discussion Italeri Tiger I Ausf. E Tank - 1:35

[pjgtech]

Still on my quest to build a family of Tigers, in different scales.
So far I have already built a 1:144 scale, a 1:72 scale and a 1:48 scale, so the obvious next choice was a 1:35 model.
Got myself a Italeri kit, this is a Tiger I Ausf. E late version, with the textured armoured panels.
I've done a couple of Italeri kits now and they were ok, not up there with say, Tamiya, but not bad, we'll see how this one goes....
Box and Sprue pics....

 

[pjgtech]

I started this one a few days ago, so have already made some progress...
Main lower chassis / body complete, seems a good fit.


Front wheels on.


Suspension arms on.


Textured armour covers applied to the turret sides. Its quite "bendy" so needed clamping.


There was a slight warp to one side of the barrel, so got out the little mini beam clamps, (very handy bits of kit, as you can easily vary the amount of pressure applied), to keep the barrel together until set.
Barrel breach / action also assembled.

 

[pjgtech]

Then we moved on to some more assembly and then some initial priming, (using Citadel Chaos Black) of the main chassis/body, gun and turret.
Engine compartment made up and attached to the underside of the main body deck.
Main gun barrel now attached to the breach/action.


Painted up a lot of the small parts on the sprue, I juts find it easier this was, rather than painting them on the model once attached, as it gets a bit fiddly, and as I brush paint, it can be a pain.
Also started painting the wheel, but have not yet applied tyre black to the rubber sections.
NB: the black rubber sections on tank wheels actually tyres or just solid rubber?

As ever with brush painting, the first couple of coats always look gash! but get better after that....
I think most WWII Tigers have a green interior, But I did see one photo of a grey interior, so decided to go with that.


Started to add some of the smaller parts, eg: interior bits to the turret, seats, accessories, etc and the engine cover and a couple of the hatch openings. I may have a couple of the hatches open on this model?
Also filled a couple of gaps to the engine bay area. (Hence different colour primer after filling).
Lastly added the thin ring section around the main deck, which will be below the turret.

 

[pjgtech]

Bringing things pretty much up to date now....
Added more detail to the turret interior, painted the seats, the accessories, etc.


Attached the main gun and breech and action to the turret, and joined the two sides of the turret.
Hmm, the extra layer of the armoured texture onto the turret sides had created a couple of gaps, (once joined) so will need a bit of fettling, eg: filling and sanding.


After much dry fitting and a bit of fettling, the main body is now assembled, there will be some gaps sadly!
One side seems to be a bit warped, not lined up exactly, so had to use clamps to get everything to fit together.
Not the best fit TBH.
I'm hoping filling/sanding will improve the finish, we'll see...

Started painting the top coat on the turret and main body/chassis.
Have now also fixed the two front hatches, with one open, showing the little detail inside.


Have now attached the turret top section, and again, some gaps to be sorted out!
I think if you just used the plain turret sides it would actually look ok, but its the extra thickness of the armoured layer that has made the gaps worse.
Started to apply filler to the front, (a medium liquid filler), but the larger rear gaps will require actual proper filler IMHO.


Also made up the turret hatches, and I think I may have these open, due to the nice details inside the turret, even though you can't really see it unless you get very close!

 

[Steven000]

Looking good Peter, I build this one twice (as a kid and returning to hobby) nice to see it again on a bench. The rubber on the wheels was a hard solid rubber because of the weight. On the later version they dropped the rubber and used only steel, if I'm not mistaken due to rubber shortage. Have fun

 

[scottie3158]

Peter, coming on nicely.

 

[Jim R]

Good progress.

 

[Andy T]

A flying start Peter. Looking good.

 

[pjgtech]

Last few bits done today....
Filled all the gaps earlier today...
And the wheels are now all on.


Then after a few hours, sanded down any rough bits, not many and painted it back up again...


Rear engine coved installed and rear bulkhead bits attached, exhaust, baffles, etc and given a rust effect then covered, rear towing linkages attached, rear jack, etc.


I have left the turret hatches open, I may even attached a couple of figures.....maybe. Front towing linkages attached, front headlight, seems to only have one?


Last few bits painted up, side skirts, mud flaps, towing cables, pioneer tools, the spare track hangers to go on the side of the turret, etc.
Tomorrow will prolly see the tracks going on.
This kit has both separate linkages [Gulp!] and the rubber tracks.
Not sure I'm ready for separate linkages yet..... so, may just go with the rubber tracks.....

 

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Some lovely detail in this kit Peter. Should be a cracker when done

 

[pjgtech]

This bit did not look right?


Had another shufty at the instructions and there should be a thin strip that covers this section, placed when the main turret body, gun, mantlet, etc is assembled. So I must have missed it....

Could not for the life of me see it on the sprue..... but after looking for about the third or fourth time, I eventually found it!
I had painted up most of the bits on the sprue in the dark sand colour, but had missed this strip, so it was still black, and just did not stand out. Plus it had quite a bit of flash at either end, so did not look like a thin strip!

Anyway error now corrected, I managed to glue the offending strip in place (after a quick clean up and sanding) and it has also now had its first coat of paint.

 

[pjgtech]

Few more bits done this morning....
Tracks are now on...always a squeaky bum time for me.
But with my now standard method, eg: CA them well beforehand, make sure all wheel are really well attached and allowed for fully cure overnight, and gently pre stretch the rubber tracks as much as possible before attaching, they went on ok.




Then made up some small lollipop wedges, and placed them to give the appropriate track slack where needed before CA'ing the track to the wheels. How do other people get their track slack?


Various other bits now attached, eg: spare track holders to the turret sides, towing cables, pioneer tools, etc.



Front mudguards attached.


Track slack seems to be holding ok now the CA has set....


Here's the pioneer tools.


The rear mudguards have also been attached, and the exhaust/baffle covers attached.
NB: the towing cable on the RHS at the rear, is above the little cylindrical thing, so I think I will remove that so that the cable lays flat, then reposition the cylindrical thing, anyone know what it is? Fire extinguisher maybe?


Not much more actual building to do, just the side track plates/covers, another towing cable to the side, but I will leave that until the decals are on, as one decal goes under/behind the towing cable. I will also be adding some spare track to the front, as I know a lot of Tigers had this, will make up a strap of some sort, probably from old/spare PE to use as a holder for the spare track pieces.

Now need to go round and tidy up any little bits of paint that have been scuffed, etc and then it will get a coat of gloss varnish, before adding decals and starting the weathering process.

 

[minitnkr]

Yep, only one headlight, fire extinguisher is cylinder thing, skinny long cable on left side is to help replacing tracks, not a tow cable. This model is of an older build with added shop upgrades. The added texture was a anti-magnetic paste applied to mid-builds and omitted on later builds due to no one but the Germans deployed magnetic anti-tank mines. The second headllight & smoke dischargers were also deleted in favor of an internally loaded multi-purpose mortar in the turret. These are just a few that come immediately to mind. Many Tiger Is seen in late war years were Frankenstonian, with early and late parts. Yours is looking good, the tracks came out well, always tricky.