1:48 Pz.Kpfw.VI, ausf.B King Tiger (TAMIYA)

The real subject

The Pz.Kpfw.VI Ausf.B, known by the nickname Königstiger, was the heaviest German production tank of the Second World War. It combined massive sloped frontal armor with an 8.8 cm gun 71 calibers long, which could hit an opponent at a range where it itself stayed out of danger. It paid for that with a weight of around seventy tons: the running gear and the transmission were at the limit of what they could take, and some of the machines were lost to breakdowns and to a lack of fuel rather than in combat. For a modeler it is a rewarding subject, because the plain armor surfaces let fine added detail stand out.

What the set contains

A set of photo-etched metal parts for a model in 1:48 scale. Photo-etch suits exactly those places where a plastic part comes out disproportionately thick, that is, thin plates, grilles and small grab handles. The extent of the set is given in the manufacturer's instructions; according to the name it is cut for the kit from Tamiya.

Building and painting tips

Separate the parts with a sharp blade against a hard surface, not by breaking them in your fingers. Run the bends over a bender or over the jaws of flat tweezers, so that the edge is sharp and straight. Metal holds on super glue; on longer joints a slower epoxy is useful. Make full use of the advantage of sheet: a thin part can be bowed and dented, so a bent fender or a sagging plate looks more credible than anything cut from plastic. Before painting, wash the sheet, degrease it and apply a base coat for metal.

• 1:48 scale, an accessory for a tank model
• photo-etched metal parts for adding detail
• according to the name intended for the Tamiya kit
• the sheet can be bowed, so damage looks credible

Terms of supply

Paints, glue and modeling tools are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.