MD-006

The real subject

The Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. E, also carried under the number Sd.Kfz. 181 and known as the Tiger I, was a German heavy tank of the Second World War. It weighed around fifty-seven tons, carried an 88 mm gun with a barrel 56 calibers long, and its armor plates were set practically vertically. Characteristic of it is the running gear with the wheels arranged in several interleaved rows; because of the width, narrower tracks were fitted for transport by rail and the outer row of wheels was removed.

The early production form

The early production designation refers to the first months of series building. These vehicles had a cylindrical commander's cupola with vision slits, auxiliary air filters at the rear of the hull and smoke grenade launchers on the sides of the turret. Later vehicles lost these features or received them in a different form, so it is precisely by them that an early Tiger is recognized on a model. The variant is offered under a designation that refers to Michael Wittmann and to the battlefield at Kursk in 1943; this is the name of a color variant, not a technical difference in the vehicle.

Building and painting tips

Work from the bottom up: first the chassis with the road wheels, then the hull and finally the turret. Cut the parts off a little away from the edge and sand the surface down so that no burr is left that would stop them seating. It is sensible to paint the road wheels before the tracks go on, because once they are together you will not get at the inner rows. Apply the paint in thin coats and pick the edges out with a lighter shade, otherwise a large model looks flat.

Who it is for

For builders of German hardware in 1:35 scale. Paints, glue and tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.