Tamiya 1/48 Tiger

[stillp]

This seems a fitting subject for the GB. It'll be OOB, which isn't how Simon would have built it, but he was a modeller, I just glue bits of plastic together!

I might have to try making some Zimmerit though, there's none on the kit parts although it is shown on the box art. We'll see how brave I feel when I get to that stage.
There are 6 sprues, with some nicely detailed parts:

I thought at first the silver cylinders in the last bag were batteries, but they're actually weights. According to the box, that will give the model "a realistically heavy feel".
Now, what can I do before Nov 1?
Pete

 

[Lee Drennen]

Pete. That’s a nice kit I build the Early Tiger and it fit nicely. Only thing I had trouble with was I wasn’t watching what I was doing when I put the wheels on. This was my first Tiger and I didn’t do my Homework on it but I got it right in the end. You will have fun with it

 

[Steve Jones]

I had a long chat with Simon once about the origins of Zimmerit. It was certainly made up of a lot of stuff. This is a great kit and I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes together. Does it have that slab of metal you put in the base on Tammys 1/48 stuff??

 

[stillp]

Steve, the Haynes manual for the Tiger has the recipe for the original Zimmerit, but I won't be using that!
There isn't a slab of metal, but 4 steel cylinders about the size of an AAA battery.
Pete

 

[Jim R]

Hi Pete
I am very fond of these 1/48 scale kits. There are many ways of making zimmerit. I've never done it but I have seen it done very well so good luck.
Jim

 

[stillp]

Well, I've had a try at representing zimmerit with various materials, without success. Zimm was supposed to be applied 6 mm thick, so in 1/48 it should be 0.125mm, about the thickness of thickish paper. I've tried PPP, PVA mixed with plaster, and Tippex as well as various paints, but it either won't stick, or won't hold the pattern.
Anyone have any suggestions before I chicken out and buy the Tamiya etch?
Pete

 

[Lee Drennen]

Do it Pete. Pull the trigger on the Tamiya at lease you will know it works.

 

[rtfoe]

Hi Pete, doing zimmerit is something Simon would have done so you're in it even if its OOB.
Try two part putty. Mix just little beads at a time and just paste in small sections, flatten with your fingers or roll with a moist tooth pick then using anything thats flat and thin and the right width to stab the zimmerit pattern working from top to bottom. You can do it.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[BattleshipBob]

Hi Pete

Have a look at nightshift on YT, excellent video on zimm

 

[adt70hk]

If you're in the UK I've had some success with scuffing up the base with sandpaper, coating it in a thin coat of No More Nails and then using a short piece of junior hacksaw blade (32 teeth per inch), so scribe the pattern. Make sure you leave it a good 24 hours or more to dry. As an FYI it seems to respond well to thin poly cement e.g TET.

Good luck.

Andrew

 

[Mini Me]

Hi Pete, like the others said, have a go with the Zimm. I did it in 1/87 scale with Tammy putty. I used the Tammy rake as it was finer than the finest hacksaw blade I could find.....with a bit of practice you should do fine. Rick H.

 

[scottie3158]

Pete,
Count me in mate.

 

[stillp]

I chickened out and ordered the Tammy zimm. I might have been able to make it in 1/35, but not in anything smaller.
Pete

 

[Lee Drennen]

I chickened out and ordered the Tammy zimm. I might have been able to make it in 1/35, but not in anything smaller.
Pete

Wise choice you will like this way better

 

[boatman]

HI Pete thats what i would have done as well an im following so keep up the good work as the tiger is my fave tank
chris

 

[Steve Jones]

Good luck with the PE. Should look pretty awesome once put on

 

[Jim R]

Hi Peter
I'm assuming that the Zimm you have ordered is PE. I have seen resin sheets as after market zimm. Not sure how that would work. It will be interesting to see how you get on.
Jim

 

[stillp]

I'm not sure if the Tamiya Zimm is PE, or something else - maybe stickers. We shall see...
The front drive sprockets and the idler wheels are held on with poly caps, so they're removable. I think this means that I can build up the track and wheel assemblies and then remove them for final painting, which will certainly make painting a lot easier.

I should've checked my paint stocks earlier - I wanted to use Tamiya paints, but I don't have any Dunkelgelb, and of course the shops are shut for lockdown. I'm too mean to pay for postage, so the dark yellow parts will be done with Vallejo. Actually according to the Haynes/Bovington book on the Tiger, the colours should be RAL 8000 Gelbbraun and RAL 7008 Graugrun, but I don't have either of those so I'm going to go with the scheme in the instructions. I'll need to mix up some paint for the tracks too. I think the last tracks I painted were done with a mixture of a metallic grey with some red-brown mixed in.
Anyway, here are the wheels dry-fitted:

Must have been great fun replacing an inner road wheel in the field!
There's some nice detail on the upper hull:

Hi Pete

Have a look at nightshift on YT, excellent video on zimm

Thanks Bob, he makes a good job of it using two-part Tamiya putty and Trumpeter tools, none of which I have! I might be able to make the roller from an old cig lighter wheel, but not the stamp. That Tamiya putty seems to have a good long working time, the fillers I've tried set too quickly.

Thanks for watching,
Pete

 

[Lee Drennen]

Pete. Nice updates I really like these 1/48 Tammy kits one reason they are more accurate than the old 1/35 ones

 

[JR]

Pete I shall join the gang. I used some filler for Zimn, even got the Trumpeter tools. Hard enough in 1/35, so think you've done the right thing buying the PE with that scale
Normally when I came on at this time (its just gone01:19) Simon was usually around and we'd be the only members on line , going to feel strange now .