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

[grim_marmazet]

Thanks for the comments James, much appreciated. This build is certainly a labour of love. 

Richard, sadly life has kept me away from the Tiger for the moment, but I have a week off work and plan on getting a lot done. I have built the loaders hatch, just need to finish painting it and i'll take some pictures. I've also mounted the spare track holders as well.
I'll post some pics tomorrow for you guys.

Cheers,
Rik

[Tailend charlie]

OK some how the post got deleted. I will do one again. Tank building is a precious gift and you must I mean must take time between life's pitfalls and build, build, build. So again were are the pics

                        Richard

[grim_marmazet]

I do very much apologise for the long delay in updates. Without going into a lot of detail, there was a while when life wasn't going to well, and other priorities had to go over my Tiger, and because of that I haven't had the full want to carry on building. I don't like to carry on building unless the Tiger has my full attention, as this usually leads to messing something up.

On a brighter note though I do have some pictures to show you! 
First up, the track hangers on the turret have been fitted. These are the schumo ones and are fantastically detailled, down to the casting numbers on the upper parts. They were very simple to fit, and didnt take long to fit. They look awesome, but i've left the track links off until after painting.




Next is a quick shot to show the turret escape hatch fitted.



Last one to show you the detailling on the inside of the loaders hatch. I used a mixture of the original Tamiya part, Aber PE and scratch-built parts to make it. I didn't bother with making it functional, as it seemed a lot of effort for something that would be very flimsy and hardly ever seen.



Hope you like them Richard, i'll put some more up soon, I promise! 
Cheers,
Rik

[Tailend charlie]

She is really looking good. The details are what set it a part from the average joe's. Remember tank building is an outlet too! An escape from life for a while. Hope life isn't too bad right now and everything will be OK. 

Well keep up the great work and post the pics as you can.



                                                                Richard

[grim_marmazet]

Life's better now thanks.  As I said, I don't like working on the Tiger, unless i'm 100% focused as things tend to get screwed up otherwise. I'm putting some more bits together today. When I find my memory card reader i'll post some more pictures.
Cheers,
Rik

[littletankman]

Hi Rik ,
looking good mate I see you have gone for the flame tourch cut of smoke launchers on the turret, very good.

All the best and keep them picts comming Andy

[grim_marmazet]

Hi Guys,

Im finally back after a long hiatus. There was quite a while where I wasn't really in the mood to do the Tiger, and typically when I was the forum went down, lol! But in that time i've got quite a bit done.
The turret is nearly finished now, i've even got the base coat of paint on!



I made the torch cut smoke candle mounts, and the armoured electrical duct. I just need to add metal tie downs on this cable.



I added the power cables for the headlights, and used the angular sockets from the Aber additional set as I prefer them over the round ones.



Another intense build, and almost a model in their own right were the driver/radio operator hatch internal details. I've only finished one so far, and that took days! lol But they look awesome done, and the locking mechanism actually works! I've just got to fit it to the hull tonight, then start on the second one.



The periscope was a PITA to complete, but now its finished I love it. As a final detail to it i added aluminium foil 'mirrors' and perspex glass, and they look cool.



The exhausts are connected now. I used a set called 'Instant Rust' by Deluxe Materials to gain a heavily rusted, textured feel to it. The beauty of this set is the longer you leave it, the more they rust! As its a Tiger that has seen a lot of action, especially in the snow, I wanted a very rusty look. I used the pivoting caps from the Aber Basic set as well.
Over those is Aber's fantastic exhaust shrouds. I left one off for now to show the exhaust. The brass shrouds are perfect for denting and adding bullet holes too.



To the front end, i've added the handle and step, similar to Bovington's Tiger. I know its not really seen on any other Tiger, but I like the look, and there's no reason other crews wouldn't do a similar mod in the field. Instead of a flat step though, I used thick copper wire to look like a section of re-bar bent into shape and welded on.



Lastly for today is the loaders periscope cover. I scratched this from styrene strip heated and bent into shape. Its a little too wide, but I can live with that. I've made a periscope from brass, I just need to add the foil and perspex innards, then epoxy it in place.



I've also added a myriad of weld seams which frankly are pretty boring to look at lol, so I spared you guys the pictures!

Sorry I haven't updated in a while, as i've said before I don't like to work on the Tiger unless i'm 100% focused on it or i'll screw something up.
So to anyone following my thread, they'll be more coming soon! As always, post comments, thoughts and criticisms please.

Cheers,
Rik

[[ICE]monkey]

great work there , its realy comming together

[Sarah]

Hi Rik,

What paints did you use on the spare tracks on front of the Tiger, are they the original plastic tracks or metal ones.


Many thanks,

Sarah

[grim_marmazet]

Hi Sarah,
There spare links from Impact tracks, all metal. You can buy singular links from Welsh Dragon. I used the tracks, so I wanted the front and turret spare links to match. There not painted but chemically blackened with Birchwood-Casey Perma Blue. Its normally used for blueing gun metal, but works quite well on Impact tracks, though it took me a few tries, lol.
Cheers,
Rik