1:35 Kingtiger Late Production

The Tiger II in its late production form

The late batch of the German Tiger II heavy tank differed from the earlier machines in a whole series of small details that can be spotted on the model at first glance. They included drive sprockets with eighteen teeth, a modified gun mantlet and above all the new track pattern. It is precisely this combination that matches the vehicles used in the Ardennes in December 1944, that is in the last major German offensive on the Western Front.

For that, the set offers newly made parts for the tracks and the drive sprockets, a choice of two versions of the gun mantlet, new-generation photo-etched parts, a metal tow cable and decals from a proven printer. As extras, the box holds four figures of German infantry of the closing period of the war, an aluminum barrel and brass 88 mm rounds. It is exactly this equipment that makes the kit an interesting choice for a modeler who wants the vehicle in a scene with a winter landscape.

What to keep in mind during the build

A metal barrel calls for a different approach than a plastic one: the surface has to be degreased and painted with a paint meant for metal, otherwise the finish rubs off. The track links are assembled one by one, so it is sensible to leave them pliable for a while after gluing and wrap them around the wheels before they set. Winter service offers a striking white coat, which is partly rubbed back once dry so that the original color shows through. The brass rounds only need darkening a little, so that they do not look factory new. The photo-etched parts are best bent in a bending tool, or at least between two blades, because otherwise rounded edges appear which then give the whole surface away. The figures are painted separately and glued to the vehicle last.