{"product_id":"hobbyboss-1-35-german-tiger-ii-king-tiger-porsche-early-production-fgst-nr-280009-84558-wwii-heavy-tank-plastic-model-kit-nz-stock","title":"HobbyBoss 1\/35 German Tiger II King Tiger Porsche Early Production Fgst.Nr.280009 84558 WWII Heavy Tank Plastic Model Kit NZ Stock","description":"\u003cp\u003e• 1\/35 scale German Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. B Tiger II (Sd.Kfz. 182) plastic model kit by HobbyBoss (Kit No. 84558)\u003cbr\u003e• Represents the Tiger II Porsche Early Production Vehicle, chassis number Fgst.Nr. 280009, an early example of Germany's famous King Tiger heavy tank\u003cbr\u003e• Depicts the distinctive early Tiger II configuration featuring the rounded-front turret commonly known as the Porsche turret\u003cbr\u003e• The early turret was designed by Krupp for the Tiger II programme and is often referred to as the Porsche turret because of its association with the Porsche-designed chassis proposal\u003cbr\u003e• Features the characteristic curved turret front, prominent turret bulge and heavily sloped frontal hull armour\u003cbr\u003e• The early turret design differed significantly from the later angular Henschel-style production turret\u003cbr\u003e• Armed with the formidable 8.8cm KwK 43 L\/71 main gun, one of the most powerful tank guns deployed during World War II\u003cbr\u003e• The long-barrelled 88mm gun provided exceptional anti-tank firepower against Allied and Soviet armoured vehicles\u003cbr\u003e• The historical Tiger II also carried 7.92mm MG 34 machine guns for defensive operations\u003cbr\u003e• Protected by approximately 150mm of sloped frontal hull armour, providing substantial protection against contemporary anti-tank weapons\u003cbr\u003e• The early rounded-front turret featured approximately 100mm of frontal armour, compared with the thicker frontal armour of the later production turret\u003cbr\u003e• Powered by a Maybach HL 230 P30 V12 petrol engine, producing approximately 700 metric horsepower\u003cbr\u003e• The original Tiger II weighed approximately 69 tonnes, making it one of the heaviest production tanks of WWII\u003cbr\u003e• Features the characteristic wide tracks, large road wheels and substantial heavy tank chassis\u003cbr\u003e• The Tiger II entered German military service in 1944, during the final stages of World War II\u003cbr\u003e• Early Tiger II vehicles with rounded-front turrets were among the first examples deployed to operational heavy tank units\u003cbr\u003e• Approximately 50 early-style turrets were manufactured before production transitioned to the revised turret design\u003cbr\u003e• The rounded-front turret featured a distinctive curved lower front that could create an undesirable shot-trap effect under certain impact conditions\u003cbr\u003e• The later production turret adopted a flatter frontal design with improved armour protection\u003cbr\u003e• The Fgst.Nr. 280009 chassis designation makes this kit particularly interesting to enthusiasts of individual vehicle configurations and German tank production history\u003cbr\u003e• The Tiger II was operated by specialised schwere Panzer-Abteilungen (heavy tank battalions) of the German Army and Waffen-SS\u003cbr\u003e• Early Tiger II tanks participated in combat during 1944, including operations on the Eastern and Western Fronts\u003cbr\u003e• Despite its exceptional firepower and protection, the Tiger II suffered from mechanical reliability problems, high fuel consumption and demanding maintenance requirements\u003cbr\u003e• The Tiger II became one of the most recognisable examples of German heavy armour engineering\u003cbr\u003e• 1\/35 scale offers an excellent balance of display presence and modelling detail\u003cbr\u003e• Ideal for collectors of WWII German tanks, early King Tigers, Porsche turret Tiger II variants and German heavy armour\u003cbr\u003e• Excellent companion to Tiger I, Panther Ausf. A\/G, Jagdtiger, Jagdpanther and later Henschel turret Tiger II model kits\u003cbr\u003e• Particularly suitable for comparing the distinctive early rounded-front turret with the later angular production turret\u003cbr\u003e• Suitable for 1944 German heavy tank battalion, Western Front and Eastern Front dioramas\u003cbr\u003e• Offers excellent opportunities for historically inspired Dunkelgelb, Olivegrün and Rotbraun German camouflage schemes\u003cbr\u003e• Appropriate for exploring Zimmerit anti-magnetic coating finishes associated with early-production Tiger II vehicles, subject to the specific vehicle's documented appearance\u003cbr\u003e• Ideal for realistic mud accumulation, track wear, chipped paint, rust streaks, dust and battlefield weathering\u003cbr\u003e• The curved turret surfaces and heavily armoured hull provide excellent opportunities for washes, highlights and subtle colour modulation\u003cbr\u003e• A distinctive addition to any collection of German WWII military vehicles, Tiger tank variants and historical armour models\u003cbr\u003e• Kit supplied unpainted and unassembled\u003cbr\u003e• Glue and paint not included\u003cbr\u003e• Recommended for experienced modellers aged 14+\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hobbyboss","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52033254949110,"sku":"84558","price":67.95,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/3227\/7238\/files\/84558-0.jpg?v=1792910460","url":"https:\/\/www.imaginefleet.co.nz\/products\/hobbyboss-1-35-german-tiger-ii-king-tiger-porsche-early-production-fgst-nr-280009-84558-wwii-heavy-tank-plastic-model-kit-nz-stock","provider":"Imaginefleet Hobby","version":"1.0","type":"link"}