Tamiya Scale Model - German Tiger I Tank- Early version (Kit# 35216)
Of all scale model kits producers of the world, Tamiya model kits are still in the forefront of innovation and subjects. This is especially so, for WWII german army subjects. I have built most of the motorised models of german tanks during my younger self; such as the Panther, Tiger I and Jadgtiger. Most were either unpainted or brush painted. The most memorable early models made in the 80s was the motorised model released of the Tiger I tank from 1970s with very bad figures by today's standards. These have now gone with the wind and ended as scraps parts.
My Collections of reasonably priced Tamiya Tiger I included, 2 x SturmTiger; 1 x Steel wheel Late version Tiger I and this Early version Tiger I (Kit number 35216). Nostalgia led me to start kit 35216, First, was the construction of the Tiger fearsome 8.8cm KwK36 L/56 turned gun barrel from Aber. The set includes turned aluminium, brass and PE parts. A small counter fishing lead weight was added to bottom of the breech block to balance the weight of the barrel. Other add-ons included some Aluminum foil as canvas covers. these shaped easily and is held in place with super glue. An alternate to using foil is to us roll up and flaten some two-part putty from tamiya and lay over the required area.
Metal barrel and foil in place
The construction of the model kit was pretty much OOB. (Out of the Box) or so i thought. One thing led to the other with the need for more details. Some torsion and frame details were made (photo 1). This was followed by turret details using evergreen plastic. (Photos 2~4).
photo 1
photo 2
photo 3
photo 4
A mix of Tamiya acrylics and Vallejo colours was used to create the three-tone pattern. Raised areas were then painted with lighter tones green, browns, white+ buff+ dark yellow to modulate colours. Detailed parts were individually painted and then chipped with sponge to show some rough use in the field. (Photo 5~7) using Vallejo colours.
Photo 5
Photo 6
Photo 7
Photo 8
This was allow to dried before two coats of clear before working with artist oils on the scale model kit. The top surfaces received dry ground colours along edges and engine areas where mud and dust can collect. (photo 8). The same treatment was done on the turret horizontal surfaces but will less intensity. The spockets, idlers and road wheels received light coat of dust colours and then excess removed by stroking outwardly with a damp round brush damped with thinner. The tracks of this kit was the tradition rubber band type that can be contacted by glue adhesive and not by melting the pins with some heated nail. Details on the tracks are quite good. The tracks were coloured first before gluing them together. A coat of red brown was used before using various brown tones mixed with small amounts of steel colour applied randomly on the tracks. Using Vallejo Model Air in Yellow and Rust. The watery paint was touched randomly on the tracks to further create a rusted characteristic on the track. Finally, enamel steel was drybrushed to highlight bare metal finishes.
Photo 9 shows a mixed of standard and late version steel wheels.
The end result was an easy and uncomplicated built with the emphasis on colour application, modulation, pin washing, weathering effects and stains to produce a satisfying experience building the legendary Tiger I heavy tank of the German Army. Thank you Tamiya!
Tiger I heavy tank -Top Left view
Tiger I heavy tank - Top Right view
Tiger I heavy tank - Side view
Tiger I heavy tank - Three-quarter view
I will leaved you with the roar of Tiger '131' from Dorset England until the next post.
The world's only operational Tiger I tank is Tiger 131, which is preserved at The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset, England:
As a scale modeller, this stage of using oils to create faded surfaces, dirt and streaks are the most fun. Using just oils alone can account for most of the weathering effects on a scale model kit. There is not limit to how one can weathered their scale model. However, as a hobby, i do find weathering needs to be balance. Currently, scale modellers are spoiled for choices with oil paints. Abteilung 502 offers a range of oil paints in military and weathering colours, saving time if you are not keen to mixing your own color palette. The other make is AK interactive weathering Products with their range of AK Oilbrushers
Now it's time to use artist oils and it's opacity and transparency properties to create simulated effects of grime, oils, shadows, streaks, rust, mud on to the model. Artist oils are classes of paint with high pigment content, which results in rich, vibrant colors. Suspended in linseed oil medium, they have long drying time which allows artist to continue adjusting colours, tones and texture on canvases which makes them the number one choice of paint for artist. Due to the high pigment load, a small amount of oil paints goes a long way and due to the oil medium, the paint usually dries glossy. Good brand of Artist oils includes Winsor & Newton and Gamblin are good starter with their rich colours. To begin weathering your scale model kit, you would need a
10 x 10 cm cardboard with your choice of colours. The use of the cardboard is to absorb the oil medium from the paint. Allow up to 30 minutes for the oils to be drawn out as this would make the paint pigments dried matt instead of glossy.
Weathering or fading horizontal surfaces- using Artist oils transparency properties to glaze over the horizontal surface, to create variations of faded or weathered surfaces
For fading look (example: faded paint over dark green base colour.)
Wet the work surface with odourless thinner for artist oil using a round bristle brush of reasonable size. Allow to dry for 30~60 seconds
Use a toothpick to apply dots of white, yelllow and dark green over the wetted work surface.
Wet the same round bristle brush with very small amounts of thinner and ever so gently dab on to the dotted colours at random to "mix the dots into a light shade of green".
Varied the glazed colour by varying dabbing pressure and timing strokes on the work area. You will notice, heavier pressure will deposit more glaze BUT would also licked up if left to long on the work surface. Continue this until a satisfactory look is achieved.
Move to another work area whlist letting the first section dry.
Allow weathered surfaces to dried completely. Artist oils takes over 24 hours to completely dry of the weather is wet or humid. By wetting brush with thinner, sections can be re-work if required.
Streaking on vertical surfaces for rust stains, grime and mud
For streaking onvertical surfaces, the approach is similar.
Wet the work surface with odourless thinner for artist oil using a round bristle brush of reasonable size. Allow to dry for 30~60 seconds
Use a toothpick to apply dots of random warm or cool colours on the work area.
Use a damped flat brush to pull from the top, vertically down in one direction.
Offload excess paint from flt brush onto papertowel, re-wet flat brush with thinner.
Continue technique removing excess paint to achieve desired streaked effect.
Note of Warm and Cool Colour
The same dirt would look different in different regions of the world. In a arid climate i.e. middle east. The same brown dirt would have more white and yellow components making the dirt show in light brown (hence warm colours) The same dirt in Northern Europe will have more hues of umber, blue and red for cool colours. Depending on the context of the model kit, use appropiate warm or cool tones to fade or weather the model kit.
Top horizontal surfaces using a combintaion of white, burnt sienna, raw umber, yellow Artist Oils.
Top and vertical surfaces completed.
Vertical Streaks on the frontal slope of the Hull.
Vertical surfaces Streaks of using dot technique
Vertical Streaks of using dot technique
Application of oils ( Circle in Red)
The top photo stated 85% completed. Usually, after the oils have dried. most modellers will proceed to fix pigments of bottled mud and powder pigments. I, for one is not a huge fan of afixing pigments as they are rather messy. If mud is to be created, the method used is a mixture of pastel power mixed with oil paint colour to give a rich and texture.
Here more shots of the completed Italeri's 1/35 scale German BergePanther .
See you in the Next Post where we look at Model Collect- "Fist of War" E-60 Paper Panzer!
