1:35 Tiger II Mudguards (tamiya)

The real subject

The Tiger II, known under the designation Königstiger, was a German heavy tank of the end of the Second World War. It carried heavily sloped armor and an 88 mm cannon with a long barrel, so it looks massive in outline alone. The fenders above the tracks stayed of thin sheet, however, and were the most vulnerable part of the machine: they bent against the terrain, broke off, and crews sometimes took them off altogether so that they would not be in the way during maintenance of the running gear.

What photo-etch can do

A photo-etched part is of thin metal sheet, so the free edge of a fender comes out sharp and in a thickness to scale that injected plastic cannot achieve. On so large a machine it tells at first glance, because the fender runs along the whole side. The set is, according to the name, cut for the Tamiya kit in 1:35 scale, and the extent of the parts and the order of assembly is described in the maker's instructions.

Building and painting tips

Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface and sand the remains of the fret tabs down. Make the bend at once along the whole length, best in a bending tool or between two blades. For gluing, use cyanoacrylate glue applied on the tip of a wire; cement for polystyrene does not hold on metal. Before painting, degrease the metal and cover it with a primer suitable for metal. If you want a machine from the field, bend one fender upward or break its end off, so that it is apparent the vehicle drove off-road.

Who it is for

For modelers who build the Tiger II in 1:35 scale and want metal fenders in place of the thick plastic ones. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.