Based on the highly successful King Tiger model, the 72-ton German Sd.Kfz.186 Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf. B, or Jagdtiger, was the best German operational tank of World War II.
Two prototypes were produced, one by Henschel and the other by Porsche, differing mainly in running wheels and suspension systems, with Henschel's suspension system eventually chosen for series production. An order was placed for 150 vehicles, and production began at Nibelungenwerk in St. Valentin (Steyr-Daimler-Puch) in July 1944. Production was slow due to the cumbersome weight of the various vehicle components, as well as the fact that the factory was the target of Allied strategic bombing. By the end of the war, only about 80 were produced.
The Jagdtiger was armed with the most powerful anti-tank gun in the German arsenal during World War II, the Krupp 12.8 cm PaK 44 L/55, capable of outperforming and defeating any Allied tank it could face. Additional armament consisted of a single Rheinmetall 7.92mm MG 34 cannon with a ball mount on the left side of the hull and the option of mounting another cannon on the engine deck for anti-aircraft defense. The main gun mount offered a very limited range of rotation of 10 degrees, so if targets were outside the field of fire, the entire tank had to be rotated and re-targeted, putting considerable strain on the engine and often knocking the gun out of calibration.
The vehicle's biggest weakness was its engine, with a power output of 690 hp
Plastic model to be glued together by Takom. The kit does not include paint and glue.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: Takom
- Scale: 1/35
- Part Number: 8001