| Date of Review |
November 2004 |
| Manufacturer |
DML |
| Subject |
Sd.Kfz.181 Panzerkampfwagen VI (P) |
| Scale |
1/35 |
| Kit Number |
6210 |
| Primary Media |
325 parts (302 in grey styrene, 16 etched nickel, 4 etched brass, 2 in
tan cementable vinyl, 1 section of steel cable) |
| Pros |
Clean, new kit of this subject with apparent detailed research behind
the kit; many models will welcome vinyl tracks |
| Cons |
Only one set of options available for the only member of this group to
see combat; tracks must be fitted carefully and measured (see text) |
| Skill Level |
Basic |
| MSRP (USD) |
$32-38 |
It would seem in many quarters all you have to do to sell a kit is put "German"
and "Tiger" on the box and you have an instant winner. In real
life, such was not the case, but Tigers did garner good press
for their day.
What most fervent Tiger fans also know is that the original tank came from
a competition of two competing VK4501 designs, one from Henschel
and one from Porsche. Both were designed to use a standard turret
built for them by Krupp. While Henschel chose a conventional engine-rear/transmission-front
German layout, Porsche opted for a design with two V-10 engines
powering generators and electric motors for the transmission.
While on paper this was a superior system, in reality the technology
of the time was not quite up to the task and the tank was not
accepted. 10 chassis were built and at least 5 did receive turrets,
but only one ever saw combat as a tank.
This kit builds that vehicle, the commander's tank of sPzJgAbt 653 on the Eastern
Front in early 1944. It appears to have received some quick alterations,
such as a Pzkw. IV turret stowage bin an dother minor tweaks to
make it combat ready. Since it shared components with the "Elefant"
tank destroyers of the unit, maintaining it was probably not much
of a problem.
DML has taken components of its very well done "Ferdinand" and "Elefant" kits
and used them along with several new sprues to create a model
of this unique member of the Tiger family. Sprues B, E and F are
from the earlier kits (mostly suspension bits and the lower hull
and sprues A, C, H and L are new to this model. Also new are a
set of single piece tracks in tan cementable vinyl, etched nickel
details and etched brass engine grilles, and a section of blackened
steel cable for modelers who want "real" cables on the sides of
the hull. (Separate plastic tow cable ends and the aforementioned
nickel brackets replace the one-piece styrene cables for those
parts.)
Note that the tracks - which do cement together well with good liquid cements
like Testors - are, like those on the M4A2 before it, very "stretchy"
and flexible and while I did not have a chance to assemble the
kit and test them are probably a loose fit. This is normal as
many companies want to ensure that you can install the tracks
so leave them longer than they should (as with Italeri, even while
they are too stiff) or stretchier (Zvezda needs to pay attention
to this!) You may have to clip off one or two of the connection
links in order to get a good fit. There are four overlapping links
here, so it may be easier to do than it sounds. Remember these
are "dead" tracks and run along nearly the entire top half of
the road wheels.
While the box art shows zimmerit in place on the tank in action, the kit is
smooth, so you will have to install your own zimmerit.
One nice touch is that the inside armored deflector blades are provided for
the radiator intakes on the sides of the engine bay. Ergo, no
"hollow tank" there, but the large rear grille is not so fortunate
and modelers need to ensure something is there as a view block
or simply paint the interior black.
Overall this is a superior kit to the older Italeri one as far as I can see,
and should make most fans happy.
Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.
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