Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Land => Topic started by: raafif on October 14, 2012, 07:37:17 AM
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Years ago I'd started converting an Italeri Elephant to a Porsche Tiger-1 but put it aside as Italeri had then released their complete kit. Now that I had the rocket-missile parts & interior left over from the Tamiya SturmTiger (see my SturmJäger build - http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=1828.0 (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=1828.0) ), I wanted to use up the old cut-about kit.
Here's my "concept" photo using another old chassis -- that chassis will be returned to an ammo-carrier (the third re-build conversion for that model !!) after being made into a Porsche Tiger II prototype based on the only crude drawing then available.I found that the upper superstructure looked better reversed so it sloped back - it still fitted the hull quite well and the large Sturm mantlet fitted better.
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/17.jpg)
I decided to open up the roof & back like a Marder SPG in order to best show off the interior, so after cutting the circular rear-plate out & fitting the mantlet, I cut the superstructure roof & back away. I then built & fitted the mortar, cutting a new aperture in the superstructure front for the gun-sight. I wanted to fit an mg for self-defence & chose to retro-fit an old shield & MG-42 from a Stug-IV when the model is ready.
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1124.jpg)
I cleaned up the cut-about lower hull, glueing new sections to the rear sides & back. I juggled the interior parts for best positioning & fitted the Tamiya floor which was just a smidge narrow, filling the gap with some Plastruct angle. Next was the front bulkhead from the Tamiya kit, suitably cut 'n' shut as the Tiger hull is wider here -- it didn't fit perfectly at the top & bottom so gaps were filled with plasticard strips. The real Elephant has very roughly-cut scrap plates covering the rear electric drive-motors so I reproduced these with more plasticard. Next was the rear shelf for loading the ammo from card plus two separate angle-brackets from the Tamiya parts. Next I assembled & positioned the ammo stowage-racks, modifying the bottoms of two to sit better in the sponsons. The shell loading-cradle will need repositioning further aft so I cut new bases from Plastruct.
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/1125.jpg)
More later ....
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Very cool, I love the cut down rear hull !!!! I have almost the same parts left over too, I was thinking of using them for a Bar30cm ......
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Looking good. Glad I sent my SturmTiger off to Zod so he can do something with it and a Maus or E100. The original old school "Assault Breaker" :)
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This looks very promising!
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Mildly disappointed this didnt involve an actual elephant ;D... Still.... very high standard of work keep it up lad !! :D
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What a cool beast! :D
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Wow what a great concept! While looking at it, I kept thinking of centipedes for some reason.
Brian da Basher
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Thanks guys, for some reason I'm on a roll at present :))
Mildly disappointed this didnt involve an actual elephant ;D... Still.... very high standard of work keep it up lad !! :D
well, this may not be the only Sturm-Elephant I do ;)
I also have these ...
(http://www.modelsforsale.com/listphotos/ZV8011.jpg)
and TWO of these ...
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Games-Workshop-LOR-War-Mumak-of-Harad-boxed-on-sprues-with-8-paint-pots-/00/s/MTQwMFgxNDIx/$T2eC16VHJGIE9nnWqr,QBQ,ZC,IT7Q~~60_35.JPG)
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BRILLIANT !! I'll be keeping an eye out for them ! ;)
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That Zvezda set is REALLY nice! I just finished selling one on Ebay. Too small for me to try!