1:35 German Tiger I Early Production
Item #35216

DESCRIPTION
About the German Tiger I Early Production

It was the end of 1942 when a German heavy tank with extra thick
armor and a powerful main gun first appeared on the North African
front. The new tank, long-desired by the German soldiers who had
hard-fought battles against the allies, became known as the
Tiger I Ausf. E. Development of the Tiger I began at the end of
May 1941. The German Army Weapons Branch ordered the Henschel
firm to vie with Porsche in producing a prototype. The first
prototypes underwent trials on April 1942. The result of these
and subsequent trial showed the superiority of the Henschel
vehicle to the Porsche's, and thus production orders were placed
for it. The Henschel's prototype had thick armor of 100mm at the
front and 80mm on both sides, and the main gun was the then most
potent, the 8.8cm KwK 36 L/56. The powerplant was Maybach's HL
210 P45, yielding 650 horsepower. Mass production started already
in August 1942 with little alteration from the prototype.
Starting from November 1942, air pre-cleaners were added on the
rear hull plate. The mantlet was partly strengthened and "S" mine
dischargers were fitted on five mounting points around the hull
roof beginning from December. Moreover, a loader's periscope was
fitted from January 1943. The Tiger I produced from November 1942
to July 1943 featured these modifications, are referred to as
the early production. About 200 units of these early production
versions were produced.