Tiger I and Tiger II Tanks

German Army and Waffen-SS, The Last Battles in the West, 1945

Dennis Oliver

• Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781526741820
• eBook ISBN: 9781526741837
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

An in-depth overview of these fearsome heavy tanks, including photos, illustrations, and modeling information.
 
Tiger tanks were among the most-feared fighting vehicles of the Second World War. They gained almost legendary status—yet they never fulfilled their potential, because they were not produced in sufficient numbers and the tide of the war had turned against the German army by the time they were introduced.
 
Often they were deployed in difficult circumstances and in defensive battles, struggling against the odds. Nowhere was this truer than in western Europe during the Allied advance across France and into Germany, and it is the Tigers of this phase of the war that Dennis Oliver portrays in his third volume on the Tiger in the TankCraft series. Using archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations, he examines the Tiger tanks and units of the German Army and Waffen-SS heavy panzer battalions that struggled to resist the onslaught of Allied armor and air attacks during the last days of the conflict.
 
A key section of his book displays available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, providing everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of these historic tanks.

MODELLING PRODUCTS

To say that the Tiger tank is a perennial favourite among armour modellers would be something of an understatement. Scale replicas of these deservedly famous tanks have been produced by every major manufacturer, and many minor and less well known companies, since the early 1960s when the first plastic construction kits were released. Although the early products would today be considered little more than toys, the more recent models are highly detailed representations, increasingly featuring photo-etched brass parts, turned aluminium barrels and workable tracks as standard, often depicting variants which were operational for just a short period of time or which may have only taken part in a single battle. The expansion of the market in recent years has also contributed to the proliferation of smaller, specialised companies producing accessories in resin, photo-etched metal, plastic, wood and other materials allowing a level of super-detailing which had previously been the province of a few master modellers. Models of the Tiger are produced in a number of scales from tiny 6mm wargames miniatures to the huge, radio-controlled 1/6 scale versions but these are at the extreme ends of the market and I have chosen to concentrate on the most popular modelling scales of 1/35, 1/48 and 1/72. I should mention that this list is far from exhaustive, mostly due to reasons of space, and to compensate I have omitted some companies that were mentioned in the first volume in the TankCraft series, Tiger I and Tiger II Tanks, German Army and Waffen-SS, Eastern Front 1944, and included a number that could not be accommodated in that book. In addition, I have limited any comment or critique of these kits or products to those of which I have first-hand knowledge.

An index of manufacturers and their contact details can be found on page 64.

TAMIYA INCORPORATED

This Japanese company, which began life as a sawmill, has been manufacturing plastic kits since 1959, releasing their first armour model two years later. By the early 1970s Tamiya was producing a large range of armoured vehicles and accessories and the company was almost solely responsible for the rise in popularity of 1/35 scale. Like Airfix, the adoption of a constant scale proved popular at a time when many manufacturers were making models to fit the box in which they would eventually be marketed. Tamiya’s early kits were, for their day, highly detailed, relatively easy to assemble and, most importantly, affordable. From 2003 Tamiya began releasing a series of armour models in 1/48 scale, including early and late models of the Tiger I and a Tiger II, and this line has been extremely successful for the company. At the time of writing Tamiya produces, in 1/35 scale, early, mid-production and late versions of the Tiger I, a Tiger II fitted with the Production turret and coated with Zimmerit , a later Tiger II without the Zimmerit and a Tiger II with the earlier Porsche turret. Radio-controlled models of an early production Tiger I and a Tiger II are produced in both 1/35 and 1/16 scale.

Tamiya’s 1/35 scale Tiger II with Production turret marketed as Königstiger Einsatz-Kommando Ardennes.

1. Tracks and steel roadwheels from the 1/48 scale late production Tiger 1.

2. Detail of the mid production Tiger I kit in 1/35 scale.

3. Tamiya also sells sheets of Zimmerit texture For the Tiger I and Tiger II.

TRUMPETER/HOBBY BOSS

Often thought to be separate entities, these Chinese companies are in fact owned by the same corporation, are located at the same address and are essentially the same firm although different models are marketed separately under the two labels. Hobby Boss produces a 1/16 scale mid production Tiger I while Trumpeter’s range is far more extensive, encompassing a number of 1/72 scale models and a 1/16 scale Tiger II which can be built with either the Production or earlier Porsche turret. There are also options of other late or early production features.

The Hobby Boss 1/16 scale mid production Tiger I. This model comes assembled and pre-painted in the scheme shown here. 1. Detail of the 1/35 scale mid production Tiger I with Zimmeritfitted. 2. The optional turrets for the 1/35 scale Tiger II.

ACADEMY

Based in Korea, this company’s Military Miniatures range of 1/35 scale figures and vehicles includes an early and mid production Tiger I, a late production version and a Hybrid model with later steel wheels, optional Zimmerit texture for the hull and turret, early drum-style commander’s cupola and a selection of markings marketed as Tiger I Hybrid Gruppe Fehrmann referring to the six Tigers from Panzerschule 1 Bergen which were commanded by Oberleutnant Rudolf Fehrmann during the last days of the war. Most of these models have been repackaged at some time, often with only minor changes or new markings, although some include additional parts.

Academy’s late production Tiger I kit in 1/35 scale built with photo-etched brass details from Eduard Model Accessories. Note that the model does not have Zimmerit although most, if not all, these tanks would have had the paste applied before leaving the assembly plant. The images at left show the detailed interior of the early production model.

DRAGON MODELS LIMITED

At the time of writing this Hong Kong-based company’s catalogue contained over forty models of Tiger I and II variants in 1/35 and 1/72 scale including kits of the Bergetiger recovery vehicle. That number does not include the Jagdtiger tank destroyer and Sturmtiger assault gun, both offered in different scales. The larger-scale models include early, mid and late production tanks as well as the Tiger I Hybrid version. From time to time many of these models are repackaged with bonus items such as photo-etched parts or new sets of markings under the Cyb...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• The Western Front, 1945
• The Tiger Units of the Heer
• Camouflage & Markings
• Model Showcase
• Modelling Products
• The Tiger Units of the Waffen-SS
• Technical Details and Modification
• The Hybrid Tiger I Assemblies
• Factory-Applied Camouflage
• Product Contact Details