Hi all,

here are some progress shots of my Italeri Tiger.
Only my second kit, so I thought I would test a few different meathods, but it seems to be getting along ok.

The bridge is scratch built. Still got to put the running gear on to put on as well as the tools, etc...

Would love to here suggestions, comments, etc...

thanks.

That is truley amazing, the detail is phunaminal! The rust stains fit in perfectly, aswel with the weathering! I cannot wait to see the finish of this! A couple questions: Is this going to be a dio? Will it contain figures? Where is this going to be (year, location)?

thanks TsunamiBomb.

I was thinking of setting it in '43 somewhere on the Eastern Front. I am planning on a little diorama, although not using the bridge (too narrow). I was thinking of making a ruined house and using figures
at rest around a hot stove. Well, something like that anyway...

Fantastic. Is there an overall pic so that we could see the base of the bridge?

Wow! Very impressive! The rust is truly fantastic and very realistic. Please share your technique! Can't wait to see it with the running gear. Please show us more of the bridge work.

Ciao marevic1,
That is one outstanding looking effort you got going there. The only suggestion I have for you is giving me tips on how I can improve MY models. You are doing great!!
Ciao for now
Rob

That is shaping up very well. Very impressive. The only suggestion I would have would be to weather the crews traffic areas a little more with dirt and scuffing. That is one terrific bridge too. Excellent work.

Hope you don´t mind, I just spotted it in your gallery! If the Tiger fits, I would use it on the bridge. Could be an idea for a dio .... some soldiers guiding the tiger across a narrow bridge! With the bike and side car waiting to get by or where the guiding soldiersare from, it sounds quite plausable!
So far, so good. No nit-picks from me. Im really impresed by both Tiger and bridge. What tracks will you be using for the Tiger? I hate those Italeri vinyl Does this kit come with indy tracks maybe? Good luck whatever you do. This is shaping up to be a stunner!

thanks Plasticbattle, you saved me the trouble

Since that photo, I've darkened the moss with washes.
I don't think I'll use the rocks (kitty litter). Might try to make some water.
The tracks are moulded plastic. Not sure if I'll use them yet.
Nice idea about the dio!!! might give it a go.

Thanks guys for the encouraging words!!!!

The rust was done by dabbing a thick Burt Sienna wash and letting it run a little. Then a thin stripe/dab of pure Burnt Sienna oil paint. Then I cleaned the edges with a thinner wash. That seemed to difuse it just right.

I still need to add the powders for dust/dirt and darken the rear deck. Any ideas?

here's an older pic of the bridge in parts

Really nice...
I'm looking forward to seeing this one finished.
And I'm looking forward to your third kit.

Your second Model? Marevic what kind of background do you have? I can't wait to see the finished product. My only nit pick is the mud on the front is a little dark but, that may be the photo. Keep us posted

Hi guys,
thanks for the great feedback!!!

Tiger101, thanks and I agree. It does look a little dark in the photo, but not as bad in the light. I might lighten it up a bit anyway.

I'm thinking of weathering the 'walkways and rear' of the tank a little more and darkening it up a little. Any
suggestions on the best way to do that?

thanks,
Jurgen.

wow..good looking tiger and brige....

i have a regarding your rust technique...
what is the time interval between the first step and other step...
do u leave the burnt seinna wash before applying the dab??

Since i need to be a "critic" so i can post on this one, i have only one thing to say, i think youre gray is too bright, it should be darker, especialy for eastern front (panzergray)

othervise a 100% nice vehicle! congrats!

Silantra,

the time between the steps is very little (about 10 secs) . I found that if I did it straight away;
ie: a thicker wash line, then the line of paint, then dab
either side of the line with a very diluted wash.
I was able to acheive the effect I was after.

Hi Sensei,
I was trying to depict a whitewash camo scheme
thats just begining to fade a little. I did a panzer grey and covered this with various shades of white.
Perhaps I should darken up certain areas a little more?

again, thanks for the feedback guys.

Jurgen.

This is amazing i agree the weathering on the front maybe a little dark, but i don't think the overall model is to light, it looks like a faded white wash to me, let see that running gear, can't wait to see it done.

Hi all,

here's another update. Running gear is done. Just a bit more weathering to do. Still have to finish off the tracks as well.

Let me know what you think.

Cheers,
Jurgen.

Well it looks much better now! nice job on the tracks.
One thing that hurts my eyes is totaly clean decals. dirty them and make some scratches.

Othervise than that its simply an:
Excellent Tiger!

Thank Mirko.

Yes I agree, they still need to be 'dirtied up'.

cheers,
Jurgen.

Marevic1, The overall look is still great. Yes you need to do something with the decals to age them. Also the road wheels are a little too clean. If you have that much mud on the sides of the tank there should be some trace of mud on the rubber portion of the road wheels. Oh and one other thing the bow MG is still the base color, do you intend to paint it later? For your second model it is a fantastic job. You may want to do a feature about it when you are done.

I'm not sure if I dare mention this, but would the bridge take the weight? It looks as though it's meant to be quite old, & the narrowness suggests it was built for horse drawn vehicles, so I'm not sure it would take 56 tons! I also (whisper this!) have the same reservation about "Der Pressung". While I can't hope to hold a candle to Kevin Gardners skills, I'm not sure a wooden bridge similar to the one depicted would hold a 20 ton Pz III.
I'm quite prepared to be shot down in flames, but I just feel I have to mention it!

I have to agree that this piece is looking marvelous!! Incredibly realistic and weathered almost perfectly. But I also have to agree with Steve. This bridge might not take 56tons of steel running over it. I also think that the bridge in Der Pressung dio was also a bit too light for such vehicles. I don't want to be too picky because both of those mentioned dio's look great and I know it take's a lot of effort and hard work to create something incredible like that. Anyway as someone once said: I'm not worthy to comment:) Great work!!

dsc.

Hi guys its good to see the controversy here . To start with Marevic1 I have been saving this pic to do a diorama of a tiger on a wood bridge myself with. You can use it or your stone bridge I think!! I think it will put to rest the strength of a wood bridge Steve and DSC please take note. Glad you guys liked the dio, I was wondering when some one would mention wood bridges and weight limits.

Hope everyone enjoys the image, I think would make a great dio. Cheers Kevin

Well thanks for that Kevin, now do I feel foolish! What makes it worse is that from the looks of the sign on the right it's been built by German engineers, & I don't think that they normally carried bridging gear anything like heavy enough for a Tiger!
In my defence I did say I was prepared to be shot down in flames (which you've very gently done!), & the Tiger did initially come with wading gear because it was known to be too heavy for most bridges in Germany. There's also a well known picture of a Panther that has come to grief halfway across a Russian wooden bridge (I think it was the subject of a model here?). Apropos of nothing, when I was at school many, many years ago, there was a brick built disused railway viaduct we were supposed to stay clear of as it was unsafe. Always looked well nigh indestructable to us, until we climbed up there & saw daylight through the holes in the roadway (this was at the back of my mind I expect)! I suppose it boils down to theory and practice - most bridge ratings probably have a generous safety margin built in. Perhaps someone with an engineering background could explain how some bridges look ready to fall down but take huge loads, while a hefty looking one collapses - shades of the Tay bridge disaster!
So go with it Marevic, all power to your elbow!