WIP 1/16 "Tiger In Wait" 321 .SS.Pz.Abt.101 Normandy 1944

[Dr Force]

Thanks Ron

Lower hull front & sides now complete with Zim!!

I have also re-worked the Antenna tube holder that sits on the left as you look from the front at the rear. The other one was moulded to the hull and looked a mess.

Front fenders need thinning out as they are too thick, new rear fenders are on order.

I have done a little SBS for the Zimmerit and posted the pics.

-Roughen surface with sand paper
-Clean it with a damp cloth and allow to completely dry (dust or damp means it will not stick to the surface when applying)
-Make sure you have plenty of putty, tools and water to hand
-Apply the putty (in this case magic sculpt) as evenly as you can but certainly not too thick
-Dampen a suitable flat edge tool and smooth off
- put quite a bit of water on and then start to scrape off the excees to obtain a nice even smooth surface
-Use flatheaded screwdriver choosing the scale to suit your own model
-dampen screwdriver and press into the surface (you will find by working from the top down the water runs for you
-allow to dry and lightly sand to get rid of any sharp edges

I will start the upperhull once I have put on the clasps that hold the spare track links.

 

[Lew J]

Hi Dave.

Zim is looking great, very even finish on it all.

Enjoying watching this beasts evolution from bog standard to very high spec. Keep up the excellent work.

Lew J.

 

[Dr Force]

Hi Dave.

Zim is looking great, very even finish on it all.

Enjoying watching this beasts evolution from bog standard to very high spec. Keep up the excellent work.

Lew J.

Thanks Lew

It's not an absolute science as if you look at Zim it is different on different Tigers. I think you also need not worry too much about it being straight or indifferent as a lot of it was applied on the field by hand so some looks quite ropey.

I may chip a bit off at some of the edges to show a bit of wear and tear.

I can't wait to do the turret now (this is a slightly smaller Zim compared to lower hull so will use a slightly smaller screwdriver) as this will really start to bring it together but I need to wait for the holders for the spare track links.

I'll have a crack at the ammo holder for the MG mount tonight and maybe add a bit more detail (weld etc) to the Cupola)

Cheers
Dave

 

[JasonB]

Hi Dave,
Do you have a reference pic of the specific Tiger that you are doing? I ask because while I have seen Tigers with turret zimmerit that was larger and rougher, or the same as the hull, I have never seen it smaller except perhaps in the confined areas of the mantlet. But with Tigers I never say never, since the turret zimmerit and hull zimmerit were applied by separate manufacturers using different methods, so they could and did vary.
Just to clarify one point (and I stand to be corrected) but I don't know that much, if any, zimmerit was applied in the field, it was all done by hand at the factory. It was originally applied somewhat like you have done it, by spreading a solid layer that was hardened a bit (using a blowtorch!), then indented with a trowel. I recall reading that as the process evolved,they started using toothed trowels to spread or texture the "paste", which saved time and material, since less could be applied to get the same ridge effect, and they didn't have to wait to harden it and do the ridges separately. I think this pic shows a good example of the different types

Anyhow, its looking good, just thought I would throw that out there for your consideration. Don't hesitate to add "goofs" or sloppy spots, you don't want it too neat and tidy.
Cheers
Jason

 

[Dr Force]

Hi Jay

The reference book is the Osprey Modeling The Tiger 1 with Gary Edmundson doing the modellling and providing excellent pics along the way.

I actually got it the wrong way around with the Zim!! The finer lines are on the lower hull with thicker lines on the turrett and finer lines on the hull and gun mantlet as stated by Gary himself:-

"Tiger 321 from SS.PZ.Abt.101 featured a typical pattern of Zimmerit seen on the vehicles in Normandy with thick lines of texture on the turret and finer lines on the hull & gun mantlet"

So the gun Mantlett needs to be finer and I need to actually make the turret slightly bigger, but will experiment a bit first.

As for the Field applications, it is mean't by other locations other than the actual factories in Germany but other specialized field HQ not actually in the battlefield or in say a corn field lol.

So yes you are 100% correct, most were done in the factories produced in Germany but they also did it at various other locations with shall we say a more speedy way of putting it on (hence not so neat)

I'm going to chip some small amounts off of the front and also the sides on the corners and where the sides meet the top. I'll make it less neat on the turret where it would have been more difficult to apply.

Cheers
Dave

 

[kagemusha]

Hi Dave, another step along the road! Great stuff. I really enjoy the input from other members. It adds so much to the whole project and brings out so much useful info and ideas. Keep it coming mate.

Cheers

Ron

 

[JasonB]

Hi Dave,
Yeah, some of the turret zimmerit on Tigers looks like it was actually carved in our something, its so rough. Those are the one I believed were raked on with a very large tooth trowel. You see more waviness in the pattern than you do the rows on the hulls. These may have been done by applying a solid coat, then dragging the trowel over it after it set up a bit, instead of it being applied and textured in one go. I think it was in the Ryton Tiger I book that there is a first hand account by one of the factory workers about applying the zimmerit, and he mentioned the toothed trowels. They were originally doing the method of spreading the goop, heating it with a torch to dry it, then cutting in the ridges with the edge of a trowel. I can imagine how long that takes on a full size vehicle. I want to say these toothed trowels were self made out of scrap metal, probably with the teeth cut with metal snips. I think he said something about how the inspectors originally didn't approve of the method and wanted to stop the process (even in the middle of losing the war, German inspectors were doing the bureaucratic best to stop anything that wasn't by the book), but they were overridden and it became their standard way of applying it. I'm guessing thats why we see the differences in the patterns. There is some argument in modeling circles over how the pattern was applied, so as long as it looks like the real thing, how its applied isn't crucial.

 

[Dr Force]

Hi Dave, another step along the road! Great stuff. I really enjoy the input from other members. It adds so much to the whole project and brings out so much useful info and ideas. Keep it coming mate.

Cheers

Ron

Jay is the historian, and is a massive help to me and others who read the thread.

I also appreciate your encouragement so thank you.

I have added the ammo holder to the MG Mount and just proped it up on the Cupola to get a sense of what it will look like.

I will start to improve the cupola tomorrow night:-

 

[JasonB]

Very nice!

 

[housecarl]

Very nice!

Indeed.
Carl.

 

[Dr Force]

Jason & Carl thank you for your comments.

I have added detail to the cupola tonight and I noticed on this particular Tiger that it had 2 C Hooks, one positioned between the Hatch & Vent and one at the back near where the tool box was.

So sorted the front one but need to add the wing nuts for final touch of detail (scratch built)

 

[Carlos69]

Just catching up ...great to see you progress on this...will paint up lovely !! Very nice attention to detail.

Watching closely

 

[Dr Force]

Just catching up ...great to see you progress on this...will paint up lovely !! Very nice attention to detail.

Watching closely

Hi Carl, nice to hear from you mate and thanks for showing an interest. Still a bloody ton to do (never mind the painting lol) but I'm getting there!!!

 

[Dr Force]

Well I now know the true meaning of patience!!!

Started to scratch build the clasps for the tools and hell its fiddly!!! All the tools will be painted seperately so the clasps will be fixed to the wood and then to the surface of the hull.

Any idea's for scratch built wing nuts lol!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[housecarl]

Brought to you with the magic of Google.http://shermantracks.com/catalog/german_nuts_bolts.html
Carl.

 

[Dr Force]

Thanks Carl but it's idea's for scratch building..................looks like Magicsculp is the way to go!!!!

Steady progress but apart from some hinge detail the tooling is pretty much there, the weekend will be around wheel placement and the rear of the hull:-

 

[kagemusha]

Hi Dave, what about 'litho printing plate' ? It's very easy to work with and easy to cut as it is thin ali. I have various thicknesses (benefit of being a printer). You are welcome to some if you want to try it. PM me if you think it would be useful to you.

Cheers

Ron

 

[Dr Force]

Thank you for your offer and suggestion Ron (you see, work does have it's use's!!)

I think I have cracked it and will post pics later.

Cheers
Dave

 

[Dr Force]

So the wing nut inspiration came from a visit to Dunelm and I saw these tiny little pieces of brass and I thought they looke just about right for the main body and then simply sculpt the wings lol!! I just need to fill in the holes with a thread.

x3 cleaning rods complete, just need to do the other 3 (using cocktail sticks)

 

[Barke02]

Hi Dave,

Great to see you at Figureworld the other day! And thankyou for the gift.....a pint is owed at Euromilitaire me thinks!

I've just been looking at images of '321'. What is it that is stashed on the track links at the front? Whatever it is it fits perfectly between the track teeth. An unditching beam?

Also you're probably aware of the gun travel lock on the rear hull. Are you going to scratch that too?

All the best,
Jon.