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| DML Kit #6312 King Tiger
Premium Edition
By Ron Hayes, UK.
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Well, this kit is fairly typical
of the things that make Dragon wonderful
and infuriating at the same time - another King Tiger kit in a seemingly
never-ending series.
Basically it's the 2003 kit #6189 updated, which initially pissed me off
somewhat as I only bought that kit 4 months ago and suddenly it's outdated!
6189 itself set a new standard of accuracy and detail for the Porsche-Krupp
turretted Tiger so I won't go over that again. However, it's definitely
worth purchasing this one too, if only for the new items that are in the
box. I won't go over the whole kit, just the new stuff, as most of you 'who
know' will no doubt have built at least one of these...
TURRET
The main changes are a much better cupola which uses Dragon's much-trumpeted
slide-molding to create periscope ports with that distinctive undercut which
is almost impossible to mimic. There's 2 in fact (with and without rain
channels), so you can use the other to dress up your left-over 6189 or any
other Tiger II model. A turned alloy barrel is also (routinely these days)
included, but now with a slide-molded muzzle brake to go with it with the
inner ring that most modelers miss.
The close-in defence weapon is supplied as open or closed and now has full
interior detail for those wanting it. The MG34 ball mount is now workable,
and the plug on the rear hatch is supplied with chain to make it open - the
chain looks a bit oversize though , and I'll replace mine with some
ShowModeling or ABER chain.
The nicest bit is a brass circle to cover the defunct communication port
shown on the V2 turret of the example at Bovington, which also found its way
on the earliest production. Apparently the SPz.Abt.503 'Annaliese' (on the
boxtop) did have one of these - however it should then also have had no
turret ring armor and have the binocular gunner's sight, making it one of
the first few Tiger IIs made.
There are trqck -hangers in etched brass too, but to be honest these aren't
as accurate as the plastic versions so are a bit pointless.
HULL
The main newey is pre-formed etch mesh for the forward intake covers (how
lazy do you want to be guys?!), but also new are ALL the tools, the jack is
an amazing piece of plastic engineering, new hawser ends (both sizes, plus
both sizes of hawser in steel too!), plus new hawser shackles in steel like
their Tiger 1 kits. All the tools now get a brass fret for the tool clasps,
which follow the ABER style (i.e nearly bloody impossible to put together,
but look amazing when you finally manage it!).
The only disappointment is why we still get 2 one-piece track guards in this
age of preformed brass, as these would have looked fantastic as separate
pieces (and I don't know anyone who does make them right now). I'll just
have to cut the kit ones up as usual...
TRACKS
Yes - magic tracks are these - saves a lot of time, and though personally I
much prefer the realistic sag of metal tracks by Fruillmodellismo for
instance, I can't see many fans shelling out for them when these are so good
- I certainly won't! Oh, and the road wheels have been upgraded to the
standard of the more recent Henschel-turreted kits - it's very subtle detail
too.
DECALS
I never use the things, preferring Archer or other rubdown transfers, but
for those who do there's a new set which extends the vehicles covered from
the originals so it's good value.
To wrap up. A new Dragon kit to the core. Lots of parts, many improved, not
perfect but certainly Dragon are getting to the point were even the
aftermarket guys must be sweating, never mind Tamiya, as like their Tiger 1s
this is one kit you can build, straight from the box, into a show-winner.
The only thing you'll need (apart from Grade A modeling ability to make
those tool clasps!) is some zimmeritt - almost all the Porsche Tigers had
it. For those of you too lazy or, like me hate making 'wet' zimmeritt, I
bought the ATAK set.
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