Tiger I Late Production
PE Update
1:35 Set # PE 35056
Review by Terry Ashley

The set has nine etched frets of different thickness material as well as the engine deck screens in nickel alloy as opposed to the brass of the other frets plus twelve short lengths of different thickness plastic rod and fine resin parts for the barrel cleaning rod racks on the hull top.

The quality of the etching is again excellent with cleanly etched parts some of which are very fine and the usual engraved bending lines to make life easier during assembly and there are also two small etched ‘combs’ to use when applying the zimmerit which is a useful extra.

The main parts are again the engine deck screens which feature a subtle weave effect in the etchings with the cut-out for the fuel filler cap on the larger screen having the edging while the latch cut-out on the smaller grill has no edging which is correct. The edges of these screens were bent slightly downward to fit the engine grills on the real Tiger but again there is no allowance for that with the screens designed to just sit on top of the kit grills which should look okay in most instances and of course the kit grills fit perfectly to the kit grills as you would expect.

The front fenders are in multiple parts with the outer folder sections separate with workable hinges if you want as well as separate side lips and also include the small T securing latch to hold the fenders in place.

Along the sides are the fenders in four segments as per the real fenders with underside fillets which will allow you to leave a segment off or add damage for a bit of variety.

The large sheet metal exhaust covers are also provided and include the small spacers that fit between the hull and the covers lifting them slightly off the rear hull plate which is a small detail often overlooked and the rear fenders are also provided with workable top and side hinges for the masochists among us.

The remaining parts of which there are many are for the finer details around the hull and turret such as all the tool clips and brackets on the hull top and rear plate that include the fire extinguisher mountings and intricate jack mounting on the rear plate.

The barrel cleaning rod racks on the hull top are replaced with fine resin lower racks and multi-part etched clips that include the small wing nuts as well as the wire rope attachment points and on the turret sides are replacement etched and plastic rod spare track racks.

The turret and hull hatches again have the inner latches and small fittings replaced with etched parts as well as the head light mountings and latches for the rear turret bin.

The cupola MG mount is in etched metal but is compromised by the flat etching and not the round rod as it should be, this being one drawback of etched parts for details such as this.

The instructions are exploded view drawings showing the fitting of the parts and assembly sequences where needed and are quite clear and easy to follow.

Conclusion:
This is a very comprehensive set for the AFV Club Tiger that gives you the obligatory engine deck screens as well as replacement fenders with those intricate hinges plus many other smaller detail parts to add considerable detail to the kit and the Zimmerit applicator is a nice extra.

Highly recommended.

The etched frets

See the Voyager Models website for additional details.

Thanks to Voyager Models for kindly providing the review samples.

Page Created 15 June 2005