Scale: 1 / 16
This is a large-scale model with support for motorisation and radio control.
The build date of this Tiger
The version of Tiger that it builds, places constraints on the markings and colours that are accurate for it. Here, using the most prominent features of the kit, I will narrow down the window of time in which such a Tiger could be built.
The kit has no turret spare tracks, its sprocket wheel hub is the "domed" type, and its rear grilles are "mirrored". Therefore it makes Tigers from no later than April 1943.
The kit has no periscope for the loader, and no small access panel at the rear of the engine deck. Therefore it makes Tiger from no later than March 1943.
The kit provides Feifel filters of the second type. These were introduced in March 1943. Therefore, the kit makes a Tiger from that month, or very close to that month. Other features of the Tiger that were introduced in January 1943 are all present in this kit.
There is one error in Tamiya's timeline. The two small "legs" on the engine hatch (arrowed here) are from later versions of Tigers and are not appropriate for this kit. They should not be installed.
Units that received such Tigers
Records of the issued Tiger chassis numbers are only partial. But we do have a list of Tiger issue dates cross referenced with Tiger units. Therefore I can say that Tigers as built by this kit should be sought in s.Pz.Abt.503, 505, and at the Putlos training school. But, some of the matching Tigers may have been held back at the factory and issued later to other units.
I intend to make a thorough search for real Tigers that match the model.
Colours of such Tigers
A careful search for grey Tigers (i.e. painted in Dunkelgrau) reveals that only a small number of them existed, and they were apparently all earlier types than what this kit builds. Therefore Tamiya's direction to paint this model grey is wrong.