Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. E Sd.Kfz.181 Tiger I in the Panzer Regiment “Grossdeutschland”. The history of the Panzerkampfwagen Tiger in the Panzer Regiment “Grossdeutschland” began in the spring of 1943 with 9 Tigers in the 13th Company. It was not until July 1943 that the entire department was set up as the III. and pure Tiger Department. The 13th Company, which was also deployed in Operation Citadel, became the 9th Company. In addition, the III. Department also included the 10th and 11th Companies, each with 14 Tigers according to the standard strength. The new companies still had the Tiger I with rubber road wheels, but the 11th Company already had some of the new cast flat commander’s cupola. No Tiger had the Zimmerit coating at first. Only a few tank units in the Wehrmacht had 3 tank departments. Instead of a three-digit numbering system, a combination of capital letters and numbers was chosen. The first letter stood for the company. 9th Company had an A, 10th a B and 11th a C, followed by the platoon number and wagon number. B22 was then the 2nd Tiger in the 2nd platoon of the 10th Company. The 3 command Tigers in the staff were marked S01 to S03. The tanks were given their tactical identification in Germany and moved from Neuhaus near Paderborn to the Eastern Front. Due to the situation at the front, great haste was required. Russian armies had made breakthroughs in the Achtyrka area and were advancing towards Kharkov-Poltava. The newly assigned companies had little time to get their Tigers ready for action. The olive green and reddish brown camouflage was hastily applied, as can be seen in the original photos. Even the identification was partially sprayed over. Packs of T34 and SU122 assault guns, as well as dug-in anti-tank fronts and repeated mines also caused significant losses to the Tiger tanks. In 8 days of combat during these battles, the Tiger Division alone destroyed 42 tanks and 54 anti-tank guns. The Panzergrenadier Division Grossdeutschland remained the “fire brigade” on the Eastern Front until the end of the war. The III. Division only had Tiger Is in its inventory.

Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. E Sd.Kfz.181 Tiger I Early Production LAH, Operation Citadel, July 1943
Kit 9142 scale 1:35 Manufacturer Cyber Hobby 
Additional materials used: Tamiya: extra thin liquid glue ; Ethyl acetate as glue, Gunze: Mr.Setter, Mr. Softener; Mr. Color Thinner 400; Voyager: FE35010; Plusmodel:Lead wire 0.3mm; copper sheet 0.1mm; RB Model: RB35B38; Tank Type: RE35-0193;
isopropyl alcohol; Plaster; Graphite pencil; Plastruct:90711; Karaya: Copper Cable TC000/0.4mm,TC004, 1.1mm; Tank Type: RE35-0193; Star Decals:35-900; QuickWheel:QW-057;
Colors: Tamiya:X-22,XF-52,XF-55,XF-57,XF-58,XF-60,XF-64;
AMIG: 1002,1203,1206,1208,1407,1409,1510,1750,1752,1753,1754,2019,3005,3006,3007,3009;
AK: TrueMetal Iron,015;
MIG :DarkWash, P023,P024,P034,P034,P232;
Vallejo:310,311,950,70976;
LYRA: Super FERBY Graphite Pen;
Primer: Gunze:Mr. Surfacer 1500 Black; Tamiya: fine Surfacer Oxide Red;

Construction time approx. 35h Difficulty level medium