Tiger Ausf E “F01” Gruppe Fehrmann

[simon_manning]

I recall Tim Bowman going into detail a few years ago about the patination of Zimmerit on Tiger turrets and the variations from vehicle to vehicle, his old thread is probably still on here, regards simon.

[AlastairCooke]

Thanks Simon...

Hi all,
Update 5 Feb 25
Turret bin
Although I have a Sixth Scale Icon brass kit I have decided to go the 3D print route for better durability. The first thing to tackle were the lower supports. Using drawings from Tiger 1 info I marked up and drilled new holes for a revised fixing that mimics the actual lower bracket but provides more support and allows the bin to be removed by sliding it upwards.

Drilling holes in correct location

Lower supports

Supports in situ

The bin floor is designed to be quite stiff, lock into the supports and allow the use of 30 thou Plasticard skins for the front, sides and rear of the bin.

View of the floor from below showing how the supports mimic the prototypical brackets when the bin is fitted.

That's all for now...

[Robert E Morey]

Interesting idea for bin. What material are you using for the printed parts? Your details are really good. Enjoying your build.
Best regards,
Bob

[Tim Carr]

Wow
Again, I can't wait to see how it looks when you're done.
Nice work.

Later Tim

[AlastairCooke]

Thanks Tim and Bob for the kind comments.

The material I use is Nylon PA12. The printing is out sourced to ensure consistent quality and high resolution. The company can turn round the order in less than a week . I usually specify black so that should the paint wear off in the future I get a reasonable weathered look.

Alastair

[AlastairCooke]

Hi All,
Update 9 Mar 25
Painting the turret interior.
As with the chassis, I have decided to paint it Elfenbein (RAL 1001). So, on top of Upol Acid #8 etch primer I airbrushed UMP oxide primer in the nooks and crannies, then used Halfords red primer.

Once dry, several light coats of AK Interactive RC046 were applied…

Note the deliberately mottled coverage intended to give a weathered appearance. The Interior is now ready to be fitted out.


Roof supports
Rear support epoxied in place…

All supports in place…

Roof welds
‘Trough’, formed by upper steel sheet and Evergreen angle epoxied to outer edge, filled with Milliput…

I decided to start with the straight sections and ‘stiffen’ them up with the welds before tackling the curves. Cling film used to stop Milliput sticking to the turret and ease roof removal when putty has set.

Finishing off the ‘trough’…

Getting there…

Next job is to secure the cupola base ring and apply some weld detail. (Note: I will be replacing the cupola, see below)

That's all for now

[Robert E Morey]

Excellent details Alastair! I love the printed turret rim for top and cupola! Lovely details.
Bob

[AlastairCooke]

Thanks Bob...

[Tim Carr]

Outstanding work and info sharing. Learning more every time from your thread.

Thanks

Later Tim

[AlastairCooke]

Thanks Tim...

[AlastairCooke]

Hi All,
Update 19 Mar 25
The cupola base ring weld is now finished. Once completely primed the ring will work with the roof plate to give the impression of the actual cupola mount (Reference: A Modern Study of Fgst. NR. 250031, Pg. 40, Fig 115).

At a quick glance it looks like the ring is welded to the turret wall. In fact, it is part of the removable roof plate. I plan to do something similar with the towrope/cleaning rod holders as they reach the outer edge of the chassis side plates.


Track hanger hinge points installed and epoxied in place…

Major roof welds complete on both chassis and turret...

Escape hatch
Replacement hatch finished and primed. Ready for base coat on the inside and Zimmerit on the outside…

Trial fit with interior base coat applied…

The peg for the locking bar will be installed permanently when the hatch is fitted. I have decided against making the hatch functional as it would require a notch cut into the turret side. There is no real need for the hatch to function as I have very little internal detail, just loads of electronics, and I am not sure if the required notch would be prototypical.


Pistol port
Trial fit of internal detail…

Just needs a touch up with Elfenbein and some scale fasteners for the rotation handle.


Further Zimmerit experiments…

Did not like the pattern left by the ‘larger’ tool so I redesigned it…

And got a better result…

About ready to start on the turret

That's all for now.

[AlastairCooke]

Hi All,
Update 27 Mar 25
Turret vision blocks
I treated these as detailed ‘standalone’ models even though they will only be visible with the roof removed. I wanted to try out the combination of MJF Nylon PA12 plates with SLA resin head pads in preparation for the cupola vision ports.

Zimmerit time!
Could not delay any longer so took the plunge. Started with an easy piece: the Pistol Port…

Note that it has a curiously inclined pattern.

I have decided to leave the vertical turret sides until last. So next up is the mantlet as I can apply the Zimmerit with it flat on the bench. First a coat of red primer as this provides a good contrast with the grey Sylmasta Magic Sculp.

(Note: grub screws were used to stop paint getting into the threads.)
I decided to use this putty as I ‘rediscovered’ some 500g tubs languishing in my ‘stash’. They were bought, probably 8 to 10 years ago, in anticipation of some large-scale figure modelling that is firmly on the back burner whilst this Tiger 1 adventure continues. The putty does not seem to have suffered as the tubs had never been opened.

Surface scuffed to help the putty grip…

Coat of putty applied. I am working on small sections at a time and will allow the putty to harden before progressing. That way the pattern is less likely to get damaged whilst working on other areas.

Central section covered in putty to a depth of about 1mm…

Basic pattern applied, will finish it off when the putty has hardened.

Working on the next section…

Texture added. Again, I will emphasise the grooves with a micro chisel when the putty has hardened.

Getting there…

(Note: Masking tape applied so that the putty can be worked into the surface without it covering finished sections)


Finished mantlet…

On to the turret sides . This will take sometime as I plan to work in strips about 35mm to 50mm wide.

That's all for now