1:35 Tiger Ferdinand (VK-4501)

Aber 1:35 – a detail set for the Tiger (P) VK 4501 and the derived Ferdinand

A multi-part detail set from the Polish maker Aber in 1:35 scale. It combines photo-etched brass parts with a turned metal armament part, so one purchase covers a substantial share of the superdetailing of a single model. It is not a kit: the set holds no plastic parts and assumes a base model in 1:35 scale that you have already bought.

The real subject

The VK 4501 (P) was a competing design for a heavy tank with gasoline-electric drive, which lost out in the contest for a German heavy tank; the rival design went into series production. The chassis already built were not thrown away, though – they served as the basis for the Ferdinand heavy tank destroyer, later rebuilt as the Elefant, armed with a long anti-tank gun and committed at Kursk among other places. It is this pair of subjects that makes the set an interesting choice for builders of German heavy armor.

Building tips

Cut the photo-etched parts with sheet-metal shears or a sharp knife on a hard mat and bend them in a bending tool or between two metal rulers – the bend has to be sharp and straight. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue applied in the smallest amount, ideally with the tip of a wire. Degrease the metal and photo-etched parts before painting and give them a base coat, otherwise the paint flakes off while the model is merely handled. It pays to plan the order of the work in advance – a number of photo-etched parts have to be fitted before the hull is closed up.

Who the set is for

• More experienced modelers building German heavy armor in 1:35 scale
• Builders who want scale-correct thin sheet parts instead of plastic
• Collectors of superdetailed models for the display case and for competitions
• Modelers who prefer one complete bundle of accessories to several small sets

This is a detail set, not a kit. The base model, glue and paints are not included in the package.