Modelling the Tiger I

Arguably the most famous tank of World War II, Germany's Tiger I tank has been one of the most popular subjects of modellers for many years. Developed as a breakthrough weapon, combining thick armour and a lethal 88mm gun, the Tiger I became a feared adversary for the Allies who faced it in North Africa, Italy and on both the Eastern and Western fronts. The Tiger's production run went from July 1942 to August 1944, with 1,354 vehicles completed. Many improvements and modifications took place over that two–year period, including upgrades to the engine, turret and running gear. Stages of the Tiger's development have been categorized as 'initial', 'early', 'mid', 'late' and 'final', but there were numerous overlaps in factory–produced features that make some vehicles difficult to label.

Modelling the Tiger I came into vogue in the early 1970s when Tamiya produced a kit in their new line of 1/35-scale military miniatures, following soon after with a 1/25-scale version with an interior. In the early 1990s Tamiya produced a retooled 1/35-scale kit of a late–production Tiger I that was a quantum leap ahead of the previous offerings with regard to accuracy and detail. Earlier versions of the vehicle were also released after this, and a flood of aftermarket products followed allowing modellers to create very detailed versions of the tank. Academy and AFV Club later released Tiger I kits, with the Academy one featuring an interior. Tamiya's 1/16-scale remote–controlled Tiger I, released in 2000, was an expensive but amazing feat of engineering, which included movement in all directions, a swivelling turret, gun recoil and engine, machine–gun and main gun sounds. Dragon Models Ltd raised the bar in 1/35-scale kits with their release of the initial– and late–production Tiger I in 2005, as well as making a limited production run of their DAK Tiger I through their web sales outlet, Cyber–Hobby. Tamiya and Skybow have since released 1/48-scale kits of the Tiger I. The aftermarket companies have followed with etched–metal and resin detail sets to enhance the finished kits.

This book showcases the work of different authors constructing six different Tiger I models, using a varied approach to each build. Although Dragon kits have been used for each of the 1/35-scale builds, the details and modelling methods shown can be applied to any of the current kits available from other manufacturers. The authors have shown many modifications and techniques during the construction of the kits that range from early to late variants of the Tiger I. The models have been upgraded from the basic kits with many aftermarket items to show the reader the types of products available and how they are applied. These methods, along with some recommended research material, will help the reader complete accurate and detailed models of the Tiger I.