Tamiya 35164 - 1:35 Pz.Kpfw.VI King Tiger Production Turret

1:35 plastic model kit of the German Tiger II (King Tiger) heavy tank with production turret

The Tiger II was the heaviest series-built tank of the Wehrmacht and the peak of German wartime tank design – close to 70 tonnes, with an 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 gun that could engage targets at ranges from which Allied tanks had little chance of replying. Tamiya 35164 reproduces the Henschel production turret version in 1:35 scale, from an all-new 1993 mould.

The model captures the stepped hull with its steeply sloped armour plates and the angular production turret that replaced the earlier Porsche design. Vinyl belt tracks simplify assembly of the interleaved running gear. The decal sheet allows four vehicles to be built, including three s.SS-Pz.Abt.501 tanks from the Ardennes offensive.

What’s in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, turret and equipment parts
• Vinyl belt tracks
• Commander figure
• Waterslide decal sheet for 4 marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35164
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model length: 294 mm
• Skill level: beginner

Note: This kit does not include cement, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

Despite the imposing size of the finished model, the build itself is approachable – the parts fit is excellent and the vinyl belt tracks close up the complex running gear quickly. Painting the road wheels before fitting them to the hull is worth considering, as access between them becomes limited afterwards.

The three Ardennes options wear the “ambush” camouflage, in which patches of dark green and red brown (e.g. Tamiya XF-61 Dark Green and XF-64 Red Brown) were dotted with small spots of dark yellow (XF-60 Dark Yellow) and vice versa – a striking scheme that rewards airbrush work. The instructions give paint codes for all four options. To take the detail further you may want to consider separately sold Tamiya accessories: individual-link tracks 35165, brass shells 35166, photo-etched parts 35167 and the 12648 zimmerit sheet – all are standalone products and are not included in this box.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in a range of sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to accentuate details and recesses
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – Tiger II (Sd.Kfz.182):

The Tiger II, known to the Allies as the King Tiger or Royal Tiger, combined features of two earlier designs: the armour thickness of the Tiger and the sloped plates of the Panther. The result was a tank of around 70 tonnes, effectively immune to frontal fire from the anti-tank weapons the Allies had in service.

Its armament was the 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 – one of the most effective anti-tank guns of the war, able to destroy targets at over two kilometres. The price was weight: the Maybach HL230 P30 engine of 700 hp, the same unit used in the much lighter Panther, left little power in reserve, and the vehicle suffered from drivetrain failures and enormous fuel consumption.

Vehicles with the Henschel production turret made up the majority of Tiger IIs built. They fought in the Ardennes in the winter of 1944 and on the Eastern Front, including around Budapest. Their reputation came not from numbers – relatively few were built – but from how difficult a single, well-positioned King Tiger was to deal with.

Original vehicle specifications (Tiger II, production turret):

• Length: approx. 10.29 m (gun forward)
• Width: approx. 3.75 m
• Height: approx. 3.09 m
• Combat weight: approx. 70 t
• Crew: 5
• Main armament: 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 gun
• Secondary armament: 7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns
• Powerplant: Maybach HL230 P30 petrol engine, 700 hp
• Top speed: approx. 38 km/h (road)
• Armour: up to 150 mm (hull front)
• Notes: the heaviest series-built tank of the Wehrmacht

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The company originally traded in timber and moved on to wooden models in the late 1940s. Its first plastic model kit appeared in 1960, and two years later came its first 1:35 tank – the scale that, thanks to Tamiya, became the worldwide standard for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds, outstanding parts fit and clear instructions, which is why its kits are equally popular with beginners and experienced modellers. The Military Miniature Series, to which this kit belongs, runs to hundreds of releases covering vehicles, artillery and figures from around the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, cements, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.