I thought there may be some interest in my latest project. Tiki. Now I am sure its been done before, but not by me.. I am starting a thread for two reasons. 1) So you guys can contribute advice and observations..help me get the Tank pretty close. 2) As a log of the progress.

Now I am not starting a fresh so I wont bore with all the basic stuff, I am not starting with a newly bought tank either as I am building this from parts alone, bits of old and aquired Tiger 1. She may not even be S+S to start with.

I have given myself a few challanges.

1) No bought in non standard detailing parts with exception of: Barrel extension, two metal fore hatches and decals. Everything alse must be done by me or non tank sources , I am only allowed second hand HL parts.
2) Realistic sound
3) Must cost under £50 --price of a non SS standard tank.


So I have got as far as the empty shell, this shell is from a non working Tiger and was smashed up badly, i have had to repair it extensively, viva miliput. I have begun all the usual changes and given her a base ( Dark Grey) Coat. The lower hull is sealed up and all switching will be 'off the bottom' so she will be good for 3 inches of submersion.

Couple so far type pics below.

Hi Martin

Good luck. I will follow your project, I think your criterias looks very interesting

Can you post some pictures of how you sealed the lower hull


regards
Steen

hallo Martin
Good luck with your project! Tiki is one of the all-times Tiger's fans favourites.
My 2p:

uhu were did you get those pictures.thanks bryan

Hi Bryan

The markings page comes from a .pdf I downloaded from:
http://www.backyardarmor.com/Elite%20Armor%20Decals.htm (scroll down to the bottom of the page)
I do not post the .pdf as it could be copyrighted, although you can freely download it.
The profile comes from my own archives, it has been collected in some search trough the www.....
Hope it helps you

Cheers uhu, I have those ( you gave me them before) you can see there is a slight difference between camo patterns, I am using the Right hand pic with the drawing attached as my guide.

Steen...I will post a pics of the lower hull when I ger home later.

Hallo Martin
My pics of Tiki:

This is one of my fav color schemes. Unfortunately, most people, including the pro's, can't seem to get the pattern right. It should be a fun and rewarding project. I wish you the best of luck.

Leave it with me



uhu those pics are great!, very helpfull, as RL points out that paint scheme isnt going to be easy, I will have to do a lot of experimenting.

Hi Martin
No, not an easy to reproduce camouflage scheme. I've never attempted to paint any of my Tigers in 1:35 beacuse of the difficult pattern of the camo. Maybe at 1:16 it becomes easier to apply by means of a small sponge and strokes of lightly charged brush???..... ehheeehe, I'll wait for your results to begin my Tiki
Here are three HL versions found in Panzerketten. Good attempts but I don't really like any of them...too much airbrush and a lot of mistakes (maybe I've become a little rivet-counter, aargh!!). Take a look at the different tools scheme!

mmm,, yes they are good, but all look too model like to me, a bit clean looking those paintjobs need weathering with rain marks and dirty paint etc. As for getting the yellow marking right, I am still thinking about it, sponges may be the way to go, but it will need to be a special cut sponge and a very dry paint mix, basically the paint needs to be 'rubbed' on.

Finally, do we know if the decks were marked like the sides???/ or where the decks and turrt top plain dark grey?? any idea? lets get this right eh!

thanks guy mr.martin good luck with your build ,i am still waiting on my tan super tiger to get here from mato ,i also won a ss pershing off of ebay for 40.00 so my tiger will have a playmate.

Its very early days yet but I have found a mehod of getting the right kind of effect, its not complete yet and of course the finishing will blend the two together better. But for now i think I am on the right track.

If you study the pattern the marks are quite deliberate, it changes from smoothish curves to cutting straight lines in places. It looks like there was some 'Dahli' type art going on. The key I think is to avoid even coverage, let the marks thin in places and no sharp edges at all. You have to imagine being the guy with the brush and slapping it on unevenly with whatever crude tools he had. It looks to me that it may have been done with rag or some crude spray type arrangment.

Upper Hull, I think we are getting there. Thats a rap for this evening, this is really painstaking work. [X(]

[X(][X(]
Fast as a grayhound! Wow!

Martin, your Tiki is looking very good. I did one a while ago. Here are some photos. I added the $200 Aber photetch set (not all of it but most of it).

mstorin, thats looks great. I see you, like I took poetic license on the 'other' side of the tank for the pattern, i was boring and just did a mirror image of the known side. The colour in my pics is all wrong, you lot will just have to trust me that she is actually the right colours. If I use the flash the glare back ruin the pics so its the best i can do.

Whats a Aber Phototech set?????

Awesome job on the Tiki[sm=thumbup.gif] Please pardon my ignorance , but is Tiki just the color scheme or does it mean something.
Thanks

I believe you can use the pattern in the left picture posted by uhu in Post #3 above for the 'other' side of the tank. I have yet to come across an actual photograph showing the left side of the tank.

Martin, the Aber photo-etch set (Aber is the company) is a set of photo-etched brass details for the kit. Includes fenders, mudflaps with working hinges, dozens of clasps and many other details. 19 brass sheets of details. It nearly drove me crazy. Much of it was just beyond my ability to use, much less see.

Rambeast, tiki was the name given the tank by it's crew. Tiki in the diminutive for Tiger.

I never could find a picture of the right side, so yes, I just made something up. Pius, based on photos, the turret storage bin is different from the one supplied with the kit, so I scratch built mine.here's a picture and a pic of one of the photo-etch sheets

Thanks! I really hated to ask and feel dumb, but sometimes a guy just has to know

Hi Mstorin

Very nice Tiki! Congratulations. Detail at mudguard damage level[sm=thumbup.gif][sm=thumbup.gif].....[:-][:-]
This sketch from a very interesting russian Tiger book shows the "Rommelkiste"(tower stowage bin) Tiki had

Wow, I got it pretty close just going on fuzzy photos. Wish I had had that drawing when I made it. Great info!

Well the storage bin will come in time. I think i have the base paint job done now, she can go to one side and wait for the deatiling and weathering whilst i sort out the lower hull.

I am still thinking bout the decks, maybe I will assume the 'poetic license' again and go with a similar shape to the sides but less of it.


This is all hand painted by the way, airbrushes are a no no. It looks rough now but when the detail goes on and the washes settle the contrast she should look right, its getting the definition right at this stage.

Looking great so far. However, the yellow blotch of paint right behind the word "Tiki" is slightly off, mate