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Review: DML 1/35 scale Kingtiger with Porsche turret - Dragon Zimmerit

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale '39-45 Series Kit No.

6302: Sd.Kfz. 182 Kingtiger Porsche Turret w/Zimmerit - Dragon Zimmerit; 798 parts (383 in grey styrene, 240 "Magic Track" links, 147 etched brass, 19 clear styrene, 4 white metal tow shackles, 2 twisted steel wire, 1 copper chain, 1 preformed brass wire, 1 turned aluminum barrel); estimated price about US$45

Advantages: older kit brought up to more modern standards with "slide molded" parts, brass and "Magic Track"; provision of cast-in zimmerit will be appreciated by many modelers

Disadvantages: Fixed zimmerit pattern not appreciated by all modelers

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: to all German and Tiger fans

DML now has continued with their new series of German midwar armored vehicles with zimmerit pase surface molded in place by doing the early version of the Tiger Ausf. B with the Porsche turret; although only 50 were built as opposed to 435 with the Henschel turret, many modelers have preferred the lines of this version of the tank.

Up front I have to say that this is the first kit I recall when DML has pulled a fast one on modelers and reviewers: the kit uses the exact same boxart as the 1/72 scale Armor Pro version (No. 7254) of the same vehicle!

So far comments from modelers have shown this is a very popular decision on the part of DML to offer pre-zimmerit coated models. As I thought originally, only the old liners have complained about it (the modelers who "broke the code" how to apply a realistic zimmerit paste finish to their models) but some of their comments are valid. One problem that does arise is thte fact that the kits offer no purchase for the brass parts used for track hangers and other OVM attachment points with the exception of the hull sides, which come with flat smooth spots for attachment. This means the modeler will either have to fill or smooth the turret locations or use epoxy or a very thick ACC type cement to get the brass parts to attach.

That being said, this kit follows the previous Henschel turret one (No. 6303) and uses the improved parts for their "Premium" kits of the Tiger II with newly molded bits and their generic accessory kits for German vehicles. This kit exchanges fewer parts as it has a much simpler turret and fittings than the Henschel one. Parts replaced include the upper hull, the turret shell, the hull rear plate, the machine gun ball mount for the glacis, the lower glacis, the turret rear hatch (two options), and the turret glacis. Note that while the directions indicate the regular hull and turret shell come in the kit, they have been "gated off" and removed from the sprues.

The remainder of the kit provides for a Tiger II with Porsche turret with the "normal" steel road wheels, "Magic Track" pre-trimmed two- part single link track (toothed links and plate links), a slightly smaller sheet of etched brass for the screens and detail parts, and a complete set of the "T" series recently molded German tools and OVM. The ones provided are as follows: TA - pioneer tools and a fire extinguisher; TB - jack and cable hooks; TC -tow cable heads; TD - auxiliary cable heads; TF - 8.8 cm muzzle brake for aluminum barrel; TG - self-defense projector weapon; TH - hatch braces; TJ - turret AA MG ring mount; TL - armored exhaust shrouds; and TK - bow machine gun mount. It also comes with an aluminum gun barrel with "slide molded" muzzle brake.

Alas, like the Henschel version of the zimmerit kit, this one regretfully uses the "Color Photo" version of the DML directions, using a pre-painted or primed version of the kit, which makes it far more difficult to determine the correct location of parts as it shows them installed and not when or how to install them. However, it does now include "cartoons" or line drawings showing specific details of some of the brass fittings, which is a step ahead over past renderings in this fashion.

The kit provides a total of six different finishing opitions: 3/ s.Pz.Abt. 503, Mailly le Camp, 1944 (tricolor stripes, black 332); s.Pz.Kp.(Fkl) 316, France 1944 (sand, white 13); s.Pz.Abt. 506, Arnhem

1944 (sand and green patches, no number); unidentified unit, Eastern Front 1944 (tricolor patches, red 332); s.Pz.Abt. 503, Normandy 1944 (tricolor stripes, black 113). 3./s.Pz.Abt. 503, Hungary 1945 (whitewash with black 314); most of these are identical to the offerings in the 1/72 scale "baby brother" to this kit. There is a relatively large sheet of targeted Cartograf decals provided for these options.

As with previous kits, project supervisor is Hirohisa Takada; technical drawings by Minoru Igarashi; and technical consultants are Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.

Overall this is a brilliant idea and now the Tiger fans have a choice between the two Tiger II production models with pre-applied zimmerit.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Reply to
AMPSOne
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Delighted to see this kit is finally out, and I really like the Zimmerit pattern on the previous King Tiger kit, but the marking schemes offered here are a little iffy. Specifically, the "white 13" of the 316th battalion (assigned to Panzer Lehr in Normandy) cannot be built from this kit, as it had the original track and sprocket design, as well as early features like the snorkel housing, no armor ring around the turret, and other early details. These tanks were the subject of the Cyber Hobby release a year or so ago. The 506th battalion tank will also need the snorkel parts from the Panther D kit (also offered in the Cyber Hobby kit) and Tiger I style exhausts pipes and the curved sheet metal exhaust shields. It did have the armor ring and the late style track and sprockets, though. Gerald Owens

Reply to
Gerald Owens

Do you know of a source to do a really complete interior detailing of the drivers and turret areas? I 'd really like to be able to detail out the interior areas of the Tamiya 1/16 scale King Tiger also. Any ideas on how to accomplish this as far as aftermarket products available? Thanks, jim in San Diego

Reply to
jimbol51

Would it be fair to say that, while usually indicating commendable willingness to update "faulty" kits by replacing inaccurate parts and so forth, Dragon has fairly consistently ignored all comments that criticise their instruction sheets? If that's true ... why? Do Dragon "blind-test" their kits ... ask someone to construct a kit by following their instructions *as printed*?

Bruce Melbourne, Australia

Reply to
Bruce Probst

of the zimmerit kit, this one

Good question -- most valid complaints I see about DML kits involve the directions, and I for one have to agree with them. I have passed on to the DML staff to look at the Tamiya directions for "how it's done" but so far there seems to be little response.

Cookie Sewell

Reply to
AMPSOne

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