I have started tearing down and modifying the Tiger I purchased from Sownare. It runs great, so time for a bit of customization. I am modelling a Tiger of the 9th SS "Hohenstaufen" division, early 1943.

I opted to start with the turret. My research indicates a great variety of variation on how Tigers were equipped, included some without smoke dischargers. I opted to go without them on my tank and filled the mounting holes. I also rotated the commanders cupola to the proper position and added slits in the vision ports on the side of the turret. I also flipped the mantlet, removed the led lights and filled the extra hole. I decided not to lengthen the barrel as I dont want to lose the strength of the original peice, should I hit something during forays into the dirt. As long as I was on a roll, I fabricated conduits for the headlights out of brass....

In the background can be seen the painted and weathered tracks and tow cables.


I also moved the antenna mount and filled the original hole.


I am opting to model my tank with the tread cable (the one on the side of the hull) missing, so I patched the mounting holes for it and will fabricate new cable hangers from brass.

Having basically finished the modification to the turret, I decided to painted it with the base color of Tamiya xf-60 lightened with white to give it a slight sun bleached appearence and lay on my camo pattern. Better to decide I dont like it with only the turret painted, rather then the whole tank...



I am content with the result and will post more and better pictures as I progress...

Arachna

After alot of paint and some serious air brush clean up, I have a base coat on the tank and a reddish brown camo pattern laid down.
On the chassis below the skirts, I used the base Tamiya xf-60 darkened with some dark brown to add depth. The treads were weathered and installed after adding an extra link to each side for some sag and I am pleased to say everything still works..I was afraid I would break something with the full disassembly.


The rather obvious bulbs of the headlights bothered me. Rather then buy or fabricate slotted covers for them, I masked a very thin stripe in the middle of the bulbs and then handpainted them silver to block the lights. I then sprayed them with the rest of the tank, leaving a lit stripe when the tape was removed. Now time to paint details, put down markings and weather the beast..

can not see the picture.

Same here. Cannot see the pictures on my end...

[&o]

-Harq


EDIT: Nice work! Cannot wait to see further progress.

Sorry guys, I think that should fix it...

Looks good, very realistic.

Sharp...

Dennis

I like the way you 'repainted' the frontlight. Very innovative, and looks very realistic too. Good job!

Well gang, here is the completed tank, with markings and weathering.

I tend to, as I did in this case, use only dry transfers when I can. I like to avoid the decal sheen. Although the numbers are a tad small, I have seen examples (in pictures) of Tigers with smallish numerals, so I took a bit of artistic liberty.

For weathering, I do dry brushing and then darken recesses with pastel chalks. I also use chalks for general grime and dirt streaks, as I did here. Dullcoat the whole thing and it lasts as well as paint. Any feedback on how she looks is appreciated, love it, hate it or otherwise

Very beautiful . . . especially the three-quarter view of the Tiger. Lot's of star power there!! I like the understated camo pattern. Frequently, camo can be a bit overdone and hide the overall lines of a tank. Perhaps, down the road, you may consider spraying the tracks with some brown paint and spray dark gray to the muzzel and exhausts. I love it!! Fee free to send it back you me whenever you want!!

will copy your headlight stripped painting ,good idea !
[>:]

By all means, help yourself. I am glad my little experiment with the lights worked and you guys like it.

My only advise would be use a heavy coat of silver or black after you mask it to block out the light. I had to go back and touch up a few thin spots, but it seems to work pretty well and looks good if I say so myself.