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Summary of what is do be done to the Hull
So we are bang up to date, took the boxes down from the garage shelves and assembled all the bits and bob's purchased along the way, trouble is and im sure we all do it ?, I cant seem to remember where some accessories are, hope I will remember! The Hull was painted with a base coat of Tamiya XF-60 Dark yellow which does not seem to have weathered too well in storage. There is a sticky residue on the surface which I think may be as the result of an exploding can of WD40 on the work bench a few years back, the Hull will need stripping I think and starting again.
- So we begin again. Click for larger image
Although the drive sprockets and rear idlers are metal, the road wheels are the original Heng Long plastic fitted to the tank out of the box, they will be swopped out for Metal road wheels with rubber tyres. Same goes for the tracks, currently these fitted are "early" style metal tracks which on the real Tiger 1's from October 1943 onward were re-modelled to include cast Ice cleats in the cross bar rather than bolt on extra cleats at each end. So I will need to purchase a set of Late style metal tracks to complete the running gear.
- Plastic original road wheels and early style tracks. Click for larger image
Managed to pick up a correct scale 2metre aerial for the right hull aerial socket. The Reference is Aber 16-032, this will be fitted last in the build.
- Aber Scale aerial in brass. Click for large image
I have decided to fit a working convoy light. This one is green, I have also seen blue. What is the correct colour I have not been able to establish, hopefully someone will know as I have one of each.
- Working green convoy light or should it be blue ?
- Working convoy light.jpg (71.05 KiB) Viewed 3387 times
Picked up from a model fare for a bargin a few years ago, these Aber sets for the Tow cables (16-030) and the gun cleaning rods (16-025) should keep me out the pub for a while. will be intersting to see how they are put together as some features are brass proto etched parts for the clamps. Another first for me
- Aber Tow cable and gun barrel cleaning set
- Aber Tow cable and Barrel cleaning rod sets.jpg (115.7 KiB) Viewed 3387 times
Now this bit gets interesting, while I was scanning ebay I came across a few items up for sale made by Hachette Partworks Circa 2010 . These as many know were a 140(ish) part weekly issue magazine build for a 1/16th scale Tiger Late model. Some of the parts can be integrated into the Heng Long Tiger Mid-Production very well including this Late model engine deck with all the bits in the right place ie... locking latches in front of lifting handles not under them, correct shape engine vent cap lug and holding latch in correct position more to the right. Comes with Mid-Late air intake more to scale (ish) and as a bonus you can make it an opening engine deck if you use the hinge peg lugs. Earlier In this build I re-modelled the engine deck to replicate a Mid-production example, this Hachette can be grafted straight in with the same basic level of build skills that i have, I would say it is a simpler fix. This was issue 22, not bad for £5.00 inc post (6 Euro/ $7)
- Hachette Mid - Late engine deck set Issue 22. click for larger image
Also picked at the same time were these Hachette metal radiator grill covers with working latches Issue 23 Ebay £4.50. You could make these opening to place switches under them in a similar way the on/off switch are under the front opening hatches. I dont think you could have both the opening Engine deck
AND the Opening pair of radiator grill covers as they would take too much material out of the hull top..but Im working on it
, will be giving it some thought, have this idea of a dummy engine when opening the engine deck and dummy radiator & fans which are actually switches ?? Hmmmm.
- Hachette opening Radiator vent grills and latches. Issue 23
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Oh and proof that you should not go internet surfing with a credit card and a tummy ripe with Whiskey... Voyager Brass PE set. Purchased for the Tool clamps initially but the more I look the more I want to make. The real fine scale Mid-late air intake looks promising as does the jack assembly, I just need to learn how to hold my breath for 2 minutes again oh and definately an alchohol free zone !
- Mid Production Brass photo etch set 1/16 from Voyager. Click for larger image
- Even Bosch lettering for the single headlight. how cool is that ! Click for larger image
One last change is... I discovered only recently something I had overlooked...the aerial tube on the right hull should be slightly raised above the deck. So
jarndice thank you for pointing this out, re-built it will be.
- How the aerial stowage tube should look like,raised slightly above hull. Click for larger image
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Thanks for watching, next upload will be the work left on the Turret
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