Review of Tiger & Tiger II
Tanks of the German Army & Waffen-SS
Eastern Front 1944
Tank Craft Series
Author: Dennis Oliver
Pen & Sword Ltd.
ISBN: 978-1-4738-8534-9
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $19.95
ISBN: 978-1-4738-8534-9
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $19.95
In spite of the relatively small numbers produced, the Tiger I and Tiger II tanks were arguably the most famous armoured fighting vehicles of the Second World War.
This book, first in the TankCraft Series, uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the tanks and units of the German Army and Waffen-SS heavy panzer battalions that attempted to hold back the Red Army during 1944.
A large part of the book showcases available model kits and after-market products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales.
Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeler needs to recreate representation of the tanks that fought from the snow covered fields of Byelorussia and the Ukraine, through the Baltic States and into Poland and Hungary.
The author:
Dennis Oliver, is the author of over 20 books on the Second World War armoured vehicles, including Codename Swallow, British Sherman Tanks at Alamen, To the Last Bullet, Germany's War on 3 Fronts, Westwall, German Armour in the West 1945, Viking Summer and A Sound Like Thunder books.
This book is soft cover of 65 pages in 8 1/4" x 11 3/4" page format.
The front cover:
At the top is a Tamiya 1/35th scale Tiger I built and painted by Dennis Wong in the markings of 1 Kompanie, Schwere-Panzer-Abteilung 506.
In the center, from left to right, a Tiger I of III Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment Grossdeutschland, a Tiger II of 2 Kompanie, Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 photographed in Budapest in late 1944 and a Tiger I of 3 Kompanie, Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 506.
At the bottom is a color profile of a Tiger I Ausf. E.
The back cover:
At the top is is a Tiger II of Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503, then a close-up photo of PE parts by Rochm Model, next is a Tiger I of Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 506 and then a color profile of a Tiger I of 3 Kompanie, Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 507.
There are 57 black and white wartime photos included in the book. a chart of a Tiger unit makeup, a map and 9 data charts, black and white illustrations of 3 Panzer Assault Badges.
The color profiles are:
A Tiger I early production (1 profile)
A Tiger I mid production (3 profiles
A Tiger I late production (2 profiles)
A Tiger I Ausf B (5 profiles with 2 just turret illustrations)
A Tiger I Ausf E (10 profiles with 3 just turret illustrations)
A Tiger II (2 profiles)
There is a color illustration of the Panzer-Abteilung 510 unit badge and 5 illustrations of the Panzer-Abteilung 506 unit badge and 2 illustrations of the Death's Head pin.
In the section showing made up models:
The Tamiya 1/35th scale Tiger I by Dennis Wong (8 color photos) 5 of these are walk-around type.
The DML Dragon 1/35th scale Tiger I by Dinesh Ned (5 color photos)
The Tamiya 1/35th scale Tiger I mid-production by Dennis Wong (10 color photos) 5 are walk-around type.
The Tamiya 1/35th scale Tiger I late-production by Lim Kian Guan (7 color photos) 2 are walk-around type and a coor illustration of a tank crewman is shown. Also there is a color illustration of a unit marking that is a knight on horseback (I don't know the identity of this unit).
The AFV Club Sturmpanzer VI, Sturm Tiger in 1/35th scale by Dimitris Ionnisis (9 color photos) 5 are walk-around type.
A Rochm Model 1/35th scale Tiger II by Sheng Hui (3 color photos) 2 are walk-around type.
In the section showing Tiger I and Tiger II kits available:
9 walk-around photos of parts and box arts of DML Dragon Tiger kits.
8 walk-around photos of parts and box arts of Tamiya Tiger kits.
2 walk-around photos of parts and box arts of Trumpeter Tiger kits.
4 walk-around photos of parts and box arts of Academy Tiger kits.
1 photo of a Hobby Fan kit.
5 walk-around photos of parts and box arts of Zvezda Tiger kits.
4 walk-around photos of parts and box arts of Italeri tiger kits.
3 walk-around photos of parts and box arts of Rye Field Tiger kits.
For Tiger detail sets there are:
1 photo of Royal Model set
1 photo of Rochm set
1 photo of Hauler set
1 photo of Voyager set
1 photo of Griffin set
1 photo of Aber set
1 photo of E.T. Models set
1 photo of Freui Model set
1 photo of Modelkasten set
1 photo of Model Artisan Mori set
1 photo of R.B. Model set
1 photo of Model Factory Hiro set
The last 5 pages cover 5 other Pen & Sword books:
Images of War, Hitler's Panzers
Tiger I & Tiger II (but with a different cover art)
Armoured Warfare on the Eastern front
Hitler's Defeat on the Eastern Front
Sherman Tanks
This is one neat book. Lots of color schemes to please modelers and info about available kits.
Book will also interest AFV enthusiasts.
I want to thank the folks at Casemate who sent me this sample.
A full listing of Pen & Sword Ltd. books can be found on the Casemate site at:
This book, first in the TankCraft Series, uses archive photos and extensively researched color illustrations to examine the tanks and units of the German Army and Waffen-SS heavy panzer battalions that attempted to hold back the Red Army during 1944.
A large part of the book showcases available model kits and after-market products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales.
Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined providing everything the modeler needs to recreate representation of the tanks that fought from the snow covered fields of Byelorussia and the Ukraine, through the Baltic States and into Poland and Hungary.
The author:
Dennis Oliver, is the author of over 20 books on the Second World War armoured vehicles, including Codename Swallow, British Sherman Tanks at Alamen, To the Last Bullet, Germany's War on 3 Fronts, Westwall, German Armour in the West 1945, Viking Summer and A Sound Like Thunder books.
This book is soft cover of 65 pages in 8 1/4" x 11 3/4" page format.
The front cover:
At the top is a Tamiya 1/35th scale Tiger I built and painted by Dennis Wong in the markings of 1 Kompanie, Schwere-Panzer-Abteilung 506.
In the center, from left to right, a Tiger I of III Abteilung, Panzer-Regiment Grossdeutschland, a Tiger II of 2 Kompanie, Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 photographed in Budapest in late 1944 and a Tiger I of 3 Kompanie, Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 506.
At the bottom is a color profile of a Tiger I Ausf. E.
The back cover:
At the top is is a Tiger II of Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503, then a close-up photo of PE parts by Rochm Model, next is a Tiger I of Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 506 and then a color profile of a Tiger I of 3 Kompanie, Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 507.
There are 57 black and white wartime photos included in the book. a chart of a Tiger unit makeup, a map and 9 data charts, black and white illustrations of 3 Panzer Assault Badges.
The color profiles are:
A Tiger I early production (1 profile)
A Tiger I mid production (3 profiles
A Tiger I late production (2 profiles)
A Tiger I Ausf B (5 profiles with 2 just turret illustrations)
A Tiger I Ausf E (10 profiles with 3 just turret illustrations)
A Tiger II (2 profiles)
There is a color illustration of the Panzer-Abteilung 510 unit badge and 5 illustrations of the Panzer-Abteilung 506 unit badge and 2 illustrations of the Death's Head pin.
In the section showing made up models:
The Tamiya 1/35th scale Tiger I by Dennis Wong (8 color photos) 5 of these are walk-around type.
The DML Dragon 1/35th scale Tiger I by Dinesh Ned (5 color photos)
The Tamiya 1/35th scale Tiger I mid-production by Dennis Wong (10 color photos) 5 are walk-around type.
The Tamiya 1/35th scale Tiger I late-production by Lim Kian Guan (7 color photos) 2 are walk-around type and a coor illustration of a tank crewman is shown. Also there is a color illustration of a unit marking that is a knight on horseback (I don't know the identity of this unit).
The AFV Club Sturmpanzer VI, Sturm Tiger in 1/35th scale by Dimitris Ionnisis (9 color photos) 5 are walk-around type.
A Rochm Model 1/35th scale Tiger II by Sheng Hui (3 color photos) 2 are walk-around type.
In the section showing Tiger I and Tiger II kits available:
9 walk-around photos of parts and box arts of DML Dragon Tiger kits.
8 walk-around photos of parts and box arts of Tamiya Tiger kits.
2 walk-around photos of parts and box arts of Trumpeter Tiger kits.
4 walk-around photos of parts and box arts of Academy Tiger kits.
1 photo of a Hobby Fan kit.
5 walk-around photos of parts and box arts of Zvezda Tiger kits.
4 walk-around photos of parts and box arts of Italeri tiger kits.
3 walk-around photos of parts and box arts of Rye Field Tiger kits.
For Tiger detail sets there are:
1 photo of Royal Model set
1 photo of Rochm set
1 photo of Hauler set
1 photo of Voyager set
1 photo of Griffin set
1 photo of Aber set
1 photo of E.T. Models set
1 photo of Freui Model set
1 photo of Modelkasten set
1 photo of Model Artisan Mori set
1 photo of R.B. Model set
1 photo of Model Factory Hiro set
The last 5 pages cover 5 other Pen & Sword books:
Images of War, Hitler's Panzers
Tiger I & Tiger II (but with a different cover art)
Armoured Warfare on the Eastern front
Hitler's Defeat on the Eastern Front
Sherman Tanks
This is one neat book. Lots of color schemes to please modelers and info about available kits.
Book will also interest AFV enthusiasts.
I want to thank the folks at Casemate who sent me this sample.
A full listing of Pen & Sword Ltd. books can be found on the Casemate site at: