In Box Review of Skybow 1/48th Scale
German Tiger I
Kit no. TP 4833
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2005
Out of production
I paid $25.00 for my kit.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2005
Out of production
I paid $25.00 for my kit.
HISTORY:
The Tiger I was a German heavy tank of World War II that operated beginning in 1942 in Africa and in the Soviet Union, usually in independent heavy tank battalions. It gave the German Army its first armoured fighting vehicle that mounted the 8.8 cm KwK 36 gun (derived from the 8.8 cm Flak 36). 1,347 were built between August 1942 and August 1944. After August 1944, production of the Tiger I was phased out in favour of the Tiger II.
While the Tiger I has been called an outstanding design for its time,[13] it has also been called over engineered, using expensive materials and labour-intensive production methods. In the early period Tiger was prone to certain types of track failures and breakdowns and was in general limited in range by its high fuel consumption.
It was expensive to maintain, but generally mechanically reliable. It was difficult to transport and vulnerable to immobilisation when mud, ice, and snow froze between its overlapping and interleaved Schachtellaufwerk-pattern road wheels, often jamming them solid. This was a problem on the Eastern Front in the muddy rasputitsa season and during periods of extreme cold.
The tank was given its nickname "Tiger" by Ferdinand Porsche, and the Roman numeral was added after the Tiger II entered production. The initial designation was Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausführung H (literally "armoured combat vehicle VI version H", abbreviated PzKpfw VI Ausf. H) where 'H' denoted Henschel as the designer/manufacturer. It was classified with ordnance inventory designation Sd.Kfz. 182. The tank was later re-designated as PzKpfw VI Ausf. E in March 1943, with ordnance inventory designation Sd.Kfz. 181.
Today, only seven Tiger I tanks survive in museums and private collections worldwide. As of 2021, Tiger 131 (captured during the North African Campaign) at the UK's Tank Museum is the only example restored to running order.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Heavy tank
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1942–1945
Wars: World War II
Designer: Erwin Aders, Henschel & Son
Designed: 1938–1941
Manufacturer: Henschel
Unit cost: 250,700 ℛℳ
Produced: 1942–1944
No. built: 1,347
Mass: 54 tonnes (60 short tons), 57 tonnes (63 short tons) (Ausf. E) (Combat weight)
Length: 6.316 m (20 ft 8.7 in), 8.45 m (27 ft 9 in) gun forward
Width: 3.56 m (11 ft 8 in)
Height: 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in)
Crew: 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator)
Armour: 25–120 mm (0.98–4.72 in)
Main armament 1× 8.8 cm KwK 36 L/56, 92 AP and HE rounds
Secondary armament: 2× 7.92 mm MG 34, 4,500 rounds, 4,800 rounds (Ausf. E)
Engine: Maybach HL230 P45 V-12 of 700 PS (690 hp, 515 kW)
Power/weight: 13 PS (9.5 kW) / tonne
Transmission: Maybach Olvar Type OG 40 12 16 (8 forward and 4 reverse)
Suspension: Torsion bar
Ground clearance: 0.47 m (1 ft 7 in)
Fuel capacity: 540 liters
Operational range: Road: 195 km (121 mi), Cross country: 110 km (68 mi)
Maximum speed: 45.4 km/h (28.2 mph) on roads 20–25 km/h (12–16 mph) cross country
The Tiger I was a German heavy tank of World War II that operated beginning in 1942 in Africa and in the Soviet Union, usually in independent heavy tank battalions. It gave the German Army its first armoured fighting vehicle that mounted the 8.8 cm KwK 36 gun (derived from the 8.8 cm Flak 36). 1,347 were built between August 1942 and August 1944. After August 1944, production of the Tiger I was phased out in favour of the Tiger II.
While the Tiger I has been called an outstanding design for its time,[13] it has also been called over engineered, using expensive materials and labour-intensive production methods. In the early period Tiger was prone to certain types of track failures and breakdowns and was in general limited in range by its high fuel consumption.
It was expensive to maintain, but generally mechanically reliable. It was difficult to transport and vulnerable to immobilisation when mud, ice, and snow froze between its overlapping and interleaved Schachtellaufwerk-pattern road wheels, often jamming them solid. This was a problem on the Eastern Front in the muddy rasputitsa season and during periods of extreme cold.
The tank was given its nickname "Tiger" by Ferdinand Porsche, and the Roman numeral was added after the Tiger II entered production. The initial designation was Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausführung H (literally "armoured combat vehicle VI version H", abbreviated PzKpfw VI Ausf. H) where 'H' denoted Henschel as the designer/manufacturer. It was classified with ordnance inventory designation Sd.Kfz. 182. The tank was later re-designated as PzKpfw VI Ausf. E in March 1943, with ordnance inventory designation Sd.Kfz. 181.
Today, only seven Tiger I tanks survive in museums and private collections worldwide. As of 2021, Tiger 131 (captured during the North African Campaign) at the UK's Tank Museum is the only example restored to running order.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Heavy tank
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1942–1945
Wars: World War II
Designer: Erwin Aders, Henschel & Son
Designed: 1938–1941
Manufacturer: Henschel
Unit cost: 250,700 ℛℳ
Produced: 1942–1944
No. built: 1,347
Mass: 54 tonnes (60 short tons), 57 tonnes (63 short tons) (Ausf. E) (Combat weight)
Length: 6.316 m (20 ft 8.7 in), 8.45 m (27 ft 9 in) gun forward
Width: 3.56 m (11 ft 8 in)
Height: 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in)
Crew: 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator)
Armour: 25–120 mm (0.98–4.72 in)
Main armament 1× 8.8 cm KwK 36 L/56, 92 AP and HE rounds
Secondary armament: 2× 7.92 mm MG 34, 4,500 rounds, 4,800 rounds (Ausf. E)
Engine: Maybach HL230 P45 V-12 of 700 PS (690 hp, 515 kW)
Power/weight: 13 PS (9.5 kW) / tonne
Transmission: Maybach Olvar Type OG 40 12 16 (8 forward and 4 reverse)
Suspension: Torsion bar
Ground clearance: 0.47 m (1 ft 7 in)
Fuel capacity: 540 liters
Operational range: Road: 195 km (121 mi), Cross country: 110 km (68 mi)
Maximum speed: 45.4 km/h (28.2 mph) on roads 20–25 km/h (12–16 mph) cross country
THE KIT:
Skybow is a model company based in Taiwan, China.
This kit comes in an end-opening box. It is not shrink-wrapped. The end flaps have fold-over locking tabs. It has a clear window on top and a fold over lid with the box art on it..
The cover art is a color illustration of a Tiger I posed against an all-black background. It is overall earth yellow with only a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull.
At the top it says it is an armour series kit. Tiger I. Panzerkampfwagen PP, Sd.Kfz. 181 Ausf. E (early production).
Next are the features of the kit:
An unassembled plastic model kit.
Accurate early production hull w/highly detailed surface texture.
Accurate early style loader’s hatch and early style ventilator,
Side mounted smoke candle dischargers on the turret.
Has mounts for 8-minen dischargers on the upper hull.
Correct rear engine deck.
Two Bosch head lights.
Glueable rubber tracks.
Screws for road wheels.
Super decals.
The underside of the fold over lid begins with a one paragraph history of the Tiger I, over READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions, international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of Gunze Sangyo, Humbrol, Revell and Tamiya brands of hobby paints, in Chinese, Japanese, English and German.
Skybow is a model company based in Taiwan, China.
This kit comes in an end-opening box. It is not shrink-wrapped. The end flaps have fold-over locking tabs. It has a clear window on top and a fold over lid with the box art on it..
The cover art is a color illustration of a Tiger I posed against an all-black background. It is overall earth yellow with only a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull.
At the top it says it is an armour series kit. Tiger I. Panzerkampfwagen PP, Sd.Kfz. 181 Ausf. E (early production).
Next are the features of the kit:
An unassembled plastic model kit.
Accurate early production hull w/highly detailed surface texture.
Accurate early style loader’s hatch and early style ventilator,
Side mounted smoke candle dischargers on the turret.
Has mounts for 8-minen dischargers on the upper hull.
Correct rear engine deck.
Two Bosch head lights.
Glueable rubber tracks.
Screws for road wheels.
Super decals.
The underside of the fold over lid begins with a one paragraph history of the Tiger I, over READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions, international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of Gunze Sangyo, Humbrol, Revell and Tamiya brands of hobby paints, in Chinese, Japanese, English and German.
One side panel of the box begins with Skybows street. FAX and web addresses.
These are followed with a statement that coming soon will be Skybow’s kit no TP-4802, but no mention of what that is? The art work shows a Sherman VC Firefly but I suspect it is another Tiger version.
Box art of their kit no. TP-4801 is shown. It is another Tiger I.
These are followed with a statement that coming soon will be Skybow’s kit no TP-4802, but no mention of what that is? The art work shows a Sherman VC Firefly but I suspect it is another Tiger version.
Box art of their kit no. TP-4801 is shown. It is another Tiger I.
The other side panel of the box shows 3 color walk-around type photos of this model made up in overall earth-yellow, with a white-outlined number 131 on the sides and rear of the turret and a small black and white German cross on the sides of the hull. Skybow’s addresses are repeated.
The bottom of the box shows a color painting and marking guide at the top. It is a 5-view of the Tiger I in overall earth-yellow and the white 131 turret number.
Below this is a one-paragraph history of the Tiger I in Chinese, Japanese, English and German. Each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
At the bottom is a repeat of Skybow’s addresses again.
Below this is a one-paragraph history of the Tiger I in Chinese, Japanese, English and German. Each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
At the bottom is a repeat of Skybow’s addresses again.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX.
Contents are in a formed clear plastic tray and lid.
There are 4 olive drab trees and the loose hull top, bottom and turret top and bottom. The loose parts are in a compartment in one end of the molded clear plastic tray, along with the decal sheet, a length of steel chain and the vinyl track runs.
Contents are in a formed clear plastic tray and lid.
There are 4 olive drab trees and the loose hull top, bottom and turret top and bottom. The loose parts are in a compartment in one end of the molded clear plastic tray, along with the decal sheet, a length of steel chain and the vinyl track runs.
The decal sheet is in a cello bag with a tissue to protect its face.
The chain is in another cello bag.
The lengths of black vinyl tracks are in a pressure-sealed clear plastic capsule.
The chain is in another cello bag.
The lengths of black vinyl tracks are in a pressure-sealed clear plastic capsule.
Olive-drab letter A parts tree holds: The front and rear of the hull, exhausts, spare track, jack, tow cables, tools etc. (30 parts)
Olive-drab letter B parts tree holds: rear turret bin, turret hatch, gun muzzle, gun barrel, fenders etc. (26 parts)
There are 2 identical olive-drab letter C parts trees. They hold: road wheels, drive sprockets, idler wheels, final transfer covers etc. (39 parts ea.)
Next are the lone olive-drab hull top and bottom, turret top and bottom parts, the black vinyl track runs the decal sheet and the length of steel chain.
The detail is very good.
Recommended.
Recommended.