In early October 1942, plans for production of the VK 45.03 were reviewed. Initially two designs were provided: one by Henschel and one by Porsche. Both used a turret design from Krupp; the main differences were in the hull design, transmission and suspension. Henschel won the contract, and two turret designs were used in production vehicles. The initial design is sometimes misleadingly called the ‘Porsche turret’ due to the belief that it was designed by Porsche for their prototype. In fact this turret was simply the initial Krupp design for both prototypes. This turret had a rounded front and steeply sloped sides, with a difficult-to-manufacture curved bulge on the turret's left side to accommodate the commander's cupola. Fifty early turrets were mounted to Henschel's hull and used in action. The more common ‘production’ turret, sometimes called the ‘Henschel’ turret, was simplified with a flat face, no shot trap (created by the curved face of the initial-type turret), less-steeply sloped sides, and no bulge for the commander's cupola. The Tiger II was developed late in the war and made in relatively small numbers. Like all German tanks, it had a gasoline engine. However, this same engine powered the much lighter Panther and Tiger I tanks. The Tiger II was under-powered, like many other heavy tanks of World War II, and consumed a lot of fuel, which was already in short supply.
Trumpeter often recommends using Tamiya X and XF paints – click here to purchase!
________________________________
Product Details:
Scale: 1/16
Skill Level: 5
Length: 19.9”
Width: 7.4”
Parts: 1850+
- Painting and assembly required
- 46 sprues
- Five photo-etched frets
- Two decal sheets
- One 2.0 x 950mm brass wire
- One 0.8 x 950mm brass wire
- Metal springs in three sizes
- 20 clear poly caps
- One-piece upper and lower hulls
- Detailed plastic wheel assembly
- Fully detailed interior
- 104 each toothed and flat tracks with easy clip assembly
- Two 1.2 x 6mm metal tacks
- Steel tube
- Tools for zimmerit coat
- 410 short metal axes and 8 long metal axes
- Optional Porsche or Henschel turret
- Extensive engine and gearbox assemblies
- Detailed electrical boxes, ammo shelves and large ammo stash
- Moveable parts
- Extremely detailed turrets and machine guns
- Several paint schemes for both build options
- Illustrated instructions and paint guide
*Cyanoacrylate glue is required for photo-etched parts*
________________________________
Paint Guide:
Metal Black
Silver
Red
Red Brown
Off White
Flat Black
Sandy Brown
Dark Green
Wood Brown
Burnt Iron
White – only for Henschel turret winter camouflage version
__________________________
