RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Good morning,
With molded on tools, I have had some success in using a scribing blade to "lift" the tool by undercutting the edges. Do this carefully and it can appear as if the tool is laying on the surface, deck, etc. Add a mount and plasticard strap and this completes the illusion. Good luck. You've already come a fair ways on this tank so a little more can only enhance your end result.
regards,
Painless

Then let a bit of shadowing wash/ink run underneath. Not too dark of course. Yes, that sounds like a plan.

The reason for removing the tools is I have a set of metal ones and kinda want to use them. Also I can paint and weather them before installation. Although there is one between the front plate and hatch lid with very little room to work. I am a bit nervous of starting that one so the lifting idea may very well be the best option, or I can get stuck in and repair any damage I do!
I have checked my sizes of the shrouds, I am happy with them but they have spread a bit since I formed them so I can squeeze them together a couple of mm which will solve the jack handle problem I had. I need to research to find out where the handle should actually go. So far it is just my own interpretation.

Pete

Hi, If you get hold of the "Haynes Workshop Manual, TIGER TANK" and go to page 86/87 you will get a double page full colour Photograph of 131s back plate showing very clearly how the Tiger 1 early starting handle was mounted,
While I am on the subject, the Tiger 1 late had a two piece starting handle which was stored on the body of the tank between the radio aerial and the engine bay grill.
Shaun.

Which set of metal tools did you get? I have one of mk modellbau, that is much too bulky in the handles. Yesterday I saw a set at rctank.de that looks promising. It only has small knobs at the handles to put into the hull slots, but those should be easy to cut and sand flush.

Hi Soeren I got my toolset from Welshdragonmodels.co.uk. Steve there is really helpful. Have a look at the picture this might help you gauge the sizes. The rctank.de ones have a fire extinguisher as well.
Pete

Thanks, this looks exactly like rctanks offer as well. The fire extinguisher is also nice. When well painted, you will only notice the difference to the aber kit when trying to handle it. I have the mount for the extinguisher in the basic panther kit. And although it looks nice, I find it not worth the effort. As always, a good paintjob helps more to improve the appearance compared to having details invisible by monotony. But then again , this is just personal taste.

Talking about straps and clamps etc, Have a look at shapeways.com there seems to be some really good stuff with regards to straps and clamps. Has anyone had any experience of these? I am kinda tempted to order a set of early clamps for the sake of a few quid?

Pete

For the handles it looks as if Vallejo do a paint described as 'wood grain' i have not tried it but might be worth a shout.

For painting wooden handles, I use Vallejo Iraqi Sand as a base. To get the wood grain effect, I use thinned down Vallejo Smoke, the brush strokes give a grain effect. If you want more info, have a look on YouTube for videos by Dave Youngquist, who is a master of the dark art of figure painting.