Tamiya Early Tiger 1 Static to RC Build

[PainlessWolf]

Markocaster, Thank you, I'm glad you're having fun as well. ;o) Tonight I sat down to do the Commander's cupola interior work. I got the mounting rings and gears and one of the vision block racks built before my eyes cried mea culpa. I'll go tomorrow and get some new flat elfenbein to do the interior with. I also need to put some thought into how I can come up with some 'glass' blocks for the racks before I do final assembly on the cupola. More fun time on the rack(s) tomorrow ;o) Pics:

[HERMAN BIX]

"Good grief Charlie-Brown"

Like womens clothes............the less it loogs the more it costs and time it takes.

[PainlessWolf]

Herman,
Thank you, sir. Getting the rings to the right size of 'round' took some time then there was annealing the parts of the block racks. Each one of those has seven separate brass pieces. I cut the pads out of strip styrene. The larger pads that mount between the racks I will leave as brass.
regards,
Painless

[MEXAS C1]

nice looking tank, very good.

[PainlessWolf]

Another afternoon spent bending tiny brass bits but I got to say at the end of the evening that I was finished with an ABER section, the Commander's Cupola. I even applied interior paint to it. Tomorrow will see the clear bits added and the whole thing expoxied together. After that, the Loader's hatch. Pics:

[c.rainford73]

Wow that's one amazing piece just to think of all of the parts and work that went to that assembly super job

[PainlessWolf]

c.rainford, Thank you for the kind comments. It was a lot of bending brass and fiddly parts assembly. Today saw the completion and installation of the cupola. I added ABER's sun shield mounts and turret lock mechanism pieces. Also, the leather pads were painted black and the inside of the cupola finished off in white. Vision blocks are little pieces of clear acylic glued into place. Step 40 is done. I am currently working on Tamiya RC Steps 41, 42 and 43 simultaneously. A lot more ABER to add to those. Then close to plugging up the electrics and taking it for a test run. After that, it's painting the Commander and turret paint \ weathering and Bob will be truly related to the parental unit then. Pics:

[sassgrunt]

I'm always amazed at the detail that you are putting into this build. Truly a museum-quality masterpiece!

What's funny is when I compare your efforts with the aftermarket 1/6 scale early Tiger cupola that my friend bought for his Armortek kit. You have packed more detail into your build than is in one that is nearly six times larger! Amazing.

[PainlessWolf]

Sass,
I am really glad that you are enjoying the progress of the build. It's been a lot of fun for me and a learning experience as you intended. The combo Tamiya and ABER parts melds are allowing for a good amount of detail. It will be good to look at in scale distances or running or closeup through a magnifying glass. That's odd about the Armortek cupola. Usually a larger scale allows you to add more visible detail. I have seen some insanely good looking interior work on 1/6 and 1/4 scale armor, far past museum quality. I'm still working 'around' the Stuart, haven't accomplished much but I can already see that I am going to have set a limit that I don't go past or I will spend years on that tank for all of the detail that the scale would allow me to add. Keep following along, it always gets the most exciting towards the end of a build. ;o)
regards,
Painless

[hotte8487]

Holy shit; nothing for thick fingers...
...well done painless!