Hey y'all, here is my latest build, a 1/35 Dragon Tunisia Initial and I was hoping to get some feedback/critique on.

The kit was mostly OOB outside of the AFV tracks, putty for the tarps, and some beaded twine I replaced the tow cables with. Base coat was Tamiya paints and the weathering was done exclusively with oils.

Overall, I was not happy with the pigments I used, especially along the road wheels. At this point, pigments are not my strong suit.

Anyway, any feedback/critiques are welcomed. I've been modeling for about two years now (had an airbrush for the last year) and am getting to the point where, without honest feedback, I am beginning to plateau on my builds. I've attempted to get solid feedback via reddit and facebook but find those two resources spotting in terms of good feedback. Thanks in advance! Also I am a long time lurker/first time poster so I am not really sure how to correctly upload photos, until I figure that out, here is a link to the build: http://imgur.com/a/YafV3

Thanks for sharing Bradley, and welcome to Armorama! I am sure you will get more modelling feedback on a site such as this. It looks too yellow to me, but maybe it's the lighting -- what colors did you use? The jerry can looks too clean as well. Another thing to note is that while Tigers were deployed in Africa, they were not under the DAK. Cheers, Tat

Hi Bradley. Your Tiger looks good. Nice finish. A couple of comments (my humble opinion). Check your resources on the headlight cables. I think they were shorter and tighter. The antenna looks thick. An easy approach is to use 'piano wire', cut to length. Also consider the desert dust. It would not be as course as you've depicted it. Please accept my comments as friendly and constructive...

Bradley ,

Welcome!

Overall I think your Tiger looks good. I see what you mean about the pigments. They look good on the rear fenders but the road wheels look too spotty, as do the front fenders. With a Tiger, there isn't, in my opinion, any reasonable way for mud to splash up there, except for driving backwards. I think road wheels get muddy from being in the mud and having it drop from the returning track onto them, but not from being splashed. See the 5th posting here: http://www.militarymodelling.com/forums/postings.asp?th=99196&p=9

Mud is a sticky subject (pardon the pun): see how the tracks are gunked up but the wheels are relatively clean: http://www.worldwarphotos.info/wp-content/gallery/germany/tanks/tiger-panzer/Tiger_tank_schwere_panzer_abteilung_503_242.jpg

This is my go-to site for the Tiger I. Look through the zillions of photos and you are certain to find good shots of Tigers with all variations of muddy running gear.

http://tiger1.info/

HI Bradley,
Nice work on that Tiger!

Like you, I've recently began seeking ways to up my game. My particular critique is over color modulation. It's something I'm currently working on.

Look at this Tiger:

Notice all of the color changes on the mantlet and glacis plate.

Here is a Sherman in the desert. Even in this dry and dusty place. Streaking and dust and tonal variations in the paint make these Tanks visually interesting


Here is a slab-sided M113. Even though it's painted one color with a few touch ups, you can still detect tonal differences in the paint.


Gaz

Thanks for all the feedback!

Tat: I used Tamiya colors; dark yellow and a mix of dark yellow and kakhi beige if I recall. That base coat was way too bright for my liking so I gave the whole model a generous dusting of buff to dull/blend in the two tone camo. Looking at the pictures again, my use of a photo box (which I just made and used for the first time) made the model appear a little "warmer" than it does in person.

Ralph: I had to replace the headlight wiring thanks to loosing the original plastic piece and replaced it with some wire. I am just starting to dip my toes into the world of replacing plastic parts, but you're right the antenna is kinda chunky after finding some reference photos.

Frederick: I find that I normally weather stuff way too much and am starting to try to find a decent balance. Thanks for the references, they will come in handy in the future!

Gary: I am with you on the color modulation. I have never particularly likes the more artistic color modulation techniques and have pretty much stuck with the oil dot modulation. I do plan on trying the black basing/marbling technique on my next build. To be honest I have been too worried about ruining a base coat to try much modulation on my builds. But it is something that I think is the next challenge to take up.

Like I said, thank you all so much for your feedback! I plan on using y'all's collective experience/knowledge in my future builds!

Other than the colors being off for that time period, she looks really good.

That type of antenna was actually a tapered affair, being wider at the base. Some company manufactures 1/35 scale brass German antennas. I think .015 music wire looks just fine.

As far as the headlight cables go, that modification was unique. There are photos of the 501st Tigers with headlight cables looking like your model.

Weathering is fine. Tunisia is more temperate than Libya and the first Tigers arrived prior to the rainy season in January.

All in all it's a really good build.

G