1:35 scale
By Keith Warrington
I wanted to build a Tiger 1, not to look like it was in a museum or had just come off the production line, but with a bit of character, to look’ busy’ and to tell a story to the viewer. Having looked through some photos in various Tiger reference books I could see that some of the Tigers were a real mess after spending time in the field. It was also a good opportunity to try out some weathering techniques which I had only read or been told about.
The scenario set, Spring, Russia 43, crew at rest waiting for re-supply. I used the Tamiya Tiger I Initial Production kit which I had purchased from under the table at a model show, tip: check these type of kits before you go home., I found later that some wheels were missing hence the tan coloured ones you can see in the picture kindly donated by a friend.
More parts were required like additional crew, etch tow bar brackets, as the cable on one side was going to be shown not stowed, etch engine grills, metal tow cable, stowage and metal tracks, although these are expensive they look good and sag just right.
Fairly uneventful build, Tamiya kits go together so well. For the damage to the stowage bin on the back of the turret and the exhaust shroud I carefully grinded away some plastic on the inside until it was very thin. The holes can then be easily made with a knife blade. Location holes on the deck where the kit part for the tow cable should have been were filled with plastic rod, cut off and sanded down.
After setting out where the parts would go I decided to paint the crew first which meant that the oil paints used on the faces would dry by the time I finished the Tiger. Crew uniforms were painted using Vallego Panzer Aces range.