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.

It took 300,000 man hours to produce just one Tiger I tank (approximately double that required for a Panther), but what a tank it was! Its two principal strengths were its main gun - an 8.8cm KwK 36 L/56 - and its armor of rolled homogenous nickel-steel plate. Responding to popular demand, Dragon Armor has announced another spectacular fully built-up Tiger I tank in 1/35 scale. This new arrival is a Late Production variant, meaning it has characteristic features like steel road wheels and a monocular sight in the mantlet to the right of the gun barrel. This amazing model shows tank number 213 of Panzerabteilung 301.

This tank unit supported Heeres Gruppe B in the Ardennes offensive in late 1944, where it paid a heavy toll in vehicles destroyed. Numerous Tigers were lost in the fighting in late December through to early January, before the remainder withdrew to refit in the Koln area of Germany. The unit remained on the Western Front until the war ended. This large-scale model from Dragon Armor sports a distinctive 'stripy' three-color camouflage scheme. It has also received a light layer of weathering - this is especially obvious in places like the spare track links hung on the turret sides, as well as the metallic-looking track runs. This scale model is made to the highest standards of accuracy and craftsmanship, completely ready to defend its territory as Allied units threaten the Fatherland. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 10-inches
Width: 4-inches
Height: 4-inches

Release Date: January 2011

Historical Account: "Heavy Duty" - German heavy tank battalions (German: schwere-Panzer-Abteilung), were battalion-sized World War II tank units, equipped with Tiger I and later, Tiger II heavy tanks. Originally intended to fight on the offensive during breakthrough operations, the German late-war realities required them to be used in a defensive posture by providing heavy fire support and counterattacking enemy armored breakthroughs, often organized into ad-hoc Kampfgruppe. These panzer detachments were considered elite units.