1:72 Starter Set Tiger 1

The real subject

The Tiger I is a German heavy tank of the Second World War, in action from 1942. You recognize it by its angular hull with flat sides, its massive turret and its gun of 88 mm caliber, which at the time was among the most effective tank weapons. Also characteristic is the running gear with interleaved road wheels arranged in several overlapping rows. The heavy armor was paid for with great weight, so the Tiger was demanding to operate and to maintain.

What the set contains

The basis of the starter set is a plastic kit in 1:72 scale with parts on sprues and a sheet of decals. The package is put together so that a beginner can manage the build. The extent of the further accessories differs between starter sets by package.

Building and painting tips

The running gear takes the most work: glue the wheels on according to the instructions so that they stand in one plane, otherwise the track cannot be fitted without rippling. Paint the lower hull and the wheels before you glue the tracks on. Leave the turret free to rotate until the end of the build, as the rear wall is then easier to spray. On the large flat surfaces of the hull, modulation helps: lighten the middle of a surface by adding a lighter tone and leave the edges darker, and the model will gain visual volume. Go easy on mud and dust, as a thin glaze from below looks more convincing than a continuous layer.

Who it is for

The set suits a first build of a tank model and a collection of German vehicles alike. The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted, unless stated otherwise; what exactly is enclosed with the kit differs between starter sets by package.