6349, Sd.Kfz.182 Kingtiger Initial Production. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 474 styrene parts (including 20 clear), 576 parts for the individual-link Magic Tracks, one turned aluminum gun tube, one etched brass fret, two lengths of braided metal wire, one length of chain, two stamped etched brass parts, three formed metal wire parts, four metal parts, five decal marking schemes and eight pages of instructions in 23 steps.

Introduction.

Based upon the very recently-released "Premium Edition" kit, this Cyber-hobby.com limited issue offering contains some new parts (and markings options) to allow the modeler to construct one of the first Tiger IIs that were issued to a Heer unit, s.Pz.Kp.(Fkl)316. Mounting the so-called "Porsche" turret (which was in reality a Krupp design that was "final-assembled" by the Wegmann firm), this kit also features several initial production features including (among others): different exhaust pipes and shields, no armored ring around the turret base, different tracks and drive sprockets, different inner final drive housing tow hook mount contour, snorkel tube cover and different area where the glacis plate meets the superstructure roof.

Tracks.

From the bottom, up, we have new individual-link Magic Tracks. These represent the Gg 24/800/300 type that consists of a large bridge link, a small connecting link and three smaller side links; they fit remarkably well to each other using friction. Unlike previous kits that feature "Magic Tracks", they do NOT come loosely packaged in a bag. They come on conventional sprues and since each link unit consists of five parts, some quite small, assembly (especially clean-up) will not be "fun". Personally, as a time saver, I'd opt for Fruilmodel replacements. Each large bridge link has three knock-out pin marks that the modeler will wish to eliminate. They are all subtle and stand proud of the surface; a quick swipe with a knife blade or gentle use of a motor-tool will get rid of them. It is recommended that the tracks be completely secured with cement once in place.

Suspension System.

The road-wheels are all very well-rendered and include such subtle details as the strips attached to each pair of rim bolts. These items are seen in photographs, but are often not present on scale drawings, including those by the renowned Hilary Doyle (see references, below). The often-maligned drawings by Waldemar Trojca, do show this feature. The newly-included drive sprockets are the type with 18 teeth on the ring; they match Doyle's drawings.

Hull.

The hull features excellent details and separate torsion bar swing arms, as well as an adjustable axle for the idler wheel. I strongly recommend that the modeler leave this last item loose so that the tracks can be adjusted for fit. With the type of link used on this version, it is especially important not to come out either too long or too short, because we are talking five-part links! The belly plate detail matches Trojca's drawings quite well. Other add-ons to the hull are final drive housings and newly-tooled inner housing parts complete with properly-contoured tow hook attachment points and weld detail.

The rear plate features the initial style of exhaust pipes and cast shrouds, as well as stamped, etched brass shields. The new pipes are pre-bored and feature the peculiar angled kinks instead of a smooth curve, while the shrouds are all-new and have excellent cast texture as well as separate lifting lugs. Stamped etched brass parts are provided to represent the curved sheet metal shields that were a feature on these early schwere Panzer. An excellent new multi-part vehicle jack is provided; it can be mounted on styrene or etched brass brackets. New "C"-shaped tow hooks are provided along with etched brass mounting parts. The jack block is all styrene and there is now a molded-on tube-shaped tail-lamp. The area is finished off with one-piece extended mud flaps and new metal "U'-shaped tow shackles.

Superstructure.

The superstructure is one single piece with separate engine deck access hatch lid, as well as separate driver's and radio operator's hatch lids. The engine deck hatch lid hinges still lack bolt details, and the two crewmen's hatch lids are taken direct from the manufacturer's Jagdtiger kit. Because of that, they have two sets of grab-handles each, when only one is needed. The instructions show where to put the ones that are used, but they don't tell the modeler to fill the extra holes; consider yourself warned! There is also a nice separate mounting plate for the driver's periscope housing; it and the radio operator's opening get new clear styrene periscope heads. Other new parts include a fully detailed radio operator's MG34 and mount, complete with cast "Kugelblend" (ball mount) and internal baffles. New metal "U'-shaped tow shackles are also provided. The upper lip of the glacis plate, where it meets the roof plate, now does not have the machined gap that was added to later vehicles to improve the field of view of the radio operator's periscope. These early Tiger IIs also did not have the armored ring guarding the turret race, so don't use the one provided (but correctly labeled as "not for use"), and don't open up the mounting holes inside the superstructure roof plate.

Aside from a bunch of detail parts for the engine deck and various dome vents, new parts are provided to depict the retracted snorkel tube. Etched brass screens (with a woven effect) are given for the engine deck grills. There is no rod antenna provided, but the base is nicely represented. Again, this is puzzling since DML certainly has these parts available. There are two sets of tools, one of which is new. The new set has no clamps molded on (the old one does), since these are provided as etched brass parts. The modeler can use whichever set he is comfortable with. Likewise the two tow cables and the track changing cable are replaced by wound steel wire, styrene end loops and etched brass mounts. Or the modeler can avail himself of the simpler styrene offerings from the original kit's parts.

The fenders are nicely done and include separate front ends with separate (and tiny!) styrene connecting strips. The kit's designers also removed the second skirt mounting strip from the bow, on the superstructure sides, when they re-tooled the superstructure part; it's too bad they did not add the bolt details to the engine access hatch lid hinges. Finally, a new separate part (P7) is provided that capped the superstructure roof entry point for the Bosch head-lamp power conduit (a pre-formed bit of metal wire is provided for that detail); however, the instructions don't tell you to remove the item already in place prior to adding the new one. Consider yourself warned.

Turret.

The turret is very well done and comes from a multi-part, or "slide mold". This is necessary due to its complex shape and the location of some of the details. At the front are openings for the co-axial MG34 as well as binocular TZF9b/1 sight. The rest of the turret features weld beads and interlocking plate details. All detail parts are separate and include new parts for the loader's hatch lid, two types of fan vent covers and shell ejector port hatch lid. A "Nahverteidigungswaffe" (close defense weapon) with internal details and closed or open port is provided. The rear escape hatch is very completely detailed inside and out. It features a removable "MP Stopfen" (pistol port plug) that can be shown opened and hanging on its retaining chain. Etched brass parts are also given for the plate seen over the inner mechanism.

The star of the show here is the commander's cupola. There are actually two of them; one has rain channels cut into it, the other does not. Use the one without the channels. Each uses slide molds to correctly render the opened periscope covers and also includes a new hatch lid, with internal details, as well as clear periscope heads. There is an extra head, designated as not for use in the instructions. The modeler can use it in place of the separate solid styrene head for the loader's periscope mount. There is also a "Fliegerbeschusgerat" (anti-aircraft mount for an MG34) for the cupola ring; however no MG34 is provided for it.

While one MP Stopfen is molded on to the starboard side of the turret, the one on the port side comes attached to a separate plate. When attached, the seam needs to be smoothed away. The modeler might not have to bother, since these tanks had Zimmerit, which will cover the seam nicely. There are also three tiny and separate Pilze mounts for the turret roof-mounted 2-ton Kran. These are shown in place in the instructions, but their positions are to be determined by very fine marks on the roof plate. Make sure to find them as they are a bit difficult to see; also, check references since they may not be present at all on your particular vehicle.

The main gun has some internal breech detail. There are two styrene 8.8cm L/71 gun tubes; one is the early mono-block type, while the other is the later sectional type (they were not seen on this version). The mono-block type is repeated as a turned aluminum part with a new slide-molded muzzle brake; this also features internal locking collar detail. The cast "Topfblende" (pot mantlet) for the main gun has subtle details molded onto it. These represent machining or casting marks; leave them on.

Molding, Fit and Engineering.

Detail and molding is excellent, while parts fit overall is also excellent. Where it counts there are no visible knock-out pin marks, except for one surface of the separate tow points that cover the final drive housings, parts P1 and P2. They will be easy to eliminate and no detail will be compromised during the process.

Accuracy and Details.

Overall, the kit matches the drawings in the cited references very, very well. The kit is typical for a Tiger II produced between January and March of 1944, but as always, no two of these were alike. In particular, some had shorter exhaust pipes that had circular baffle plates similar to the Tiger I, so the modeler should closely scrutinize references prior to committing to the particular vehicle he wishes to construct. It's too bad this option wasn't provided in the box. I also mentioned the lack of a rod antenna and an MG34 for the commander's cupola. Including these items would have "completed" a very fin kit

Instructions.

The instructions are presented in the less-popular photographic style, with annotations in the form of small windows with line drawings. I really have no problem with them and neither should the average modeler.But yes, they are different and take some "getting used to". Except for the glitch regarding part P7, the fact that the modeler is not instructed to create an antenna, and the lack of mention of the alternative to use a clear periscope head for the loader, mentioned above, they are "good to go".

Decals and Markings Information.

The decals are printed by Cartograf and are crisp, thin, and have excellent color saturation. All multi-color designs are in perfect register. Markings and color scheme information is provided for five schwere Panzer:

" "White/black 02", s.Pz.Kp.(Fkl)316, France 1944.
" "White 10", s.Pz.Kp.(Fkl)316, France 1944.
" "White 11", s.Pz.Kp.(Fkl)316, France 1944.
" "White 12", s.Pz.Kp.(Fkl)316, France 1944.
" "White 13", s.Pz.Kp.(Fkl)316, France 1944.

References photos show that Tac number "11" has the exhaust set-up provided in this kit. Photos exist of "02" and "12", but their exhaust configuration is unknown. The markings allow the modeler to model all of the Tiger IIs received by this unit in mid-March, 1944. For the most part they are accurate but the too-small serifs on the "2' for Tac number "12" and should be more pronounced; "02" needs a serif added. It is also unclear as to weather "02" has a thin black outline as depicted on this sheet. These vehicles all had Zimmerit and were base-coated in Dunkelgelb. The instructions show the use of Rotbraun and/or Olivgrun over the base; the photos that I nave access to, do not clearly show a camouflage pattern, so the modeler is advised to proceed with caution. "11" needs a Balkenkreuz added up forward on the superstructure; although the number of the design is called out for that location, it is not actually pictured in the full-color marking and painting guide. So, don't forget it if modeling "11". As mentioned, all of these cats had Zimmerit, which the instructions do show; it will be up to the modeler as to how it will be replicated.

Conclusion.

Although maligned by some (Another Tiger!?), these big cats are extremely popular modeling subjects, so from that point of view, the more, the merrier. As they have done in the past, DMLs designers have used modeler feed-back to correct their kits; this one is no different. This kit is of excellent quality, and is a very accurate depiction of the sub-variant it purports to represent. With the small warnings I have noted, this model will indeed build up into an excellent replica of a rare cat.

- Frank De Sisto

1/35 injection plastic kit with multimedia accessories and decals

Those Kingtigers made during the initial months of production had several features that distinguished them from later models, even including other Kingtigers with the Porsche designed turret. These features included a shroud over the upper part of the exhaust pipes, one-piece barrel tube, 18 tooth drive sprockets, different tracks, and the absence of a turret ring guard and anti-debris mesh screens on the engine deck. These initial production King Tigers were assembled between approximately January and March 1944 and several saw service with schwere Panzer Kompanie (Funklenk) 316 in Normandy (heavy tank company (radio)).

CONTENTS

This kit is the only out of the box 1/35 kit of an initial production Kingtiger, and thus is a first. As expected it is based on Dragon's earlier versions of the Kingtiger and includes large single pieces for the upper hull and turret shell, and many of the extras in Dragon’s recent premium edition release of the Kingtiger (Porsche turret) (kit 6312).

Some of the distinguishing features of this release are:

* Newly tooled one piece lower hull with the distinctive early style towing eyes which do not have the cut out for C-hooks.

* New upper hull without a cut out above the hull machine gun. This matches photos of initial production vehicles.

* Pre-formed metal shrouds for the exhaust pipes. The upgraded exhaust cowlings from kit 6312 are also included.

* Raised armoured pot over the snorkel tubes.

* 18 tooth drive sprockets and early style Gg24/800/300 tracks, which had holes in the connecting links. These tracks are injection plastic and attached to the sprues with small gates. The main links with the guide-horns are single pieces (with small injection marks), while the connecting links are, just like on the actual tanks, assembled from 4 pieces. Due to the design of these connectors on the real tanks, they cannot be accurately made as single pieces in injection plastic.

* Choice of typical production curved exhaust pipe or an early design pipes with two kinks, as seen in photos of turret number “11” of s.Pz.Kp.(Fk) 316. The kit does not include the upright pipes fitted on a few other early Kingtigers.

* New larger photo etch fret with all six mesh screens for the engine deck, clamps for the tools including the wing-nuts on the brackets for the towing clevises, the blanking plate over the view port on the turret side, and the jack and the rear turret hatch interior.

Other features include:

* One piece turned metal barrel with a crisp three-part injection plastic muzzle break. Unlike some aftermarket barrels, this barrel is a drop fit and the muzzle break requires no clean up. It is the earlier one-piece style fitted to most Kingtigers with the Porsche turret. Injection plastic one and two-piece barrels are also included.

* The upgraded steel road wheels with improved detail including revised grease nipple recesses and more accurate reproduction of the nuts and bolt heads. These parts were in some 2004 releases and address a minor issue some people noted about Dragon's earlier releases.

* Improved suspension arms, which only have two connecting gates to the sprue and based on past experience are easier to clean up than those in the earlier releases.

* Slide molded cupola with clear plastic vision blocks.

* Hull MG with internal detail.

* Metal chain for use on the turret rear hatch pistol port.

* Two sets of on-vehicle tools are provided of which one is the set from the original release with the clamps molded on for easy of assembly and the other which includes all the tools bar one has no clamps and is for use with the PE clamps.

* A new jack that is molded without clamps for use with the PE. The original jack is still included.

* Two lengths of twisted tow cable wire, being a thicker 420mm length and a thinner 450mm length. These are used to make four long tow cables each with a pair of plastic cable ends. Four metal U-shaped tow hooks with 4 brass towing cable heads.

As with earlier releases the level of accuracy is high and the overall dimensions are consistent with Hilary Doyle's scale plans. The multi-fold instruction sheet has colour step-by-step photos. Line drawings have been added to show the assembly of new tools and use of PE. I found these photo instructions easy to follow when I built the 2003 release.

This kit contains ample detail to keep most modellers busy over several sessions and the inclusion of the extra PE will save many modelers from buying a general PE set (no PE fenders are included). One easy improvement is to add a cable to the light on the centre of the glacis. This cable run from the hull roof to the light’s base and can be scratch built using stripped electrical wire. The hatch to the engine bay can be positioned open, allowing for the possibility of adding an after-market engine.

Zimmerit, which was standard on initial production Kingtigers that were issued to troops, can be added using putty or an aftermarket set. I applied an aftermarket resin zimmerit set to my model of an earlier release and was pleased with the results.

DECALS

A new large decal sheet by Cartograf has markings for five Kingtigers from schwere Panzer Panzer Kompanie (Funklenk) 316 in Normandy during 1944. This unit was issued the first five production King Tigers and deployed to France in 1944 but had to destroy them before using them in battle. All vehicles have a dark yellow base with either green or green and brown camouflage markings with soft edges. The turret numbers are 11, 02, 10, 12 and 13 all being in white billboard style.

RECOMMENDATION

With the combination of the distinctive features of the initial production Kingtigers and a broad range of accessories this kit will appeal to fans of the heavy late war Panzers. With items such as the 18 tooth drive-sprockets and early style tracks this Cyber-hobby release offers features not available on other releases of the Kingtiger with Porsche turret. Definitely recommended.

- Neville Lord