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I received a bunch of Asiatam parts in the mail. The barrel I wanted was back ordered. I got all the hatches and other goodies in place last eve and continued on with my journey, adding Zim with Miliput. I think I am getting it down, but it sure is time consuming.

Photos later this eve.

PP

Pale,
I agree with the rest. Milliput Zimmerit looks great when applied and painted. That being said, I think that if I am ever to use it, it will be the self adhesive sheets you trim and apply then paint.
Happy Holidays!
Painless

Don't be afraid of Milliput zimmerit!

See post below how I learnt to my cost why 'stick on' zimmerit is more trouble than it's worth...

But don't use a soldering iron either.

In this scale it has to be made like the real thing. Rolling with a cog is fine until you meet resistance. A steady hand and screw driver will do just fine...

tanks_for_the_memory wrote:Don't be afraid of Milliput zimmerit!

See post below how I learnt to my cost why 'stick on' zimmerit is more trouble than it's worth...

But don't use a soldering iron either.

In this scale it has to be made like the real thing. Rolling with a cog is fine until you meet resistance. A steady hand and screw driver will do just fine...

Thanks Tanks! I am about 1/3 through the zim process on the Tiger. You are absolutely right. It has been working nicely with a screwdriver shaped tool I made from plastic. Sanding on the surface is a big bonus too.

Here are a few shots. Since the barrel I wanted was back ordered, I decided to take one of the extra barrels and aluminum inserts, and cut it back so it would function properly for the recoil in side the widest diameter of the barrel/mantle assembly. I used a polyester putty to extend it back beyond where it originally met in the plastic mold. Used that brass sleeve inside to offer some support to the polyester I used as a filler, so when the barrel was at its full length, there would be support for the barrel. I cut the second aluminum BB insert so that it was long enough to extend into the mechanism I had created from the BB unit. Once I had the insert long enough, I poured in a 5 min epoxy into the black part of the BB chamber assembly. I flipped it around so the part where the spring was encapsuled, became the reservoir for the epoxy and lock the barrel into the slider. I had to mod that black piece by cutting off the end which engaged the BB in the original assembly. Then I had to block it off so the epoxy resin would not pour out of it. I just need to cut off the muzzle break and put on one that I can remove in order to be able to pull the entire assembly out of the mantle if needed. I hope that made sense. It was really quite easy to do after I over thought the entire mechanism for about two weeks.





In this photo you can see where I extended that section of the barrel with polyester and it is now it's fully extended, normal rest position.


And here you can see how the assembly goes together inside of the original BB mech body. This is in the recoiled position here.

I have been making a little bit of progress during the busiest time of year for my business. I have spent most of my time on the turret. Details here and there, finishing up the Zim on the sides of turret. Made the track holders for the sides. Also opened up one of the small ports on the side as well. I spent a little time making the lifting posts on the turret from small finish nails that I put into my drill press and machined with a file. They came out surprisingly good IMO. I added the locking details to the back of the storage bins.

I have one side of the tank covered with Zim. I will wait for that side to dry before I tackle the other sides. I learned this the hard way. I kept putting my hand and destroying the pattern when I tried to do both sides simultaneously.

A lovely build, I am in the middle of building an early model and after doing a bit of research I made up a front step to mount on the front spare track holder and a grab handle above it on the hull, what I did learn was that when the early model Tigers went to Russia the Russian soldiers used the step and grab handle to climb on and drop grenades through the hatches. The practice of fitting steps and grab handles ceased with the next production run! So you might want to think about the grab handle on your mid production Tiger, sorry, I am not critisising it's just it leapt out to me because you so rarely see grab handles and steps even on early Tigers. shaun

Thanks. I didn't think the one on the lower hull and track would last running around in the rough. Appreciate the input.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas!!

I got a few days off over the holidays and got a few hours in here and there. Most of the time was spent finishing up the zim. I wish now that I had not been so thorough with it. I wanted more of a damaged look, but will have to pry some of it off here and there. The thing is, it is sticking really well because I had sanded it all with 320 gt. Live and learn.

I started the first stage of the rear lighting with a small tube of plastic that comes with new paint brushes to protect the bristles. You can see it in one of the rear shots. I also spent some time working over the fenders to my liking. Next, I will take a rotary sanding drum on the dremel and thin them out just a bit at the edge and work them a bit more. I made all the cable brackets for the sides of the upper hull out of plastic. I busted a couple off to enhance that beat up look. Like I mentioned earlier, this one is going to be really nasty. I used thin solder wire to create the wiring for the stock HL smoke pots on the turret. I also use solder for the fake wire connection on the front headlight, just a little wider size. After I got most of that done, I put a quick coat of primer back over it just to make it all one nice color and help me to feel like all the hours spent are coming together.

I worked on a few changes on the back deck to coincide with the mid production Tiger. Still have a ways to go on all the tool mounting and such. But am waiting on a metal tools to show up.

I took off the outer wheels today, and I think I am going to find a Taigen metal hull for this beast before I go any further below with all the wheels and such. I have metal drive and idler gears as well as full metal gear boxes for it when it goes back together. Now, just to find one that doesn't have 100 USD shipping attached to it.

Here are some random shots.

Pale,
Beautiful, 'dirty' work. Everything hangs together very well. Beautiful patterning on the Zim and the details on the turret are astounding. The only thing I can mention and it is miniscule, is that a shell hit of the size that you show on the Rommel Box would have blown the box to bits with the energy of the strike on the armor of the turret. Maybe a pattern of machine gun holes stitched up the back instead? Equally cool!
warm regards,
Painless

Thanks for the pointer Painless. Appreciated. I had considered what would happen. I am still considering taking off all of the plastic on the vertical surface and skinning it with aluminum. The problem of doing anything more correct here is that I am using the stock HL elevator that is housed in the box. I will mess with it a bit more and shrink the hole down a bit.