My Matorro King tiger
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 2:32 pm
I saw this on ebay uk and liked the look of it, the seller had owned it awhile but not done anything with it, a lot of the add on parts were not fitted and one exhaust stack had been snapped off and the exhaust armoured mantle was off too. It is smoke n sound and Henschel production turret model and i thought the paint job was similar to the la gleize 213 konigstiger which i visited back in 1985 while overseas in the armed forces. only difference was la gleize 213 didnt have zimmerrit while the matorro comes with it nicely moulded on from factory. Only dislike was the bulge on the front glacis plate where they accommodated the gearboxs, but i can live with that for now. I did some enquiries about this model on here from fellow forum builders and still bought it lol. Since receiving it i refixed exhaust stack and mantle first off and took all tools off that were fitted and painted them again, i was surprised to see that matorro had taken the trouble to mould in the detail on the tool clamps nicely but all hatch handles were solid so they were filed off and new handles made from copper panel pins and fitted to all hatches, except for rear turret hatch which i had a spare for from my panther build. Paint work was then blended in for those parts. Ariel was relocated to correct place. Some roadwheels were repainted after studying 213 on youtube. The commanders mg turret ring was swapped for a spare panther one as original was way too small and out of proportion, mg was fitted and they were both painted and blended in. Convoy light was painted blue. Missing zimmerrit patches were painted primer red and weathered with tamiya rust effect all though it doesnt show up well in pics. Decals were supplied by Forgebear and once fitted painted with flat clear.
Tow cables were repainted and a starting handle added as Matorro didnt fit one it was fitted with metal clamps supplied by Forgebear left over from another build. Spare track hangers were fitted and lifting hooks for rear deck hatches fitted. It was nice to see that Matorro got the headlight cover right and not a frog eye like HL ones. Heres some pics.
Oh and tow shackle holes drilled in rear top position and extra upper rear tow shackles fitted.
Tow cables were repainted and a starting handle added as Matorro didnt fit one it was fitted with metal clamps supplied by Forgebear left over from another build. Spare track hangers were fitted and lifting hooks for rear deck hatches fitted. It was nice to see that Matorro got the headlight cover right and not a frog eye like HL ones. Heres some pics.
Oh and tow shackle holes drilled in rear top position and extra upper rear tow shackles fitted.
...that bulge is easy to deal with... a bunch of us helped Painkiller do his 
