I don’t normally do armor, but would like to do a piece of German armor (Tiger tank but have looked at the Tamiya Marder III) that would have been used in the last days of the war (1945 Battle for Germany Group Build). I’m asking for recomendations of kits that might meet that requirement OOB.
Second question-I’ve been reading a lot of good things about the DML Tiger kits but am concerned about the complexity-are they worth the effort compared to the Tamiya kits?
Appriciate your input.
I choose Dragon’s Initial or Late Tiger kits. For the money you get a whole lot of options. Build them as ‘all plastic’ or go the other way and substitute with all the PE and aluminum barrel choices the kit gives you! Don’t want to fuss with zimmerit then try the ‘Initial’ Tiger. If you don’t mind doing zimmerit then do the ‘Late’ Tiger. Either way you can’t go wrong.
My 2 cents!
Glenn
No doubt Tamiya puts out some great kits and their reputation is based in part on the supperior fit of their kits , but they are pricier than DML kits ,which sometimes have fit issues but put so much more value in the box . Id rather have all the options in the box and available in case you get the urge to use them.
CFR [oX)]
Well if your building a tank for the Battle of Germany, then you will have to do a Tiger with zimmerit. Even though production stopped in 1944, the Lates would have had zimmerit. The Initials or Early’s would have been gone by then. You’d need a Mid or Late production model. The tamiya kits are great and would be an easier build than Dragon. They ironically come with indy tracks, one of the few that Tamiya produced.
The Marder would be good choice, and the Tamiya one is in my sig pic. It was easy to put together and has one piece tracks. No zimmerit either. Good luck.
While DML is the better value, it is the more difficult kit. The complexity of options and even the crowded directions may be issues. Why not go Tamiya first, then tackle the DML? It is a fairly simple kit and will accurately depict the Tiger , as kits are available for all versions, early, mid and late.
Steve
Thanks for the input guys. Helping me to make a decision. Final decision will be when Hobby Lobby has their next sale and the inventory available.!
If your doing a Tiger from 1945 you have many options, there were still a few Tiger I’s left most of them the late or early / mid version that had been repaired after some heavy battle damage, most of them would have zimmerit, then there is also the Tiger II or Kingtiger, if your building one that was produced after September 9, 1944 you can avoid the zimmerit.
I’d go for either the Late Tiger I or the Ardenner front Kingtiger from DML / Dragon.
All the staements above are good, I agree with them on the tamiya kits. But you wont have to settle for A late or Mid production with zim. You can do an early version if you like, painted in dark gray. There was one photographed after the fall of Berlin that was apperantly left in the city for propaganda work and was thrown into battle when the soviets attacked.
The marder III is from what I hear one of tamiya’s best kits. From what ive read most of the anzer divisions left in April 45 were mainly made up of assault guns (like the marder III). So really, anything can work for the fall of germany.
Get a Panther G from Tamiya, great kit