1:72 Tiger II Porsche/Henscel (revell)

The real subject

The Tiger II, also widely known as the King Tiger, was the heaviest German series-built tank of the Second World War. A weight of over sixty tons gave it exceptional resistance, but also a large appetite for fuel and the need for care around bridges and soft ground. The vehicles were built with two turret versions: the early one had a curved front plate and is known under the designation Porsche, the later production one had a flat front and is designated Henschel.

What the set contains

A photo-etched metal fret with additional parts for a model of the Tiger II in 1:72 scale, planned around the kit from Revell and listed for both turret versions. The parts are cut from the fret, bent along the etched score lines and fitted to the model in place of the coarser plastic parts. The extent of the fret and the purpose of the individual parts are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

Do not take the fret in your fingers more than you have to, because grease from your hands will later stop the paint from adhering. Cut the parts off with a sharp blade on a hard surface and move them with tweezers with pointed jaws. Apply cyanoacrylate glue in a minute quantity so that it does not flood the fine relief. Before painting, wash the fret, degrease it and give it a coat of primer; on bare metal the topcoat rubs off as early as when the model is set on its base.

Who it is for

For modelers who build German equipment in small scale and want thin fenders, fine grilles and sharp edges on it, the kind that cannot be molded from plastic. It is also a good first experience of photo-etch: there are fewer parts than in a large scale, but the procedure is the same. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.