1:35 ATOM Tiger I Colors Set (1942-1945)

The Tiger I from gray through yellow to winter white

The heavy tank Tiger I reached the units in the autumn of 1942, and in under three years its appearance changed several times. The first machines at Leningrad and in North Africa still wore a uniform dark gray. From 1943 came the dark yellow base with patches, and with it Zimmerit paste on the sides and the turret against magnetic mines, and in winter a temporary coat of white that could be washed off.

The set takes in this whole timeline. Twelve bottles cover the dark gray of early production, two dark yellows in the shades of the later batches, olive green and red-brown for the patches, chocolate brown, a neutral gray, cream white and washable white for winter camouflage. The color of Zimmerit is handled separately, as its surface has a shade and a texture of its own.

The last bottle is a clear green for periscope glass and rear lights. It is applied over a silvery base so that the glass shines, and it is a detail that decides from close up whether the model looks alive.

The make-up of twelve shades allows you to build three different machines from three periods without buying anything else. The individual tones mix with each other, and faded areas come from adding cream white to the base tone.

For the work the usual order applies: first the primer, then the base tone, after it the patches, the Zimmerit and finally the winter coat, which can be partly wiped off with a damp brush. Only on this foundation do the next steps make sense, that is the worn edges, the dust and the traces left by the crew.

The paints thin with water, take a brush and an airbrush alike, and between coats it is enough to let the surface rest briefly. Twelve bottles will therefore last for several builds, not just one.