Right from the start, when Ron Volstad's beautiful artwork was first advertised on the Dragon website at the end of last year, it was clear for me that this kit was going to be 'special'. It was Michael Wittmann's Tiger at Villers-Bocage alright, but that turret number wasn't so much of an obvious choice if conventional wisdom and widespread belief were to be trusted. It looked challenging, yet very familiar, to a few of us...

Surprisingly enough, Dragon chose to release their Initial Tiger I first and this proved to be a true groundbreaking release as well as a foretaste of things to come : beautifully detailed plastic parts achieved by cutting-edge moulding technology coupled with fine multi-media accessories and bonuses.
Then came tons of weekly updates on that Late Tiger I to the point that some of us thought we would never see the end of it.

When this new Dragon release finally turned up on my doorstep, I must confess I felt like a five year-old kid on Christmas Day.
As a die-hard Late Tiger I fan myself, I must admit to being a little biased here but still I can only say that this kit has exceeded my expectations as I am sure it will exceed those of many other fellow modellers.
I mean, this model is so impressive it is begging to be built and it is very very hard to resist !

Now there isn't much I can add to what has already been described before but in my opinion, one point that cannot be stressed enough is that the plastic parts ALONE will enable the beginner or the modeller with little spare time like myself to actually build a VERY accurate replica, even down to the tool brackets. Those with more time or experience will appreciate the plethora of metal accessories, clear plastic parts and the photo-etch frets included in the box so they can go detail crazy. And that's putting it mildly.
In both cases, the value for money is quite simply outstanding !

However, there is no such thing as a perfect kit, and while this one comes close enough, an important feature is still missing : the Zimmerit coating ! As it has been duly noted, this will have to be added by modellers themselves as ALL Late Production Tiger I's had it and yes it is a little strange that it was left out ! Even more puzzling is that there is no mention of such a feature in the otherwise very busy and comprehensive instructions and markings guide.
But given the Tiger I is such well-documented subject, perhaps the designers thought they would have been describing the obvious here. As for replicating the Zimmerit itself, there are many ways to achieve a realistic enough 'home-made' Zimmerit coating these days and by leaving the kit hull and turret sides smooth so modellers could actually create something of their own, at least Dragon made sure no two of their Late Tiger I kits will look alike !
Sometimes, choices have to be made and no doubt that the inclusion of specific Zimmerit parts would have meant postponing this release even further. And who would have wanted to wait another six months ?!...

Likewise, some other features like a 25mm turret roof would have been most welcome since the Late Tiger I's produced in February and for most of March 1944 would have had it (along with the large muzzle brake and binocular sight - both of these are included in the kit though) as the infamous Tiger 007 most likely did. But again, this is not a major issue as removing the bottom lip of the 40mm roof without Pilzen as well as deleting the Nahverteidigungswaffe should solve this little problem easily.

As an introduction, I did say this kit was special and the decal sheet along with the markings guide also reflect this. There are enough options to depict about half of Wittmann's Battalion in Normandy in particular, including his own documented mounts like 205, 231 and 007 - and of course the more controversial 212 ! -, and the placement of the emblems for these and a selection of other 2. Kompanie Tigers is even meticulously reproduced which is another indication of how much research was put into this project.

All in all, there is no doubt this kit is one of a kind and a definite must have.

I must thank Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson for allowing me to make my small contribution to this kit, Barry Crook for his own imput and critical eye on Wittmann's Tigers as well as Paul Alderton for making sure my sample would find its way to me.

- Yann Jouault