Scale: 1 / 35
This article concerns a model kit that is not yet on general release. More information will be added as and when it becomes available.
The kit's subject
This kit builds the "command" variant of the Early Tiger I. Four decal options are provided, including Tiger "S04" that was used in a famous set of photographs of Michael Wittman and his crew.
Options in the build
There are decals for Tiger "S04", Tiger "II" of the 505th battalion, Tiger "II" of the 502nd, and an "unknown Tiger". I have been unable to match the latter to any Tiger unit; it may be a fantasy scheme.
This kit has a large number of optional parts, e.g. turret bins, mantlets, air filters, spare tracks etc. But the kit's instructions do not explicitly state which parts correspond to which decal option. Some of the choices are clearly depicted in the colour scheme diagrams; others are not easy to see there.
Tigers built in the period January 1943 - July 1943 can be built, that is, from the introduction of S-mines to the end of "Early Tiger" production.
What are Command Tigers
Panzer units had "command" vehicles that accompanied them into action. For convenience and concealment, these vehicles were built on the same chassis as the tanks. The "command" version of the Tiger I had a working main gun and could fight like a normal tank, lacking only the coaxial machine gun.
My ongoing review and comments;
| Chin of turret | Mast antenna |