Tamiya 35165 - 1:35 King Tiger Separate Track Links

Tamiya individual track links for King Tiger kits (35164 and 35169) in 1:35 scale

Tamiya 35165 is a set of plastic individual track links intended for the Tamiya King Tiger heavy tank kits in 1:35 scale — both the Henschel turret version (35164) and the Porsche turret version (35169). The box contains 192 links, a complete set for both track runs of one model.

The links replace the rubber band tracks supplied in the base kit. Their main advantage is the ability to reproduce the natural sag of the upper track run over the road wheels — a characteristic feature of the real vehicle that is impossible to achieve with a one-piece band. This is an upgrade accessory: the base kit is not included and is purchased separately.

What is in the box:

• 192 plastic individual track links — a complete set for one model
• Illustrated instructions

Specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Catalogue number: 35165
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Intended for: Tamiya King Tiger — 35164 (Henschel turret) and 35169 (Porsche turret)
• Type: individual track links
• Material: plastic
• Released: 1993
• Base kit sold separately, not included

Individual track links – natural track sag

Individual links reproduce something a rubber band track simply cannot: the natural droop of the upper track run over the road wheels. Every link is a separate part, so the track lies exactly as it does on the real vehicle — sagging between the wheels and wrapping tightly around the drive and idler wheels.

Assembly takes patience. It pays to work calmly, cut the links carefully and clean up the sprue gate marks before joining them. A convenient method is to glue the links into shorter runs and shape the sag directly on the model while the cement is still workable.

About the vehicle – Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. B Tiger II (King Tiger):

The Tiger II, also known as the Königstiger, was the heaviest German tank to enter series production during the Second World War. It combined thick, well-sloped armour in a layout inspired by the Panther with the 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 gun, one of the most effective anti-tank weapons of its day. The first vehicles reached front-line units in 1944.

Early machines carried the Porsche-designed turret with its rounded front plate; later ones received the simpler, better-armoured Henschel turret. The tank fought in Normandy, on the Eastern Front and in the Ardennes. Its strengths were long-range gunnery and frontal protection; its weaknesses were a combat weight of nearly 70 tonnes, an overstressed drivetrain and enormous fuel consumption.

Fewer than 500 examples were completed before the end of the war. Despite the small production run, the King Tiger remains one of the most recognisable and most frequently modelled tanks of the conflict.

Original vehicle specifications (Tiger II / King Tiger):

• Combat weight: approx. 69.8 t
• Length with gun: approx. 10.3 m
• Hull length: approx. 7.4 m
• Width: approx. 3.76 m
• Height: approx. 3.09 m
• Crew: 5
• Main armament: 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 gun
• Secondary armament: two 7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns
• Engine: Maybach HL 230 P30, approx. 700 hp
• Top speed: approx. 38 km/h on road
• Range: approx. 170 km on road
• Armour: up to 150 mm on the hull front, up to 180 mm on the Henschel turret front
• Production: approx. 490 vehicles (1944–1945)

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya is a Japanese manufacturer of models and modelling accessories based in Shizuoka, active since 1946 and producing plastic kits since the early 1960s. The 1:35 Military Miniature Series is one of the pillars of its catalogue. Alongside the kits themselves, Tamiya offers a wide range of supporting products: paints, cements, tools and upgrade accessories such as photo-etched parts, turned brass projectiles and individual track links. These accessories are designed around specific kits from the company catalogue, so the fit is predictable and the instructions are clear. Careful parts fit and well-prepared documentation remain the hallmarks of the brand.