1/16 Trumpeter 00906 King Tiger build.
Getting started!

 

box

After collecting data on Tigers for several years, this kit became important to me, firstly to get back into modeling after many years and secondly to be able to visualize things.

First of all, I would like to mention that this kit contains a lot of errors and in the following I will try to get a bit deeper into that. Because of the errors, some people may be scared off starting the build. "For that price trumpeter should have done better than that" is often heard. Well, I am sure that if they should do the model again, at least a lot of the errors would be corrected, but one should consider that they are the first doing a project like this. A company needs to make profit and I think that this kit is a good balance between quality and price.
If the choice would be between an extremely expensive kit, a kit with errors, or no kit at all, I think we may be glad they pulled it off. We can only hope that the kit proved to be a commercial success, leading to follow-ups, with less errors off course.

With only limited financial resources available and having obtained a very expensive kit, I knew that I was not there yet! Not having done any modeling in the past 30 years, I would have to start from scratch, which means having to start with a paint collection, getting an airbrush, learning to work with it and so on.
So, what follows here is a report on my humble efforts to make something out of a very difficult kit that is known to be way over beginners level.
This means that many beginner errors are likely to be made.

Soon, I realized that one of the first things to do was making a decision regarding the specific Tiger to be build. This is needed for the paint to be ordered and to adapt to changes made during production. Since I live near the Ardennes, one of the Tigers from that offensive it will be.

Paint choice
Paint seems to be a subject where just about anybody has a different opinion on what is to be used. With no recent experience at all, I had to start making decisions at once. Firstly I chose for acrylic paint and then after a search for colours needed and available brands, Vallejo was chosen.
This list may change in time when better / more colours turn up.
German name English name RAL code Vallejo code Vallejo name
  Glossy Blank - 510 Glossy Varnish
  Satin Finish - This is generally advised to use over German camouflage colours - 522 Satin Varnish
Weiss White 9010 951 White
Schwarz Black 9011 950 Black
Elfenbein Ivory 1001 976 Buff - Vallejo 918 "Sand Beige" is generally advised. Mr. Joseph Zrodlowski made a strong point for the 976 colour on the ML KT forum to which I fully agree to be the correct original colour. It should be noted however that on a model it might be advisable to use a somewhat lighter colour because of scale effect.
Graugrün Grey / Green 7008 880 Khaki Grey - To be used on German transmissions
Oxidrot Red Oxide primer 3009 982 Cavalry Brown - Basic anti rust coating
Olivgrün Olive Green 6003 890 Reflective Green - Ambush scheme
Dunkelgelb Dark Yellow 7028 882 Middle Stone - Ambush scheme and basic paint layer
Rotbraun / Schokoladenbraun Dark Brown 8017 872 Chocolate Brown - Ambush scheme
  Gun Metal Grey - 863 Gun Metal Grey
  Brass - 801 Brass

 

Tools
Though I already have a well equipped workshop, for work on this small scale some special stuff is needed.
01

The new Badger 105 patriot airbrush was chosen.
This is supposed to be a cost effective and reliable airbrush, suitable for both beginners and more experienced users.
After the first trials it became clear that a stand was needed for comfortable work, so I made this wooden block, which seems to fit my needs for now.
Strange that airbrush manufacturers don't provide a simple stand in the delivery box.

Should you want to contact me about this project: rob (at) panzer (remove this and join) basics (dot) com.