Good evening!
Well I am glad to hear that you are getting back up and running again Richard, I look forward to your input, and will be picking your brains again sometime in the future.
Now another brief update on '121' . We are now moving to the final weathering stages on this particular Tiger now. And some of the smaller parts are now to be added, along with some paint detailing. Further small scratches and pigments need to be laid down. On the areas that would be 'sooted' or stained by cordite, a very dilute mix of Tamiya Smoke X19 and Nato black XF69 in equal parts thinned with Tamiya Acrylic Thinner X20A at a ratio of 30% Paint mix to 70% thinner, is airbrushed onto the muzzle brake, co-axial MG aperture, and of course the top of the exhaust muffler stack, exhaust shrouds and a small portion of the engine deck near the exhausts. This is done now so that the final applications of pigments and such, sit on top of some of the layered 'sedimentary' weathering, that must have accumulated over a very short space of time.
On the spare tracks both the turret and bow plate, I have primered them in an automotive satin black spray can. Then they were given a good coat of 'hairspray' and when dry given a loose patchy tri-color camo pattern. Then after leaving overnight, it was mostly scrubbed off with a flat brush under warm water. The reason for this was a few images of 1st Kompanie Tigers on the way to the front at Morgny on the 7th June, had a camo pattern applied to the bow spare track lengths. This is very evident on Unterscharfuhrer Werner Wendts '132'. And got to thinking what this would have looked like after a few days in the fields and hedgerows of Normandy. As I doubt that they would have been de-greased and cleaned prior to any camo top up, and that it would be prone to wear and break up quite quickly.
See what you think?




So that's it for today! Back tomorrow hopefully with some more on the weathering, and a look at how '213' is fairing, and how I get on as a solder novice with that ABER Turret stowage bin!

Thanks for looking in, cheers Tiger Folk... Phil.

Hi Phil,
I only picked up on your builds recently, dragged away from my modelling by family, kids etc
Fantastic work so far, Ive pulled my 6383 kit out of the stash and am using your build as the benchmark..hope you dont mind?
Keep up the fantastic work, Im glued to this thread now.
Hopefully you got my email

Regards Paul

hi Phil, long time away, been very busy( moving house) well into a caravan to be honest, starting a new build, house that is. Cant wait going to have my very own hobby area, some one is shining down on me? 121 looks great. I love the camo job you've done, 1 st class. The weathering is coming along nicely. Thanks for the item on the Mg barrels, always been a bit of a confusing matter got a couple of the short RB ones and was a little dissapointed? thought I could always use them for the Co axil MG( shame the BefehlsPanther had its one plugged). Those soldering tips are great,shame about the german will have to try and translate thats whats so good about this thread it really is the ultimate build thread on German Armour. You never know I might even get myself a Tiger soon, shame Wiking didn't use them. I will have to try and find out which Tiger units fought along side 5 SS Pz Div. Sorry for not keeping updated Geraint

Beautiful work Phil!
14 pages and 70000+ view! And you are just at the 2nd one.

This topic will help hundreds.

Good evening you ever so patient people!

Hello there Paul(Tankman)! Good to have you onboard, I am sifting through some images now, bare with me though(I am not the tidiest of archivers ) I think your choice of '112' is a solid one, as we have almost a full 360' image set for this unfortunate Tiger.

Welcome home Geraint! Your brews on the mantelpiece... New house eh? Why is it always near December when major building work takes place? Good luck with your new abode dude. Thanks for dropping by, I will need to pick your brains for Panther info shortly!

Hi Paul! I must firstly say that your 'litter' of Tigers are coming together nicely, I like the comparisons and really sharp photographs. I cannot wait to see the paint go on them, the contrast in schemes will look great sat together.
70,000 views with only 2 Tigers completed...Ish. I am really flattered and overawed by it all really Paul. What started as a little niggle between a few modellers, has bloomed into something a lot more positive (got to be a good thing) and if some of the knowledge, tips and tricks that I have gleaned from modellers past and present, then it is even better. I really look forward to input from you all, and honestly any observations, additions, new AM items tricks and tips, and even critique is all really welcome...

Right then, what have I been up to lately... Well depleting the world stocks of solder for one! After a few hours I have managed to get the main body of the ABER turret stowage bin together... Thanks mainly to Johannes excellent SBS on soldering. By using a PE brass 'Rommelkiste' I have been able to give it a mighty 'ding' that I am happy with the look of it.


Another thing that I have been messing with is a 'home brew' blackening reactive agent for the white metal Friulmodel tracks... Consisting of Distilled White Vinegar, and Cheap Bleach (thick or thin variety it doesn't matter much!). I must say though that it really is not an indoor activity. The Chlorine gas that it gives off is quite something! The mix is 50/50 and needs to be repeated until the desired effect you require is achieved. I left them overnight in a tub of the solution, and in the morning... I was left with some 1/35 tracks that looked as though they had been dredged from an eastern bog!

But with a light misting of Tamiya Nato Black XF69, and they look the ticket!

Now back to the weathering on '121' #6383 Modded... Pigments are now being layered onto the running gear and lower hull. I will be showing these stages over the next few days, anyway enough whettering... Here is where it is at!





Well I am of to bed... Good night you fine folk... Thanks for stopping by. Cheers muchly!

Phil

phil

im loving this tiger
its immense i wish my painting skills were like yours!

keep up the work

tony

Great paint and weathering Phil, looking really neat,neat,neat..
The soldering work looks good from here. I've got a couple of PE bins from Voyager but have never yet dared to get the torch on one..
I'll have to give that chemical dip a try next time I use some friuls.

Keep it comin'... looking forward to the next installment.
Grant.

hy phil. wanted to ask u why did u go for the Graugrün (or Elfenbein) and red primer for the loader's hatch's interior ? it should have been painted in the base color from what i know !

Hello all!
Don't get too excited... Nothing to report, well nothing photographed until I get a new daylight bulb!

Some more weathering has gone onto '121', and some of the 'where is Wally' missing parts are being detailed and painted. (Even David's wingnuts!) On '213' the build of all the main components continues, engine deck and turret roof. I am going to quit whilst I am ahead on the ABER turret stowage bin, and use 'good ol' CA glue for the smaller details.

Hello Anthony! am glad you like this Tiger, it has started to really come together now, and thank you for the extremely kind words on the painting... Just wish I was quicker.

Well hello Grant! That ABER 'bin' looked at one point like it could end up in a 'bin'... Quite a 'Problem Child'! And very nearly 'So Messed Up', but with a little patience and reference back to Johannes awesome SBS, 'I Feel Alright' about it now. I will have to put my short arms into my long pockets, and get some real 'Blacken' it' just to stop the tracks smelling like a swimming pool, mixed with a chippy!

Hi Cristian!
Nice spot on the loaders hatch.


The loaders hatch is mainly Dunkelgelb over a Rotoxid primer, the hinge arm and the locking wheel are still Rotoxid at the moment until I give them a selective dab of hairspray, before another coat of Dunkelgelb, and a play with some chipping. The Turret escape hatch is in Elfenbein, as I am just going with the rule of thumb for a later Tigers interior, Rotoxid for anything below the sponson and Elfenbein above. Thanks for bringing this often overlooked detail point up Cristian.

Okay, best get that lamp sorted, thanks for the replies chaps! Back soon. Phil.

Hi phil looking forward to that pint next time I'm up in leeds. That bin looks great, good on you. like the look of those Fruils before you dusted them with Tam Black, would look great on a burnt out wreck. Dont know if I could handle the Chemistry lab smells, Maybe I'll give a few links ago Nice to be back Geraint

Phil, this is the most involved Tiger 1 thread I have seen and am very impressed with it. I am currently building Helmut Dollingers 009 but would like to start another build of 114 as I was fascinated by that photo. Of all the numerous Tiger 1 reference I have, I don't have one photo of 114. Could you please tell me where you sourced that photo from and is there other photos from other angles of the tank. Any help is appreciated. Cheers, Jeff.

Dear barkmann424, I don´t have words to describe your work!!!!really congratulations for your excelent post, I never see a long and quality forum theme of any AFV, is the "utopic way" to made a lot of thinks about tiger in a reality!! jajajaja, my name is Andres Mora from Caracas Venezuela, I am a ruedasycadenas forum member (ruedasycadenas.com.ve) from the same country,we have a "felinus group" to build a paint any armor with felinus name in the group, I decide to search information about the tiger late ( I have 6253,6406,6383 dragon and afv 35s27 wittmann special) obviusly I want paint a wittmann 222 and you give me a lot of information to made a correct build and paint with a many treasury pictures!!!

Thanks a lot of!!!

I will build my zimeritt dragon tiger as soon as posible and I will be pleasure to write about your excellent work, great informations and pictures to friends and visitors!!! excuseme my english!!!

Andres Mora
Dese Duro!

I worked in a 1/48 tamiya tiger step by step in 2007, I will be pleasure if you visit our web! http://fororyc.forumsmotions.com/foro-construccion-1-72-y-1-48-f13/german-tiger-i-early-production-por-andres-mora-t74.htm

thanks again!!!

Hello!
Well I'm back again...

Hi there Geraint! Good to see you around again buddy. The ad-hoc chemistry has been fun Everyone in the house (cats included) are now glad that the track alchemy is over (until the next set!). Some of the 'rusted' effects that go along with the process, give me thoughts of wrecks, very much in the vein of 'Rob Ferreia's' (Scratchmod's) builds, maybe even a 'big cat' in distress!

Hello there Jeffrey! Great to have another Tiger fan on board... Thank you very much for your extremely kind words. 'Involved' is a good word, my Wife prefers 'Obsessive'!
'114' is a Tiger that is constantly in my thoughts, it has a 'look' about it, and sadly ended up apparently 'thoroughly evaluated' in parts on the REME's dissection ranges.

Hola Andres! I must say that you and your colleagues on your forum, have really got a great 'Tiger thing' going on. I spent a good rainy morning reading through, and looking at all those amazing builds. I will indeed be a very regular visitor, when work slows down. I am really happy to hear that you are enjoying this 'Tiger Madness' '222' is an excellent subject to build, as the research that has gone into this particular Tiger is awesome, especially the exhaustive efforts of Yann Joualt, and fellows over on Hartmutt Von Holdt's 'Tiger im Focus' site. I will be signing up for your community forum very soon Andres! I just have to brush up on my Spanish!

Right then what have I been up to?... Other than wading around in mud, as the Irish Sea decided to take a vacation!
Well one thing I have been messing with, is some experimentation on the 'broad zimmerit ' pattern on a few older test pieces. Basically this was just the airbrushing of various camo patterns, and the application of decals. This activity was generated after a few enquiries, about the 'look' when painted by a couple of interested parties. Want a sneak peak?




A little bit more work on the weathering and small detail application on '112'.



And that's it for now, hopefully back a bit sooner for the next update, thank you once again for 'sticking with it' and for dropping by...

Cheers Phil.

Hello! Did you miss me?
Damn sat navs! Well it is good to be back in 1/35 land, surrounded by styrene and noxious chemicals again.
A brief update for you before we, get things back on track!

'121' Has been rescued from 'pigment overkill'! It's a long story but it involved an 11 year old Viking Goddess! Who will one day probably be a great modeller... Maybe I should employ her in the scenics department. Not bad placement Freyja... But unfortunately the wrong pigment.
Anyway here is the cleaned up version.




Not far off now... I will have to get the Tilly junction baseboard rolling soon!
Now onto '213-233-234'? Basic construction has been going on here, and test fitting of PE and 'weathered' Friul tracks.



I am really looking forward to this one, as it has some really interesting mixed up features, being at a very busy point in the Tigers later development.
Next up '211' this will receive some Voyager PE, and has on those easy peasy, luscious WWII productions tracks. Pity that they are so damned hard to track down!



Anybody else looking forwards to 'PINK' turret numerals? I am serious!

Something else I have been trying my hand at... Foliage, pretty basic stuff, picture hanging wire armature, Mr Surfacer bark... And these absolutely memerisingly gorgeous, Plus Model Leaves. Wowee, these really are something else, just a pity that you do not get more in a box.

So that is what is going on with the Tigers and stuff!

See you all real soon... Cheers for looking in, Phil!

Hi Phil,
youve certainly took the bull by the horns with this incredible batch of beasts (or should that be Tigers by the whiskers?!). Theyre all looking magnificent.
Im a fairly 'newbie' to the circuit and was wondering what methods do you use to get the scratched and chipped effect on your panzers?

Regards Paul

Hi Phil, your thread gets better with every posting and I'm looking forward to seeing the painting and weathering on the 2nd Company Tigers. I wonder if you or any fellow members could help me with a decal nightmare I had as to what I did wrong ( I apologize for posting images on your thread but it was the easiest way to get across the problem ) . While waiting on aftermarket parts in the mail for the Tiger 114 build I was hammering away on Tiger 112 ( inspired by your excellent build ) and all went well until the decal stage on the turret. I applied several light coats of Games Workshop Purity Seal and let dry thoroughly then applied the Dragon decals with Solvaset and they seemed to settle down nicely into the zimmerit. After 2 hours drying time I applied another coat of purity seal and this happened:





The decals partially disintegrated along the zimmerit ridges! I had to paint over by hand all the turret numbers using Valejo Golden Olive and Off White, not fun. I'm not overly happy with the results but it was the best I could do to save it:







Where did I go wrong? Any help is appreciated. Keep up the outstanding work Phil. Cheers, Jeff.

Phil,

Thank you for the time and effort you are putting into keeping everyone updated on the progress of this enormous project you are taking on. You have done a fantastic job and everything looks incredible.

Dogwatch

Hi all!
Sorry for the absence...combination of work and a 'broken' baby (wife would like to swap for any sleeping, generally well infants or a camper-van?!) Will get back to you as soon as possible...or at least as soon as I scrape the projectile vomit off the laptop!
Hi Paul! I'll put together a little SBS on the 'dings' and things, it is usually just a light 'sponging, as these particular Tigers had a very short lifespan.
Hello Jeffrey, that decal dilemma does look a strange one, perhaps the solvent from the aerosol pooled behind or in slight recesses, and attacked the transfer... I will have to look a bit further into that. Still that is a very handsome Tiger, and I do like hand painted numerals, excellent job on the Zimmerit by the way.

Thanks for all the kind words of encouragement.
Cheers...Phil

Jeff, I like the look of your painted on turret numbers-not sure if they are the correct shade, but they look good to me!

Phil, Good luck with the baby!
Dan

Home for the 'Holidays'!
Hello and Seasoned greetings to one and all, a couple of weeks at the bench... The perfect present!
Hi Dan Thanks for stopping by, and many thanks for your well wishes for Astrid, she is getting better slowly. Hope you and yours, all have a great Christmas, with lots of bench time for you, and that awesome PzII!

Well folks after a quick dust down around the workspaces, it is back to the building and painting.

Some final touches on the detail painting of '121' have been done... Tools etc, a quick AB dusting on the lower hull and turret areas, to tie in the weathering processes, and we can put this one aside until the scenerey portions are completed. It is strange really, this Tiger has been very slow in it's weathering period, it just did not 'come to life' as quickly as the 'OOB' '#6383 '112'.





A little touch of graphite here and there perhaps, and this kitty can go to the dust case.

Onto some minor building on #6416/6406 '233-234'. Some of the PE has been folded along with a little work on the muffler stacks, and towing cables. In the images I have used the Karaya resin ends for the Tiger1 and KT... but they do not want to fit into the Aber clamp assembly! Looks like the kit parts will have to be used. In reality, other than multi part AM sets the cable ends for the DML Tiger, look the most superior.




Now the #6406 '211' with the broader turret Zimmerit, has been brought a bit more into the fray... Perhaps a side by side build with the other Tiger might put us back on schedule? Of note, on the mufflers on this Tiger, I have really 'over stippled' the Mr surfacer 500 onto the parts, creating an extremely rough surface texture... Then I have rubbed it right back with 1000' wet and dry, leaving a nicely smoothish 'pitted' and petalled effect. I was having a look at some heavy plant recently, and noticed that the muffler/exhaust assemblies are not usually that rough, just lightly textured with flaking and pits on the areas of intense heat, that are close to the terrain. We will have to see how it paints and weathers up... And then hide it behind the shrouds!




And onto an impromptu quiz question! Anybody care to guess the tactical number of this Tiger... And just for Rob, it will be depicted in rather a 'distressed' state, but not tottaled!




Well Ho ho ho, and all that stuff, back in a bit... See you all real soon! Phil

Fantastic work there Phil , ever bored of tigers ? amount of people looking in says no !
I have always wanted to do one of the F tigers , but could not get hold of the cyber hobby one,any way, will keep looking in as this is a great thread.

AS always Phil, it's a pleasure to see your Tigers. Number 121 looks awesome and a good save on the 112 decals. Your building of the Tigers is very nice and clean, but what I enjoy the most is the painting and weathering.
Anyone who wants to build a Tiger, just needs to read this build blog , I know I will. Phil buddy, keep up the excellent work and keep those kitties coming :

Rob

Phil, you could easily put all this into a best-selling modelling book, "how to build your very own little Tiger-E and make it look extra-ordinarily REAL".

No kidding, there's just about excellent tips and techniques in every bit you write, thanks for sharing!!

Hi, Phil,
I have been following this build for some time and it has inspired me to build my very first armour model. I have learned a lot from your work and now I am hooked, with a panther and Panzer IV also in build.
Thanks and keep up the good work.
Regards,
Stu

Hi Phil, how are you?? is Andres Mora, from Caracas, Venezuela, Phil I star my tiger, thanks again for all the information and corrections!!! I write about you in the site, I feel so pleasure if you visit our web and my work!!! Thanks again!!!

http://fororyc.forumsmotions.com/grupo-de-armado-felinos-f25/tiger-i-late-version-michael-wittmann-t851-15.htm#9767

Andres Mora!

Pd With your permission I did put a picture about the rear hull correction with Mr. surface, If you have observation about that just tell me!!! Thanks Friend!