DR6311: Panzerkampfwagen VI(P) - Premium Edition
1/35 injection plastic kit with multimedia accessories and decals

The PanzerKampfwagen VI (P) had an innovative Porsche designed hull with petrol-electric motors and was developed as a contender for a new heavy panzer. While not accepted for further series production the PanzerKampfwagen VI (P) saw limited production with 10 vehicles completed. Of these vehicles, also known as the VK 45.01(P), Tiger (P) and Porsche 101 among other names, only one is known to have seen combat. This particular vehicle was a command version which served with the heavy tank destroyer unit schwere Panzer Jager Abteilung 653, alongside the Elefant with which it shared a common lower hull and suspension.

CONTENTS

This new kit from Dragon's Premium Edition range includes a significant number of upgraded and additional parts compared to the original 2004 release and as a result will make a more accurate and refined model of the Tiger (P) that served on the Eastern Front.

The most important improvement to this kit is that the turret has been revised to reflect that of the Tiger (P) used with schwere Panzer Jager Abt 653 as it was used in combat. An escape hatch had been added to the right rear of the turret to reflect photos of this tank. The turret side vision ports have also been lowered to be almost level with the round ends of the lifting lugs (tragzapfen) to improve accuracy while the three metal sockets ('Pilze') on the turret roof are now separate parts which can be correctly positioned. As before the turret has the correct asymmetrical shape. The turret included in the 2004 release was accurate to scale plans for what the vehicle and another of the pilot run probably looked like when assembled.

Other turret features include a new slide molded drum cupula with a one piece clear plastic part for the commander vision blocks, choice of closed or detailed open commanders hatches, internal detail on the loaders hatch such as the locking wheel and “C” shaped handles, and neatly rendered weld seams on the rim of the turret roof and the eight screws are present.

The turret is also enhanced with new optional multimedia parts include a turned metal barrel with injection plastic muzzle break, mounting bracket for the smoke candle dischargers (Nebelwurfgerat), spare track frame on the turret rear, and the signal basket (Rauchsignalkorb). The barrel can be built with a concealed spring to achieve a recoil effect.

Another significant upgrade is the inclusion of Magic Tracks where each link comes loose, and for most modelers will require no clean up (there are small injector pin marks that will be largely hidden by the road wheels). I found these links, which have the chevrons correctly positioned, fitted together smoothly and fitted onto the assembled drive sprocket perfectly. Once assembled the links while need a light application of glue to secure them together and onto the kit. The 2004 release had the one-piece Dragon Styrene tracks.

Other features include:

* New larger photo etch fret which includes all four engine deck grills, brackets for tools and tow cables, fender support brackets, fender brackets and support brackets and clasps for the turret stowage bin, in addition to the other turret detail described above. Besides the grills, injection plastic parts are provided for those who prefer that medium.

* Pre-formed metal pins for the front and rear fender hinges.

* Pre-formed metal frames for the two rear engine deck grills.

* Two 220 mm long lengths of tow cable wire with 4 injection plastic cable ends.

* New hull MG with internal detail.

* A new jack that is molded without clamps for use with the PE and some new tools such as spade and axe with clasps molded on (need to be removed for use with the PE).

* Clear plastic parts for the driver’s and commander’s periscopes.

The injection plastic parts from the 2004 release are crisply detailed and fit together smoothly. Familiar parts include the hull, engine deck, and smaller fittings such as the air intake and ventilation louvers and the bogies. The lower hull and upper superstructure are both large single pieces. Having built the 2004 release, I found these injection plastic parts fitted together easily with a close fit for all visible joins. Like with most 1/35 Dragon kits, the Tiger (P) requires multiple modeling sessions to assemble and I would recommend reading the instructions in advance.

The only additions required to represent the ‘653’ tank are the zimmerit coating and the two aerial rods. I applied an aftermarket resin zimmerit set to my model and was pleased with the results.

Decals and Painting

A 50mm x 35mm waterslide decal sheet printed by Catograf is included for the Tiger (P) of schwere Panzer Jager Abteilung 653 and is accurate against photos. The vehicles had the tactical markings “003” in red with white outline. The decal sheet provides 3 x “003” for the turret sides and rear, as well as four Balkan crosses (one is a spare) and 3 x the ‘653’ unit emblem of a black sword on a white circle of which the instruction sheet only suggests that one is used. The Dragon instruction sheet suggests that one of the “003” decals is applied to the rear of the vehicle as is seen in several photos. However examination of photos reveals that in some photos the ‘003” tactical number was absent, but instead the unit emblem was visible located halfway between the coupling point and the left tow cable mounting point and positioned halfway up the height of the rear plate. As the Dragon decal sheet includes extra unit emblems, modelers have the flexibility to depict the Tiger (P) as it appears in either set of photos. The camouflage paint scheme on Dragon’s box art of a yellow base with irregular bands of green and brown over spays is in keeping with the wartime photos.

RECOMMENDATION

With the improved turret, additional photo etch and Magic track, this new release ensures that Dragon’s Tiger (P) is an accurate and comprehensive kit which represents great value for money. Having enjoyed building the 2004 release, I consider that these upgrades have added that extra appeal and finesse to this interesting and somewhat rare Panzer. Strongly recommended.

- Neville Lord

"... this kit is a fine improvement of what was a good kit to begin with ..."

<full review here>
- Frank De Sisto

"DR6311: Sd. Kfz 184 Elefant
1/35 injection plastic kit with multimedia accessories and decals

Large, powerful and technically complex, the German Elefant tank destroyer saw combat in Italy and on the Eastern Front. When correctly deployed the 88mm guns could extract a high toll on enemy armor. This new release is from Dragon’s Premium Edition range where existing kits are enhanced with new parts and multi-media extras. The original Dragon Elefant is one kit which I particular enjoyed building and I was keen to see this revamped release.

CONTENTS

This kit includes a variety of new parts to offer increased flexibility in how the kit can be built and to enhance the underlying kit’s finesse.

The new kit offers the modeler the choice of building an Elefant with the large one piece hatch or one of four Elefants which when overhauled by Nibelungen Works received a split rear hatch with prominent external hinges. This new hatch can be modeled open or closed or left articulated. The inverted “V” rain guard fitted above this hatch is also provided. Photos of one of the Elefants with the split hatch showed that the commander’s hatch had been modified with a round hole replacing the hinged periscope flap. The new kit provides the alternative hatch along with a disc to cover the periscope hole.

The other new and upgraded parts provide most of the items that modelers purchased as aftermarket several years ago, including:

New 1 piece turned metal barrel, which unlike many aftermarket barrels, is a drop fit and requires no clean up of the muzzle break. The muzzle break is the nicely detailed three-part item from Dragon’s Tiger I series.
Magic Tracks where each link comes loose, and for most modelers will require no clean up (there are small injector pin marks that will be largely hidden by the road wheels). I found these links fitted together smoothly and fitted onto the assembled drive sprocket perfectly. These links have the chevrons correctly positioned. These tracks offer a considerable saving in construction time and improved accuracy over those in the initial release.
Additional tools including a new spade and wire cutters to be placed inside the new PE toolbox and a new jack that is molded without clamps for use with the PE. The original jack is still included.
12 clear plastic parts for the driver’s and commander’s periscopes.
220 mm long length of tow cable wire with 4 injection plastic cable ends.
4 metal U-shaped tow hooks with 4 brass towing cable heads
Pre-formed metal pins for the front fender hinges.
New hull MG with internal detail (from the Dragon Panzer IV Ausf D kit).
Metal chains for use when the cover for a port on the rear is left loose.
The injection plastic parts from the 2000 release are crisply detailed and fit together smoothly. Familiar parts include the hull, road-wheels, engine deck, upper superstructure (fighting compartment) and smaller fittings such as the gun travel lock and internal gun breach. The lower hull and superstructure are both large single pieces.

PHOTO ETCH

Two new photo etch frets offer a comprehensive and well selected range of parts, which compares very favourably with aftermarket sets.

The highlights include PE fenders which have the tread plate on both sides; the large rear tool box which can be modeled open or alternatively battle damaged; the top ring for the commander’s cupola; the mesh for the rear air vent; clamps for the tools; cover over the driver’s visor and a range of detail on the fenders included the hinges for the front fender flaps and a dozen support brackets.

Like with other Dragon kits injection plastic parts are provided for those who prefer this medium.

PRODUCTION SERIES

This model compares accurately against scale plans for those vehicles that were extensive overhauled with a series of modifications including adding a hull MG and commander’s cupola. When these Panzers were first used at Kursk in 1943 they were known as Ferdinards, but in early 1944, around the time of the overhaul, they were renamed as Elefants. Photos show some minor variances in how the workshop overhauled Elefants and this accounts for why the kit differs slightly from some scale plans (e.g. exact location of the support brackets on the fenders).

The only addition required to represent a combat vehicle is the zimmerit coating, which was standard on overhauled Elefants. I applied an aftermarket resin zimmerit set to my model and was pleased with the results.

CONSTRUCTION

I found the kit’s injection plastic parts fitted together easily with a close fit for all visible joins. Like with most 1/35 Dragon kits, the Elefant requires multiple modeling sessions to assemble and I would recommend reading the instructions in advance.

A few tips, that I discovered as I built my kit are:

The rectangular hoods on the engine deck (E14 & A22) slope down towards the rear of the vehicle.
The oval shaped mountings for the front drive sprockets (B15) should sit proud of the front of the side armor plate with the hole on the mounting face should be at 1 o’clock (this is shown on the instructions).
If you are assembling the gunlock in the traveling position, take care with its base as the small parts are fiddly.
For the tow coupling on the center of the rear plate, I inverted part B24 based on photos of the Aberdeen Elefant.
The U shaped hooks on the rear of the fighting compartment are for spare tracks. Photos show that it was common for tracks to be hung of these hooks, as per the illustration on the underside of the kit’s box and the instruction sheet accompanying the split escape hatch.
DECALS

A larger revamped decal sheet by Cartograf contains markings from schwere Panzer Jager Abteilung 653 (heavy tank destroyer unit 653) in both Italy and on the Eastern Front. The painting guide illustrates four of this unit’s Elefants (dark yellow base with varying sprayed patterns), while also illustrating a whitewashed Elefant with a Balkan Cross from schwere Panzer Jager Abteilung 654. The side of the kit’s box has colour profiles for these five Elefants.

The decal sheet contains turret numbers for vehicles “101” and “102” (white numbers) and “232” in black, but no unit insignia for s.Pz Abt 653. Two sets of the numbers 1 to 9 and 0 are supplied in both black and white to allow modelers to depict other vehicles as are four Balkan crosses.

RECOMMENDATION

This new release has significantly increased the appeal of Dragon’s Elefant by providing many new parts that add extra finesse and flexibility. The new Magic Tracks offer both improved accuracy and quicker assembly, while the photo-etch is quite comprehensive and compliments the crisply detailed injection plastic parts. Overall this kit offers great value for money and is highly recommended."

- Neville Lord

"...a great job of upgrading the original kit..."

<full review here>
- Cookie Sewell