Kit DML 7240, Tiger II with Zimmerit.

DRAGON MODELS LIMITED


7240, Tiger II with Zimmerit. 1/72nd-scale injection molded styrene/multimedia kit. Contains: 162 styrene parts, two DS-100 soft styrene track lengths, four photo-etched brass parts, six decal marking schemes and four pages of instructions in eight steps.


Many modelers (including yours truly!) tend to shy away from applying Zimmeret to their latest gems. There is always the fear that the “do-it-yourself” method will let them down at the last minute. There are after-market resin and etched-brass alternatives, each with positive and negative aspects. On occasion, a manufacturer may attempt to mold Zimmerit directly onto a styrene plastic kits parts or provide panels that are to be laminated onto the base parts. Again, all these methods have pitfalls.


In smaller scales, Zimmerit is much harder to depict convincingly. DML, known for some innovative thinking in 1/35th-scale, has now applied their design and engineering know-how to molding Zimmerit on a 1/72nd-scale model, in this case the Tiger II. And, in my opinion, they have done a splendid job of it. To begin with, the basic turret and hull parts have a very finely-molded pattern. To the turret front is added a separate textured front panel as well as a textured rear hatch lid. The hull receives a newly-textured rear plate as well as a lower glacis plate and MG Kugelblend (ball mount). Again, the effect is really very well-rendered.


As for the remainder of the kit, the following applies. The fenders in my sample are too long (being mistakenly sourced from the Jagdtiger kit), but will be of the correct length in the actual production kit. All tools are molded in place (a disappointment) and the shovel and engine crank are not provided at all. The Führungsring für MG (ring for machine gun) is molded onto the commander’s cupola and although the periscopes are opened, the ‘scopes for driver and radio operator are not. These items will require some work for a better appearance. The etched screens for the engine deck only cover four out of six openings (the two forward-most rectangular grills are not provided with etched screens), but there is an enlarged solid styrene screen seen on some Tiger IIs that covered the entire area. There are options for the turret roof exhaust fan plates, gun mantle, and hatches; and there is a nifty engine insert for beneath the separate rear deck.


The instructions are not too complex, while colors are keyed to Gunze and Testors paints. The markings check out well against references but for legal reasons, the prefix “SS” is not mentioned anywhere in the finishing instructions. Overall, detail and molding is very good; it’s certainly up to the better standards seen nowadays. A fit check of the main components indicated that there should be no problems of any significance in that realm.


So, we have a nice little kit of a popular subject, with very nicely rendered Zimmeret. Simply perfect for a Braille Scale Ardennes Offensive project.


Highly recommended.


Frank V. De Sisto


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.


DML kits are available from retail and mail order shops. For details see their web site at: www.dragonmodelsltd.com.


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