Saturday 1 June 2024

Dragon 6253 1/35 Tiger I Late production (Choosing a vehicle to build)

Knowing very little about the production history of these big cats I’ve turned to the David Byrden website. As mentioned above, for this kit David adds a few pointers to solve a few instruction discrepancies, some recommendations to modify a few small parts,  and advice on how to add a few small additions. Apart from adding the zimmerit, its pretty much all thats required.

With the choice of three variants the first logical step is to choose a subject. I’ve always been fascinated with the Normandy campaign, so I am going to research a worthy candidate. The Tigers that were operating in Normandy fought exclusively, as far as I know, in the British and Canadian sectors around Caen where the German armour was concentrated. Three German schwere Panzer Abteilung fought in Normandy and a few Tigers may (or may not) have been present in the Panzer Lehr Division.

s.SS-Pz.Abt. 101 had 45 Tiger I and reached Normandy on June 12, travelling from Beauvais near Paris. Michael Wittmann and the 1st and 2nd Companies famously fought in the well-known battle of Villers-Bocage on June 13.

s.Pz.Abt. 503 was transferred to Normandy with 33 Tiger I and 12 Tiger II in early July.

s.SS-Pz.Abt. 102 was transferred to Normandy with 45 Tiger I in early July. They were engaged in the bitter fighting for Hill 112.

Paintings and markings in the kit are for no less than twenty-four Ss.Pz.Abt 101 gun tank vehicles and command vehicle 009, as well as three vehicles from SS.Pz.Abt 508 that fought in Italy
 






 

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