Tiger I, mid production
sPzAbt 502, Dünaburg 1944

 

Otto Carius:

In this review we look at the mid-production Tiger I from Tamiya (kit number 35202). One can tell this is a mid-production Tiger due to the early type of chasis that has been used and the newer version of the commanders cupola (see picture of commanders's hatch). These points showed themselves clearly during the construction and contributed to the accuracy of the finished product. The kit displayed here is a representation of the Tiger I used by 2nd Lieutenant Otto Carius, one of the most successful commanders of Panzers during the Second world war.

Otto Carius was born on 27th May 1922 in Zweibrücken, Rhineland-Pfalz. Immediately after his graduation the Second World War broke out. He experienced his baptism of fire with the 21st Panzer Regiment in June 1941 as a loader in the crew of a Panzer 38t during the Russian campaign. In 1943 he transfered, as the commander of a Panzer, to the 2nd Company/sPzB 502, which was equipped with the Tiger I. The battalion was assigned to the area around Leningrad and Narva.

Later he became famous for his daring attack in the area around the village of Malinava, where his Tiger and a second Tiger (commanded by Kerscher) destroyed 17 enemy tanks (including a new JS I which had not been widely seen before this combat) and recaptured the village.

Carius was wounded in 1944 and afterwards became the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Company/sPzJaegAbt 512 on the Western Front (Rhine). He was victorious in destroying more than 150 enemy tanks in the fighting and was consequently awarded the Oak Leaves to his previously awarded Knights Cross.

 

Assembly:

The first task was to remove the castors on the left and on the right sides at the front, on which the hard Russian mud often settled. I provided the vehicle with Zimmerit and a quick corroding set for the ventilation screens. Also various eyes and mounting plates were scratch built. The turret numbers were painted by hand. It was painted in acrylic colours, followed by a finish in oil colours produced by the company Lucas.
 

The Figures:

Tamiya's kit includes figures which are based on an original episode of the "Deutschen Wochenschau" (a weekly German news-reel programme) which showed Carius and his men of the 2nd Company during their briefing. The figures are perfect and very detailed. These were also painted in acrylic as well as artists oil colors. It should be noted, however, that the black Panzer uniform is not used. Instead the mouse-grey version with thigh pocket on the left leg is.
 

Results:

The Tamiya kit is convincing and very accurate. It also includes interesting information about the Tiger's operational history, particularly where it was concerned with Carius. It is highly recommended to every Tiger fan.

© 2003 Martin Stiera

 

Tiger I, mid production, schw.Pz.Abt.502, Dünaburg 1944

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