Tamiya 35166 - 1:35 King Tiger Brass 88mm Projectiles

Tamiya turned brass 88 mm projectiles for King Tiger kits (35164 and 35169) in 1:35 scale

Tamiya 35166 is a set of turned brass projectiles and shell cases representing the ammunition of the 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 gun, the main armament of the King Tiger. The box contains 13 parts: 4 armour-piercing projectiles, 4 high-explosive projectiles and 5 empty cases, which can be used as rounds stowed inside the vehicle, carried by figures or left lying beside the tank.

The set is intended for the Tamiya King Tiger kits: 35164 (Henschel turret) and 35169 (Porsche turret). It does not include a metal barrel — projectiles and cases only. The base kit is not included and is purchased separately.

What is in the box:

• 4 turned brass armour-piercing projectiles
• 4 turned brass high-explosive projectiles
• 5 empty turned brass shell cases
• Illustrated instructions

Specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Catalogue number: 35166
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Intended for: Tamiya King Tiger — 35164 and 35169
• Type: turned brass projectiles and shell cases (13 parts)
• Material: brass
• Ammunition represented: rounds for the 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 gun
• Released: 1993
• Base kit sold separately, not included

Turned brass projectiles – crisp detail with no mould parting line

Lathe-turned parts have sharp, symmetrical edges and a perfectly round cross-section, free of the mould parting line typical of injection-moulded plastic. On ammunition, which is usually displayed in plain sight and viewed close up, the difference is easy to see.

Projectiles and cases are a classic ingredient of ammunition-loading scenes and dioramas: spread on the armour, protruding from an open hatch, stacked in a crate beside the vehicle or held by a loader figure. A metal primer is recommended before painting, as it improves paint adhesion. Some modellers leave the brass cases in bare metal and merely tone them down with a wash.

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. Its 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 gun was a development of the famous 88 mm family and delivered accurate fire at long range — PzGr. 39/43 armour-piercing rounds could defeat most Allied tanks of the period well beyond the reach of their own guns.

Early vehicles carried the Porsche turret with its rounded front plate, later ones the simpler and better-armoured Henschel turret. The tank fought in Normandy, on the Eastern Front and in the Ardennes. The large, heavy fixed rounds of the 88 mm gun limited the ammunition stowage and made the loader work hard inside the cramped turret.

Fewer than 500 examples were completed before the end of the war, yet the King Tiger remains one of the 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
• 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
• Ammunition stowage: approx. 80 rounds of 88 mm ammunition
• 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 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.