| HOBBY MASTER COLLECTOR |
| Hobby Master 1/56 Ground Power Series HG0103 - Tiger I Early Production, Tank No. S33, PzReg 2, Russia 1943 |
Hobby Master Ground Power
Series 1-56 scale
Presents this German Tiger I Tank
(Early Production). One of the
deadliest tanks of WWII, making it
feared by all who came in contact with
them. There never were more than
approximately 200 early production
Tiger I's produced between November
1942 - June 1943. Early production
Tiger I's had very distinctive features
such as large round tube like cupola.
Other distinctive features were pistol
ports in the turret and smoke
launchers.
Series 1-56 scale
Presents this German Tiger I Tank
(Early Production). One of the
deadliest tanks of WWII, making it
feared by all who came in contact with
them. There never were more than
approximately 200 early production
Tiger I's produced between November
1942 - June 1943. Early production
Tiger I's had very distinctive features
such as large round tube like cupola.
Other distinctive features were pistol
ports in the turret and smoke
launchers.
These (scale: 1/56) die-cast model
tanks are loaded with features. These
models duplicate every detail of the full
sized Tiger I. All these features make
these models very sought after by
collectors from around the world.
Features:
Die-Cast Model with minimal plastic
True to Scale (1:56) Size: 114.3mm
not including cannon - 152.4mm
including cannon x 66.04mm x 53.54
mm ( 4.5in. not including cannon - 6in.
including cannon x 2.6in. x 2.1in. )
Highly detailed features
Weathering, cables, tools and insignia
Painted in accurate colors
Markings Tampo applied
Fully assembled
Rubber tracks
Individual moving wheels
Turret turns
Main gun can be elevated
tanks are loaded with features. These
models duplicate every detail of the full
sized Tiger I. All these features make
these models very sought after by
collectors from around the world.
Features:
Die-Cast Model with minimal plastic
True to Scale (1:56) Size: 114.3mm
not including cannon - 152.4mm
including cannon x 66.04mm x 53.54
mm ( 4.5in. not including cannon - 6in.
including cannon x 2.6in. x 2.1in. )
Highly detailed features
Weathering, cables, tools and insignia
Painted in accurate colors
Markings Tampo applied
Fully assembled
Rubber tracks
Individual moving wheels
Turret turns
Main gun can be elevated
The Battle at Kursk took place in July 1943 with the German code name of “Operation Zitadelle” (Citadel). It was the
largest tank battle in the history of mankind with over 5,000 tanks and assault guns belonging to Germany and
Russia. Not only at Kursk but while there was an Eastern Front this elite Waffen-SS Tiger unit, schwere Panzer-
Kompanie 8./SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 of the 2nd SS-Panzer Division known as “Das Reich” played a major role in
some of the fiercest and bloodiest encounters during this portion of WWII.
One more unique marking on this tank was the Chinese Kanji character for good luck. What made it so unusual was
the tank crew had applied it upside down. This seemed to have worked, at least until 1944 when the luck ran out and
S33 was destroyed.
In September of 1943 the German Army was in retreat and this tank and others from “Das Reich” were called upon to
carry out a delaying action against advancing Russian T-34s. This was a fierce and costly clash but without it the
German Army probably would have been annihilated.
During WWII the German company Henschel made over 1300 heavy Tiger I’s that include the original “Early” through
“Mid’ and “Late” production versions. About 200 “Early” versions of the tank were made before moving on to the next.
A couple of the most distinctive features of the “Early” Henschels were the inclusion of pistol ports and smoke
dischargers.
largest tank battle in the history of mankind with over 5,000 tanks and assault guns belonging to Germany and
Russia. Not only at Kursk but while there was an Eastern Front this elite Waffen-SS Tiger unit, schwere Panzer-
Kompanie 8./SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 of the 2nd SS-Panzer Division known as “Das Reich” played a major role in
some of the fiercest and bloodiest encounters during this portion of WWII.
One more unique marking on this tank was the Chinese Kanji character for good luck. What made it so unusual was
the tank crew had applied it upside down. This seemed to have worked, at least until 1944 when the luck ran out and
S33 was destroyed.
In September of 1943 the German Army was in retreat and this tank and others from “Das Reich” were called upon to
carry out a delaying action against advancing Russian T-34s. This was a fierce and costly clash but without it the
German Army probably would have been annihilated.
During WWII the German company Henschel made over 1300 heavy Tiger I’s that include the original “Early” through
“Mid’ and “Late” production versions. About 200 “Early” versions of the tank were made before moving on to the next.
A couple of the most distinctive features of the “Early” Henschels were the inclusion of pistol ports and smoke
dischargers.
Historical Background:
This tank belonged to SS-PzReg 2 "Das Reich", East Front Russia 1943.
# S33, a large "S" (for schwere meaning "heavy") preceeded the two digit numbers on "Das Reich" Kursk Tigers. A
couple of unique “Das Reich” Tiger I tank markings found on all of the regiments tanks that fought at Kursk. The first
is the little dancing gnome like creature called “Dancing Devil” found on each side towards the front of the turret. The
second tactical symbol used at Kursk to provide quick “friend or foe” identification were two white vertical bars sitting
on one horizontal bar. These were painted, one on the left rear fender and one on the front right.
The first encounter with the Tiger I’s came in August of 1942 around Leningrad where the first 4 Tigers didn't do so
well. They went into battle in single file and the huge machines were driven over swampy land. All 4 were soon
disabled but not because anything had penetrated the thick armor. 3 of the tanks were salvaged and tactical lessons
were learned. With the addition of more Tiger I’s, a much better understanding of when, where and how to use the
new tanks, by the end of 1942 Tigers were causing fear and sheer panic whenever Allied forces engaged them.
There even was a name given to this, “Tigerphobia”. It was so bad that British General Montgomery forbid any battle
reports from mentioning the Tiger I’s accomplishments in the field. These tanks were the most powerful tanks in the
world at that time.
This tank belonged to SS-PzReg 2 "Das Reich", East Front Russia 1943.
# S33, a large "S" (for schwere meaning "heavy") preceeded the two digit numbers on "Das Reich" Kursk Tigers. A
couple of unique “Das Reich” Tiger I tank markings found on all of the regiments tanks that fought at Kursk. The first
is the little dancing gnome like creature called “Dancing Devil” found on each side towards the front of the turret. The
second tactical symbol used at Kursk to provide quick “friend or foe” identification were two white vertical bars sitting
on one horizontal bar. These were painted, one on the left rear fender and one on the front right.
The first encounter with the Tiger I’s came in August of 1942 around Leningrad where the first 4 Tigers didn't do so
well. They went into battle in single file and the huge machines were driven over swampy land. All 4 were soon
disabled but not because anything had penetrated the thick armor. 3 of the tanks were salvaged and tactical lessons
were learned. With the addition of more Tiger I’s, a much better understanding of when, where and how to use the
new tanks, by the end of 1942 Tigers were causing fear and sheer panic whenever Allied forces engaged them.
There even was a name given to this, “Tigerphobia”. It was so bad that British General Montgomery forbid any battle
reports from mentioning the Tiger I’s accomplishments in the field. These tanks were the most powerful tanks in the
world at that time.
