One of the first kits that I completed when I was a lot younger without dousing it in a flammable liquid and setting it alight or stuffing it full of fireworks and exploding it was the original release of the Jagdtiger. I read on the instructions that late in the war, the germans started running out of paint, and that some of the Jagdtigers were coated in German Grey, and as I wanted to build the late version, that was the scheme I went with. Markings were ficticious, at that stage I had no idea that the total amount of Jagdtigers was around 70, hence the turret number 445. As the picture shows, I still have the built kit, it looks a bit worse for wear, there's a couple of missing pieces.



Now we fast forward to the new century, and after seeing it online for a good price, I decided to purchase Tamiya's new release Jagdtiger.

Along with this I purchased the Lionmarc metal barrel for the 128mm Jagdtiger gun and have ordered a set of Friul tracks. I did buy a Passion Models PE set, but have decided against using it on the build.

Right, that's enough blah, on with the building!

Step one of the kit instructions deals with attaching the rear bulkhead, plus a few other minor details.



Step two of the kit instructions is assembly of the drive sprockets, road wheels and idlers. Be prepared for a bit of sanding removing moulding seams from the road wheels (each road wheel consists of four parts and a polycap).



Step three is fitting the Henschel torsion suspension arms to the lower hull.



This is where I took a detour from the kit instructions and assembled the main gun. Adding the Lionmarc barrel was a breeze, it's designed specifically for the Tamiya and has a locating nub to meet in the Tamiya parts. I'm undecided on weathering the gun breech, as the detail won't be visible once complete.



I've jumped ahead again to work on what I would consider to be a D'oh by Tamiya considering the the effort they put into this tank. You do get a set of PE mesh engine grill covers, but as is usual for Tamiya, there is no detail under the deck, and the void will be visible when viewed from above. You think for the price of the kit they could've made a moulded insert panel with some aircleaner detail or something.
I decided to blank off the grills from underneath using plastic stock sheet. On the circular openings, I just glued flat pieces to the underside, as the round vents are raised from the deck, giving the illusion of depth. However, the rectangular openings required boxing to be made from the plastic stock to add depth. I'll be squirting some matt black into the openings prior to adding the PE engine screens.











I have got some other stages complete, but don't have any pictures yet. I'm currently working on the interior of the upper hull.

I should have a fresh update tomorrow, with new pics

Comments and feedback welcome

Jeez your a busy man!...

I always had a soft spot for the JagdTiger ever since I saw the one at Bovington when I was about 5!
Will be interested to see how the Tamiya kit builds up! your right about them leaving nothing below the grilles = not good that!

I was looking for some info on Otto Carius and this page came up some great JagdTiger images etc...

http://worldwartwozone.com/forums/land-warfare/6648-jagdtiger.html

Plus there's this piece about the 512th Panzer Abteilung/2nd Company Jadgtigers in April 1945...

http://uwemilitaria.org/2-Track/Jpanzer4ersatz/15.html

Hey Klinker,

Thanks for the links some intersting pics there to look at.

I've been working away at the Jagdtiger over a week or so on and off. But decided to finally get it posted as a build log last night.

I'm not going to be able to get much done this weekend, SWMBO's mother is coming up for the weekend, and she'll be sleeping on the spare bed in the hobby room, limiting the time I can spend in there.

when complete, are you gonna douse the new Jagdtiger with lighter fluid and set it ablaze? Just kidding. I think I used my old Jagdtiger for a bb gun target. Didn't shoot my eye out though. Keep us posted on the build, I'm thinking of purchasing one meself.

I will definitly follow this one and look foward to your progress,great detailed pictures.

thank-you

Hi John and Anthony

Thaks for the comments.

Don't worry, this one won't be meeting a burning end!

Time for an update.

It's a combination of work I'd already completed earlier in the week, plus what I've got done this afternoon and evening.

I'll pick up from Step 4 and work through to Step 15.

Step 4.
This is connecting the kit supplied belt type tracks. I've omitted this as I'll be fitting Friul tracks to the Jagdtiger.

Step 5.
Attaching wheels. This has been done for photographic purposes, I'll be removing the wheels for painting and weathering.



Step 6.
Attaching separate link type tracks. As with Step 4, this has been omitted.

Step 7.
Hull parts (rear) I've assembled the exhausts, but I'm not going to worry about the jack. Would it have been capable of being able to lift the 70 ton Jagdtiger?



Step 8.
Attaching Hull Parts (rear) exhausts, exhaust shields, mudflaps and jack brackets are glued to the rear. I'm leaving the towing clevis and jack block off to paint separate.



Step 9 & 10.
12.8cm PaK 44 L/55 Gun and gun mount assembly. The gun can be posed in the recoiled position, just remove the nub locator inside part D19, then carefully glue parts D19 and D20 together ensuring no glue touches the barrel assembly. Once the glue has set, it should slide backwards and forwards mimicking firing and recoil. (image below already shown in my initial post, but thought would include it here)



Step 11.
Attaching gun. I used VHT automotive white primer to paint the interior floor. The gun elevates and traverses thanks to the use of polycaps. I used tape to pull the hull sides together before applying CA cement to hold the gun in place. I used plenty of CA, as I don't want the connection to break due to the weight of the turned metal barrel.



Step 12.
Fighting compartment (rear) Careful use of glue allows the doors to be moveable, so infinite posing angles available for dioramas. I'm having mine closed for this particular build.







Step 13.
Upper hull. Attaching fighting compartment (rear) from step 12, front glacis plate and MG mount.





Step 14.
Upper hull interior adds sponson covers, pedestal for the driver 1/2 figure and periscopes.





Step 15.
Attaching upper hull I used heaps of Tamiya extra thin cement to make sure I got a strong bond between the upper and lower hull.





That's it so far. Hope to get more done tomorrow, but have to clean up the house for mother-in-law's arrival

comments and feedback welcome

Comments: Great looking build so far, it definitely looks like I will have to pick this kit up in the near future.

Suggestions: All of a sudden become very ill(wink wink) and being the good son-in-law that you are offer to pay for your Mother-in-law a hotel room so she wont get sick.........Or there's always the old cut the brake linse and collect on the insurance option. Sorry just kidding, I love my mother-in-law, if I am short on cash and there is a new kit I want, she'll catch my wife not looking and slip me some dead presidents, plus she cant drive anymore and has sold her car

Hi Mike

Thanks for the comments, yeah I'd recommend buying the Tamiya Jagdtiger. It's quite a nice kit to put together so far. A complete fighting compartment would top it off.

Haha I like the suggestions in regards to the mother-in-law. I don't think the sick excuse would've worked with her, she came up to visit our baby when she was born full of the flu , so would still most likely turn up here, even if we said we were dying! Do you want to swap mother-in-laws? Especially if yours buys you new kits?!

I've managed to get a bit done over the past couple of days, even with the mother-in-law here. Here's an update

Step 16.
Fighting compartment (top). Have added commander's swivel periscope and various lifting hooks. To save masking the periscopes and main gun sight, I've left them off to add after the outside has been painted. I've decided to add a RB Model brass antenna, so I've left the antenna mount off until I get suitable drill bit.



Step 17.
Gun travel lock. Can be assembled in the stowed or deployed position. I'm going for the stowed position.



Step 18.
Attaching hull parts 1. Involves construction of mantlet. Installation of the fighting compartment (top) completed in Step 16 and the gun travel lock from Step 17. Mounts for spare track links added and other lifting hooks. Pioneer tools to be added at this stage will be left off to paint separate. I had a gumby moment and forgot to take a picture after completion of this step.

Step 19.
Hull parts. I assembled the Bosch headlight. As I'm using Friul tracks I'm not assembling spare links as per instructions for Step 19. No pic of this step either.

Step 20.
Attaching hull parts 2. I added the towing shackles, the Bosch headlight assembled in Step 19. Also attached radio operator's and driver's hatch covers. As with other pioneer tools, I'm leaving the shovel off to paint separate. I'm thinking of adding a Lionmarc MG-34 barrel.





Step 21.
Attaching left fender. As I am yet to paint the roadwheels, I've assembled the left fender and will attach after painting the painted roadwheels and tracks. This step also adds tow cables and more pioneer tools which I'll paint separate.



Step 22.
Attaching right fender. As per above, fender has been assembled off the Jagdtiger. I've assembled the engine access cover and attached to the rear deck. Rear tow shackles and spare track hangers glued on. Also added fire extingusher.



That's it for this update. I've only got a small amount of construction left. Then it's remove and clean up all the pioneer tools and tow cables and paint them metallic grey and prime the tank in a red oxide spray.

comments and feedback welcome

Hi

Great build, sounds like you are enjoying it. I'd love one of these.

Had to smile about the dowsed in liquid and burnt, fireworks inside story, I wonder if there was anybody who kept their kits as a kid and didn't end up turning them into molten masses, I know most of us did the same. Guess you won't be doing that with this one, at the prices they charge these days

Be prepared for the comments about your barrel done in red primer. Latest knowledge as I understand it that barrels came with a heat resistant coating of Dark Grey not Red Oxide.

Happy Modelling.

Alan

The build looks like it is going along good...nice work! I purchased one of the new Tamiya jagd tiger kits a couple of months ago. It is going to be one of my next projects in the very near future. In my opinion, they are nice kits.

It all looks nicely done. Clean build.

The gunbarrel... yeah, that's Rot Oxid isn't it? Yeah... well, should be black or dark grey lacquer.

You say you don't use the PE set, why not? Anything wrong with it or something else?

Hi Alan

Thanks for the comments, yeah it has been a fun build so far. I can't believe I only have two steps of construction left.

Yeah, nothing flammable will be going near this kit It's quite funny, when you're young, you tend to have no appreciation for things. I used to have a huge collection of matchbox cars when I was younger, and they got similar treatment, repaints, crashes, I even threw one into the fireplace when the fire was going (I wanted a shell of the car, and thought just the plastic interior would melt, imagine my surprise when the whole thing melted and disappeared through the grate at the bottom of the fireplace). Now I cringe when I see them selling online for good money. I guess it's just a part of growing up (or growing older in my case )

The red oxide barrel is only temporary, it will be coated in a Hinterhalt pattern when the rest of the tank is painted

Hi Rick,

Thanks for the comments. It's a very nice kit straight from the box. Good luck for when you break the box open on yours and start construction.

Hi Herbert

Thanks for the comments, I'm aware that the gun barrel is currently red oxide, it's only temporary until I get the topcoat on the Jagdtiger.

The main reason for not using the PE is I don't have a whole lot of experience with PE yet, and the Passion Models set for the Jagdtiger is very intricate. I didn't want to get myself bogged down and frustrated trying to manipulate the tiny parts and lose interest.

I just picked up the same kit this past Saturday. You've inspired me. Ha. I don't know when I'll start it, as I've got 10 kits backlogged in my stash. I'll get to it eventually.

Oh, by the way, good job so far!!

Andrew, Nothing wrong with your turret #. Some one correct me if I'm wrong but I belive that the 3 number system gives you the tanks company/ squad/ tank number. I don't think I have it in the correct order but some one will know. Your doing a nice build there, looking forward to some more . bob d.

Looking good mate! I'm sorely tempted to buy this kit too... or the Tamiya JSU-152 ... decisions! decisions!!!

The Lionmarc barrel looks great mounted up there! and have you decided on a paint/camo theme yet?

There's a JagdTiger on this page 5th one down!
http://www.fun-online.sk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1064&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Does anyone know of anyone who makes 1/35 12.8cm brass ammo for this ?

Hi John

Thanks for the comments. Haha I think every modeller is the same, and have a backlog of kits in their stash

Hi Bob

I appreciate the comments. I knew how the German turret numbers worked when doing my first Jagdtaiger, it's just the actual number 445. I didn't realise the Germans only made 70 odd Jagdtigers at that stage. From what pictures I've seen online and in books, 330's seems to be the highest numbers on Jagdtigers. If anyone does have any pictures of higher turret numbers on Jagdtigers, I'd like to see them

Hey Klinker

I'm a shocker when people are in a dilemma like that, trying to choose between two tanks they want to buy. I just say buy them both!

I'm going with the Hinterhalt/Ambush camo pattern for the Jagdtiger

Thanks for the link too, some cool pics there