I'd like to hear from my fellow tankers who have built there own tanks on what is the best way to detail a tank. I'm going to start on a King Tiger this weekend and have a few questions.
1) did you paint the main parts of the tank before assembling it, or did you complete the build then paint the shell?
2) did you place beartings in the road wheels if you bought a KT? I've looked for bearing kits and did not see any for this tank, but did see sets for the other tanks (Sherman, Pershing, Leopard)
3) forgive my ignorance but what is Zimmerit? how is it applied, and detailed?

Zimmerit is an anti magnetic mine coating,applied to vertical surfaces of the tank, you should have 'stick on' zimmerit sheets with your kit, or you can make your own with various modelling 'pastes' or forget the zimm coating altogether.
Bearings , can't help, but mine works fine without.
It's a good idea to at least prime the metal parts before assembly.
Hope this helps some.

Here's a pic of one of my KT's...no zimm.

Is there bushings in the wheels? is it worth the extra $$ to put bearings? I realize its not about speed , but I figure while I have to build it I could throw some in, but then again that would ax any puddle, I mean river crossings

Hey Nev, You shld weather your TBU to match the rest fo teh tank, its now sticking out like a sore thumb whenyou have weathered teh rest of the tank so nicely.

I don't have a Tamiya Tank but this site shows someone building and painting a Tamiya Tiger I 1/35 tank: http://www.naritafamily.com/howto/Ti...hoto_frame.htm
Hope this helps.

Pzjgr

This link is just what the doctor ordered:

http://www.naritafamily.com/howto/ki...hoto_frame.htm

It is not mine, but it is an excellent reference with lots of good pictures and descriptions.

Good Luck!
Jason

Yeah, I got my Battle Systems mixed up, that TBS is for my Tiger which is painted dark yellow (XF60) while the KT is a base of Desert Yellow (XF 59) with a brown enamel wash then drybrushed metallic grey.

If you want to see great painting and detailing, check out the DAK Tiger 1 done by my club member Craig Pierce. It is the best detailed Full Option Tiger I have seen since Andrew Dextras superdetailed one for an Iwata airbrush company add.

www.desertarmor.com

If you want advice on detailing, come to the Phoenix IPMS club meeting next month and meet some of the modelers who can show you any technique you want.

Ethan

Ooops. the last part of the previous post was meant for Pzjgr. I realize it is a long commute from Florida for a meeting in PHX

That is a very impressive Tiger 1 tank! I wish I was able to travel to all of the battlefields around the country to witness some of them first hand, but thank you for making the tanks available through your fantastic site! [sm=thumbup.gif]

Jason

What day next month edoubleaz? With the Compatible TBU coming out next month maybe I can bring my HL Tanks.

Pzjgr

Hi,

Zemmerit was only used till the end of 1944 ...

[link=http://www.rc-panzerketten-forum.com/wbb2/thread.php?threadid=304]This[/link] and [link=http://www.rc-panzerketten-forum.com/wbb2/thread.php?threadid=3976]this[/link] are very interesting building reviwes of Tiger II ... more you can see [link=http://www.rc-panzerketten-forum.com/wbb2/board.php?boardid=39]here[/link] or also [link=http://www.razyboard.com/system/forum-heng_long_panzer_forum-tigeriiauchkoenigstigergenannt-1451507.html]here[/link] .

If you want to have a scale model you have to correct the Tamiya faults ... use [link=http://www.axels-modellbau-shop.de/katalog/index.php?language=en]these parts[/link]

Have fun !

Greetings

I guess it depends on what KT. I have the Porsche version and zimmerit is almost a must. I did mine with Tamiya putty and a screw driver. I don't recommend it. A fellow Tanker (thanks Mike) told me use an old spur gear from one of your rc cars, place a long metal screw through it, wait for the putty to get tacky and then roll the gear up and down on the zimmerit FINISHED!I primered the whole tank first, without the tools etc.....painted the tools........put them on the tank..........then camo, weathering etc.

This is a great topic and just the right time. I am just about ready to start the build of my King Tiger and all this great info and links are a great wealth of info. I just wish knew a few more languages so I could read some of the stuff on a few of the links.

As soon as I get started on my build I will be starting a thread for the build ( with pictures ). I just have to get a RC airplane I am finishing for a fellow flyer of my work bench. Paying jobs get on the work bench first so my KT build had to be held up for a week or so.[X(]



Wayne Reid
Ontario,Canada

Nice tank!

All parts that can be attached and painted the same color I glued on first. For those parts that couldn't, I painted them first then glued on. The only problem with that is if you paint over the part that needs glueing, the glue adheres to the paint and not the plastic. You must tape off those parts and or scrape off the paint before glueing. On my King Tiger I used the Zimmermit that came with the tank, but I think it was not accurate enough. If you do plan on putting on the Zimm, look for some other Zimm offered on the Web. Maybe a better Zimm.
I used an air brush on both. I used a Medium tip for the King, wish I used a fine tip to get more of a crisp line with the camo. I used strickly Tamiya paint for the air brush. It was 1 part Tamiya and 1 part Lacquer. Paint thinner will not work.
I used 2 coats of german gray for the base coat and 2 of the dark yellow, dark green and brown for the camo. To get a scrapped look or chipping, tear off tiny pieces of tape and paint over, then peal off. Or you can scrap off the paint exposing the german gray with a dull knife by lightly scapping.
For glueing, I used super glue. Here is my reasoning with that. If you use model glue or CA glue it adheres to the plastic. It forms a better bond but if for some reason you make a mistake or want to remove parts, the glue eats at the plasic since it bonds the two plastic pieces leaving a nasty scar. Using super glue does not leave a nasty scar if you make a mistake or remove parts. You can easily scrape off the dried super glue.
If you want to make a whethered tank you can bend parts or melt them. I had used a weathering system made by Bragdon.
There really is no right or wrong way of putting one together, as long as you have fun doing it. Don't get upset if you make a mistake, we all have. If it happens, make it look like a battle scar. I've made many mistakes! If you need help, just post. Everyone is very helpful here.

I have used wall plaster on 1/35 tanks and a comb and it works well. Great to chip off and expose the base coat. I mixed in black paint to get a gray color in the wall plaster. Looked good to me.
No bearings on the King. Besides, the squeekyness adds some realism.