Tamiya is releasing another 1:48th scale Tiger I. This release will be a German Tiger I late production. The kit number is 32575. King’s Hobby was gracious enough to give me a sample (non-production release) of the new kit to do a first look preview as well as a follow on build review.
The kit came in a white box with no artwork or identifying marks as a Tamiya kit. Inside the bottom of the box I found the normal printed Tamiya information provided with their model kits. As the title above states, this is a first look article and I would like to convey that the preview example is probably not the final version that you will see on your hobby shop shelves in the near future. For instance, the kit I have is molded in light grey styrene plastic. I have a Facebook friend in Japan that just built this kit and it is in the standard Tamiya dark yellow plastic styrene.
The first thing I saw when I opened the box was the instruction booklet, but not the normal kit instructions you receive with a Tamiya 1:48th scale armor kit. These are not finalized, as well, and they are over-sized since they have not been trimmed to the standard 1:48th scale instruction booklet. The prototype instructions are 8 pages with the normal box cover image. Obligatory "read before assembly", "paints required", and "recommend tools" sections on page 1.
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| Tamiya 1/48 zimmerit coating sheets |
Page 2 starts with an options section on zimmerit. Evidently, Tamiya will be providing zimmerit coating sheets in 1:48th scale for this kit. Granted, it is an additional purchase (kit number: 12653) but it seems to be well worth the additional expense. The other option provided is to do the zimmerit coating yourself by utilizing Tamiya’s zimmerit coating applicator (kit number: 35187). My only problem with the zimmerit coating applicator is that it is for 1:35th scale. Hopefully this will be addressed with a future release of a 1:48th scale applicator. I assume we could use the smaller .05 applicators but again, I don’t think it is to scale. The better option would be to purchase the zimmerit coating sheets mentioned above.
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| Tamiya zimmerit applicator |
There are 15 construction steps to assemble the Tamiya 1:48th scale Tiger I Late Production kit. I will highlight the important areas of each step.
Step 1:
Tamiya has moved away from the die-cast hulls of their earlier 1:48th scale armor kits and the new Tiger I is following this trend. The lower hull tub is styrene plastic molded in light grey. The torsion bars are molded on and do NOT articulate. That was one of the major drawbacks of the die-cast hull. Tamiya has carried that through with this lower hull as well. An advanced modeler definitely could cut them off and make them articulate. However, one thing that might prevent it are the four weights that are to be placed into the lower hull to help simulate weight. Again, an advanced modeler could work around them or mount them higher so the rods could extend across the bottom of the lower hull. This step shows the modeler how to add the weights into the appropriate position on the lower hull as well as the drive sprocket cover and idler wheel mount. Tow hooks are also added in this step.
Step 2:
Page 2 also covers Step 2. It consists of assembling the drive sprocket halves (with poly cap), as well as the road wheels, and the idler wheels (with poly cap). The road wheels are made to represent the steel road wheels associated with the Tiger I late production model.
Step 3:
Page 3 starts with Step 3. In Step 3, the road wheels are attached both sides of the tank, as well as the Drive Sprockets (not glued) and the Idler wheels (not glued). Also, additional brackets are placed near the drive sprockets.
Step 4:
Step 4 is the last step on Page 3. Attaching the tracks via the track length and track links provided for the right side of the tank. The tracks should be attached in numbered order starting with parts A3 through part A15.
Step 5:
Step 5 is the first step on Page 4. Attaching the tracks to the left side of the tank. Again the tracks should be attached in the numbered order starting with parts A3 through part A15.
Step 6:
The last step on Page 4 is Step 6. This step deals with attaching parts to the upper hull. The Upper Hull side plates (right and left) and the rear plate are glued now. Again, parts should be assembled in numbered order (1 – right side, 2 – left side, 3 - rear). Small engine deck details are also added in this step. Tamiya has learned their lesson by providing parts to fill in the space above the track runs. This will ensure that no gaps exist that can be spotted by a contest judge!
Step 7:
This is the first step on Page 5. In this step, the upper hull is attached to the lower hull. I assume when I build the kit I will hold back on this part of Step 7 until all my painting is done. Also, in this step the upper front hull pieces are added (hatches, side skirts, etc…).
Step 8:
In this step the air filters are assembled and placed onto the rear plate of the tank. Also, the rear fenders, and tow hooks are added as well.
Step 9:
Step 9 is the last step on Page 5. Again, additional items are placed on the rear plate (Jack assembly, starter crank bar, air filter shields). Part E14 on my sample has small depressed sink holes on either side of the center. This will be hard to fix due to the small size of the part. I can be done, with a little tender care.
Step 10:
This is the first step on Page 6. Additional items are now placed onto the upper hull. Including three sets of tow cables. They are done very well for 1:48th scale. The hull machine gun barrel is also placed in this step as well as the front tow hooks. The headlight is assembled placed in the center of the front glacis plate.
Step 11:
In this step, the side turret halves and gun mantlet are assembled together. Please note that part B1 (mantlet cover) is not used in this kit but part E16 (mantlet cover) is used.
Step 12:
This is the last step on Page 6. In this step the commander’s seat (for a half figure) is mounted underneath the turret roof. Parts for the turret roof are added in this step as well (loader’s hatch, periscope, and vent cover). The turret roof is then assembled to the turret halves.
Step 13:
Step 13 is the first step on Page 7. This step deals primarily with the assembly and attachment of the 88mm tank gun. The two tank gun halves are assembled and attached to the gun mantlet.
Step 14:
This step adds the commander’s machine gun ring as well as the AA machine gun (the MG 42 is done very well). The turret side hatch and commander’s hatch are attached. The storage bins are attached to the rear of the turret. The last pieces to be attached are the extra track links (part A4) on both sides of the turret.
Step 15:
This is the last step on page 7 and the last construction step. The last step is building the tank commander half figure and marrying the turret with the upper hull. This is the end of the construction steps.
On Page 8, the Painting, Applying Decals, and Replacement part sections close out the Instructions. The painting section talks about how Tiger I Late Production tanks were painted. Overall Dark Yellow. Individual units would apply Red Brown and Dark Green camouflage patterns in the field to match local environments and field conditions. A water-based white coat was applied as winter camouflage. The instructions prefer that Tamiya paints be used and those colors are called out in the instructions.
Cover Story Leaflet:
A separate leaflet is also contained in the kit. This leaflet contains a Background Information section and talks about the history of the Tiger I Late Production. The next page, goes into the zimmerit coating on where and how to apply it. The drawings of the Tiger I Late production showing where the zimmerit should be place are invaluable for the modeler who will try to do the zimmerit via Tamiya putty. Again, I recommend the zimmerit coating sheets (Kit No: 12653).
Last two pages (foldout) are dedicated to Painting & Markings. There are two options for painting & markings.
Option A: Tank No: 312, 3rd Company, 505th Heavy Panzer Battalion, Eastern Front, summer 1944. The base coat is XF-60 (TS-3) Dark Yellow, with XF-64 Red Brown stripes, and with XF-61 Dark Green patches inside the XF-64 Red Brown stripes.
Option B: Tank No: 211, 2nd Company, 101st Heavy Panzer Battalion, Normandy, France, summer 1944. The base coat is XF-60 (TS-3) Dark Yellow, with thin XF-61 Dark Green irregular lines, and with XF-64 Red Brown irregular lines.
CONS:
Some of these might just be nit picking on my part but I have to put something!
- Having to buy or make the zimmerit is a pain. In my opinion the zimmerit coating sheets should be included in the kit.
- Tamiya still molds on their tools even though they can and partially do provide tools. In my opinion this takes away from the kit and limits what can be done with them.
- As mentioned above the torsion bars are molded onto the lower hull and do not articulate.
- Gun barrel is two halves instead of a slide mold one piece gun OR a metal barrel. Okay, I am spoiled by Dragon.
- The turret is two halves and a mantlet instead of a one piece slide mold turret. Again, I am spoiled by Dragon.
- Injector pin marks on the length part of the tracks.
- Injector pin marks on the inside of the steel rim wheels (These may not be visible but I will not find out until I build the kit).
- Some of the detail is hard to see because of the light colored grey styrene plastic used. My eyes are old. Things probably pop out with dark yellow styrene on the production release sets. I will fix this by putting on the primer and base coat when I finish the kit.
Even though I put eight CONS, most of them are very minor and are more of a modeler's preference than an issue.
PROS:
- From what I can tell, this is an accurate rendering of a Tiger I Late production tank in 1:48th scale.
- Tracks look the part (besides the injector pin marks).
- AA-Gun (MG-42) is well done.
- Decals are good and accurate.
- Great instructions.
- A typical good kit from Tamiya.
This is a very good kit and it will be a welcomed addition to 1:48th Scale Tank Modelers and to German Armor fans.
Recommendation:
Based on what I see, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this kit to all German Armor fans and or 1:48th tank builders. It will build into a very nice model. I do reserve the right to change my recommendation after I complete my build. However, based on what I see in this kit, that will not happen.
I would like to thank King’s Hobby for allowing me to review this pre-release kit from Tamiya. Having a local Hobby Shop in our area is a privilege and treasure for the modeling community. On to the build review!
Roderick Bell
