Hey Brothers,

Almost have the King Tiger ready to roll with the working tank commander. Just a few more do-dads to add and then a nice three tone paint job and we're in business.

However I stumbled on a little trick that will sure come in handy. I'm having trouble these days keeping the ole hands steady. I found the once enjoyable task of painting the piping on my Tiger Commanders almost impossible. Then I had an idea.

I found the perfect shade of pink thread, and with a little (very little) contact cement I was able to get the piping done straight and in half the time it took to paint it.

You start with a bit of the contact cement which you can thin with mineral spirits, (not too thin) then with a small brush you apply it to the area you want the piping. Let it cure for about ten minutes. Then anchor one side ofthe thread to the area you want and hold with a pair of tweezers. Guide the thread as you gently push it into the cement. When you get to the end yoyu move your tweezers to the end you just finished and trim the end. Then push then end into the cement and let it cure.

Works great! For straight piping use some spray starch to give the thread some rigidity. then follow the above steps and Bingo.

I'll get some pictures as soon as I can get the camera back from my son.

Don

Sounds like a cool idea! Not only is it easier than painting, but then there would be actual cloth (of sorts) on the uniform which could be more realistic.

thats a great idea - thanks for sharing. Look forward to the pictures of the commander

Great idea Don. It never fails to amaze me as guys continue to come up with "New" ways of doing things.

Don, your body may be getting old but your mind remains sharp, get tip!

Get your camera back yet Don?
I have no idea what this piping is! lol

But, I'm sure it's a great idea! lol

hey don
looking good i got one of these for my planes and boat they are ready small you going to have to get a small 4g card but i thought you could fit it in ,rye http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1202545
http://cgi.ebay.com/Car-Key-Mini-Spy...97650251775200

Hi Don,
I hope you have fully recovered. Let me know is you still need that Tiger I coupola. The thread idea sounds great. I have found a paint brush too difficult for that piping also. I have had good luck using a soft plastic rod that was from a small paint brush. I trimed the tips to a various points. Fine, blunt, angle or pin point. I use a capilary action to get it on. Sometimes two coats are needed but is is very neat. For super fine details I use sewing needles and track pins to apply paints.
Bob, thecommandernj

Anna used a similar technique when she "piped" tunics and hats for her 1/6 custom figures. She'd take embroidery thread of the appropriate color, wipe it with a little "ZAP-A-DAP" CA and press it into place (using toothpicks and tweezers) around collars, capbands, etc. The stuff gave her plenty of "working time" and dried crystal clear without any shine.

(Only trouble was, she never learned to squeeze those ZAP tubes from the bottom!)

Very nice work on the commander figure just one thing there were no black peaked caps other than algemeine ss and early ss ones before the war started. they wore field grey peaked caps with their black panzer wrappers and field grey wrappers

Thanks Pzrwst for the info,
I did about a dozen of these H L commanders in several "flavors" to go with my custom H L Tiger 1 tanks I was selling. That was several years ago before I got bitten BIG TIME buy the Tamiya tank bug and found the Danville battlefield. I soon began buying research books and with color diagrams I made some Abteilung specific commanders. With my nickname at work being "The Commander" I had to make them look good......LOL. Here are some pix of another commander you can see how small he looks in the giant Jagdtiger. The Kubel driver is my boy Fritz. He knows layout of the Danville battlfield like the back of his hand. Try the the paint stick technique. I works for me.
Bob

Here are a few more pix. I really like painting the figures very much. But they are low priority to to getting tanks done! I really had a blast building ans selling the soldiers with the cameras built into them but I just don't have the time anymore..... Bob