Hello again all! Hi Dan!
The Buzzcocks... A local band! And a very important one at that! Excellent choice, of sounds for modelling... Especially when something 'goes wrong'!

I'll just squeeze a little update in before I head over to Belgium for the Grand Prix... And a spot of battlefield touring, really looking forwards to the King Tiger at La Gleize!


Well how little have I done since the last modicom of modelling, you ask? Well not a great deal. Weather, work and politics, all seem to have played their hand in the last few weeks! Plus the Tiger '211'D' took a tumble and has had a few repairs.
But at least I have finished the remaining front mudguard/fender.


And a few more interior details have been added, such as the MP40 bracket, the cushioned pad for the expelled '88' casings at the rear of the breech basket, the gunners elevation controls, and the start of the three sheet metal boxes/compartments at the rear of the turret, between the MP40 bracket and the main guns counter balance cylinder.

Just a quick look at what can be seen from the exterior!


I will try and get some better 'lit' shots up later on, as you can see a fair bit upon close inspection.
One good thing about the weather in these parts is... You can actually use it to good effect when weathering large pieces... The sub-base has been given a heavy filter and some random washes, along with a touch of 'scenic rust'! Though a little coarse at 1/35, this weathering medium really is something else when used upon 1/1 subjects...

It really does give you an actual rusted patina! And if left out in the heavy rain we have been getting of late... The rust streaking, and light dusty deposits are done for you!
I may be back later on depending on what I can fit in today...

Cheers... Phil

Damn these summer months for interfering with build progress
Ye Tiger's looking great nontheless Phil.
So your off to België, hope the sun starts shining for you. And hope you get lots of snaps of the La Gleize beast.

A new Tiger item I've just spotted for sale;
Maybe one for the Barkman Test Bench?


At first I thought one fret is not much for 6euro, but after further investigation I found this full contents pic:


They've also got this fenders set coming, but I don't think it's released yet:


Happy Holidays,
Grant.

Right then! I don't know about you lot? But I don't want to be coming back from my sojourn, to a heap of grey styrene sat on my rather unkempt workbench... So I thought that a blast of Rob's trademark dark/red brown would give me something to really get stuck into when I get back, when starting to apply some more of the coloured basecoats.




I have noted a few missing PE parts... Probably from it's fall from grace, and bath. Also some areas require a little filler!
Hi Grant! I have seen these whilst spending the hard earned Mr Cameron/Caesars silver, and they are on the hit list... The Pe that is! They do look very interesting, though I have not seen the skirts previously. What are you up to? ...Fancy a beer in Malmedy on Thursday? Or La Gleize on Monday!!! I was hoping to extend the trip a little longer and get up 'North'... Ah well maybe soon?

Take care y'all... Back soon. Cheers Phil.

Looking good Phil. Like always. How many more you have to do?

I've also spotted the new ET MODELS releases they seem to have fewer parts but the price is also lower. I'm very keen in seeing their C -series set of KT. I feel it maybe something I waited for since a long time.

spit

Hi Phil

Welcome back to 'sunny' Blighty. I think we might just break out the flippers...

Anyhoo; I note you are using attachment points for the PE front mudguards - on my last couple of builds I used modified twist-nuts from the Panzer IV engine louvers (Dragon Smart Kit), but what are you using here? I see Aber offers the part in PE (a bit thin IMHO) but Voyager offers nothing - what say you?

Keep up the good work & thanks for the encouragement on the Zimmerit front.


Bill

Hi Pawel! Hello Bill!

Thank you for your 'pep' up's on the Tiger blog! Greatly appreciated, as always...

How many more to do Pawel? ...Well these two '211's and '234' should see off this saga, before I get the rest of the tubs for the 2nd Kompanie all constructed! I find that when I obtain a kit, it is best to build the basics... Then they have to be built, and not sold, though my cabinets do look rather drab with all that grey styrene sat in them! Perhaps my future goal will be to complete the s.SS.Pz.Abt.101's full compliment over the next three years. (a company a year, with the Stab thrown in for good measure!) The N175 is slowly being collected and researched, I just need around 30metres of house space now!

Hey Biil! Thank you for the warm welcome upon my return to these blighted shores! I should be back up to speed soon, I just have to tie up some work related issues! The Ardennes were awesome, we got to visit a few places, but unfortunately my tired old legs were not able to complete the 'roadmarch to La Gleize, for a shufty at the King Tiger, as the campsite was situated on the other side of the track, and with road closures, and lack of transport... Kampfgruppe Peiper got further than me in the end! Though Malmedy was amazing, a true jewel nestled in between the unreal scenery, of the forest!
Glad that I have been of a little help on the pasting front...

TTFN... Cheers Phil.

Phil,
Hope that you were able to take many photos of the terraign-one can get a feel then of how hard it must have been to manuver those under-powered beast in that diffacult area.
Dan

Hello! Anyone still there?

My apologies for the extended absence... Quite a bit to sort out behind the scenes!
Hi Dan! I do indeed have a few images of the terrain and gradients, from Malmedy to Verviers... It is a very challenging environment, I'd expect that a modern MBT would have a hard slog navigating the Ardenne region. I will
post some on the Barkmann blog, ASAP.
I should receive the CMK sets in the morning, so I will be able to crack on with the fighting compartment.
I have made headway with the firewall and the support brackets for the under basket stowage.


So hopefully back tomorrow!

Cheers Phil.

Phil,
I'm looking forward to seeing the CMK set.
The modern MBT's have the HP to make the job easier than their old brethern, but I wonder if their phyiscal size would hinder them?
A thought,
Dan

G'day yall!

Hi Dan! How the Devil are you? I think from your experiences in the cupola of an M1, you will see from the images (soon to be posted over on the Barkmann Blog) ,that the terrain is no way suited to Heavy Tank warfare, the amount of bends and crannies that proliferate the area, would make it a real Tank killing ground, even today! It reminds me a lot of the environment around Stukenbrok Am Senne, but with far more severe inclines and advantageous prominent positions. Not very easy under foot either!

Some of the CMK sets arrived today! All my trepidations have been alleviated, upon the opening of the box! Even though this set is designed for the Tamiya Early kit, a lot of the components can be included in a Mid or a Late Tiger 1! The bridge has the correct Turret basket Floor support, and a lot finer and more crisper cast details than the Verlinden kit. Some of the resin pourings are the best I have ever seen, the spent shell casing basket is amazingly detailed, as are the batteries and other fine details. One little downer is the 'soft' detail in the sponson ammunition stowage racks... But with some battered and burnt shells in them, they should look the part. Another small concern is the position of the basket floor support that is located near the rear of the turret next to the escape hatch, on all images I have seen this is located between the hatch opening and the commanders seat. Anyways enough waffling, here are the 'proof of the pudding' shots...





Lush or what? Hopefully the drivers sets should arrive shortly, then we can get really comparing, though to be fair I will have to acquire a Verlinden 'Full Interior' set soon. I will endeavour to get some of the 'to be included' parts cleaned up and installed very soon. I am actually really looking forwards to getting stuck into this detail set!

See you all very soon... Cheers muchly Phil.

Hello Phil Nice progress as always. It looks like there is a lot of clean up with those new interior sets to bring them to life!!!
Here is a link with some interior images just for your pleasure:
http://www.missing-lynx.com/articles/german/mmtiger/mmtiger.htm
P.S. Have you ever heard about Anvil Miniatures Tiger I late track set?

Hey Phil! Big is not always better it sounds like! This CMK set looks great-I thought that CMK made a set just for the Dragon kits-maybe it's only the driver's set that I'm thinking of?
Maybe it's a shame to use this in a busted up Tiger?
A thought...
Dan

Mind if I see that? It's not obvious in your photos. I'm referring to the crossbar running across the turret under the gun...






Again, I can comment if you photograph it clearly...

David

Hello All!

Hi Paul! Thanks for looking in again... You are not kidding about the clean up on the CMK resin, though it is harder than the Verlinden resin, it is not overly brittle, and on a positive note, it does not have that nasally irritating odour that a lot of polyurethane resins carry.
I have not heard that Anvil Productions are producing a set of AM tracks for the Tiger 1, I shall endeavour to source a set soon. I have been keeping a watch on SKP Models though, as they have just released a 'click able' set for a Panther, and possibly a future logical choice would be a few sets for Tigers?

Hello David! Here are the images for the Bridge and Box of the CMK Interior set #3067, it does seem to be a fair depiction of a Mid-Late Tigers Brucke, but this is for an Early Tiger right? Ah well, it will suit my purposes at some later date. Though it is still lacking the support/adjusting bracket for the Gunners seat. Do you need any other images and or measurements? Thanks for running the ruler over this matter.





I have been fertling around with the Ammo Bin/Racks contained in the CMK kit, as previously stated the internal detail is a little 'soft' for the racks, with no clamps/rests included, but you do get a couple of options included for depicting the bins as open or closed, in both resin or PE. I have furnished the open starboard option with some of the rounds and casings included in good old #6253, and mutilated a few to depict several 'pooped' rounds from the fire.







Well that is all for now, I'm off to whittle a bit more resin... Cheers Phil.

Phil,
It looks like the parts so far fit nicely.
Dan

Hi Phil ...Great stuff as usual...Just wanted to save you some time by telling you that Anvil tracks are long gone but are now WWII Production tracks..

keep up the good work
Rick

Hi Dan!
You are right about big not being better... I'll post the images of the terrain tomorrow. And the fit of parts is amazingly good for a cross manufacturer fit. I will be getting a few more sets for some more... Slightly abused Tigers, one that had a tangle with the US's heaviest MBT of the war.

Hello Richard! How is it going? Thanks for dropping in, and thanks for the heads up on the Anvil situation, I am a big fan of the WWII Productions tracks. Great to hear from you again.

Time to change blades, and get back to the resin whittling...

Cheers Phil.

Phil,
It sounds like you are talking about the Tiger that took out a T26E3? It took a round right thru the gunners sight (plus others) if I remember correctly!
Dan

Hi All! Hello Dan!
Spot on the mark Dan... The TE26 nicknamed ...'Fireball'!!! Not probably the best thought out name for a front line MBT eh? I'd probably go for something a little more deadly or even poisonous! And here is something else you have been waiting for! The second part of the CMK interior #3074, the drivers and Radio/Bow Mg compartments. On first inspection most of the inclusions appear to be relevant to a late Tiger, though I am a little confused upon the orientation of the FU sets in their frame(deliciously detailed I might add!), as it looks more like the layout for an earlier Tiger... Whereas the Verlinden set has the Radio sets installed the other way with two cabinets on the bottom with the on the at the top. Did this also change along with a lot of the internal stowage during the Tigers production lifespan? Once again the finesse of the cast detail is excellent, with a lot of wiring and attachment points sculpted onto the panels. The set also contains a small PE fret with some stowage frames for the Bow MG Ammunition boxes, and drivers control pedal faces etc. Another boon in the set is the inclusion of very nicely detail Drivers and Radio/Bow MG operators hatch hinges, a little coiled wire upon them will give you a great looking roof mounted hinge. Well before it is cleaned up lets give you a glimpse. (As i have had great difficulty finding many images of these interior sets, beyond the manufacturers carton images.)




So what do you think? David? I think the Drivers set is a bit 'off' perhaps a PE parts for the floor mounted frame supports would have made a better choice than resin?

Right back to the 'whittlin' chair! ...Cheers Phil.

Phil, Fireball! I forgot the name which is foolish as I have build the Tamiya M26 kit and marked it as Fireball! By the way, I think Fireball is a kick ass name as the crew looks at it from the cannon's point of view!
You have sold me on the CMK kit so far and it looks that it would add nicely to the Dragon kit if one leaves the hull hatches open.
Dan

Hey Phil,

Nice to see your back, and with some very nice updates. The CMK drivers comp looks very nice. I have several of their interior sets and all of them are nicely cast with crisp details.
Looking forward to seeing you work your magic on the interior of this Kitty.

Cheers buddy

Rob
www.scratchmod.com

Hell again all!

Hi Dan! Glad that I could be of some service to you, in lightening your wallet that is! Even though there are a few ommisions and production period concerns (depending on which Tiger you will be depicting), it really is a nice set, and the perfect foundation for detailing... Or destroying! Anything interesting in Dan's CD drawer today?

Hi Rob! Glad to see that they let you out of 'virtual' quarantine! Good to see you spreading the mangled styrene gospel around the world! I think that these CMK sets will be right up your street, as mentioned above the base kits really give you a vault into taking the detailing... Or destruction further. Congratulations on the gong haul!

Right then sneak peak time... I know, sidetracked again, but I had to test fit the main componants of CMK #3074. I found no major headaches, all that is required is the removal of the 'nubs' that secure the endplate for the Torsion Bars in the DML Hull Tub, where the resin floor of the kit will sit.



Then when you have removed the 'overpour plug' from the underside of the floor plate(I used an orbital sander on low!) and fitted the part into place, the lower Hull/Sponson facade parts will drop neatly into place.



Then it is just a matter of building up the transmission and gearbox, the internal Glacis Plate aspect, and the Hull/Roof support beam. All very crisply detailed... The seat! Sorry David, this one is no better than the Verlinden one! Denfinately crying out for some PE under these Panzer perches.



But you I have to admit, even with a lot of fine detail to go into this area yet (don't worry this is going in another project '411' !) it is leaps and bounds better.





Right I'm off to the painting wing of Tiger Towers!

Cheers Phil.

Phil,
You are doing a good job on selling the CMK kit here! Also love the blood red (or primer red?) bachground that you are using. It really makes the gray and yellow parts show!
I still have the Buzzcocks in the player-I need to get something else in there!
Dan

Phil, great review of the CMK interior. The resin parts look well detailed and crisp. I know what you mean about the seats, had the same problem with the PzIV set from CMK. The seats were too small and screamed for PE, and the T-55 set is no different. The resin floor with torsion bars looks like a perfect fit, as do the side wall parts.
Always a pleasure to see the latest from the Tiger towers

Cheers buddy
Rob
www.scratchmod.com

Hi! Just a quick update upon my musings, with the way to go forwards on the paint processes for this 'Toasted Tiger'.

Hello Dan! The red, tent cloth does look snazzy, I used it to differentiate an 'off on a tandem moment! as the hull is from a different project! Glad to hear you are a big fan of the CMK set... I wonder if I will get commision for the sales pitch? Next logical step after the Buzzcocks... Magazine?

Hi Rob! I think you have hit the nail on the head, with regards to the CMK sets, some exquistite detail... And some real head scratching areas! Hope you like this next update, as I have fused some of your basecolour themes with my hypothetical 'sub modulation'!!! I was really pleased with the last Tiger (121) that I applied all the relevant primers and subcoats onto, as the final look had a real depth to it. The Red Oxide/Rot Oxid is a plastic primer from a rattle can, this dries extremely smoothly and really gives it that 'red glow'. The Dark Yellow/Dunkelgelb is from the Gianotes Gaia Tank Color Range and is the darker greener of the two #2 RAL7028. I thought it would give a good sub coat for the Zimmerit's raw colour. Anyways I show you how it went...

















So with that it is off to find a duster! And to get the assemblies for the interior primered... And to remember where the Rommelkiste is!

Cheers Phil