I have made a start on my Kingtiger for the Kingtiger campaign, I will be building the Sd.Kfz. 182 KINGTIGER Porsche turret from DML (6312)with the addition of Cavalier Zimmerit, Friul tracks, photo etch upgrade set from ET Model, and possibly a RB Model barrel.

I started on the rear of the tank by removing the moulded detail with a razor saw for the addition of the resin zimmerit detail. Removing the detail with the razor saw was a breeze and which requires the minimum of sanding to finish up. I then cut the zimmerit piece from the sheet with a scalpel and lightly sanded the rear face of the zimmerit and the rear panel which was then attached with PVA glue and allowed to cure.

Good start, you are a brave man cutting up the back of your king tiger one small slip !

S

Steve all fingers are intact and my blood is still on the inside

Good one Steve!

That passed so far over your head Darren it didn't even mess your hair up!










~ Jeff

Will be following this Darren, my DML Production Turret is sitting on the shelf waiting for me to re-do it. I think it'll be interesting to see the resin Zimmerit used; could never find a build log that used it (but I didn't look very hard either!).

I will be following. I have this kit, half completed, in my stash.

Hi,
I made my King Tiger with PE zimmerit from Eduard, the final efect is satisfactory.

Pawel

Hi Darren,

Nice to see you at work on such a subject (needless to add my favourite one). A hint and a question. The hint first. The RB Model Barrel (at least the one with two sections) is a real pain to get fit into the DML housing... I know from autopsy on my Ersatz Nachtjager VI ausf B. I was obliged to cut off the end of the canon and to enlarge the mantlet mounting hole. What is the vehicle you've chosen to depict?

spit

Hello Pawel R I am sure I remember editing a feature by you on this very kit or at least following a build blog. Ref your timely information on the RB Barrel; there is a resin receiver in the Cavalier zim set which may resolve that issue but I will let you know. It is my intention to finish the model as 3./s.Pz.Abt 503, Hungary 1945 and I plan to show it with heavily worn white wash over a 2 or 3 colour camouflage if I can find ref showing which is right.

Paweł G thank you for your information I am just not a fan of the photo etched zimmerit and I find the resin products much more user friendly.

Chris and Matt thanks for following

It won't be easy to get a picture showing two or three colour scheme, all pictures show almost single colour pictures... heavy dust type LOL. But wait... if you use the early production turret so called "porsche" your choice wouldn't be narrowed to the famous 314 "Amellise"?

spit

Pawel please expand upon that as I believe your ref may be better than mine.

Tiger 314 was one of two King Tigers of the 503 SS panzer battalion who helped to defend the Reichstag.

Had to look it up, interesting story though.

Yes indeed, but Darren is working on a vehicle from the Army (not SS) 503 rd Heavy Tank Battalion.

In fact the 4th of January the battalion was renamed to schwere Panzer-Abteilung Feldherrnhalle. As far as I know the 503rd arrived to Hungary with two early production turrets Tigers ausf B. One of them is the 314 "Anneliese" the other one rests... unknown here is an interesting link with all known till today pictures:

CLICK

use google translator for the text

Darren, do you have Tigers in Combat I and / or The history of the 503rd? If not PM we can work something out


HTH

spit

I have continued to remove detail from the hull and turret in order to add the Cavalier zimmerit panels which has the removed details attached to the sheets in resin. No real hassles were encountered with the exception of the front of the turret where I had to add heat to the pieces in order to get them to conform to the face as it curves in two directions which is why I still have a panel to add in the pictures below. I have also included a picture of the razor saw I used to remove the detail in case anyone was unsure what I was referring too.










I also started work on the hull and as can be seen despite being one of DMLs newer models it is not without issues such as push out marks that need to be filled. You will note that the drive cogs are from the set of Friul tracks I bought for this model which will now be replaced with the kit supplied parts as the Friul tracks I bought while used on this vehicle type are not the correct type for the vehicle the model will depict. While I have not included the a picture of the idler wheel DML has the inner and outer wheel of the idler numbered incorrectly as A9 should read A11 and A11 should read A9.




Lastly I started assembling the gun in order to test fit the resin portion supplied with the cavalier zimmerit set.

The Zimmerit looks amazing Darren. Glad you haven't had much trouble taking the detail off either.

Hi Darren... Great job on the zimmerit and the rest of the build so far.
A couple of things to think about... Most of the 503 KTs had the 8 toothed sprocket and regular tracks rather than the early tracks and the same goes for the gun sight ,only the very early had the two slots for the binocular sight. You might want to fill in one of the holes.
notice the sight on the top picture..

notice the sprocket and the spare tracks


hope this helps
Rick

Darren,
Looks good so far!
I don't have the nerves to cut off the detail on the actual kit. I usually cut the details out of the zimmerit sheet then put that on the kit.
And you are using PVA glue to attach the zimm to the model? That is regular white glue right? (Ehlmers Glue for the other American readers) I never thought to use that ... I wouldn't think it would hold!
Well, I'll be watching as well. Who can resist a good KingTiger model?

Thank you Richard for the information as it is one less detail I might miss, Pawel sent me some data that I am working my way through I just hope I can get it altogether.

Bill PVA or wood glue is fine for flat surfaces and ideal for attaching small photo etched parts to models, if there is a curve to be covered I use CA or Epoxy. Elmers is I believe the paper glue in the US and so may not be up to the task but American members will be better placed to answer that. I like using PVA as it gives you a lot of time to move parts around and into the perfect position, you could of course run a bead of CA around the edges with a toothpick after to ensure the join.

Richard I just got the kit drive wheels done and the good news is that these are 8 toothed versions and so should be accurate as well as the kit tracks so well done Dragon for their inclusion.

What is the correct number of tracks for this Kingtiger? I have tried looking through the data supplied by Pawel but there is so much information I cannot find what I am looking for.

Even if you find it won't be the same for sure. There's always a difference. I have several TII on my account and I ... just can't remember how many links should be there LOL... try to make a run and adjust (by adding) when the glue is fresh.

I have not been idle the last few days and I will upload my progress pictures tomorrow. I do however have a question (That's a surprise isn't it), My question is in the picture below I have ringed an area which normally would be the wooden jacking block but this does not look like the wooden block to me. The good news is that in the ET Model set there are exhaust guards and this KT does not appear to need them so that's a result.

I'm no expert, by far but that looks like an armored exhaust from a Tiger I.

It looks to near to the sides for me for it to be the exhaust system.

Darren, personally believe that it's a tarp, probably wrapped around something.