With the recent arrival of Dragon's range topping Tiger I Late Production kit, we have another remarkable, bulging boxful of styrene and metal parts that, for the large part, obviates the need to buy any aftermarket sets at all. For the photo-etch and metal barrel producers this is not such good news, but for the average cash-strapped modeller, things have never been better.

Dragon have presented nearly everything you need to build one hell of a good looking Tiger I model, so even if you are not blessed with a library full of reference books, you can still have a very satisfying modelling experience by just following the instructions. As always, our disclaimer is that until you start putting the parts together, it's impossible to say whether everything fits well, but from Dragon's track record is such that it is fair to assume that it will build up with ease.

Here are some of our favourite parts; Correct roadwheels with accurate boltheads and washers, and no ejector pin marks, upper deck with casting text and foundry numbers on rear portion, plus separately moulded access grilles, asymmetrical turret with choice of turret upper plates and three mantlets, 'S Mine' thrower internal mechanism, exquisite multi-piece jack, complete radiator bay structures (visible through engine grilles), extensive 88mm gun internal details, tools with and without clamps and brackets, alternative Bosch headlight brackets with internal detail when headlamp not fitted - and much, much more.

Here's a rundown of other kits specs; One-piece muzzle brake, cupola with clear periscope parts, tank crews included, two types of brass 88mm ammo, decals by Cartograf , Jerrycan with injection moulded and photo-etched parts, authentic panzer crew uniform, Metal storage tube for spare radio aerial rod, 88mm shells in brass, extendable jack, detailed commander's cupola, metal hawsers with metal shackles, variety of mantlets, commander's hatch with interior details, movable cover for driver's periscope, detailed interior of driver's hatch, loader's hatch with interior details, aluminum main gun barrel, late production hull, functional torsion bar suspension, Dragon individual 'Magic Tracks'.

Coming soon..?
If we can get the Initial Production Tiger, FlaK36, PzI Befehlswagen, M1 Panther II and numerous Sd.Kfz251 kits finished, we will include this kit as a full-build review, as soon as possible!

- Marcus Nicholls