12GO 97022 JAGDPANZER TIGER/P

The 12GO 97022 is a fantastic representation of the Panzerjäger Tiger (P) "Ferdinand" (Chassis No. 150100). This vehicle is the last of 91 heavy tank destroyers (Sd.Kfz.184) that were made by Nibelungenwerk in Austria during April and May of 1943. Built on the unsuccessful Porsche Tiger (VK 45.01 P) chassis, these machines were transformed into powerful tank destroyers to engage in combat on the Eastern Front. Significance: It was the final vehicle of the 91 produced (chassis numbers 150010 to 150100) to come off the production line. Production Date: Finished around May 8, 1943, and well-documented with photos. Naming: Commonly known as "Ferdinand" after its designer Ferdinand Porsche, it was later updated to "Elefant". Armament: Armed with the impressive 8.8 cm PaK 43/2 L/71 gun. Armor: The frontal armor was heavily fortified, often reaching up to 200 mm, rendering it resistant to many anti-tank weapons of that era. Final Production Unit: Chassis 150100 was completed in May 1943, frequently seen in images showcasing its factory-fresh, red-oxide primer paint. Factory workers were noted for leaving handwritten "good luck" messages and sayings on the last unit (150100) before it departed the assembly line. Building this set is a lot of fun! The custom printing on the pieces adds a nice touch to an already great set, perfectly displaying the factory workers' messages on the unit. The tracks function quite well, and the model is designed exceptionally. The set also includes 7 Troopers and a variety of accessories to personalize your model.

Let's start with the minifigures. If anyone thinks there are six figures in the bag and you have one head, one hairpiece, and two arms and hands left over, they're mistaken, because there are three more parts for a seventh figure (center of the picture) hidden in bag M. It's easy to miss, as the assembly instructions don't show how to attach the figures. Of course, you can attach the heads as you see fit. It's generally recommended to put the parts from bag (M) into a separate, organized container right from the start, as it contains additional parts that you'll need from bag 1 - 4. Pay attention: starting with bag 2, assembly step 15, you'll encounter the first printed parts! My recommendation is to use a dark surface and lay out the printed parts according to the additional instructions for left/right side, front/back and turret, showing how they should fit together. I also only attached the axles/wheels and tracks after I had assembled the chassis without the turret, as everything is easier to press into place without it. The turret is also superbly detailed inside and out, and the accessories are truly excellent, making this model particularly suitable for a workshop diorama. To my surprise, quite a lot usable parts remained, even without the unprinted tiles. Overall, thanks in part to the unusual plastic blend of the metallic parts, it was an incredibly enjoyable building experience, and the printed parts and accessories mean you can never tire of looking at Ferdinand; I would be open to more such historical special edition models from 12GO!

The build quality is excellent overall. The electroplating gives the pieces a premium finish, although it makes them slightly harder to press together than usual and results in minor color variations. The completed tank looks fantastic, and the accessories complement it very well when displayed alongside the model. While a matte red (rust primer) finish would be more realistic, I also like the metallic red color. I did encounter two minor issues: one of the red plates was grey instead of the expected shiny red, but I was able to replace it with a spare part, and one minifigure arm was missing. I would also suggest modifying the suspension, as shown in the last picture, to make it look more realistic.