Kit, DML 6302, Sd.Kfz.182 Kingtiger Porsche Turret w/Zimmerit

DML


Product Specifications.

6302, Sd.Kfz.182 Kingtiger Porsche Turret w/Zimmerit. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 455 styrene parts (including 21 clear), two bags of individual-link Magic Tracks, one turned aluminum gun tube, one etched brass fret, two stamped/etched brass parts, two lengths of braided metal wire, one length of brass chain, seven metal parts, six decal marking schemes and eight pages of instructions in 25 steps.


Introduction.

For the Zimmerit-challenged modelers amongst us (I confess!), the recent issue of a Tiger II production turret version (still erroneously called a Henschel turret) was a God-send. It was the first 1/35th-scale kit that I am aware of that included pre-molded Zimmerit in all the right places.


While not all Tiger IIs with the production turret had Zimmerit, all of the earlier versions with the initial turret did, making this latest addition to DML’s series of German big cats very, very welcome.


Tracks.

From the bottom, up, we have new individual-link Magic Tracks loosely contained in two bags. These represent the type that consists of a large bridge link and a smaller connecting link. Each large bridge link has three knock-out pin marks that the modeler will wish to eliminate; the small connecting links also have three knock-out pin marks. They are all subtle and stand proud of the surface; a quick swipe with a knife blade or gentle use of a motor-tool will get rid of them. With proper planning, the modeler will probably be able to ignore a large number of these pesky guys; remember that since these are sprueless parts, some compromise had to be made in order for them to be pulled from the mold. It is recommended that the tracks be completely secured with cement once in place.


Suspension System.

The road-wheels are all very well-rendered and include such subtle details as the strips attached to each pair of rim bolts. These items are seen in photographs, but are often not present on scale drawings, including those by the renowned Hilary Doyle (see references, below). The often-maligned drawings by Waldemar Trojca, do show this feature. The drive sprockets are the type with nine teeth on the ring; they match Doyle’s drawings.


Hull.

The hull features excellent details and separate torsion bar swing arms, as well as an adjustable axle for the idler wheel. I strongly recommend that the modeler leave this last item loose so that the tracks can be adjusted for fit. With the type of link used on this version, it is especially important not to come out either too long or too short, because we are talking two-part links The belly plate detail matches Trojca’s drawings quite well. Other add-ons to the hull are final drive housings and newly-tooled inner housing parts complete with properly-contoured tow hook attachment points and weld detail. The separate lower bow plate now has Zimmerit molded in place.


The rear plate features Zimmerit molded in the appropriate places; with all the separate parts that get added here, as well as the molded-on access plates, this is where the modeler will really appreciate the efforts of DML’s designers. The plate mounts the standard style of exhaust pipes and cast shrouds. The pipes are pre-bored and feature the stiffening rod inside the opening, while the shrouds have excellent cast texture; separate lifting lugs are now provided. An excellent new multi-part vehicle jack is provided; it can be mounted on styrene or etched brass brackets. New C-shaped tow hooks are provided along with etched brass mounting parts. The jack block is all styrene and there is now a molded-on bracket for the separate clear styrene tube-shaped tail-lamp. The area is finished off with one-piece extended mud flaps and new metal U-shaped tow shackles.


Superstructure.

The superstructure is one single piece with separate engine deck access hatch lid, as well as separate driver’s and radio operator’s hatch lids. The engine deck hatch lid hinges still lack bolt details, and the two crewmen’s hatch lids are taken direct from the manufacturer’s Jagdtiger kit. Because of that, they have two sets of grab-handles each, when only one is needed. The instructions show where to put the ones that are used, but they don’t tell the modeler to fill the extra holes. There is also a nice separate mounting plate for the driver’s periscope housing; it and the radio operator’s opening get new clear styrene periscope heads. Other new parts include a fully detailed slide-molded radio operator’s MG34 and mount, complete with pre-drilled bore. A new cast Kugelblend (ball mount) with seperate internal baffles also has Zimmerit added. Metal U-shaped tow shackles are also provided. The upper lip of the glacis plate, where it meets the roof plate, has the machined gap that was added to later vehicles to improve the field of view of the radio operator’s periscope. The ring that protected the turret race is a separate part that will require the opening of two locater holes from underneath the roof plate, before it can be properly placed.


Aside from a bunch of detail parts for the engine deck and various dome vents, etched brass screens (with a woven effect) are given for the engine deck grills. These are complimented by the large framed screen over the forward-most vents, which are composed of styrene and stamped, etched brass parts. There is no rod antenna provided, but the base is nicely represented. Again, this is puzzling since DML certainly has these parts available. There are two sets of tools, one with and the other without clamps and brackets molded in place; etched brass parts are provided for the latter. There are bending guides molded on to the tool sprue for the relevant etched brass brackets. Likewise the two tow cables and the track changing cable are replaced by wound steel wire, styrene end loops and etched brass mounts. Or the modeler can avail himself of the simpler styrene offerings from the original kit’s parts. The fenders are nicely done and include separate front ends.


Turret.

The turret is very well done and comes from a multi-part slide-mold. This is necessary in order to properly render the Zimmerit, which is superbly represented. The front plate is molded in place and has openings for the co-axial MG34 as well as the gunner’s sight. All detail parts are separate and include new parts for the loader’s hatch lid, two types of fan vent covers and shell ejector port hatch lid. A Nahverteidigungswaffe (close defense weapon) with internal details and closed or open port is provided. The rear escape hatch is very completely detailed inside and out. It features a removable MP Stopfen (pistol port plug) that can be shown opened and hanging on its retaining chain; etched brass parts with steel rod for hinge pins are also given for the plate seen over the inner mechanism.


There are actually two commander’s cupolas in the box; one has rain channels cut into it, the other does not. Each uses slide molds to correctly render the opened periscope covers and also includes a new hatch lid, with internal details, as well as clear periscope heads. There is an extra head, designated as not for use in the instructions. The modeler can use it in place of the separate solid styrene head for the loader’s periscope mount. There is also a Fliegerbeschußgerät (anti-aircraft mount for an MG34) for the cupola ring; however no MG34 is provided for it.


The main gun has some internal breech detail. There are two 8.8cm L/71 mono-block type gun tubes provided in the box; one is a turned aluminum part with a slide-molded muzzle brake, while the other is a conventionally-molded two-part all-styrene affair. There is also a conventionally-molded sectional gun tube. The Topfblende (pot mantle) for the main gun has Zimmerit details molded onto it.


Molding, Fit and Engineering.

Detail and molding is excellent, while parts fit overall is also excellent. Where it counts there are no visible knock-out pin marks, except for one surface of the separate tow points that cover the final drive housings, parts P1 and P2. They will be easy to eliminate and no detail will be compromised during the process. The Zimmerit pattern certainly looks the part and is simply fantastic.


Accuracy and Details.

Overall, the kit matches the drawings in the cited references very, very well.


Instructions.

The instructions are presented in the less-popular photographic style, with annotations in the form of small windows with line drawings. I really have no problem with them and neither should the average modeler. But yes, they are different and take some getting used to. Except for the fact that the modeler is not instructed to create an antenna (none is provided), and the lack of mention of the alternative to use a clear periscope head for the loader, they are more than adequate.


Decals and Markings Information.

The decals are printed by Cartograf and are crisp, thin, and have excellent color saturation. All multi-color designs are in perfect register. Markings and color scheme information is provided for six schweren Panzer:


1. White/black 332, s.H-Pz.Abt.503, France 1944.
2. White 13, s.Pz.Kp.(Fkl)316, France 1944.
3. Red/white 332, unidentified unit, Ostfront 1944.
4. s.H-Pz.Abt.506, Holland 1944.
5. Black 113, s.H-Pz.Abt.503, France 1944.
6. Black 314/Annaliese, s.H-Pz.Abt.503, Hungary 1945.

These vehicles all had Zimmerit and were base-coated in Dunkelgelb. The instructions show the use of Rotbraun and/or Olivgrün over the base. White 13 has no supplementary colors over the base, while Black 314 has a winter white-wash covering. Much like the previous Tiger II with Zimmerit, all markings are confirmed as accurate using the references cited below; my compliments again to the project’s consultants.


Conclusion.

The notion of having a kit of a particular AFV that was in reality ONLY seen with Zimmerit, have that particular feature already molded in place is truly an outstanding concept. This is as complete an OOTB kit as we modelers are likely to ever see, despite a few very minor omissions. Fans of Germany’s big cats rejoice!


Highly recommended.


Frank V. Curley Stooge De Sisto


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

1. Schwere Panzerkampfwagen, Panzer Tracts No.6, by T. Jentz and H. Doyle.
2. Germany’s Tiger Tanks, VK45.02 to Tiger II, Schiffer, by T. Jentz and H. Doyle.
3. Tigers in Combat I, Fedorowicz, by W. Schneider.
4. Tigers in Combat II, Fedorowicz, by W. Schneider.
5. Sd.Kfz.182 Pz.Kpfw.VI Tiger Ausf.B Königstiger, Vol.1, by W. Trojca.
6. Sd.Kfz.182 Pz.Kpfw.VI Tiger Ausf.B Königstiger, Vol.2, by W. Trojca.
7. Tiger, Squadron Armor In Action No.27, by B. Culver.
8. The Tiger Tanks, Osprey Vanguard No.20, by B. Perrett.
9. Kingtiger Heavy Tank 1942-1945, Osprey New Vanguard No.1, by T. Jentz & H. Doyle.
10. Panzerkampfwagen Tiger, Achtung Panzer No.6, by M. Bitoh, H. Kitamura & M. Udsuki.
11. Pz.Kpfw VI Tiger I and Tiger II (Kingtiger), AFV Profile No.48, by P. Chamberlain & C. Ellis.
12. Tiger, Sturm & Drang No.1.
13. German Heavy Tanks, Decimus, by P. Chamberlain & C. Ellis.
14. Panzerkampfwagen VI, Tiger I and Königstiger, Aero, by W. Spielberger & U. Feist.
15. The Tiger Tanks”, Aero-Armor No.1, by H. Nowarra, U. Feist & E. Maloney.
16. Panzers at Saumer No.1



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 fro retail and mail order shops; for details visit their web site at: www.dragonmodelsltd.com.


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