The German Waffenamt issued an order to design the VK4501(H) (as the PzKpfw VI Ausf. E was then known) in May 1941, just one month prior to the commencement of Operation Barbarossa. Interestingly, Henschel und Sohn of Kassel was charged with building the heavily armored chassis while Krupp, by far the largest munitionwerks in Germany, was given the task of developing the turret. The PzKpfw VI Ausfuhrung E (type E) was one of the first German tanks to feature a torsion bar with eight interleaved wheels, which was designed to support the weight of the mammoth 57-ton tank. The Ausf. E mounted a huge 8.8cm KwK36 L/56 cannon and featured two MG34 machine guns for close support against enemy infantry. By war's end, 1,354 vehicles had been produced, some rolling off the Wegmann assembly line.

A new 1/72 scale model from Dragon Armor depicts a Mid-Production Tiger from schwere Panzerabteilung 507 as it appeared while the battalion was stationed in Poland. The models finished in an attractive two-color camouflage paint scheme that mimics to some degree the stripes of a tiger. Of special note is the realistically applied Zimmerit coating, which attains the standards achieved by master modelers. The distinctive B tactical markings on the turret stand out and give this tank real personality. Detail is delicate and full, including all the typical features of a Mid-Production variant. With its striped coat, this Dragon Armor model is ready to pounce on unsuspecting enemy prey! Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 4-1/2 inches
Width: 2-1/4 inches

Release Date: January 2012

Historical Account: "Roose on the Loose" - The 507th was formed on September 23rd, 1943, from personnel taken from I Abt./Pz.Rgt. 4 of 13.Panzer Division. It was organized in the usual fashion: a battalion HQ staff company, 3 tank companies, and a workshop company, plus supply and support detachments, and equipped with 45 Tigers between December 23rd, 1943 and February 25th, 1943. Transferred to the Eastern Front in March 1944, the 507th received seven replacement Tigers before the end of the month and a further 12 in April, eight in July, six in August, ten in November and one final tiger in December 1944. Over-strength at 55, the 507th met the Russian winter offensive on the Tarnapol River above Vitebk and around Narev, on January 14th, 1945, and by February 1st,1945, had only seven Tigers left, none of which were operational.

On February 6th, 1945, the 507th was ordered to return to Sennelger, to refit with the Tiger II. The unit received 21 Tiger II Ausf Bs: four on March 9th, 1945, 11 on March 22nd, 1945, and the last six on March 31st. The front came to the sPzAbt 507, deployed in the defense of the local area.