1/35 Meng Sd. Kfz. 182 King Tiger (Henschel) - My First Tank

[jkim]

Ok... I've gone and done it. Pulled the trigger on a tank model. All "tanks" to you guys!



I have no idea what I'm doing with this build but I've always had an interest in Tigers and Panthers and I figure building a model would be a good way to learn a little more about a given subject. So I'm going to approach this as a learning experience. Some of the parameters that I've set for myself for this first build are (a) No Zimmerit and (b) no interior or running gear. The Meng kit checks both those boxes although some of the decals are for Zimmerit-equipped tanks.

I'm looking to do a non-Zimmerit Tiger II in an "ambush" pattern. Hard-edged, tri-color with spots is what I think that is. If anyone has any references on particular tanks that would fit the bill, please post em up! The kit proposes Yellow 222 but I don't like the look of the decals on the included decal sheet. I have the ability to make custom numeral masks so I have the flexibility of going beyond the kit-provided schemes.







Work will not commence on this beast for at least a few months. I want to finish the 262 first and maybe even start on the 1/32 Corsair before I begin the Tiger. It will be my diversionary build when I go full bore into the F4U-1a.

[KennyX]

Hot-damn John’s building a tank! Click on the link below to see my reaction to this news!

https://goo.gl/images/jmj97Q

I can’t wait to see what you do with her, pal! YESSSS!

[speedgraflex]

I quietly or not so quietly follow your Me 262. That one... well, that particular project felt a bit like Melville’s Classic Novel, ya know the one with the big white whale? No need to strap a pair of Jumos on that one, in my opinion. Ground shaking work going on there. And I will always feel the excitement when I first saw your work on Zoukei Mura’s 1/48 Ta-152. That was a revelation. I was so knocked out by the engine. You have to hand it to ZM—if nothing else they build the loveliest of kit engine models ever seen. And you took that places. It looked used. Yet maintained. Then here we have the A Tale of Two Doras and another (cough cough cough) 1/48 German fighter that is MIA. Just kidding. I hope she is okay, and look forward to seeing her again one day... which brings me slowly to this—congratulations on the subject and the kit. I imagine you are gonna reset my expectations like usual.

[mostrich]

I think that sums it up. I'm pretty excited not only about your decision building armor, but also you choice of a vehicle particularely.
The lines of a Tiger II are special. As an aircraft builder like you I found armor modeling quite relaxing. And in terms of weathering you're about to enter a whole new world.

Enjoy!

[KSaarni]

This is fantastic news John!

We have all been waiting for this announcement, and finally it came! :-)

Now we will wait patiently for a few months, during that time we can hoard popcorn, as we will need it! :-)

- Kari

[Stikpusher]

This should be good...

Your choices of no zimmerit and ambush scheme are perfect for the Henschel King Tiger. Zimmerit was discontinued very early in their production run, while the ambush scheme was introduced around the same time into their production run. Obviously the two crossed over, as evidenced in your photos.

Only a handful of units used the Tiger II, some had distinctive markings and others were very low key. So you may want to research which of those you prefer to depict, a Army or SS? Eastern or Western front?

[jkim]

Thanks guys! Lots of things going on right now that I can't really focus on the Tiger. The kit's not due to arrive for at least a few weeks. I'm leaving for Kyrgyzstan on Sunday and have not started packing yet. Red 1 needs to be finished, photographed, packed and mailed out. The 262 build is nearing the painting stage (I regret not posting that build here... apologies). I'm going to be starting my Tamy 1/32 Baa Baa Black Sheep build. And then there is a certain 1/48 Bf109G-6 kit that was gifted to me by a dear friend .. it has a base coat of RLM 74/75/76 but will be putting on a winter white coat if I can get to her.

If I put the Tiger on end of that list, we realistically won't see any modeling work on her for at least a few months. So maybe starting this post was a bit premature. I did so because I thought I could learn something about the Tiger II from this group. I can't begin to answer Carlos' question about which Tiger unit I am interested in because I know nothing at this point. So please bear with me! What is the difference between an Army and SS Tiger 2 unit? I'd like to avoid heavy mud effects... does that point me to Western front over Eastern front?

[speedgraflex]

No worries about when... I was going to suggest you pick up a copy of this book if you do not have it:

http://www.themodellingnews.com/2015/02 ... 116th.html

... or do what I do and follow him on FB, if you do not already. He builds planes, too. I have no idea what his status is as a model builder but he seems like a nice man with dogs and a daughter who recently was married. Apparently he is prone to swearing colorfully but that is his defense mechanism. If you do follow him he likes to take pictures inside of things which I find really wonderful. He definitely is an interior builder, but there is much to take away from seeing things on the inside like a surgeon...

[LyleW]

Looking forward to this one and the Corsair.

[Stikpusher]

John, let me see what I can do for you. The Tiger II entered service in mid summer 1944, but those were with the Porsche turret. The Henschel turret came into use at the end of that summer. Both were sent to Heavy Tank Battalions, on both fronts. They began to replace the Tiger I, but never did completely.
Now for the type that you are looking to model, ambush scheme/no zimmerit, you are looking at fall 1944 and into winter 1944/1945. Mud or lack of it, will be very much a seasonal thing, more than location. Not to mention that several of the Heavy Tank Battalions were transferred from Front to Front, based upon Hitlers ideas. Although there are a couple which fought pretty much solely in the East or West until they were not far apart at the end.
Now as to the difference between army and SS, I’ll try to keep to historical, but some historic politics are a must. The Army was just that, the traditional army of Germany, and a separate armed force. The Waffen SS, was part military and part political. Members were selected for their aryan racial lineage and purity, and political reliability- belief in the nazi cause and absolute devotion to Hitler, bordering upon fanatical in battle. More was expected of them in battle. As a result the SS was given the latest weapons and had priority for replacements and supplies. If this sounds like I am building them up, I am not. As a former soldier, I respect their battlefield record of achievements, but feel that they sacrificed their honor as soldiers due to their trail of battlefield atrocities. At least most of their divisions did. I stay away from most SS subjects now, for that reason. Most German army units, on he other hand, served honorably, and followed the rules and customs of war.