Kit, DML/Cyberhobby 6350, Tiger I Early Production Michael Wittmann

DML/CYBERHOBBY


Product Specifications.

6350, Tiger I Early Production Michael Wittmann. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 702 styrene parts (including 21 clear), one bag of Magic Tracks, two etched brass frets, 27 metal parts (including turned aluminum gun tube and stamped/etched engine deck screens), two lengths of wound metal wire, one water-slide decal marking scheme and eight pages of instructions in 19 steps.


Introduction.

DML’s subsidiary, Cyberhobby, has made its name by producing limited-run kits of subjects based on DML products, with what is perceived to have limited market potential. In the past they’ve released a “Tunisian Tiger” and some odd-ball Sd.Kfz.251 half-track variations. Now they have marketed a new kit that will allow the modeler to produce a specific “Early Production Tiger I”, that of the legendary Waffen-SS tanker, Michael Wittmann.


Tracks.

These come loosely packed in a single bag and are the so-called “Magic Tracks”. As such, they have no sprue attachment points, which is a definite time saver since no cutting or clean-up is required. Each has a pair of faint ejector pin marks on the inner face. These can be ignored or erased at the modeler’s whim. They fit together quite snugly using friction, but should be fixed in place with glue when their location is finalized. DML has also provided jigs for the front and rear of the assembled track lengths so that they can be pre-fitted and glued together prior to final installation.


Suspension System.

The road-wheels are the type that overlap and interleave and that have dished faces with rubber rims. They are all well-detailed with weld beads and bolt heads, and the outer wheels have manufacturer’s logos on the tire’s rims. These are attached to two-piece torsion bar/swing arm assemblies. The latter can be made to be movable by removing pins on the side of the hull; or the pins can be left in place and the swing arms fixed in place for a tank on level ground. There are also optional wheel hub caps for the first outer station on each side; this feature will allow the modeler to leave the forward outer-most wheel off, as seen in photos.


The idler wheels have a separate axle arm that can be adjusted for fit. The modeler is advised not to glue it in place on the hull until the fit and sag of the tracks have been worked out. The drive sprockets are given as three different styles, one of which (C-14 or G-24; the instructions don’t say which!) is for Wittman’s Tiger; the third one is marked as not for use.


Hull.

The main part of the hull comes from a slide-mold so it is fully detailed on all faces. This includes mounts for the road-wheel torsion bar/swing arm units, idler wheel mount and the flange between the sponson floors and the hull sides. Weld seams and weld beads are also present. The belly has some plug detail molded in place and there are new separate access plates. Three different final drive mounting plates are given. Two are not for use; use G-10 and G-11 as per the instructions. Over these are placed the final drive housings themselves, while the small plates with bolt detail that go on the inner faces are separate parts.


The hull rear plate is also offered in three different configurations. Again the instructions say to use part “Blue F-4” (there are two different “F” sprues). To this plate is added the exhaust mufflers and their covers, the Fiefel engine air pre-cleaning system, tool box, an excellent multi-part jack, tow pintle mount, engine starter crank and rear mud-flaps. Access plates and reflectors are molded in place, while separate fillets are added to hold the “U”-shaped tow clevises. These are offered in two different styles, each of which is given as styrene or metal parts, with metal retaining pins.


Superstructure.

The inner superstructure sides are molded as part of the hull. On to these are mounted outer plates with weld detail and the small mounting points for the separate one-piece fenders. There are also bare plates from an earlier iteration of this kit. Three different glacis plates are given; again the instructions show to use only “Blue F-5”. Working further up and back, there are two superstructure front plates; again the instructions say to use part “F-21”. To this can be mounted a dust cover for the radio operator’s MG34, or the nice multi-part machine-gun itself can be fitted; it is completely detailed inside and out and has a pre-opened bore thanks to a slide mold. The driver’s view-port has separate covers that can be modeled opened or closed and also a separate clear part for the vision block.


Up on the superstructure, there is a separate roof plate, to which is added (among other things) a new engine compartment access hatch lid (part “G-25”; there are two others!). This receives the remainder of the Feifel gear. The radiator compartment grills are all separate and can be shown opened or closed; pre-shaped, etched brass screens are fitted over these for maximum fidelity. Below them are radiator/fan/fuel tank housings made up of styrene and etched brass parts.


Separate driver’s and radio operator’s hatch lids are given. These have internal detail and include separate clear periscope heads as well as separate armored guards. The usual tools and OVM (either all-styrene, or etched brass and styrene affairs) are fitted in various parts of the roof plate, as is a separate antenna base (no rod antenna is provided), Bosch head-lamps and shaped wire power conduits for them. All-styrene tow cables are given as is styrene, etched brass and wound metal wire versions. The same goes for the track changing cable, although the styrene assembly is marked as not for use. The final new items are etched brass and styrene S-Mine dischargers seen on five points on the hull roof edge.


Turret.

This is a relatively new group of moldings, first seen on the Premium Edition Tiger I (P). Therefore it comes with two-part side walls, one of which (with the escape hatch that also features internal details) is for use in this kit. The opposite side has a pistol port with internal detail. To each side are fitted separate circular view-port covers; take care where they are fitted, as the instructions show to put the tabs in the lower slots. David Byrden’s site has a “punch-list” of instruction errors that show the part should be mounted in the upper slot. If building this or ANY Tiger I variation, the modeler is STRONGLY urged to consult his site! He also says to mount etched parts MA-48 opposite to where shown in the instructions.


Nicely-rendered spare track links are given for the turret sides. The modeler must be careful here as the locations are not given on the parts. In addition as Mr. Byrden warns, the track faces need to have the chevrons removed, but when in place these won’t be seen, so it’s up to the modeler. The stowage bin for the turret rear comes from a slide mold and is detailed on all visible faces. The lids are separate and there are styrene and etched brass parts to dress it up, including tiny two-piece padlocks.


The roof plate is separate and the loader’s hatch lid with internal details can be modeled opened or closed. The modeler must open up the slot for the loader’s periscope head (a clear part) as well as the locating holes for its armored guard. Separate exhaust fan vent parts are given; according to Mr. Byrden, don’t use the cover for it (parts C-6 and C-29) as these Tiger Is were not fitted for deep wading. Makes sense to me!


The main 8.8cm Kwk L/56 gun tube can be made as an all-styrene item or a composite turned aluminum/styrene item. It fits into a new mantlet (one of three given in the kit) and can recoil due to the clever inclusion of a metal spring. Internally, the gun features a nice multi-part breech and mount, while there are also seats for the commander and loader.


To top it all off, there is a slide-molded commander’s cupola that includes the proper view slits and drain holes, a separate hatch lid and mounts, as well as clear parts for the internal glass blocks and their mounts. At one point (the top of step 18) the instructions show to incorrectly position the cupola when fixing it to the turret roof plate. Note the drawing of the turret in place on the tank, lower down in step 18; this shows the correct orientation for it. This is also pointed out in Mr. Byrden’s site (Thank You Sir!).


Molding, Fit and Engineering.

I have “monkeyed around” with a number of these Tiger I kits in the recent past and have found no major fit problems. There were no sink marks anywhere on this kit and no visible ejector pin markings, except those on the tracks.

Accuracy.

Again, a “no-brainer”. The parts match extremely well with published plans.


Instructions.

As noted by Mr. Byrden before I wrote this review, there are several glitches in the instructions. The instructions themselves are composed of clearly-rendered line drawings, which in many places are extremely busy. This is typical of DML and if anything, it’s the one area where they need to concentrate their efforts for the sake of improvement.


Decals and Markings Information.

The decals are the usual excellent Italian product from Cartograf. They are crisp, in register and have thin, closely-cropped carrier film. They are extremely limited in that they only provide markings for Wittmann’s Tiger I (Tac number 1331) at the time of the Kursk battles. While the markings appear accurate according to references, DML has not instructed modelers as to what colors are to be used to paint the model. Numbered call-outs are shown on the painting guide, but they are not matched on the paint list above step one in the instruction sheet. It would appear that the base was Dunkelgelb and that a faint broad pattern of either Olivgrün or Rotbraun was sprayed over this.


Conclusion.

Yes, it’s another Tiger, which may freak some people out. But after all those sweet Shermans and the M2 half-track, I think DML can be forgiven for issuing this kit. If you are interested, it’s a limited edition; so get it while you can!


Highly recommended.


Frank V. De Sisto


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

1. “Schwere Panzerkampfwagen”, Panzer Tracts 6, by T. Jentz & H. Doyle.
2. “Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Revised Edition”, by P. Chamberlain, H. Doyle & T. Jentz.
3. “Tigers in Combat I”, Fedorowicz, by W. Schnieder.
4. “Tigers in Combat II”, Fedorowicz, by W. Schnieder.
5. “Tiger, The History of a Legendary Weapon 1942-45, Fedorowicz, by E. Kleine & V. Kühn.
6. “Armor Battles of the Waffen-SS”, Fedorowicz, by W. Fey.
7. “Michael Wittmann and the Tiger Commanders of the Leibstandarte”, Fedorowicz, by P. Agte.
8. “Germany’s Tiger Tanks, D.W to Tiger I”, Schiffer, by T. Jentz
9. “Germany’s Tiger Tanks, Tiger I & II Combat Tactics”, Schiffer, by T. Jentz
10. “Panzertruppen 1”, Schiffer, by T. Jentz.
11. “Panzertruppen 2”, Schiffer, by T. Jentz.
12. “The Eastern Front, Armor Camouflage and Markings 1941-45”, Squadron 6102, by S. Zaloga & J. Grandsen.
13. “Tiger I”, Squadron Armor in Action 8, by U. Feist & N. Harms.
14. “Tiger”, Squadron Armor in Action 27, by B. Culver.
15. “Panzer Colors III”, Squadron 6253, by B. Culver
16. “The Tiger Tanks”, Osprey Vanguard 20, by B. Perrett.
17. “Tiger I Heavy Tank 1942-1945”, Osprey New Vanguard 5, by T. Jentz & H. Doyle.
18. “Panzerkampfwagen Tiger”, Achtung Panzer 6, by M. Bitoh, H. Kitamura & M. Udsuki.
19. “Pz.Kpfw VI Tiger I and Tiger II (Kingtiger)”, AFV Weapons Profile 48, by P. Chamberlain & C. Ellis.
20. “Pz.Kpfw.VI Tiger, Vol.1”, Tankpower 13, AJ Press, by T. Melleman & W. Molski.
21. “Pz.Kpfw.VI Tiger, Vol.2”, Tankpower 14, AJ Press, by T. Melleman & W. Molski.
22. “Pz.Kpfw.VI Tiger, Vol.3”, Tankpower 15, AJ Press, by T. Melleman & W. Molski.
23. “Tiger”, Sturm & Drang 1.
24. “German Heavy Tanks”, Decimus, by P. Chamberlain & C. Ellis.
25. “Panzerkampfwagen VI, Tiger I and Königstiger”, Aero, by W.Spielberger & U. Feist.
26. “The Tiger Tanks”, Aero-Armor 1, by H. Nowarra, U. Feist & E. Maloney.
27. And (Last, but not least!!), David Byrden’s outstanding web-site, www.Tiger1.info.



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


Cyberhobby kits are available exclusively from them at: www.cyber-hobby.com.


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