D.M.L. – Dragon

“CYBER-HOBBY”- UML Exclusive, Limited Edition of 500 pcs.

Tiger Ace Collection 3

DRR 60132 – TIGER 1, Panzer VI (Sd.Kfz. 181 Ausf E), late production, w/Zimmerit coating

sSSPzAbt 101, France 1944.
Scale: 1:72 approximately: L 3.625” (4.75 w gun); W 2.125”.

The Tiger I tank with tactical number #222 was used by the Tank Ace Michael Wittmann while his famous attack on British brigade near Villers-Bocage on June 13, 1944.*
The model was “Sold Out” just in days upon its release
A turret rotates 360 degree, gun elevates.

VERY LIMITED STOCK ON HAND!

Model comes in a tin box with outer sleeve box that featured Michael Wittmann picture on a top, model on its one side and a Villers-Bocage street on the opposite side. Also included the numbered collectors card. Display stand includes printed picture of dirt and grass, which positioned. No clear top of a case comes with it.
Despite relatively small size models from this line are exceptionally detailed and have outstanding paintjob, display great! This is a great model of arguably the most famous tank in the history. *

ABOUT TIGER Tank * Development of a new heavy tank for Nazi German Army started in 1937 by May 1941 when an order to design VK4501 two major competitors Henschel and Nibelungenwerke (Porsche) had enough experiences and test results acquired while designing and testing prototypes of previously ordered projects as VK3001 and VK3601. Prototype VK4501(H) won the competition and production models became known as the Tiger Tank, arguably the most famous tank in the history. 50 pre-production models of VK4501 (P) at Nibelungenwerke were converted in the heavy tank destroyer commonly known as Ferdinand / Elefant. Heavily armed and armored the tank though was very complicated machine, which required tremendous number of labor hours to make one; expensive to built and maintain, had gigantic fuel appetite, poor maneuverability and required constant maintenance by highly train personal. Never the less Tiger Tank was one of the most powerful and deadliest tank of the WWII, which was in service until the end of the war and had taken a very heavy toll of enemy armour and personal on all fronts.

You can find more information about the Tiger tank by opening a listing for other Dragon Tiger I models at my store.
Tank #222 at VILLERS-BOCAGE, June 13, 1944.
In January 1944 Michael Wittmann became 380th German soldier who received the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He received it in February from Hitler. German propaganda machine made him the most famous Tank Ace. After a propaganda tour over Germany he returned to his unit that was stationed at that time in France. On June 6, 1944 (D – Day) he received brand new, late production Tiger tank with Zimmerit coating. By that time practically his entire company was equipped with late production tank model. The tank was assigned the tactical number #205 (2 - 2nd company; 0 – command tank, 5 - unit 5). The designated area for his company was Caen Area. On its way there Wittmann’s company was reduced by air attack to only 6 tanks.
On June 13, 1944 Wittmann received a report from a German Motorcyclist-scout that an armored British column was spotted nearest Villers-Bocage a village on the road towards strategic city Caen. Wittmann went with the motorcyclist back to the area and discovered that the British just passed the village and stopped on the road #175 for a short brake. With the understanding that there were no other German units in the area, which could stopped the British advance to the strategic point Wittmann decided to attack the British even though he was dramatically outnumbered. He rushed to his tank #205, but it failed to start and he used a unit from his company second platoon that was located nearby. The tank tactical # was 222.
A surprise attack by the Wittmann commanded tank was devastation. Moving along the road he destroyed the first vehicle in the column, than the last one and one in a middle that didn’t allowed the British to move other vehicles. Few British tanks managed go back to the village, where they later were destroyed by Wittmann’s tank. In the village British managed to disabled Wittmann’s tank and he with his crew escaped on foot about 9 miles and reported to his commanders about the situation. German dispatched reinforcement and recaptured village after substantial loses in tanks (including Tiger and Pz IV tanks) and personal. During the Battle and following attacks Villers-Bocage was totally destroyed. British advance towards undefendant strategic point was halted. British lost over 30 armored units, including Firefly Sherman Tanks, 75mm Sherman tanks, Cromwell Tanks, M3 half tracks and Brand machine gun carriers along with over 260 casualties in personal. Wittmann was credited with a distraction of entire 4th County of London Yeomanry Regiment, and was awarded the Swords for his Knight Cross with Oak Leafs that he received on the ceremony on June 25, 1944. Adolf Hitler in person decorated Wittmann who then became the most decorated tanker ace of World War II; he also was promoted to a rank of SS-Haupsturmfuhrer. Description of this operation could be found in many World War II history books. Recently the result of the battle was analyzed based on well photographed by Germans materials and Wittmann’s own reports, which he made after his return from Villars-Bocage and day after. It appears that his tank inflicted far not all British losses.
Wittmann was offered a position of an instructor at a training school but he refused it and returned to Normandy on July 6th. He participated in the Battle of Caen (3rd to 10th of July). In the beginning of August his unit was transferred to Cintheaux area. On August 8th of 1944, a new battle began near Cintheaux. It was Wittmann's final battle. The secondary explosion destroyed Wittmann’s Tiger, tactical #007, which originally was assigned to the commander of sSSPzAbt101, and its entire crew killed. The remains of Wittmann and his crew were buried beside what was left of their Tiger, without any markings. Tank #222 war recovered by Germans fixed but was lost among all other tank from the battalion by the August German’s retreat.

Zimmerit paste coating was used as an effective protection against magnetic and (up to some degree) glue-based sticky mines installed by the allies anti tank infantry teams.  Zimmerit paste was mistakenly described by a British Army officer, who investigated the subject, as anti-magnetic paste.  In fact it was none magnetic material a thick uneven surface layer of which prevent mines to hold.

It was developed by Zimmerit Company and was in use 1943 until late 1944 practically on all German tanks.  Generally speaking putty, consisted of Barium Sulphate, polyvinyl acetate, ocre/sand pigment, zinc sulphid and glue mixed with sawdust, applied in two layers on the armor.  That was a high labor and time consuming process.  Second layer was applied after 24h and was shaped into large groves (different pattern were used) giving the Zimmerit coating it’s distinctive look.  Then coating was hardened using blowtorches.  Coating was applied to all new produced tanks and to older tanks at numerous field repair/service facilities. 

Application was abandoned due to few reasons: mistaken reports that it catches fire upon direct artillery shells hits, usage of magnetic mines and shaped charges didn’t realized to a considerable degree and in such case didn’t justify the tedious procedure of Zimmerit coating.  

An unanticipated result of coating was an improvement of vehicles camouflage due to coating uneven surface and reduced light reflection.