1:48 ammo for Tiger I

Hauler 1:48 ammunition for the Tiger I

This accessory set from the Czech maker Hauler holds small ammunition parts in 1:48 scale, tied to the Tiger I tank. It is not a model or a kit - these are individual rounds, used where you can see into the model: in open hatches, in stowage racks, on a fender beside an open box, or straight into a diorama during a resupply.

The real subject

The Tiger I carried an 8.8 cm gun derived from the anti-aircraft gun of the same caliber. The ammunition matched: the round was long and heavy, a single piece weighed tens of kilograms and the loader handled it with considerable difficulty in the cramped turret. It was stowed above all in vertical and horizontal racks around the fighting compartment. For a modeler what matters most is that such a round is conspicuously large even scaled down, and in an open hatch the eye finds it at once.

Building and painting tips

Separate the parts carefully with a sharp scalpel or a fine saw and work over a tray so that the small pieces do not fly off. If the castings are resin, wash them first in warm water with detergent and use super glue - cement for plastic does not hold on them. Painting is rewarding here: the cartridge case is done in a brass or golden metallic, which has to be stirred thoroughly before spraying, because the pigment settles to the bottom. Set the projectile apart in a darker matte color and bring out the transition with a dark wash. Light polishing with graphite pencil lead gives the metal a depth that the metallic alone does not have.

Who the set is for

• For builders of the Tiger I in 1:48 scale who leave the hatches open
• For diorama builders putting together an ammunition resupply scene
• For modelers who want a small but striking detail in a display case
• For patient builders - the parts are small and call for tweezers

This is an accessory set, not a model in its own right. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package.