Monday, September 9

"Another Tiger" - but not your typical Tiger - from Tiger Model....

Tiger model are giving modellers their new version of a simple Tiger I (Early production) in 1/35th scale. We were curious to know more & we have some answers with sprues, colour profiles, decals, etch & the build & painted kit in our preview...


"Another Tiger" - but not your typical Tiger -  from Tiger Model....

Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf.E (Sd.Kfz.181) Tiger I - Early production 
WW2 German Heavy Tank 1942-5
From Tiger Model
Kit no #4901
1/35th scale
Photo-etch, metal barrelled & plastic kit
Designed in co-operation with Khaki Hobby
Price: $33USD from HLJ
The package:
This preview has a lot to show so we will get straight to it. The box is nicely adorned with a few of the colour schemes and features of this kit. We can already see a few things without too much investigation...
Instructions are next. The first thing that hits us is the simplicity of the kit. We have thirteen (only thirteen!!) steps to constructing this. This reeks of Tamiya in simplicity, and that ain't a bad thing guys! (or is it, hmmm)...
The plastic is next, you can see by the sprues the simple detail. The whole sprues are first, then we will look at the detail...
The details of the sprues are next. The devil really is in the details here, and we are shaking our heads a little at some of the points we have noticed with this kit.

Moulded towing cables harken back to Tamiya's kits of a long time ago. This is not usually a thing in modern kits.
Link and length tracks say no movable suspension BUT a fast construction.
Speaking of fixed suspension, the suspension arms are moulded INTO the hull, giving no flexibility of movement, but again a fast kit to make..
Speaking of moulded on - the roadwheels are moulded with loops in them to capture the other rows of roadwheels on to. This is really odd and limits what the modeller can do. The more we look at the kit, the more it is looking like a beginner's kit to us.
The tools are again, moulded ON to the tank. It will be hell to try and carve these off for more experienced modellers, so again, this kit screams a fast or beginner's kit to us.
The wingnuts over the MG bulge are again moulded on to the hull... 
The outer roadwheels are however produced singularly, so only the inner wheels are  looped into each other.
Poly caps are provided, but these aren't necessary on a link and length tracked kit that can't turn it's wheels (and a lot of modellers wouldn't ever do this anyway.)
The rear engine deck has the vented sections, but no interior detail that we could see.
Photo-etch in the kit covers the mesh for the grilles to hide the lack of detail...
Weld seams are a little too regular for our tastes...
Only one type of mantlet is included.
Notek lights are moulded vertically in half with lenses separate and the regular early (standard type) stowage bin is included.
Come on man, mould the cupola in one circle please...
The weld seams on the turret gaps re prominent, regular and not that bad. The track holders are moulded on which isn't the best for experienced modellers, but good for new modellers.
Some singular track links are included for the turret side extra armour.
Feifel filters were cyclonic air filter units supplied with new Tiger tanks during a period of about a year into the first production. I am not sure if this fits all five marking choices in this kit or not..
Simple drive sprockets and those moulded on tools again eeergh.
Some tools are NOT moulded on, like the shovels, jack and a few other parts which is great. We wonder why they didn't do that for all of the tools and attachments. The answer seems to be simplicity of construction and / a beginner's kit.
We get another shovel, a sledge, shackles that are separate from the kit's hull.
The main gun is supplied in turned metal which is a great plus and again, looking at a simple construction.
Decals are provided for five Tigers, well known ones at that - and modeller's favourites.
The colour schemes are provided in colour on the instruction manual.
The acid test - how it looks all built up and painted by Tiger Model's model makers. IT doesn't look too bad at all, but a closer look will show you the detail that cannot be had from moulded on parts, rigid suspension and only one real option for tow cables, extra armour etc.
We think this is a great kit for a beginner, but not at all for an advanced modeller (not saying they could not make a great kit out of it.) This is like a old-skool Tamiya (or a lesser light's) kit. But it has good decal options, a metal barrel, very little photo-etch and simple track (but no variation again) with a jig to set and make it. 

It is an odd-looking Tiger with downright weird options that don't put it in competition with modern kits apart from its extras, but many modellers that want to make something simple and easy, or beginners should be directed towards a kit like this instead of perhaps a more detailed kit.
We are right about this kit being for beginners or budget conscious buyers - as the price has just been revealed - $33USD from HLJ