1:72 Tiger I

The Tiger I in 1:72 scale from Airfix

An injection-molded plastic kit of the German Tiger I heavy tank in 1:72 scale from the British maker Airfix. The model is meant to be glued together and painted. The particular number of parts, the contents of the package and the number of decal schemes are given in the enclosed instructions.

The real subject

The Tiger I, designated at the factory as the Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. E, was a German heavy tank deployed from 1942. Its characteristic features are the angular hull and turret with pronounced frontal armor and a gun of 88 mm caliber derived from an antiaircraft gun. The combat weight moved around 57 tons, which placed high demands on the engine, the transmission and the running gear. The running gear was formed by interleaved road wheels, which clogged easily in mud and frost. The vehicle was produced in a fairly small series and was replaced in production by the Tiger II type.

Building and painting tips

In 1:72 scale every unevenness shows, so it pays to sand the joints cleanly and remove the mold parting lines. Assemble and paint the running gear and the tracks before the fenders and the superstructure cover them. Use thin cement for the plastic, which wicks straight into the joint. Apply a primer before painting, lay the base shade on with an airbrush and shade it slightly, so that the model does not come across as flat. Build the weathering gradually: a dark wash in the recesses and around the rivets, a dry brush on the edges and pigments on the running gear and the lower areas of the hull.

Who the model is for

• Modelers who collect ground equipment in the single scale of 1:72
• Builders of dioramas where a smaller footprint of a scene suits
• Beginners looking for a manageable extent of a build
• Anyone interested in the equipment of the Second World War

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.