German King Tiger-Tamiya

wjbrandel · Jul 6, 2025

Started this one today. I'm still waiting for a photoetch kit another crew set and a set of aftermarket tracks to come in.

I decided to remove the molded in weld beads and replace them with putty weld beads and I also enhanced the flame cut marks.

I am trying a new lens for a camera for close up photos. They aren't turning out the way I hoped.

I am going to be building a base/diorama for the model, that's why I have so many accessories for it. With the crew sets I'm getting I'm going to mix and match the figures so I can get the scene I want.

BarleyBop · Jul 7, 2025

wjbrandel said:
Started this one

Whoa! What a monster...
If Mr. GOOGLES is to be believed, my little Italian tankette weighed a whopping 2.9 tons.
The King, close to 70 tons!

Jakko · Jul 7, 2025

wjbrandel said:
I am trying a new lens for a camera for close up photos. They aren't turning out the way I hoped.

You need better lighting. It looks like all you have is a light from the front, which means you have shadows everywhere. Much better is three or four lights: one on the left, one on the right and one above, plus possibly one in front. None of these should illuminate the model directly, but instead, either shine through some translucent material such as white cloth or have their light bounce off a reflector such as a white panel. This way you'll light your model much more evenly and from all directions, which will look a lot better.

Not photographing the model on your work surface but on a neutral background also works wonders.

Edbert · Jul 7, 2025

wjbrandel said:
I am trying a new lens for a camera for close up photos. They aren't turning out the way I hoped.

Are you using the smallest aperture you can?

wjbrandel · Jul 7, 2025

Jakko said:
You need better lighting. It looks like all you have is a light from the front, which means you have shadows everywhere. Much better is three or four lights: one on the left, one on the right and one above, plus possibly one in front. None of these should illuminate the model directly, but instead, either shine through some translucent material such as white cloth or have their light bounce off a reflector such as a white panel. This way you'll light your model much more evenly and from all directions, which will look a lot better.

Not photographing the model on your work surface but on a neutral background also works wonders.

Don't have a neutral background. I don't have enough room for that unfortunately

Edbert said:
Are you using the smallest aperture you can?

Yep.

Too be honest I probably won't be using that lens again until I can get more room and a better set up.

wjbrandel · Jul 7, 2025

I added some light texturing to the armor plates and started on the engine for it.

The tool box. 7 individual parts for it. The ladder was easy to put together, it had a stand jig built into the sprue. Very nice of them to do that.

First time I've done this, not bad but I need to find a stiff bristled brush to continue to do this.

Jakko · Jul 7, 2025

wjbrandel said:
Don't have a neutral background. I don't have enough room for that unfortunately

All it takes is a sheet of paper in a neutral colour, such as light or medium grey, black, blue, or similar — easily purchased in a stationary shop. A4 size will do for parts and smaller models, but for something like a Tiger II hull, never mind the whole tank, you may want A3 or even A2. Don't forget you can prop it up against something at the back instead of simply laying it flat, to give you a backdrop as well.

Edbert · Jul 7, 2025

Jakko said:
All it takes is a sheet of paper in a neutral colour, such as light or medium grey, black, blue, or similar — easily purchased in a stationary shop.

Similarly, and using something you probably already have...

Sheets or pillow cases can be draped over whatever background you have, secured with tape or clothespins. As long as your background is out of focus it doesn't matter if there's a texture or anything. Having it far behind the subject matter also increases your options for light sources and direction.

wjbrandel · Jul 28, 2025

Yes the hatch does open and close.

I got more of it done. Almost all of the assembly is done and I'm getting ready for paint. I was going to use quite a bit of photoetch but the details were good enough for me not to use them, I am unhappy with the PE track racks on the turret. Kinda wish I would have used the plastic ones (I can't find them now). The 88 is going to be able to elevate and depress, I have blocks ready to go to limit the gun to what it was able to do in real life.

2 more major builds are left, the tracks and one more pack of miniatures then painting and the diorama base.

wjbrandel · Tuesday at 8:18 PM

Got more of the tank done. What do you think so far?

All that work on the engine and it is barely visible

Replicated the damage from a photo series I found online

Tried to get a shot of the interior to show the ammo that I put in the racks. Didn't show as well as I hoped.

wjbrandel · Tuesday at 8:28 PM

One track assembled

One track in the assembly process. A total of 180 track links.

Here are some of the accessories for the diorama I am planning

Hatches that are going to be left open.

And I am waffling on which size map to use. The smaller one is the proper scale, but I am partial to the larger one because it it easier to see.

As I'm sure you've noticed I only have a gloss coat on the model. I haven't given it a matte finish yet. I kinda want to finish the tracks first.
I also need to finish installing the road wheels and paint them with the camo colour before I apply the matte finish to it.

wjbrandel · 2025-08-21T12:35:32-0400

Welp I have hit a snag. The tracks I was going to use have snapped. When I tried to install them, the tracks began breaking apart so I am not going to be able to use them. I am debating on using the rubber band tracks or ordering some metal tracks, until I decide I am putting that model aside and going to start another one.

Jakko · 2025-08-21T13:32:16-0400

What kind of tracks are they, and how were you building them? I can't tell from the photos if these are Tamiya plastic ones or something like QuickTracks 3D-printed ones.

German King Tiger-Tamiya

wjbrandel

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Edbert

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