My first tank build.

[ALPHA]

14 so far. I'm thinking it'll end up in the 16 to 18 pound weight class while I'm SURE my King Tiger will eclipse 20.

I searched for info on his smokers and they use less then half the power of the stock smoker unit and they pump out WAY more smoke so it looks to be a win win there.

Hope you keep us in the loop on the smoker Jack... might be of interest if it works
Sass is going to let me try out one of his later when he has time to drop it off...don't know the details... but at that time will try and take photos and get more info on them so everyone can see what's up with that one...it's a custom made...so it should be interesting for sure

ALPHA

[jackalope]

So after my first attempt at painting my Tiger and seeing what others have done and what camo schemes really looked like I realized where what I did looked ok for a modern tank it did not look right on my Tiger. So I searched camo schemes to see what I liked, then I thought I'd like to have both my Tiger and King Tiger both be from the same unit but because of the paint job I want to do on my King Tiger I needed a unit that not only had both but that would have been in a region that would allow me to do the scheme on my KT that I wanted. Then to top it all off if I could find one for the decals I had access to and sure enough I found one, the 505th Panzer division.

My Tiger scheme I found that I wanted to maybe not copy but base mine off of was this...



And here's my re-painted Tiger with some weathering already applied but still in need of more and some more details but I had to take a break from it as I was getting frustrated due to the smoke unit melt down incident. Anyway let me know what you guys think. Pay no attention to the date stamp as its obviously wrong.
















As you can see I've added some battle damage and dented things up a bit. I removed the left side antenna tube, relocated the antenna, correct headlights were installed, replaced all the hatches with metal ones that open, relocated all the switches to under the radio operators hatch, the commanders copula is clocked correctly, the road wheels, suspension parts and tracks all work 100% perfectly since being upgraded to the Taigen parts. The exhaust has been modified so the smoke comes out thru the top center hole where it should come out, also added were photo etched grills. Almost every detail part I could replace with metal I have, everything from the side skirts down is metal and like I said right now she runs like a champ! Dirt, grass even 360 spins in the grass are no problem now, I'm thrilled with how well it runs!

Future mods include finishing the turrets side lifting lugs and the rear one as well, I removed the factory rear lifting pocket so right now its just a little hole. I have another smoke unit being built and shipped to me later this week or early next week and then it goes in as well. Beyond that I think its time for a crew!


So what do you guys think is it ok? Is it worthy to be seen on the site or should I quit while I'm ahead? The paint job took 4 days to do with each color being masked off and airbrushed on. I applied 2 washes of black and 1 of brown to the whole tank and then to the side skirts I added 1 more of black and 1 more of brown with the brown being applied thicker in some spots. I plan to ad some weathering chalk and maybe some mud in places but I don't know I don't want to over do it, do you think its needs mud? I also have to get some camo netting for it. Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? I tried to correct everything that was pointed out to me as being wrong I hope it came out ok.

[PainlessWolf]

Jack,
I like the hard edged tri-tone camo. You did a great job with it especially on the wheels. Damage and details and unit markings are very nice. Tracks look uber realistic. Great job all around, sir.
regards,
Painless

[jackalope]

Yeah my airbrush couldn't make a thin enough line that I liked to I opted to mask off the camo I was afraid it wouldn't look good but you think its ok? I had hoped the washes would soften it up some but no such luck. Thanks man I hoped it didn't turn out looking like crap.

The tracks were done by using instant gun bluing and then rust bluing so the rust is real rust. The rust bluing is a funky stuff to use! First you apply it to the metal and then you have to place the parts into a humidity box that is heated to allow it to rust into the metal. The heated humidity box I used was a cooler with a platform for them to sit on and then steaming hot water added and closed off for 6 hours. After the 6 hours is up you remove the parts and dunk them in boiling water for 15 minutes this causes a chemical reaction in the rust to turn it black. Afterwards you need to rub the parts down with a paper towel to clear the excess off and TA DA real rust blackened parts! I then applied a HEAVY coat of the rust bluing and just let it sit in the sun this made them to to pure rust but the boil down removed most of it leaving a very nice black, gray, rust combo that looks pretty realistic. After that the rest is just from driving on gravel and 360 spins on rough blacktop! Took 3 days to get the tracks the way I wanted em!

Now my King Tigers camo scheme is supposed to be hard edged so this was perfect practice for it.

[PainlessWolf]

Jack,
Your paint didn't turn out badly at all. *chuckles* See, I'm a fan of the style:
regards,
Painless

P.S. Thanks for the quick and dirty How-To on the track rust products. Those tracks really turned out sweet.

[ALPHA]

Looks great Jack.... like the antenna ball ....for some reason it looks like your tank commander just got it from the local filling station
Initially I thought you did it with a brush....but the separation and colors are good

ALPHA

[jarndice]

Jack I love to see an immaculate paint scheme BUT if you want realism then you should always bear in mind how the Tanks were painted after they left the factory, the crews were issued with paint, brooms, and rags and that was pretty much it, so I think it would be safe to say you have done a lovely job, and the detail you have added makes it YOUR Tank. shaun

[jackalope]

Thanks guys!

Mini update, I removed the tracks on the front as they kept plowing into things and getting the tank hung up. With them gone it goes over things much easier. That also allows me to use them for on the turret sides so thats tomorrows project.

As for the little ball on the antenna Alpha you're 110% correct, the commander picked it up while blitzkrieging toward Kursk at a local mini mart. While there they also stocked up on beef jerky and a blue raspberry icee was enjoyed by all. We make no mention of the girly mags the driver picked up, who knew Fritz like big black ba-donka donks?

[jackalope]

Jack,
Your paint didn't turn out badly at all. *chuckles* See, I'm a fan of the style:
regards,
Painless

P.S. Thanks for the quick and dirty How-To on the track rust products. Those tracks really turned out sweet.

Oh wow man that looks really good! Where'd you get the crew from?

[PainlessWolf]

Jack,
The Commander is an old HL figure. The Gunner is a combo resin\metal figure from rctank.de. Their Afrika Korps tanker. Thank you!
regards,
Painless