Building a Mid-Production Normandy Tiger 1

[tanks_for_the_memory]

You know, I feel that I'm finally getting the hang of this...

Applying Zimmerit to the other hull side

It's good to see the track cables temporarily back in place.jpg (27.97 KiB) Viewed 4829 times

Another part of the zimmerit I wasn't looking forward to was the left hull side. This one was always going to be complicated by the various mounts and brackets for the track tensioning cable. I had originally fixed these in place directly onto the plastic hull through holes cut into the old stick-on zimmerit and most stayed firmly in place even when I had peeled it off. Phew! I did wonder whether it might have been better for me if I had been able to apply the new Magic Sculp zimmerit before they had been added, but I think not for two reasons: firstly on the real tank the paste was applied around these brackets, secondly it would be quite a job to fix them all into their correct place before the putty had time to dry. In the end only one came off during the process.

This time I also remembered to add the square mounts for the track guards. To help get these into the right place I marked out the centre holes first (as I did with my damaged mudguard) before drilling holes. I then marked them with dress making pins before applying the putty, then I popped out the pins and applied the plastic squares using the pins as a guide. The mounts were pressed into the putty before it dried (OK, so I have slightly contradicted what I wrote above). They have held for now, but I will remove them and glue them back into place just to be sure.

The other big change from applying the zimmerit to the other side was the use of a pallet or plastering knife - this was used (dipped in plenty of water) to smooth the putty, especially around the various details, and make it more even. This doesn't have to be perfect of course - the zimmerit stamps soon do the rest.

Well here are some pictures:

Using a pallet knife to smooth the putty helped to keep it even and work it wround the track cable brackets.jpg (29.8 KiB) Viewed 4829 times

Obviously the finish does not have to be perfect before the zimmerit stamps are brought into action.jpg (32.87 KiB) Viewed 4829 times

This time I feel I managed to obtain a flatter, more realistic finish.jpg (28.26 KiB) Viewed 4829 times

The pins which I had used to mark the position of the track guard mounts were then removed....jpg (35.24 KiB) Viewed 4829 times

... and the mounts pressed into the putty whilst it was still wet.jpg (36.68 KiB) Viewed 4829 times

[HERMAN BIX]

It is you................the Zim whisperer...............like the mythical god called "The Claw" out of toy story !
I fou`nd the hardest single operation to do on mine was to make, mount and secure the track towing set up. Yours has zimmerit to boot !
You sure do make it look easy mate..........Im sure its not or we all would be doing it eh

[SovereignZuul]

Psst... Zim-whisperer... What's next on the list?

[tanks_for_the_memory]

Ahhh! Now I have to post.

Without pics.

And then Mr Bix will start sniffing glue again... It was glue wasn't it?

Responsibilities. Responsibilities. That's tricky to type twice with a glass of wine in my hand.

OK so we had another modeling competition to go to. [IPMS in Telford. The boys did great. Gold and Bronze for Arthur, Commended for Hector.]

Before that we had half term and a week on the Cheshire canals (it's not all south of France poolside holidays in this household).

And work, work, ... you know the drill.

Now enough of the zim-whisperer thingy. The name might stick. Sounds kind of strange. I mean I like zimmerit, don't get me wrong. But I'm not caressing the surface of my tank. Often.

Better front hatches fix

I did find an easy fix for the front hatches though. Remember how they wouldn't swing past the vertical if you simply fixed them to the mounts inside the upper hull? You don't remember? Well look above! I spent ages fixing it...

I had a growing suspicion that the answer was a lot easier than I I had originally thought. It turns out that all you need to do is sand down the attachment point for the hinge that fits over the plastic lugs on the underside of the Heng Long upper hull (I hope they're still there on recent models). Either the hull roof - or the hinge mount - is too thick.

Taigen driver's hatch with the hinge mount sanded down to allow the hatch to pass the vertical when open.jpg (27.76 KiB) Viewed 4746 times

Here you can see the two holes which fit over the lugs on the underside of the upper hull.jpg (26.17 KiB) Viewed 4746 times

OK, so there are pics - just not very exciting.

I did start on the hatch periscopes for the driver and radio operator (to replace the metal parts I had used before) but got distracted looking for the correct size rectangular plastic tube. I found it at Telford IPMS. I also found some threaded screw for my gun cleaning rods. More later.

To make myself feel I was making some progress when I got back I then re-attached my turret to the hull. Houston we had a problem...

Is it just me (probably)? There's just too big a gap between the turret and the hull roof!

Now the pics here are a little misleading, because I hadn't screwed it all down tight enough. But even when I did the turret was 'floating' above the hull roof. I looked at an old HL Tiger on my shelf and, again, there it was.

The turret rejoins the hull - again....jpg (38.37 KiB) Viewed 4746 times

...but there is too much of a gap between the turret and the hull.jpg (39.39 KiB) Viewed 4746 times

I don't often admit to jealousy, but old/young tomhuggill's recent Tiger build has certainly got me thinking.

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=13476

The Merit / Hobby Boss / Trumpeter Tiger certainly has its issues - but many things are right about it. One of the latter (and I have one too) is the fact that the turret sits close to the hull roof. Just like the real thing. Call it weight if you will, but it just looks right.

So do I have a plan? As my American cousins would say - Hell Yes!

I just haven't done it yet. Yet.

Watch this space...

[tomhugill]

Oh tanks, you have saved me some consternation over those hatches! I'll get them removed and give it a whirl!

I think 27 constitutes fairly young on the hobby! (Not quite some much as model boats though).

[DavidByrden]

The distance between the real Tiger's turret and hull roof was nominally 10mm.

David

[HERMAN BIX]

Stay tuned lads, Mr 'Whisperer' has identified a problem.......................its going to be well worth the watch to see how its fixed - because you know it will be

[SovereignZuul]

I never even realized that fact about the turret deck height. Going to see if I can't fix that issue too!

Great return post TFTM, I'm inspired as ever.

27 is a young modeler Tom? I'm 30yo... Guess we're babies around here.

[PainlessWolf]

Good Morning,
Economies of scale, my Friends. Please be careful with trying to emulate the appearance caused by the weight of a multi-ton turret on a bearing ring manufactured for the Tiger. You're getting into hair pulling territory. Following along!
regards,
Painless

[tomhugill]

Some times when it bugs you it just has to be fixed!