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Porsche tiger got stripes.


Hardcore

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So, rather than finish the poor models on the shelf of doom, I have begun working on Mengs wartoons king tiger. 

 

Overall it looks like a toy tiger and I could have built it straight oob. Problem is the influence of other skilled builders on the forum. I need to do SOME detail work for the sake of reputation and expectations. The trick is now to set for myself a reasonable limit to changes. 

 

Today I filled in the holes on the turret roof. They were for non historical handles that I won't miss. 

In their place I will add lifting loops. 

IMG_20181012_214207247_zpsfha2s1e7.jpg

I filled in the holes using stretches sprue that I glued to place with tamiya thin cement. 

 

 

The side skirts cannot be removed unless you build up missing side armour in some way. The reason can be seen in the photo 

IMG_20181012_194158873_zps9xoponwk.jpg

I may try that in another build. 

King tigers have nice lines without skirts. 

 

I have been thinking of applying zimmerit, but that may make the build too complex. We will see. I have also not decided on painting and weathering. 

 

Edited by Hardcore
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So, bought some stuff today. Sky colour for the next Bf109K-4 and a Trumpeter zimmerit tool set, plus milliput.

 

IMG_20181013_154845224_zpspycztxsf.jpg

 

I used plastic cards to make the hatches here. I don't plan to add the handles or other details. The risk to losing them damage is great. 

 

IMG_20181013_155143531_zpstzx9zhlb.jpg

 

 

 

IMG_20181013_170513088_zpsz2ys3s59.jpg

 

The plastic is a bit too uncooperative. (It doesn't respond very well to ordinary cement for example) 

So I sanded the surface to get a good grip for the milliput. 

 

The arrangement of the running gear is poorly designed. :-(

 

IMG_20181013_201408100_BURST001_zpsj6mfj

 

IMG_20181013_201555391_zps6zhsjagu.jpg

 

Notice also how the sprocket is slimmer than the idler wheel. 

Dry fitting suggests that once all is put together it won't be very apparent, however. 

 

IMG_20181013_203956598_zpst6kxthhg.jpg

 

Here is an attempt to make things better. 

As an experiment I used small nuts to move the wheels, on the left side here, away from the Hull. 

There are cascade effect to these kinds of mods, so I may go back on them. (After all, the point of the build is to have fun.) In this case the problems are that the running gear might become too wide for the upper hull. Also there is a job widening the sprockets. 

Well, I'll continue tomorrow. We'll see then. 

 

IMG_20181013_203857592_BURST001_zpsakmxn

 

 

Edited by Hardcore
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The cupola looked more like an old U-boat tower than the classic German design. It was easy to modify, but note it still has only five periscopes. 

 

IMG_20181014_163456974_zpszjk4eqnd.jpg

 

IMG_20181014_192205386_zpsackaxphn.jpg

 

The cupola hatch should be rounded but no one will notice so what the heck :-D

I am happy anyway. It look more realistic now. 

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More work on the turret today. Historically the underside was actually flat, as can be seen in the drawing here. 

IMG_20181017_193346686_BURST000_COVER_TO

 

The kit turret is different. Maybe they wanted to make it look more cartoonish?

 

IMG_20181017_193311950_zpshmsnmy5l.jpg

 

I could have ignore this if not for the obstacle it would be to my application of zimmerit. 

The first idea to fix this, by using square plastic profiles to change the turret shape, was discarded because I had bought the wrong size of strips. (doh!)

Rather than wait another day, and make another trip to the LHS, I picked up my cutter. 

Here I started to divide the base plate in three pieces. 

 

IMG_20181017_193750024_zpsv98cgirp.jpg

 

After cutting down the middle piece in size it now fits INSIDE the turret instead of under it. Problem solved.

IMG_20181017_211734838_zpsr7wb6uvz.jpg

 

To end  the days work attention was given to the turret back. 

In real life there was quite a complicated hatch here. The kit just has a plate with handle. It looks a lot like the Henschel design. Fixing this would be too much work this time. I decided to just add  two sprue bits on either side of it. (to represent the hinges). This makes  it look even more like a Henschel design. Well at least it now got those hinges that was lacking before. 

 

IMG_20181017_215545504_zpsvw9ee1a9.jpg

 

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Final preparation before starting with the fun was to remove the towing hooks on the back plate. Using Radu Brinzans excellent pico saws i could cut them off to be reused later. 

 

IMG_20181018_201013339_zps15qj25lc.jpg

 

I wanted to practice somewhere and used the lower hull plate for this. The zimmerit tools work well but the milliput rather stick to my fingers than the plastic. This make it hard to flatten it out and make it thin. 

 

IMG_20181018_212307602_zpsjhkepds8.jpg

 

I have no idea if they did apply zimmerit to the lower hull. 

It would be suicide to try attach a magnetic mine there, but that is just my reasoning. 

 

 

IMG_20181018_221907183_zpslqiuhdzd.jpg

 

The big surfaces are what remain to cover. Probably tomorrow. After that I need to make a decision on the running gear. 

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Worked on the side armour today. Hard work. Milliput would be more suited for making zimmerit if it was softer. Now it takes 5-15 minutes to work it thin enough using my fingers, water and tissue paper. 

 

IMG_20181019_204918226_zps0zmewoto.jpg

 

After making the pattern i pressed cables and tools into the milliput. 

 

IMG_20181019_223453688_zpsijzdzjcl.jpg

 

 

 

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Almost finished adding zimmerit today. Here is a shot on the glacis showing the unevenness resulting from the work to thin the milliput. 

 

IMG_20181020_221251396_zpsglhoqpwh.jpg

 

The angular turret got a decent shape. The front Hull otoh need extra work around the machine gun port. 

 

IMG_20181020_231310228_zpsmslfi4ch.jpg

 

 

IMG_20181020_232901501_zpswsa4m3em.jpg

 

Working around the rear turrer hatch and Hull. 

 

IMG_20181020_210335659_zps7skpsspr.jpg

 

I don't feel in the mood to repeat this process soon. (I got a new panther) 

Of course, it would help if it was easier. Any suggestions welcome. :-)

Edited by Hardcore
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