Introduction: German Tiger I Heavy Tank in 1/16 scale

Prototype At-a-Glance
Career			Specifications			Armament
Type:	Heavy tank		Weight:	62.7 tons		Armor:	25-120mm
Nationality:	Germany		Length:	27ft 9in gun fwd		Main gun:	1 × 8.8cm KwK 36 L/56
Manufactured:	Henschel		Width:	12ft 2in			92 rounds
Designed:	1941		Height:	9ft 10in		Secondary gun:	2 × 7.92mm Maschinengewehr 34
Manufactured:	1942-1944		Crew:	5			4,800 rounds
Number built:	1,347		Speed:	24mph		Engine:	Maybach HL230 P45 V12 Gasoline
Homeport:	San Diego, CA		Range:	121mi			690hp

Santa put this under the tree for me on Christmas 2001. My wife couldn't believe it (neither could I!). This is the first in what would become an impressive line-up of Tamiya 1/16th armor kits. It was ultimately available in three configurations: "standard", "full-option", and "static display." The standard and full-option versions were set up for R/C operation and included all running hardware except for radio and batteries. The Full-Option kit added a sound module which included digitzed sound effects as recorded from a prototype. The static display version was offered later and deleted all the running gear.

1/16 Project At-a-Glance
Materials
Base kit:	Tamiya Tiger I, #56010
Aftermarket detail sets:	Aber PhotoEtch and Multimedia Super-detailing kit #16K01
Date started:	December 28, 2001
Date completed:

This model is the Full-Option version and has been finished in "RSM Summer Camo 143" which is an entirely fictitious scheme (ie., I painted it the way I wanted to). This kit is simply awesome, and would be an excellent project on its own. Adding the Aber set ups the ante by a factor of 3 or 4 in terms of time required to complete: however Aber products are so well executed and of such high quality that it is truly a fun build.

Even the box is a work of art...