Tiger 412 - s.pz.abt 506 - Ardennes Offensive

[grim_marmazet]

Well I finally got my Tamiya Tiger 1!  It was incredibly daunting when I opened the box and there was what seemed to be millions of pieces to assemble.

I've made a start, and am throughly enjoying it so far. I've got a couple of after-market parts so far, aluminium barrel, metal muzzel break, the POM supports for the idlers and some bearings for the gearbox axels. Plenty more to come though.

I've chosen to model mine after a Tiger from the 506th in Ardennes, mostly because they used the Hybrids, so I can be fairly inventive with what parts to use. I haven't pick a specific machine yet though.

To start a few pics of the start.

[grim_marmazet]

A few more of the build. Pretty standard Tamiya build so far, except for the bearings on the front axels, metal sproket guides, and the supports for the idler axels.

[fv432]

nice job so far grim look forward to the rest

[FireflyKeith]

Glad to see you got the after market parts before you make the tank, I built my Sherman and then thought ummm i should have got this and that before i screwed it all together ::) ::)

Keith

[grim_marmazet]

I still have quite a few more parts to get yet. This month will be the recoil upgrade, impact TU's and tracks, and possibly there suspension.
Im going to try to scratch as much of the detail as my limited skill will allow, lol. 

And for all the picture lovers out there I shall be posting lots of them! 

Cheers,
Rik

[grim_marmazet]

A bit more to show today. These things do take quite a while to build! lol.

The first picture show how I filled the 'notches' on the front tow hook holders. They need to be sanded and filled again, im not quite happy with them.



I've primed a few more parts, but its only a first coat, im going to sand any bad areas, and re-prime them, well as soon as the rain ends, lol.




I also finished one side of the road wheels. I decided to use the hubs that replicate the removed wheel for the front two wheels. From what i've read this was a common field mod. Also I think it add a bit of a "well-used" look to the Tiger.




I've also put together the Idler adjusters and screwed in the torsion bar supports.






Cheers,
Rik

[BREL]

I like your idea for priming the swing arms, very ingenious

[grim_marmazet]

I wish I could claim the idea, but I saw it on another build thread. It works a charm though, lets you do both sides at the same time. Just remember to tape them to the bottle bottom, they have a tendancy to fall off otherwise.

A question I do want to ask though. The seam down the middle of them, was that actually on the swing arms of the real tank? If not, i'll have to sand it off and re-prime them again.

Cheers,
Rik

[STEINER]

Very, very, nice. Enjoying watching your build come together.

[grim_marmazet]

Thanks for the compliments.  Its the first time i've built a kit since I was a kid, lol.

A couple more pics tonight. Oh, and I was amazed to find that the hull MG ball can swivel, and the drivers vision port opens and closes!  I plan on putting a piece of perspex behind the vision block to replicate the ballistic glass, then put an LED to light it when the headlights are on.



Cheers,
Rik