefully accepted.

TTFN

Steve

I wish you good luck in this build, I am currently finishing up my build of this kit. If you are interested in what I have found check the large scale section of the forums.
Donald

Hey Steve
I am glad you have joined and I will certainly keep an eye on your build as you go
All the best Steve

Welcome!

Impressive choice! Will be following your progress.

First of the AM stuff has arrived. White metal transmission covers and the air intake cover that is missing from the engine deck.
There is a slight gap between the transmission covers and the side plate which will be filled with scrap card.

Just spent an exciting half hour (!?) putting the tracks together.






Fortunately there are a few spare links & pins so I will probably use them on the turret sides to replace the kit supplied ones which I will work on and put them on the hull front as seen below.




TTFN

Steve

Nice project Steve,
I was wondering about the track-pins, how are they kept inside the track? Do you have to glue the end or some sort of 'click' system?

Goodluck with the project
Steven

They are a friction fit Steven.

A bit more cutting today.
Firstly the hinge and hook for the main engine access panel needs moved to the side. It should be where the point of the knife is so as to clear the triangular panel.



Now in the right place. Fortunately Hobby Boss have a spare hinge (J6) so the one in the wrong place can be hacked off as you will not need it.




Also needing removed are the ribs in the engine vent which relate to a circular area underneath where, I assume, a speaker would be located in the RC version.



Looking a bit better.



Next the drivers vision port is cut at the sliding parts and repositioned. I will put some clear plastic at the rear.






Also done was replacing the drive sprocket hubs. The kit ones represent the early Tiger so I purchased some replacement resin mid/late hubs.






Also cut off were the drivers and r/o hatches and the jack block as these are to be replaced by AM items.






TTFN

Steve

Some goodies that have just turned up.

Next to go are two weld seams either side of the turret.


Next to be fixed are these plates which sit to proud of the hull surface.


All that is needed is removing the lip around the edge to get a better fit.




Time to attach the grill mesh which has a lovely woven look to it.





TTFN


Steve

Nice details, I like the grill very much.

Also happy to see you have a such an attention for detail Steve, I wouldn't feel too comfortable putting my sawblade into a model like that to make corrections.

Keep it comming,
Kind regards
Steven

Apologies for the lack of updates but I have been working on the Revell boxing of the Zvezda Sd.Kfz. 251/1 B Stuka zu Fuß.

Anyhoo, here are the latest AM goodies to arrive.

Voyager etch fenders & exhaust shields.






Heng Long Stug figures. I will be changing the heads with Kirin ones but I like the poses as they will suit what I have in mind. Also there is a new loaders hatch which is slightly bigger than the kit one but it won't be noticed as it will be open.




Ok, so these hatches need to be opened up.



15 minutes of drilling, sawing and cutting later.



Here is a dry run of the parts so far. Before I attach the top hull I may scratch build a representation of the radiators e.t.c. seen under the mesh.




TTFN

Steve

Apologies for the lack of updates but I have been working on a couple of other kits. So time to get back on with this and today the top hull has been attached and the two hatches have been glued in place also.




Plan is to get the hull zimmerit done this week.


Steve

Today I fixed the problem with the gun mantlet. The way the kit has been designed the gun pivots incorrectly. Here you can see the kit pivot point ( which I have cut off the pivot mount in the gun ) This is to far back from where it needs to be.


Here I have also drilled holes where the pivot point should be.



The mantlet is now held in place by pieces of cocktail stick.



Then I cut off the ends of the lifting lugs.


Here you can also just see where I have glued a piece of L shaped plastic-rod to fill the gap between the top of the mantlet and the roof edge.



Here is the etch fret of zimmerit tools supplied in the kit.



And my attempt at zimmerit on the side of the hull. I will wait till it dries and give it a lick of paint to see how it looks.





TTFN


Steve

Been a while as I have been working on other kits.
First thing I did today was glue the mantlet/barrel/turret bottom together. I had to wrap some tape around the bottom of the barrel to get it to sit centrally in the mantlet sleeve.


I was not happy with the filler zimmerit so it was scraped off so that I could use the Milliput method.

So I got some kitchen foil and sprinkled it with baby powder, mixed up some Milliput, rolled it into a sausage and then used a jar to roll it out flat (all the while sprinkling powder to stop it sticking).



Once it was pretty much the size I needed I wet the side of the hull and placed the flat Milliput on. I used trimming to plug and gaps. This was then rolled a couple of times to flatten the surface.



I then took a lid from an empty jar of Tamiya paint, cut it down to the size I needed and, sprinkling powder, I rolled the lid down the sides.







The end result of the left side. I'm quite happy with the result so I think I'll bin the kit supplied tools and use my cut up paint lid. I will get another lid and cut it down further for down smaller awkward areas.


TTFN


Steve

Taking a plunge is exactly what you've done Steve!

Nice to see someone building in 1/16 here.




Jeff

Thanks Jeff.

I need to get this one done as I have the Jagdtiger waiting in the sidelines.


Steve

Steve

Thanks for the zimmerit tutorial. I like the results. I will save a few paint lids now instead of throwing them out.

Simon