I started to work on the tracks. DS tracks are not my favorite. Are there AM tracks in 1/72 scale?

Anyway... mixed some hull red and NATO black for a burnt sienna(ish) color and painted the extra tracks for the turret. I want to get a bit more of a rust patina on them.



One of the reason I am not a fan of the DS tracks is the test fut process. There are instances where the DS tracks are too long so you gotta try 'em 1st with all the road wheels on. These little buggers would not stay on so I glued them. But I had not yet done the steel rim so that task will be a real joy.

For the main tracks I turned them inside out and hit that surface with some metallic gray. The area that the wheels rid eon was taped off and the the whole thing got the same color the turret tracks got. I only taped the outermost section as the inner scraped areas will be hidden by all the overlapping road wheels.

I like the tracks Marc, especially the inner worn area. I'm going to do the Revell KT with Porsche turret, it comes with Link and Length tracks so in this case it would be easier to get around the glued on wheel situation. I don't know of any AM tracks out there for this tank. The spare tracks look great as well. I am going to do the same thing with the extra track links on my panther but will wash them in a rust wash and dry brush some areas with a toned down orange. Are your upper/lower hulls joined already?

Hi Marc,

Your King Tiger is looking really good, lots of nice little details and some really neat weathering as well. I am a big fan of link and length tracks with DS tracks coming a close second. I usually fit mine during the build process and paint them 'in-situ', I know others who do it your way and yet others that do it my way, it is really what works for you. I find it easier to fit them by glueing the bottom run and working them around the running gear to meet up at the bottom again, you just trim off any excess and make a clean join.







I like your colour for the track links, it looks like a good base to weather and produce a realistic finish. I am thoroughly enjoying this build, keep up the good work.

All the best,

Paul

Kerry, Paul... Thanks. Yup the hulls were joined. Next KT I do in 1/72 scale... NO FENDERS!

The vehicle part of the project is done. I want to thank all that followed, commented, advised and generally kept me on the right...er... track:p

I am going to put it on a base and add some figures in a "smoke 'em if ya got 'em' kind of pose.

If I haven't said it already i really hate ds tracks. These SOB's shrunk after the paint and weather all dried. They are so tight they are misshapen. The individual links are bowed in places. May have to redo them. Trying to get them on I chipped on the fenders on the right side at the rear. Let me tell ya I was cussing like a sailor.

@wing_nut - Marc,

The Tiger looks amazing! As for the DS tracks, I guess it's either a love or hate issue. In my case, I have no major issues with them but they do take some getting to know them and their eccentricities. As of late I always base coat them (twice) when they are flat and straight. Once that's good and dry I do a test fit by clipping the two ends together with a tiny alligator clip or self locking tweezers and see what might be required. I've only had one pair, on an SU-100M, that were too long and required cutting. A few I've had to gently stretch out as they were a bit short. I'd say that about 1 in 3 usually fit pretty near perfectly.

As for the figures, you dirty scoundrel, you urge me to build mine and here you are doing the some! It's reassuring to see that the fit of your figures is similar to what I am experiencing (ie, the gaps between certain parts). While the detail on these figures is superb, they aren't exactly "shake and bake."

Cheers,
Jan

Wing_nut- Marc your KT is really sharp and the figures will be the perfect match. I'm not too familiar with figures as I completely suck at painting them! Which ones are these? They look pretty sharp for braille scale dudes.


Spacewolfdad- Paul, your KT is looking great as well, what camo scheme are you putting on it? I like the info on your DS track application. I will try it on my next DS'd tracked tank.

Jan- I just read your version of DS track application too, I gotta try it as well!

Marc,The build looks great,if your figures come out half as well as the tank it will be one sweet scene.
I'm getting ready to install My first pair of DS tracks on a 1/72nd JagdTiger.The fit seems good,and I have them 90% painted.My question is,how do you get the track sag?Thanks,Jeff T.

Thanks guys... really glad you like it.

Jan, thanks for the SBS on the tracks. I may end up redoing these before the spring contests start And dirty scoundrel? Moi?

Kerry the figs came right out of the box.




Jeff, the tracks are CA glued to the tops of the 3rd and 4th wheels form the front and the 2nd to last in the rear.

Marc, truly an impressive build. The weathering really is 1st rate. Just a super build.
Joel

Thanks Joel, appreciate the comment.

The basic ground work is hardening and all the figures needs is some gear and weapons and I can put this one to bed.

@wing_nut – Marc,

Say Marc, that is some impressive figure painting, that tank looks really cool with them hanging around back there. Nice touch with the worn white washed helmet. They kind’a look like their sharing a dubbie . . . just saying!

The figures are so nicely detailed in this scale that they, and the tank, give off the appearance of being a 35th scale build, dude that’s killer!

~ Eddy

Marc,

Fabulous job on the figures and they really add "life" to the Tiger. Leaving the "gear" until after they are painted would seem to produce a few problems. Then again, adding it before certainly makes painting a chore. Considering the scale, you did a great job simulating the camo on the smocks/tunics.

Cheers,
Jan

Eddie, Yan... thanks guys. I really appreciate the comments.

OK... officially done now. The guys are glued in w/cigarette burning, jack, jack block, cupola MG and blister MG added.



To me this is one of those that falls in the gray area between a base and a dio. A bit more than the former but not as elaborate as the latter. Lots of stupid title ran though my head but I think I like... very unofficial of course...

"When do you 3 dummkoffs start smoking?"



Build #3 TBA... soon![:P]

The tiger looks great but the figures are the real grabber in the seen, IMHO. I can't get over how great these Dragon figures are. A diorama might detract from the tiger and figures so I'd say an enhanced vignette might be best. But what do I know. As for a title. "Idioten, no open flames that close to the fuel tanks!" :-)

Regards,
AJ

Fantastic finish Marc, the figures are really awesome in this scale. You did a masterful job painting them. I got a kick out of your "title"! I don't know how many times I ran into my soldiers doing something completly idiotic and scratching my head in wonder!!!

Marc, just a great vignette to finish off an outstanding build.
Joel

@wing_nut - Marc,

You've got a real winner there! Everything looks great but what did you use for the weapon slings (paper, PE)?

Cheers,
Jan

Thanks all so much for the comments.

Jan... lead foil from a wine bottle.

@wing_nut – Marc,

Inspirational build Marc! Truly inspirational . . .

~ Eddy

Thanks Eddy. Couldn't have done it without your help.

Marc (wing_nut),

Fess up! You built a 1/35 scale King Tiger and figures and now you're trying to pass them off as Braille Scale. Shame on you!

INCREDIBLE. Well done, sir.