"Tiger 1 Initial Production" model kit from Rye Field Model

Scale: 1 / 35

The kit's background

"Tiger 1 Initial Production" was the first kit from a new manufacturer, Rye Field Model. It builds a rare version of Tiger, nowadays called "Tunisian" or "Initial", used in Tunisia by the 501st Heavy Tank Battalion. Despite the small numbers of such Tigers, they are represented by several kits: "Tiger 1 Tunisian Initial" from Dragon, Tamiya's rather inaccurate "Tiger I Ausführung Afrika", and a very inaccurate kit "Tiger Ausf. E (tp)" from Italeri.

In 2021, Rye Field released an improved version of this kit, "Tiger 1 Initial Production without interior". They also released a much more complex kit with an interior.

The 501st heavy tank battalion was the second unit to be equipped with Tiger tanks. Its Tigers had prototype external fittings, giving them a unique appearance. The battalion was sent to General von Arnim's 5th Panzer Army in Tunisia, starting its deployment there in November 1942.

At that time, American and British forces had landed to the west of the Axis zone while Rommel's Afrika Korps was fighting to the east. The 5th Panzer Army was urgently shipped to Tunisia to defend against this new threat. The 501st was given all new Tigers as a priority until they had 20, organised into 2 companies. At that time, Tiger battalions mixed Tigers with equal numbers of the smaller, more agile Pz.3.

The 501st fought in several battles between December 1942 and March 1943. Its Tigers were the first ones ever encountered by British or American forces, at the battle of Tebourba. Of particular note is the battle of Sidi bou Zid where heavy losses were inflicted on American armour. However, General von Arnim refused to lend the Tigers to Rommel for his subsequent assault through the Kasserine Pass.

At the end of February 1943, the 501st was attached to the 7th Panzer Regiment and sent on von Arnim's ill-planned mission to capture Beja. The mission ended with seven Tigers lost in the battle of Hunt's Gap. The eleven remaining Tigers were attached to the newly arrived 504th Heavy Tank Battalion and continued fighting until the surrender of Tunisia.

Some errors from other manufacturers' kits are repeated in the Rye Field Model kit (undersize turret bin, oversize cables). Some errors are new. But overall, it's a good representation of its subject. It has multi-part individual-link tracks, metal cables and photo-etch engine screens. The entire suspension is workable. Decals for many Tigers of the 501st are provided, but the external equipment in the kit is correct for only a few of them.

My ongoing review and comments;

Starter handle	Engine hatch handles	Shovel
Handles on the cupola hatch	Digit decal colours	Antenna tube
Turret bin	Smoke launcher units	Rear mudguard ribs
Rear toolbox	Bolts on the 'early' cupola	Tow cables
Mudguard frames	Mantlet	Cupola ring
Turret bin latches	Decals	RAL 8020 paint
Turret base	Nuts inside the rear wall	Individual Tigers supported by the kit
Side mudguards	Road wheels	Gun length
Exhausts	Headlight base plates

These are other reviews of the kit;

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