Got some of the fiddly bits done.
Made the commanders hatch stop, fitted the drivers roof vent cover that I made myself, and had a crack at the heavy cabling that runs to the turret launchers.
These were a pain as the launchers were installed (me thinking that cabling would be easy once they were mounted- NAHH)
Im really just running away from the fact that the side mounts for the track towing cable are to damn hard to get right !
Ive tried several methods but none seem to look right. I may just have to venture into the world of P.E.
I knew I was on the right track with my subject picture being Grey.
Seems so in the picture, and Ive found an image of a 505 Tiger from the correct date with what seems like a grey base with Gelb and Rot over markings.
The WW coveing will mask most of whats underneath, so no need to be hysterically critical with the base coat.
I am taking a bit of a leap by reasoning thus :
The unit as such was not formed until the vehicles destined for Tunisia were either turned around, or if not already despatched, entrained to Belgium. This is the tough bit.
The issue I have is with timing of the despatch of the first 15 Tigers. It wasnt until Feb 43 that the order to paint all vehicles Gelb was issued, but I summise that these vehicles were not yet painted for Tunisia, hence the reason SOME vehicles were still seen in Russia grey at this time. The travel time to Belgium, training and maintenance , then the order to entrain to Russia in time for Kursk could have meant there was no time in the factory or support depot to Gelb them. It is written that units were issued Gelb and Rot paint early on.
It looks to me that the Gelb and Rot patches were applied over the grey?
I appreciate your thoughts
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It hard to say since you're looking at a colour plate of someone else's interpretation of what the tank looked like. As you say though, its going under a white wash, which I assume you'll chip or use a chipping solution (the effect is very nice using AK or the Mig Ammo solution) so the precise colour underneath isn't the biggest deal in the world.
Interestingly, looking at various images, there was more than 2 tanks numbered 300 in 505, possible 3, which adds some confusion! The last 300 is a late production though but the first 1 or 2 are earlies. The pictures of the early ones would indicate that they might be 2 tone grey with yellow over the top.
HERMAN BIX wrote:Ya got me there mate, the Ostketten I bought in recently..................I admit to one set being for a StuG.
Ive found a subject picture & will begin it once the 'Mighty-Whitey" is done.
Your pictured StuG can pass as a repaired vehicle(primer & Gelb) with a winterised barrel !!
It's all GIRLS UND PANZER for me Herman...that way I follow one route... and don't deal with what history may have written..
and as far as the Stug was concerned there were only two paint schemes
Hippo grey with suitable marks...and
Being I couldn't match all the markings on the second version...I did the top ...the hippo... with that said though... I'm privy to have been provided with the correct markings for the initial version of the Stug... and she will be up next ...after my Panther..for a redux
HERMAN BIX wrote:I knew I was on the right track with my subject picture being Grey.
Seems so in the picture, and Ive found an image of a 505 Tiger from the correct date with what seems like a grey base with Gelb and Rot over markings.
The WW coveing will mask most of whats underneath, so no need to be hysterically critical with the base coat.
I am taking a bit of a leap by reasoning thus :
The unit as such was not formed until the vehicles destined for Tunisia were either turned around, or if not already despatched, entrained to Belgium. This is the tough bit.
The issue I have is with timing of the despatch of the first 15 Tigers. It wasnt until Feb 43 that the order to paint all vehicles Gelb was issued, but I summise that these vehicles were not yet painted for Tunisia, hence the reason SOME vehicles were still seen in Russia grey at this time. The travel time to Belgium, training and maintenance , then the order to entrain to Russia in time for Kursk could have meant there was no time in the factory or support depot to Gelb them. It is written that units were issued Gelb and Rot paint early on.
It looks to me that the Gelb and Rot patches were applied over the grey?
I appreciate your thoughts
Personally I like this paint scheme... it just seems more appropriate to the front...but I would say go with your gut..as well as your preference... you've done all the groundwork as well as build the model you wanted(a fine job of it too)...shouldn't the same rule apply to the paint?
billpe wrote:It hard to say since you're looking at a colour plate of someone else's interpretation of what the tank looked like. As you say though, its going under a white wash, which I assume you'll chip or use a chipping solution (the effect is very nice using AK or the Mig Ammo solution) so the precise colour underneath isn't the biggest deal in the world.
Interestingly, looking at various images, there was more than 2 tanks numbered 300 in 505, possible 3, which adds some confusion! The last 300 is a late production though but the first 1 or 2 are earlies. The pictures of the early ones would indicate that they might be 2 tone grey with yellow over the top.
Thanks mate, but to clear any confusion, this plate while im certain was an actual vehicle in the 505th, is not "my" pictured one.
Mine as far as all accounts go was '100' and so will be numbered so, but the grey undetone, with applied Gelb/Rot overcolours seems to be indicative of a very likely scenario for perhaps the "1st Fifteen" of the unit which were tagged for Tunisia.
The dates of the orders to factory apply Gelb, and the fact that very early africa tanks were yellow/grey camo combined seems to lend substance to the plausibility that first the Tigers of the charging knights were grey to some degree with very hastilly applied WW (for the first winter at least) over the top of the Gelb/Rot cam pattern.
Regardless of historical accuracy, there is no clear direction on just what '100' was coloured under the WW, and if it were a Ferhmann or a Tiki(grey base) or a '312' (505th) it would for sure make life a lot easier !!
Good news for me is if I go with my first instinct and its a B.U. none of you guys will know !!
HERMAN BIX wrote:I knew I was on the right track with my subject picture being Grey.
Seems so in the picture, and Ive found an image of a 505 Tiger from the correct date with what seems like a grey base with Gelb and Rot over markings.
The WW coveing will mask most of whats underneath, so no need to be hysterically critical with the base coat.
I am taking a bit of a leap by reasoning thus :
The unit as such was not formed until the vehicles destined for Tunisia were either turned around, or if not already despatched, entrained to Belgium. This is the tough bit.
The issue I have is with timing of the despatch of the first 15 Tigers. It wasnt until Feb 43 that the order to paint all vehicles Gelb was issued, but I summise that these vehicles were not yet painted for Tunisia, hence the reason SOME vehicles were still seen in Russia grey at this time. The travel time to Belgium, training and maintenance , then the order to entrain to Russia in time for Kursk could have meant there was no time in the factory or support depot to Gelb them. It is written that units were issued Gelb and Rot paint early on.
It looks to me that the Gelb and Rot patches were applied over the grey?
I appreciate your thoughts
Personally I like this paint scheme... it just seems more appropriate to the front...but I would say go with your gut..as well as your preference... you've done all the groundwork as well as build the model you wanted(a fine job of it too)...shouldn't the same rule apply to the paint?
Have a good one Herman
ALPHA
Thanks Mr Alpha, its a tough one to be faced with such a decision.............at least I know when I go to do an 'E' there will not be such scope for choice, it will be fairly simple to choose- but tough to execute.
Ive found more than one reliable indicator that some G.D. Tigers retained the grey base & went over it with what was to hand.
Im no where near as flamboyant as your good self when it comes to that StuG though
But I really want to get onto the next project so those 2 sets of Ostketten I had flown specially in like the seasons first caviar dont get lost in the mist !
BIT LATE FOR THAT HINT NOW MATE, THE BLOODY SNOW CLEATS HAVE STUCK IN MY GUM & THAT WAS ALL AFTER LOOKING LIKE A DICK TRYING TO GET THE LINKS ON THOSE STUPID TINY SPOONS !!!!!
HERMAN BIX wrote:BIT LATE FOR THAT HINT NOW MATE, THE BLOODY SNOW CLEATS HAVE STUCK IN MY GUM & THAT WAS ALL AFTER LOOKING LIKE A DICK TRYING TO GET THE LINKS ON THOSE STUPID TINY SPOONS!!!!!!!!
Wait till you do the Sherman... and god forbid...put on tracks with the duckbills
!!
