DRAGON MODELS LIMITED

Product Specifications.

6352, Sd.Kfz.181 Panzerkampfwagen VI (P) Premium Edition. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 396 styrene parts (including 12 clear parts), two bags of Magic Tracks, 10 metal parts, one turned aluminum gun tube, one photo-etched brass fret, one water-slide decal marking scheme and eight pages of instructions in 22 steps.

Introduction.

There ain't nothing like having another Tiger variation to model, at least as far as manufacturers and a segment of the modeling community is concerned. DML released this kit last year and has now decided to correct a major error, as well as provide several new details, etched parts, turned aluminum gun tube and various metal bits, in this just-released "Premium Edition" kit. For modelers who were "sitting on the fence" about this kit, these improvements ought to get them interested, since they have made this rare cat all the more desirable to the average "SGF".

Tracks.

These are the so-called "Magic Track" individual links. They fit together using friction and then need cement to keep them in pace when fitted. They are less work for the modeler than the usual styrene individual link tracks seen in previous kits, since they are "loose" and there is no cleaning of sprue attachment points needed. However, like almost all links of this type they still have ejector pin marks that will need removal. They are crisply-molded and have nice, sharp detail; they are also of the proper style as used on this schwere Panzer as they consist of alternating links: one with a guide horn and one without, etc.

Suspension System.

The kit represents the Porsche longitudinal torsion bar system quite well and with care in assembly, the units will remain "semi-articulate". The idler sprocket has a mount that can be adjusted to alter track sag, which is very handy since the modeler is not only dealing with individual links, but two styles of link. So, if the modeler "comes up short", it will be by two links, not one. Separate mud scrapers and final drive housings, properly-detailed road-wheels, drive sprockets and idler sprockets complete the system.

Hull.

The hull pan is typical in that it comes from a slide-mold. This allows for details to be properly rendered on the side walls as well as the belly plate. There are access plates, drain ports, bolt patterns and wells beads on the belly, as well as suspension unit and mud scraper mounts on the side walls. The lower bow plate is also molded in place; it features weld bead and plate interlock details. The rear plate is a separate part, to which various tow points are to be mounted. Finally, the main superstructure side plates (along with sponson bottom plates) are also integrally-molded. Conical bolts, plate seams and weld beads are all crisply-rendered. As this part was originally designed as the basis for the Elefant/Ferdinand kits, certain bits need to be removed; the instructions show most of what needs to be done, although they forget to indicate the removal of the location pips for the large tool locker seen on the original kits.

Superstructure.

Building upon the hull pan, the kit's designers have added various separate plates and panels to build up the different surfaces. All are nicely-detailed moldings that are finished by separate bits such as view-ports, Bosch head-lamps and bases, new completely-detailed movable MG34 (with pre-opened bore, thanks to the use of a slide mold), applique armor plates, towing mounts and "U"-shaped tow clevises. Separate fenders with a choice of etched or styrene braces, can also be complimented by etched brass and wire hinges if the modeler desires. New tools without clasps can be used with the provided etched clasps, or the original all-styrene ones can be used. Likewise, the tow cables can be all-styrene or a combination of etched brass, wound metal wire and styrene end loops.

The roof plate features new clear parts for the driver's periscope heads as well as separate armored guards. The engine deck has excellently detailed air intake cowls complete with baffles. The exhaust cowls are "wide-open", so the modeler may wish to place something beneath them or at least paint the area black before closing up the hull. Etched brass screens with a "woven" pattern are provided for the intake vents as were seen on the original kit. However, DML has now also included pre-formed brass rod frames as well as etched brass screens for the exhaust cowls. These will require some work by the modeler to install since the etched bras parts need their "frames" cut away with the resulting "loose ends" then attached to the brass rod framework. Additionally, short pieces of brass rod must be cut and placed on the forward edge of the styrene cowls, for the screen frames to sit upon. I'd replace these last items with styrene rod, with pre-drilled holes in which to mount them. The remaining details such as antenna bases, the very nice styrene and etched brass jack, some tools, various plates and hinges complete this area.

Turret.

By far, the most improvements added to this kit are for the turret. Foremost is the new part for the side wall that has the opening for the escape hatch lid. The separate lid is detailed inside and out and can be depicted opened or closed. In addition, the view ports seen on the turret sides are now separate parts that can be positioned in their proper places. The gun breech assembly from the recent DML Tiger I kits is included so something can be seen if any (or all) of the hatch lids are left opened; the commander's and loader's seats are also given. The gun tube itself now consists of a turned aluminum "core" with a styrene multi-part muzzle brake. This can recoil using a spring; an all-styrene gun tube is also given as an option. Three different gun mantlets are given; see below ("Accuracy") for which one should be used.

The roof plate features separate "Pilze" crane mounts, new internal details for the loader's hatch lid, and a new slide-molded "core" for the commander's cupola; clear styrene parts replicate the internally-mounted glass vision blocks. A new styrene and etched brass "Rauchsignalkorb" (smoke signal basket) is provided for the area behind the cupola, while a "Scherenfernrohr" (scissors periscope) is now provided to be mounted through the opened port in the cupola hatch lid; alternately, another lid is provided with the port closed. Each can be positioned opened or closed. Styrene or formed brass mounts for the "Nebelwurfgerat" (smoke candle dischargers) are also given. Photos show the mounts in place, but without the launch tubes.

The turret rear receives new etched brass spare track racks as well as the mounting bracket for the Gepackkasten (baggage bin). The bin itself can be detailed with etched brass latches and hasps, after the modeler removes the fine molded-on detail.

Molding, Fit and Engineering.

There is not much to say here except that everything is fine. Fit of the styrene components throughout presented no problems at all. When adding some of the etched bits (specifically the optional mud-flap hinges), some styrene parts need to be re-worked, but this is a usual occurrence if one were to purchase an after-market set. There are no sink marks present, nor are any ejector pin marks visible anywhere except on the inner faces of the individual track links; these are raised and very, very subtle.

Accuracy.

Overall, the kit matches the dimensions of published drawings quite well. There are some detail differences such as the configuration of the turret ring splash guard on the superstructure roof (it does not match Doyle's drawings in "Panzerkampfwagen VI P (Sd.Kfz.181), the History of the Porsche Typ 100 and 101, also known as the Leopard and Tiger (P)"). In addition, the above-referenced drawing does not show an escape hatch on the turret side wall, while photographs show it in place, which is why DML now includes this feature (it was not given on the first release of this kit in its "standard" version).

The kit supplies three gun mantlets, including a newly-tooled one. Photos (and drawings) show the mantlet to have the small notch cut out of the lower port-side corner; this is not rendered on the new part. It is given on part C-14, which is designated as not for use; ignore that and use it! There are no 2-meter rod antennae included in the box, something a Befehlspanzer should certainly need; this one carried two of them. Regardless, DML has these parts in their "logistics" system so it is odd that they are not given here. The Gepackkasten (baggage bin) is considerably narrower than drawings indicate; height and length are OK.

Instructions.

These are in the traditional drawn style and are typically "busy". I have noted various spots where some glitches have been observed elsewhere. Suffice to say, they should not be followed blindly; the modeler is cautioned to have references handy and to be sure about what part is being used before applying the glue.

Decals and Markings Information.

Water-slide decals by Cartograf of Italy are provided for the only tank of this type known to have actually seen service. It is a Panzerbefehlswagen (armored command vehicle), Tac number red/white 003, from H.s.Pz.Abt.653 as seen on the Ostfront in 1944. Period photos show the markings to be accurate, although some images show slight variations; presumably it is the same schwere Panzer photographed at different times. For instance, photos in "Combat History of Schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 653" show no Tac numbers while the schwere Panzer was being transported to the front (pages 371-373), while those on pages 374-376 clearly show them. There are structural detail differences between the two "versions" of this Tiger as well. When marked with the Tac numbers, it had two antennae mounts on the rear deck, as well as an extra plate added over the MG ball mount (this is the configuration given in the kit); the earlier photos show only one antenna mount, no added plate over the MG ball mount and no Tac numbers. In addition, the instructions do not show the correct location of the Tac numbers, so references must be consulted; the box-top art shows the placement accurately.

The color scheme is correct as well (Dunkelgelb with Rotbraun and Olivgrun camouflage pattern), but again all photos show the Panzer coated in Zimmerit. Normally, DML shows that the pattern should be added somewhere on a given instruction sheet. In the case of this kit, there is no mention made of it whatsoever. The modeler is advised to add Zimmerit using the method of choice.

Conclusion.

This kit is certainly a great improvement over the original. It is more accurate and has more refined details, as well as enough multi-media parts to make it a fine choice for an out-of-the-box build. Fans of the Tiger I will certainly want this rare cat in their collection; I do.

Highly recommended.

Frank V. De Sisto

References consulted for this review included, but were not limited to:

" "Panzerkampfwagen VI P (Sd.Kfz.181), the History of the Porsche Typ 100 and 101, also known as the Leopard and Tiger (P)", Darlington, by T. Jentz and H. Doyle.
" "Schwere Panzerkampfwagen, D.W. to E-100, Including the Tigers", Panzer Tracts No.6, by T. Jentz and H. Doyle.
" "Germany's Tiger Tanks D.W. to Tiger I: Design, Production & Modifications", Schiffer Military History, by T. Jentz and H. Doyle.
" "Combat History of Schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 653", J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, by K. Munch.

Reviewer's note: Since May of 2005, I have been working on books for Concord Publications, a sister company to DML. The reader may wish to take this into consideration. For my part, I will attempt to maintain an objective viewpoint when writing these reviews.

- Frank De Sisto