Taigen early tiger build (painting begins!)

[cannedheat]

mmmm, looking good old chap wot wot ... take it its not show room , scrubbed clean and polished..when done...

[tomhugill]

You would be correct! This is a bit of an excercise in weathering so I've done more scrapes and dents than I normally would!

[doc larsson]

Tom

remember and angle commander's hatch 45 deg in line with loader's hatch. Also I've seen a piccie of S33 and it has zimmerit on it ! Can't remember if this is true or am i just making it up but i'm sure that after late 1943 the germans were the only ones using magnetic mines. But i do love your detailing. was it a good idea putting on the tools etc before painting ? just a thought

[PainlessWolf]

Good Morning,
You've definitely captured the essence of the paint job you are depicting, Tom. Are you going to detail out some of the tools, MG barrel and so forth now? It's a pleasure watching this Tiger go through the paces of change.
regards,
Painless

[tomhugill]

I think the cupola is at the right angle, but it's not glued on yet so can be adjusted. To be honest the only reference for s24 I could find is the color plate on the decal sheet. However I'm pretty sure these early production tigers tended to be zimm free. Regarding the tools I have built the tanks Aber clamps to be fully functioning. So in early photos show tools attached for fitting purposes but these have been removed to be painted separatly.

[tomhugill]

Some small progress made last night, began painting the spare tracks and two cables. Unfortunately the red oxide is too bright just to dry brush over so I've recoated in gun metal and then used a mixture of brown and black oils for get a better dull metal effect.

I also realised that you could see primer very clearly through the spare tracks on the turret so they had to come off to spray under them.

[PainlessWolf]

Good Morning,
Looks like she rolled right out of Normandy, Tom. *all my thumbs up*
regards,
Painless Wolf

[tomhugill]

Cheers painless although if it was found at Normandy she would be about 2000km in the wrong place!!
Painting continues a pace, last night I added a filter of ak interactive fresh mud, painted the the tools tow cables and started the pin washes. I am using a mixture of ak interactive NATO wash and dark mud for a hint of brown. This is my favourite part of the painting as the tank starts to come to life:

[cannedheat]

coming round to the weathering old chap doing a fine job ,as guest not my cup of tea weathering maybe fear of messing up and no point of return ?but must admit some do need weathering
and I think the tiger is one ,nice old chap wot wot

[tomhugill]

Cheers fella, when I initially did the chipping I thought it had gone a bit overboard. However as I add the rest of the weathering it's being toned down. Hopefully by the time I've finished it'll blend in ok. Tbh with weathering your hard pushed to ruin a model, even if you go overboard another top coat will soon right any issues!