King Tiger Henschel Turret with interior 1:48 Suyata SUNO-005

Plastic model kit: King Tiger Henschel Turret with interior 1:48 Suyata SUNO-005

We present a plastic model kit of the German heavy tank from World War II - King Tiger Henschel Turret in 1:48 scale. This detailed model offers the opportunity to build a replica of one of the most famous and powerful tanks of that era.

Model features:

• Scale: 1:48
• Manufacturer: Suyata
• Catalog number: SUNO-005
• Includes detailed interior.
• The model depicts the version with the Henschel turret, which was more commonly used in serial production.

History and construction of the King Tiger:

The Tiger II was the successor to the Tiger I tank, combining its thick armor with sloped armor plates, which was characteristic of the Panther tank. It was the most expensive German tank in production at the time, weighing almost 70 tons and protected by armor ranging from 100 to 185 mm thick at the front. It was armed with a long-barreled 8.8 cm KwK 43 anti-tank gun, which was extremely effective at long ranges.

The Tiger II was first used in combat by the 503rd Heavy Tank Battalion during the Allied invasion of Normandy on July 11, 1944. On the Eastern Front, the first unit equipped with the Tiger II was the 501st Heavy Tank Battalion. Despite its power, production was limited to 492 units due to intense Allied bombings. The Tiger II played a key role in many military operations, including the Battle of the Bulge and Operation Panzerfaust in Budapest. Its thick armor and powerful gun gave it an advantage over most Allied and Soviet tanks, especially in frontal engagements.

Early models of the Tiger II were known for reliability issues, mainly due to leaking seals and an overloaded drive system. However, through cooperation with crews and the introduction of modifications such as new seals and drive system components, their reliability was improved.

The Henschel version featured a conventional hull design with sloped armor, resembling the layout of the Panther tank. The turret was designed to mount the 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 gun, making it an extremely accurate and deadly weapon. The turret drive was powered by a Boehringer-Sturm L4S hydraulic motor, allowing for quick turret rotation.

Assembly and painting kit. Does not include paints or glue. For assembly, separately sold modeling tools are needed (including cutters, files, tweezers), paints, brushes, and plastic model glue (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement). The photo shows a professionally assembled and painted model.