Tamiya 35169 - 1:35 King Tiger Porsche Turret

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

The first Tiger IIs received a turret designed by the Porsche office – recognisable by its rounded front and forward-mounted mantlet. Only around fifty such vehicles were completed, making them one of the rarest and most distinctive variants of German armour. Tamiya 35169 reproduces them in 1:35 scale.

This 1993 release combines the hull from the 35164 mould with a new Porsche turret. The model captures the tall, slim turret shape and the long 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 gun, while vinyl belt tracks simplify the complex running gear. Decals cover s.Pz.Abt.503 vehicles that fought in Normandy in the summer of 1944.

What’s in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, Porsche turret and equipment parts
• Vinyl belt tracks
• One tank crew figure
• Waterslide decal sheet for s.Pz.Abt.503 options (Normandy 1944, nos. 313, 332, 334)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35169
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model length: 296 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:

The build goes smoothly – the hull and the interleaved running gear fit very well, and the vinyl belt tracks avoid any link-by-link assembly. Painting the road wheels before fitting them is worth considering. The Porsche turret, with its pronounced rounded front, looks particularly good once the weld seams and edges have been picked out with a light wash.

The Normandy vehicles of summer 1944 wear a camouflage based on dark yellow (e.g. Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow) with patches of dark green (XF-61 Dark Green) and red brown (XF-64 Red Brown); paint codes are given in the instructions. To take the level of detail further you may want to consider separately sold Tamiya accessories: individual-link tracks 35165, brass shells 35166, photo-etched parts 35167 and the 12649 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 with Porsche turret:

Before the final shape of the Tiger II turret was settled, the first vehicles off the line received a design developed by the Porsche team. Its defining feature was the rounded front with a curved mantlet – striking, but not without a drawback: the curved plate could deflect incoming rounds downwards into the hull roof.

Only around 50 early vehicles received this turret before it was replaced by the Henschel design, which was simpler to produce and better shaped. The armament was unchanged: the 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71, one of the deadliest anti-tank guns of the Second World War.

Porsche-turret Tiger IIs entered combat in June 1944 and are best known for their service with s.Pz.Abt.503 in Normandy, where they faced Allied forces soon after the landings. Their rarity and unmistakable silhouette make them one of the most frequently modelled German heavy tank variants.

Original vehicle specifications (Tiger II, Porsche 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
• Powerplant: Maybach HL230 P30 petrol engine, 700 hp
• Top speed: approx. 38 km/h (road)
• Armour: up to 150 mm (hull front)
• Porsche turret production: the first approx. 50 Tiger IIs; in combat from June 1944

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.