Sd.Kfz.182 Tiger II - Pz.ABT.505 - HENSCHEL TURRET w/ZIMMERIT

Ingo F
Started my new and last project of this year. First i have to say that this kit is just freaking awesome. Many parts and spures. The details are crisp and the fit is perfect. You really need some space for this kit. Some of the steps require parts from 5-6 spures at once.
I spend already about 11 hours (4 yesterday and 7 today) on this one and its getting more and more fun. 🙂 Right now i am at step 12 from 75. 😮 Long way to go.
Next step will be driver seat, transmission and transmission housing and the walls from the motor room.

Ingo F
Thanks James. Yes, you will spend many hours on the interior. For example the driver seat alone made from 11 parts. For the motor you need 9 steps and 68 parts.😉

Rui S
I'm pulling a chair, some beer and enjoy your nice progress, Ingo 👍
May I ask why the 505 Pz.Abt.?

Ingo F
Welcome on board Rui. I am not sure myself why i have chosen this one. Maybe i just liked the big emblem on the side of the turret.😉
In the future i was planing to get three more of the Tiger II from Takom. After all its my all time favorite tank from WW2. I was planing to get one Henschel Turret without Zimmerit and two with Porsche Turrets with and without zimmerit.
For the Henschel one without Zimmerit i am already thinking of a small diorama playing in the Ardennes. But this one is far in the future first of all i need some experience with diorama building and figure painting. 😄

Dan M
Great start Ingo! The kit looks awesome so now I think I might get one in the future.

Urban Gardini
This is a build that I really want to follow! I've got the very same kit myself and it sure looks lovely in the box. The escape hatch release wheel is a tad too much I'd say but the molded on zimmerit really looks the part on this kit!

Ingo F
Welcome on board Urban Gardini. Take a seat grab something to drink and enjoy. 😄

Ingo F
Next batch of pictures for you guys. Build the driver seat, transmission housing, radio and the firewall. The radio needs some filling and sanding. I already sprayed the firewall and the inside walls with interior color.

Fabian D.
Nice progress. 👍

Joerg R.
Ok, I lay back, take a beer and watch your show 😉😉😉

Ingo F
Thank you Fabian and welcome on board Joerg.😉

Ingo F
I finally finished the engine. Damn, i have seen kits that had less parts and building steps for the whole model. 😄 Its a kit in a kit. 🙂

Ingo F
Thank you James. Yeah that really a shame that is not gona be visible. 🙁

Dan M
What I would do if I were to build a kit with interior is not actually glue the roof side on. I would maybe make some alterations (if needed) so the whole thing can stay on top but it can also be easily removed and the interior inspected. You can also try to think of different items inside (like the engine for example) as separate modules and not glue them in, just make sure they're temporarily hold in place so you can extract them afterwards whenever you feel like inspecting the interior 🙂
I did this with the Pershing, the whole upper hull can be removed, the engine parts are not glued in and can be taken out. My Academy M113 (sorry, don't have pictures for that yet as it was finished a long time ago before scalemates) also has the upper roof that can be detached so you can see the troop transport compartment and the driver's place. And the engine can be detached as well.
Hope this gives you some ideas 🙂

Moritz Fentzahn
Nice progress and a clean build so far. 👍 Count me in

Holger Kranich
Oh cool, what a build! Jörg pass me a beer please!

Kees Kleijwegt
Front row seat please! Great project

Rui S
@ Dan, I agree with you. A model inside the model...

Ingo F
Thank you guys for your comments and welcome to the show. 😄
@ Dan, thank you for your suggestions. I aready consider something like this, even thought to build it the way Andy from Andy's Hobby Headquarters build his King Tiger: Youtube Video
I think i build this one completely closed. In the future i am going for another 3 King Tigers from Takom. One of them will be build open so that you can see the inside. Maybe i will add an crew inside the tank. 🙂

Spanjaard
a king by the king... how did i miss this one before?

Thomas Mayer
What drinks are left?
Ingo, I have another of those KT´s in the stash. Good I found this build here! Will follow with lots of interest!

Ingo F
Hey you two, welcome on board. Unfortunately there are no drinks left. Only water. Need to refill tomorrow. 😄
Instead of a drink here a batch of new pictures for you. I did the detail painting on the fiewall and interrior. Radio and the boxes were drybrushed with middle grey. I was thinking to do the same with the engine.
Are this pictures ok for you guys or do you want to see more detailed pictures for each building step?

Ingo F
Thank you James for your kind words. Yes i am going to chip and dirty the inside of the tank. I am planing to build the whole interior first, put a layer of varnish and do the weathering.

Thomas Mayer
You really get all the detail out here!

Ingo F
Not much to show you guys. Just a few parts that i build and already painted with red oxide.

Ingo F
Here some pictures of todays building progress. I am not sure what happens but the engine room is messed up a little bit. The walls on both sides of the engine should be straight but they are not they are slight divergent. I have removed the engine and the walls but everything looks alright. I thought maybe i glued them the wrong way. Nope. There is only one way to glue them to the firewall. I am not sure if i messed up at the beginning of the build or the lower hull was a little bit off.
I think i did something wrong while gluing the long parts for the suspension. You can see them on picture 4.
The good news is that everything is alright if the upper hull is added. There should be no issues in the further build.
I definitely not going to build this model open. The next one will be. 😄

Spanjaard
pitty all the interior hidden from view.....

Ingo F
Thanks James. 🙂 Yeah it was fast build until now. Tomorrow i am back to the office. The building speed will decrease slightly as i have only few hours after work for the hobby. 🙁

Thomas Mayer
Picture 65: looks as if the bottom floor of the hull is slightly bend inwards, causing the engine bay walls to misalign. But this also could be the camera angle. Will check my kit on this.

Ingo F
A little update on this one. Build the ammo racks and ammunition.

Spanjaard
i agree with Thomas that there is something strange in picture 65. from my point of view, the axis in the right side seems longer than in the left side. i mean the axis that goes into the outer wall (sorry for lack of correct terms). looking at the youtube review, it kinda look like the walls are also not straight there, so it may be possible that you have done everything correctly

Ingo F
Interrior is finally finished. I already put a layer of varnish on it. After it dry i will add some pin wash and chipping.. As you can see i have started with the upper hull.

Ingo F
The most annoying part is that you pay a high price for this kit but there is no single piece of information about how many track links per side. 🙁

Thomas Mayer
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/thread/1280689598/92+the+number+of+track+links+for+a+King+Tiger

Thomas Mayer
92-94 should be fine. I usually use Friuls on my tank kits, so I can decide on the track link by trial and error.

Ingo F
Thank you Thomas.

Ingo F
I went with 94 links per side. Took me some hours to remove the ejection pins from each track links but finished both tracks today. Next part will be the turret.

Thomas Mayer
There is an awesome build of a Takom KT on "The Modelling News" today! themodellingnews.com..henschel-turret.html

Urban Gardini
Lovely build there by Andy Moore!

Ingo F
Thank you James. After this one is finished i will take a long break from models with interior. 😄
I think i will continue my T-72 family. 🙂

Norbert Steffens
Nice build. Do you want to do a weathering of the interior? By the way my hull is also bended!!!

Ingo F
Thank you Norbert. Glad (or not) to hear that i am not the only one with a bended lower hull.
I have already done some weatherin on interior and only in the area that will be visible when i remove the turret.
A complete weathering will be done on one of the next King Tigers that i am planing to build and let it open.

Ingo F
Finally closed the hull. Took me nearly an hour to do this. I had some difficulties because of the bend hull therefor i had to remove the engine and the fuel tanks. There are still some gaps at the front and back that i need to fill.

Norbert Steffens
This sounds awful. If I ever start tho build the Takom Tiger I'll try to shape the lower hull in hot water before completing. Hold on Ingo.....

Thomas Mayer
Wow! Like it!

Ingo F
Thank you guys.

Ingo F
Finished all the building steps today. The turret interrior and the gun were painted with base color and are drying right now. After the detail paintig is done i will close the turret and start with the painting of the model.

Thomas Mayer
Nice job on bending the PE parts on the turret floor!

Dan M
That gun sure looks impressive 👍

Ingo F
Ha! Thank you James. My patience for this one is almost hitting the bottom. I am happy when i can close the turret and start painting and weathering the model. 😄

Jeff Owens
Looking real good, this is my next project, thanks for posting your wip, this will really help me out as I get started, does it build up pretty good

Roy McKenzie
Awesome work on a great kit. I just got mine and am so looking forward to building it. Look forward to more updates.

Ingo F
Thank you guys. I will add some new photos today evening. I will also add some information and hints that i noticed during the build.

Moritz Fentzahn
Really a nice build, you did a good Job on the interior. Thanks for your detailed build log, so I am prepared for the build of my Takom Kingtiger. I´m looking forward to the final paintjob on the outside. Keep on the good work 👍
Cheers

Ingo F
Thank you Moritz!

Sorry no pictures today but i will write down some information that will be helpfull when you guys gona build your own beast. Some of this advices are for if you gona paint the whole interior like i did.

Step 4: Be carefull while glueing the parts M1 and M12 to the hull. Please make sure that this parts are sitting straight and not leaning to the side. Or you gona have some problems later on.

Step 6: Do not glue the parts T16 (x2) to the hull yet. The parts are painted in a different color and it will be hard if you glue them and trying to paint them later on.

Step 10: Be carefull wit the PE part TP6. This one is very fragile and will break really fast. (Mine did 😄)

Step: 13: Do not glue the radio to the transmission housing as the radio will be painted in the different color. You also have to sand down some of the line on the housing or the radion wont fit.

Step 17: Clean all the part first and dryfit them together before you glue them.

Step 38: Do not glue the engine cover to the hull. Finish off step 39 first and then dryfit all three covers together.

Step 41: Its better to glue the parts N3 and N19 first and then part B12. Its easier to align part B12 if you glue the N parts first.

Step 45: First: do not glue part G2 to the hull. Its better to build the head light first, glue it to the hull and then add the part G2. I had to cut the part G2 as it was to long.

Step 45: Second: You have to glue the TPa-9 (x6) parts to the fenders. The holes are way to small to fit the PE part over the bolt of the fender. I used the tip of my hobby knife to make the holes bigger.

Step 46: There is no information about the count of the track links that are needed per side. Thomas Mayer helped me with this one. 👍 Thank you again! You can use 92 or 94 links. I used 94 for my build.

Step 52: Its better to dryfit the parts D10 from this step with the part D9 from step 56 and the turret together first. Then dryfit the clear parts.

Steps 60 and 61: Do not glue the finished builds to the parts R54 and R53. This part are painted in red oxide. Other parts are interior white.

Step 62 and 64: The parts U57, U70, U17 and U80 are assembled to one structure and painted in black.

Step 75: Do not try to bend the PE parts before you glue them to the frame. It is easier to glue them first, let them set for a few minutes and then you can easily bend them into the shape.

For the ammo racks. Its easier to paint them separate and assemble them later.

I like the paints form the AMMO MIG paint sets but i had some issues with the brass paint of this set. I think its better to use brass paint from another brand like Vallejo. I litterally had to build up the paint layer after layer. 🙁

Puh. I think thats it. 😄

I hope this information will help you guys.

Jeff Owens
Helps out a lot, definitely will use these tips as I build mine

THANK YOU

Norbert Steffens
Me too. and Ingo thanks for all the detailed informations

Ingo F
No problems guys. I will add some more information if i remeber any.

Bart Goesaert
don't know how I overlooked this beauty, but glad I found it... nice kit, and a very good build...

Ingo F
Thank you Bart.

Thomas Mayer
Thanks for your tips, Ingo! Already copied and saved!

Urban Gardini
The same here! Have put it onto an A4 through my printer. The A4 is resting right now in a certain box of normal width and lenght but with abnormal height...

Ingo F
Almost finished. Only need to close the turret.

Ingo F
Thank you James. The next project will be even bigger. 🙂

Ed Froix
Nice

Thomas Mayer
@ Ingo:
1/16 Jagdtiger? Hopefully! 🙂

Dan M
Very very nice work so far Ingo! 👍 Can't wait to see the exterior painted as well.

And an even bigger project? 😄 What could it be ?

Actually let me guess .... hm, Smerch ? 😛

Ingo F
Ding Ding Ding, 100 points for Dan. 😄
I am on vacation next week and have enough time for this big model.
@Thomas Mayer: Certainly in the future. 🙂 I think my first 1/16 model kit will be the T-72 from Trumpeter. 😄

Roy McKenzie
great information and thanks for posting the tips for us 🙂

Ingo F
The beast awakens. 😄 Finished the build! Took me an month just to build this beast. 🙂

Dan M
Looking good 👍

Jeff Owens
Nice !!! When will you be getting paint on your tiger

Ingo F
Thank you guys. I will start with the black primer today and add some white paint on prominent surface. Should be enough for priming and preshading. I am thinking about adding a few drops of white to the brown camo paint from the set. In my opinion its a little bit to dark as you can see of the already painted wheels. Or maybe i will use Tamiya brown for the camo.

Dan M
Ingo, you can use the brown from the set and then you can light it with white and highlight the center of the brown spots.

Zsolt Czegle
Great! I'm following!

Ingo F
Yes Dan, that would be an other option. Thank you.

Ingo F
Primed the model with Tamiya Nato Black, then added white paint on the prominent parts. For the base coat i decided to use Dark Yellow from Tamiya instead of the set paint.

Ingo F
Finished the camo. At the beginning i was sceptical about the camo sheme but now i really like it. I think it turned out good for the first time freehand airbrushing. I found some places where i used to much paint and created some sprinkles. I will overspray this places with dark yellow base color tomorrow. Also found a camo part that i sparayed wrong. Will correct it too.

Urban Gardini
Looking great mate! Will you follow the paint guide in the kit an add whitewash later on or would you go with a pre-whitewash camouflage on the Tiger II? I plan to do so with my kit when I build it later on.

Ingo F
Thank you Urban! I will go without the whitewash. I am going for the second paint sheme. Tank number 201 in Poland. Just the two tone camo.

Urban Gardini
Ah, just like I'm planning to do with mine later on! It'll take some time though before I can build it as there's so much other builds to take care of before that.

Ingo F
Thank you James.
@Urban - I know what you mean mate. 😄

Ingo F
Finished this one. First i used tan for 3 tone camo filter over the whole model to tie the colors together followed by pin washing with brown for german dunkel gelb. For the chipping and scratches i used dark tracks paint from ammo mig. Streaking was done with the same brown wash. The dust on the fenders was done with dry steppe wash also from mig. To simulate the mud i used dark earth, european earth and light siena pigments. Tracks rust pigments for the exhaust and spare tracks on the turret. Steel paint from mig to drybrush the tracks.

Dan M
Ingo the exterior looks very good, I like it!

Ingo F
Thank you Dan.

Spanjaard
really well done Ingo.

Ingo F
Thank you James! Yesterday i was not even sure where to start with the weathering. 😄 Yes i am reall happy with this model.

Mike Kryza
Gutes Resultat - aber ich hätte der Katze Friuls spendiert.

Ingo F
Danke Mike. Ziehe ich bei der nächsten Katze (ohne Zimmerit ) in Betracht. Wird ein kleines Diorama. 🙂

Norbert Steffens
I like your Tiger. what's about a diorama?

Ingo F
Thank you Norbert. I was planing to build an small Diorama with an Tiger II (without zimmerit) in the Ardennes 44 with some German Fallschirmjäger and US pow.

Thomas Mayer
Klasse Ergebnis! Ich würde vielleicht noch einen Hauch Mattlack drüber geben; an manchen Stellen glänzt er noch.
Ich bin beruhigt, dass man in den Takom Tiger doch alles an Inneneinrichtung hineinbekommt, und die Wanne dann noch schließen kann! Das macht Mut! 🙂

Ingo F
Danke Thomas. Mattlack kommt noch drüber, musste mir aber jetzt am Samstag neus bestellen. Hatte keines mehr. 😄
Ja Takom Tiger ist wirklich gut jedoch viel zu viele Teile wenn man denn nicht offen darstellen möchte.
Für mein Diorama werde ich wohl die Katze von Meng oder Academy bauen.
Würde nur gerne wissen ob der Tiger II von Academy gut ist.

Fabian D.
Nice work Ingo. 👍
Hab den Academy Tiger II, der sieht recht vernünftig aus. Ist allerdings "last production", also recht begrenzt was den Einsatzzeitraum angeht. Meng ist glaube ich etwas günstiger (müsste unter 30€ sein) und ne frühere Produktion.

Ingo F
Thx Fabian!
Die Diorama wird Ardennen 44 sein. Also die Ardennenoffensive. Dann nehm ich den MENG Tiger der kostet ja wirklich nur ca. 30 Euro.

Spanjaard
excellent Ingo, beautiful final result

Ingo F
Thank you Spanjaard!