Tiger I Ausf. H (Revell 1:72)

Thomas K.
Yes, a very good track-Link Model-Kit! i like this kit. The Dragon DS track is awful! I hate Vinyl tracks! 😉

Tom
Thanks Thomas, that makes me feel better 🙂 I just need some Steve Austin bionic eyes and steady hands 😄

Dave Flitton
Keep us updated, I would like to see this one built!

Tom
Will do Dave. Going to do it by the book, with the all over "Africa brown matt" scheme.

Tom
Some progress on my Tiger I 1:72. Hull went together well, although I left some gaps at the front by mistake, so needed some filling. The turret halves did not go together well - I think this was more than just my inexperience, the halves just didn't seem to match, the pin and recess at front and back barely registered while dry fitting. Also the recesses for the turret lugs were huge and visible in some turret positions, so tried to fill them with a bit of pla-plate. Bored out the gun barrel too. I filled the holes for track links on the side of the turret, going to put links on the front around the MG and driver's port (per some reference images for Tiger 712, which is one of the decal sets). Just received some aftermarket towing cables and PE fenders.

Stefan Schacht
nice start, I take a seat

Tom
Thanks Stefan 👍 I really like your Pz IV from Revell, any advice you have along the way will be gratefully received. I don't really have a plan for the tracks yet (first time for me). I see a lot of mates here building out the tracks on the vehicle it seems, and then being able to remove the tracks from wheels/hull for painting... I think I have a lot of research to do 🙂

Bart Goesaert
idd a nice start. With regards to the tracklinks. not really that hard imho. Start with the sprocket wheel (with teeth) and one single link. align this one good (check with the end of the longer parts for alignment), that makes it more easy to make the first bend with the teeth as guides. Then attach the roadwheels with blutack, prittbuddy or the like) and work the lower part. It's fairly easy to make the parts bent as to show these having weight. Cut slightly between the tracks and bend them between the fingers. that way you don't have a round part but a multi-angle bend. Stop after the larger section going up to the tension wheel. Then attach the large upper section in the same way. lastly fill up the remaining gap with the single links. That way you can even the spacing or reduce the links a bit to make it all fit...

Tom
Thanks for the detailed info, Bart! 👍 I will give it a go. Kind of apprehensive, kind of looking forward to the first attempt 🙂

Bart Goesaert
Try painting the wheels first, or that will be hard later on. Just in case things get glued together

Tom
Thanks Bart, was just wondering about that 🙂 So I should then use cyanoacrylate to build the track links onto the wheels rather than styrene cement?

Bart Goesaert
Tamiya extra thin will do and work nicer, just scrape the paint away locally.

Tom
Got it, thx! 👍

Günther Decock
Mooi project, Tom

Tom
Thanks Günther! Hope to have more progress to show at the weekend.

Tom
A small update on my Tiger I: did a dry run of how to go about the wheels and tracks, thanks to your advice Bart 👍 The interleaved wheels had me stumped, but I think I have worked it out - going to proceed with just the two inner sets to begin with.

Jac Fleming
About the tracks, I use the pigments of CVS they quite good, you can get them here in Thailand.

Tom
Thanks Jack, I see Model-HQ has them 👍

Tom
Finally got the tracks built. My first time ever doing this 🙂 A journey of discovery: wtf...? aha... wtf...? aha... and so on. A challenge to get nice curves out of these flat segments, but satisfying to get them done. Some errors along the way, but I think the worst ones will be hidden.

Günther Decock
Tom, ziet er goed uit. En wat de tracks betreft super. Ik heb ook elke keer in de loop van een nieuw project ook van die lastige momenten, maar als het resultaat redelijk is zijn we blij 🙂

Tom
Thanks Günther! You're right, overcoming the challenges is a source of joy 🙂 Next challenge for me on this one: build and fit PE fenders.

Günther Decock
I think you will know when you working with PE parts sand a little bit the back of the PE part for a better grip or you can use PE burnishing fluid to darken the parts.

Zsolt Czegle
Great! Following!

Spanjaard
Looking good

Tom
Thanks Günther, I didn't know about burnishing, I will try and get some on order 👍 My plan is to deform the fenders according to the available reference photos of Tiger 712.

Tom
Hi Zsolt and Spanjaard, thanks for looking in 👍

Tom
6 months later, finally made some progress over the holidays.

Bart Goesaert
Looking good. How was the PE-work?

Tom
Thanks Bart. I got about 20% of it on in the end. I attempted more, but things like hatch and access panel handles never stood a chance with me at 1/72 scale. The rear track guards and the driving light assembly were just way above my skill level, so I let them go. I got the front and side guards/fenders on, but again, I am just not skilled enough at the moment to apply some of the dents, bends and damage that I had hoped to copy from reference photos of 712. I am happy with where it is though, it was definitely a learning curve.

Bart Goesaert
True. To bad you live in Thailand. Bit far to come over and show some things. But with the rest of the PE you can use as training material then 😉

Tom
Hi Bart - yeah, I do miss the contact with mates, but Thailand is ok 🙂 Thanks for your help so far, great that we have this site. Yep, I will do some practice runs with the rest of the PE 👍

Günther Decock
Hi Tom, all ready a nice job with the Tiger. I had also problems in handling PE in the past due their fragility En also because it's so little. But practice will help a lot. Like all aspects in our hobby. Keep up the good work. 🙂

Tom
Thanks Günther 👍 Yes, I have recalibrated my expectations of using PE 🙂

Tini Hendriks
Very very nice, Tom??.
You have to have the patience of an angel, as we would say here, handling such a small details. About the tracks, lol, I had metal links for the first time, same issues in 1/35. When I see your result, I consider to built something in in such a small scale too.

Tom
Tini, I think I have settled on 1:48 - a nice scale at a good price, big enough for some nice detail (I have a Hobby Link T34 with full interior at 1:48 - it is going to take me years to get around to that one!) The Tamiya Military Miniatures in 1:48 is a nice series that is keeping me busy now. But then I see Fujimi 1:76 kits for sale on a website for a very cheap price and my hand/fingers click the mouse without any brain interaction 😄
twitter.com/writ3r77../1375335802146676737
You have some great builds, Tini, your AMX 13/105 is fantastic 👍

Tini Hendriks
Thanks, Tom. I think about 1/48 too, but it feels a bit like betrayal, lol, leaving the 35 scene?.

Lol, trigger happy with your mouse. So true

Tom
Done

Bruce Huxtable
And a superb result it is too! I missed your earlier posts but am glad to see your kit's full story. I am inspired to give link and length one more try.....

Tom
Thanks Bruce 👍 Definitely give it a go, once you get the knack is becomes less frustrating 🙂 I think there are some good hacks, such as using tape to keep everything steady as you work your way around, probably some Youtube vids might be useful 👍

Bruce Huxtable
Thanks for your tips,Tom.

Tini Hendriks
Another beauty!

Tom
Thx Tini, just clearing my backlog of unfinished kits before an order of 1:35 Shermans arrives 😄

Rui S
Nice 👍

Stefan Schacht
well done 👍

Tom
Thx Rui and Stefan 👍

Neuling
Very good small scale build!

Tom
Thx Neuling 👍 It works ok if you look too closely 🙂