Customer Reviews

Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger (Modelling Manuals)

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Like many military modelling enthusiasts, I visit model shops from time to time to pick up new publications on the hobby. Among the topics covered by such books and manuals, the Tiger I tank is undoubtedly one of the most popular. This new monograph from Osprey is the latest reference about putting together a 1/35 scale model of the famous tank. The main merit of the book is clearly the full color photos included. There are good illustrations on 4 different Tiger models, and a Sturmtiger. Sketches of details are also put in (apparently inspired by the Japanese magazine Model Graphix). The cover and centerpiece is the 1995 Euromilitaire winner. However, one of those photos looks disturbingly different - until I realized later that the image is reversed. The Sturmtiger model, surprisingly, is based on a Verlinden kit (and neither Tamiya nor Italeri). I suppose that the model was put together some years back. A few museum photos of the real tank are included, much like the Japanese series Panzers at Saumur (by the same Model Graphix people). Having read through Tony Greenland's Panzer Modelling Masterclass (the definitely book on German tank modelling, and now re-issued by Osprey) recently, I am less impressed by this new manual, which among other things, looks a bit pricey.

These modeling manuals date rather quickly, due to the large number of new kits hitting the market lately. Mold making technology has been improving by leaps and bounds in recent years, and there can be dramatic differences between a kit issued in 1988 and one issued in 2008.
If you plan to build a Tiger I tank in 1/35th scale, and intend to use one of the older, but quite respectable, Tamiya kits, this book is probably your best choice for a building guide. It features several builds from the 1990's, and shows how to get the absolute best from the Tamiya molds, and introduces the reader to the various aftermarket accessories like photoetched brass and link to link tracks. It also has reference photos of surviving Tigers to aid the builder. However, there is a newer Osprey title if you plan to tackle the more recent Dragon kits in 1/35th, or the new Tamiya kit in 1/16th scale.
Neither book deals with the Tiger kits from Academy or Italeri, but that is unsurprising--under no circumstances should you consider the Italeri or Academy kits, if accuracy matters to you. AFV Club offers a decent Tiger kit, but Dragon has rather stolen their thunder, though AFV Club's Sturmtiger is the best rendition of that variant currently available.