Tiger 1 by marktiedens - FINISHED - Dragon - 1/35 scale

[marktiedens]

This will be my first venture into plastic since my much younger days.  The kit contains parts for 3 versions & I will attempt to build the one depicted on the box cover.  Looking through the contents,it appears to be very finely detailed with little or no flash (742 parts!).   The tracks are made up of individual segments which are assembled around a form  before glueing.  It also includes some PE plus a few extras  - a couple of figures,spare ammo,jerry cans,ammo box,& some tools.  It is molded in a medium gray color which brings me to my first dilemma - the painting suggestions do not specify what shade of gray to paint the main body.  In fact,it doesn`t show the main tank body being painted at all.    Any suggestions are welcome!   I don`t expect to get it perfect,so something close would do fine.    I do have some Vallejo neutral gray & blue-gray paint.  The build will be a bit sporadic,as I`m also building a ship.   Just doing this as an occasional change of pace. 

 

 

 

 

Mark

[Old Collingwood]

This looks good  I'll  grab a chair.

 

OC.

[Egilman]

Mark, FS 36118, Gunship Grey, it's not Panzer Grey but it's close and does work well...

[Egilman]

Oh, I'm pulling up a chair also....

 

[jwvolz]

The Dragon armor kits are very nice. 

 

The color you want is German Panzer Grey. Most paint lines have it including Vallejo in the Air line. It faded as it aged, so it will depend upon how weathered you'd like it to be. 

[Canute]

A lot of info on Tiger kits, colors and references is here: https://www.cybermodeler.com/armor/pzkpfw6/pzkpfw6_all.shtml

[Egilman]

1 hour ago, jwvolz said:

The Dragon armor kits are very nice. 

 

The color you want is German Panzer Grey. Most paint lines have it including Vallejo in the Air line. It faded as it aged, so it will depend upon how weathered you'd like it to be. 

Used to have it in the Model Masters line also, until the model shops stopped selling it, Dunklegrau, RAL 7021 is another one that works just as well. And your right, depending on where it was painted and how long it was out in the elements there are almost a dozen different variations of what is called "Panzer Grey"

 

[CDW]

Great choice of kit for your plastic build, Mark. Beautiful model kit.

As for color, I highly recommend this Mr Color modulation set for your Tiger.

https://spraygunner.com/gsi-creos-mr-color-color-modulation-set-german-gray/

The set contains four jars of varying shades of gray along with a set of instructions on how to achieve the desired gray color modulation. Along with the paint, you'll need Mr Hobby 400 Leveling Thinner to reduce the paints. 

I said all that assuming you will be airbrushing your model. If you are using a brush, it's a whole different ball game.

[Egilman]

One more note, early in the War, Tiger Tanks came off the assembly line painted yellow, yeah, the same yellow that became desert yellow in the Africa Corp. The Grey tanks used early in russia were painted in the field... later in the war, they painted some gray out of the manufacturer, but that wasn't many.... They switched from dark grey base color to yellow brown around september 1940 in contemplation of the coming areas they knew they would be used. (Africa & the Russian Steppes)

[marktiedens]

Thanks guys for all your suggestions.  I will most likely not weather it.   I also haven`t decided to use a brush or dig out my old airbrush - a Badger 350.  Don`t really have a good air source.   I suppose I could use some canned air for this little project.     Mr. Color is probably out as my local hobby shop mostly only carries Vallejo,Model Master, & Alclad.   I don`t want to mail order anything if I don`t have to - much prefer to support my local brick & mortar store.

 

Mark

[jwvolz]

Given those paint choices, if you are going to hand  brush use Model Masters. I love Vallejo's "Air" line for the airbrush,  but the regular stuff just doesn't brush as nicely as MM. 

[Egilman]

7 minutes ago, jwvolz said:

Given those paint choices, if you are going to hand  brush use Model Masters. I love Vallejo's "Air" line for the airbrush,  but the regular stuff just doesn't brush as nicely as MM. 

I agree Joe, and Gunship Grey is very close to brand new Panzer Grey maybe a quarter shade on the dark side.

[ASAT]

I’m in! I’ve got a King Tiger waiting in the wings, or after the wings, so to speak....

[Egilman]

Given the light grey of the plastic, your going to want to primer it with Grey if you want to brush paint it with Model Masters... You'll have an easier time covering that way....

[marktiedens]

All great suggestions - thanks again.  I may get a couple of different paints & experiment a little.

 

Forgot to mention - they also carry Tamiya paint,which I really like.   They have a few misc.bottles of Floquil left,mostly RR colors.   I wish they had empty Tamiya bottles for sale - their lids really seal well.  I usually empty my Vallejo paints into spare Testors jars - not too crazy about their squeeze bottles.

 

The pictorial instructions are a little bit of a challenge - if I remember right the last plastic kit I built actually had written instructions & a LOT fewer parts.

 

 

Mark

[Edwardkenway]

Mind if I pull up a chair for this one?

[marktiedens]

All are welcome of course,although the popcorn may get a little stale at the speed I work at.

 

 

Mark

[popeye the sailor]

we have you now.............now you'll never get away!   joking....but I will warn you....they can be addicting.   between these two mediums,  paint is a bit more critical here,  since wood absorbs the excess paint,  and plastic doesn't.   it's better to do a couple of thin coats,  rather than 1 thick coat.......but I'm sure you know that.  one thing to keep in mind,  if your going to use those air cans for airbrushing,  is to put the can in a bowl of warm water.   prolonged spraying will cause icing.  I love tanks.........but I fear the admiral will think I've gone too far off the plank,  and pull back on the reins.......I've been pretty lucky with the planes    pleased to follow along  

[marktiedens]

Yup,as a kid I couldn`t get enough of plastic kits.  So I suppose besides being a shipaholic,I may be in danger of becoming a plasticaholic.  Way back,enamel was about all that was available,but with all the great acrylics now available, painting is less of a chore.  Mistakes are much easier to correct & no more messing with bad smelling thinners or waiting a week for the paint to dry.

 

Mark

[Egilman]

I know it's a matter of opinion, but I've never had any of the negative experiences others seem to have with enamels, all of my negative experiences have been with acryls and the tons of extra work needed to use them..... I mean it has gotten better over the last 30 years or so, but still, Acryls are more hassle than they are worth in my humble opinion.... 

At this point there are a lot of model builders that grew up on acryls and really have the same opinion of enamels as I the other way around..... so at this point I think it is even on the opinion department. as far as the health benefits of acryls over enamels healthwise? marketing hogwash....

 

Use normal care and proper techniques and neither is any worse than the other... the main issue today is mixing the two, that has caused many more problems than any other issue out there...

 

{stepping off soapbox, chuckle}

 

EG

[popeye the sailor]

I'm of the same mind........never used anything but enamels 

[marktiedens]

Looks like my experiment with the old airbrush won`t happen.  After dusting off the cobwebs I found I can`t get any airflow through it.  Tried taking it apart & cleaning it,but something seems to be plugging the air passage at the trigger - the one thing I can`t get apart.  The trigger plunger assembly looks like it`s pressed into the housing.   Even tried soaking it in lacquer thinner & acetone - still no go.  The paint passages are fine.   Had to laugh - the price tag is still on the case - $19.95.   I did find my old little compressor - at least it still works.

 

 

Mark

[Canute]

If you have an ultrasonic cleaner, put it in there and run it for a while. You'll be surprised at what may start oozing out.

[marktiedens]

I don`t have one of those cleaners,so considering what I originally paid for it no big loss.  Just don`t understand why the air passage is clogged - there was never any liquid run through it,only air.   Maybe corrosion from lack of use.    I may just go get one of those"bargain" ones - even they are better than rattle cans.

 

 

Mark

[lmagna]

Hi Mark

I am in no way anything close to an authority on air brushes, or for that matter anything related to airbrushing, but a little over a year ago I picked up an airbrush at my local hobby store for something like $30 (+-). It has a brick like air pump that is very quiet that seems to turn on and off at about 25-30 PSI. It has a little air bleed knob that is supposed to regulate air pressure but I have my doubts if it really works. I tend to run it at full pressure whenever I use it.  So far it has been able to do everything my limited skill level has demanded of it. I think the same thing is available on line for $40-$50. 

 

But as you already have a pump that you feel is adequate for your needs and I assume a hose, you could possibly get one of these and give it a try as well:

https://tcpglobal.com/collections/airbrushes-gravity-feed-master-airbrush/products/mas-g222-set

 

Mine does not have the interchangeable tips but I can see where that might be a useful feature if taken care of when switching. 

[marktiedens]

Thanks for that Lou - I am headed out to my local hobby shop shortly to pick up a few things & will see what they have.

 

 

Mark

[lmagna]

Your local hobby store is OPEN? You lucky stiff.

 

I have two local stores, three if you count Hobby Town from as close as two blocks away and as far as six or seven miles. MANY more if I want to drive further. NOT ONE is open right now! Probably a good thing as I tend to buy more than what I need when I do go in anyway.

[Baker]

A Tiger.

Need Info, shoot 

 

The "Bible" for every Tiger crew (In German)

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Waffen/Merkblatt/Die_Tigerfiebel_Handbuch_des_deutschen_Tiger_Panzers_.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

[Edwardkenway]

14 minutes ago, marktiedens said:

Thanks for that Lou - I am headed out to my local hobby shop shortly to pick up a few things & will see what they have.

 

 

Mark

 

2 minutes ago, lmagna said:

Your local hobby store is OPEN? You lucky stiff.

 

I have two local stores, three if you count Hobby Town from as close as two blocks away and as far as six or seven miles. MANY more if I want to drive further. NOT ONE is open right now! Probably a good thing as I tend to buy more than what I need when I do go in anyway.

Even without the current situation I would have at least 2 or 3 hours of driving to get to a proper model/hobby shop that stocks more than railway or basic materials 😟

[lmagna]

52 minutes ago, Edwardkenway said:

Even without the current situation I would have at least 2 or 3 hours of driving to get to a proper model/hobby shop that stocks more than railway or basic materials 😟

The one that is a couple of blocks away is just a small shop and is almost all RC cars now days. The other one across town is part of the Hobby Town USA chain. It has more variety and a larger stock base but seems to still cater to the RC car base, At least from the behind the counter assistance aspect of the store. In the same area is a Hobby Lobby that also has a small modeling section. Otherwise I have to go down into the Seattle area and when stores are open in normal times that is a no fun trip at any time of the day. Especially if you don't know if they will have what you want when you get there! It may only be 25 or 30 miles to several stores but it still takes several hours to do the round trip even at mid day outside of commute hours!