With Dragon and Tamiya collectively offering close to a dozen 1/35 kits with modern tooling of the Tiger II (King Tiger) and the Jagdtiger which cover most significant production version. While these popular kits are well designed, they can have a factory fresh appearance when built out of the box. Replacing the solid plastic kit fenders with aftermarket photo etch panels that can be bent and/or have selected panels left off is an effective way of achieving a tatty frontline appearance. Some earlier Dragon Jagdtigers did not include side fenders, but the most recent issue (kit 6285 see separate review on Track-Link ) and the Revell re-box do.

Contents & Use

This Voyager fender set contains four frets with the parts for either a Jagdtiger or Tiger II from any production period including the final month. The set consists of 14 side fender panels (you use 12 on each vehicle with 2 spare), horizontal mounting points, bolt heads and horizontal flashing strips. The extra two side panels are included to enable use on either the Jagdtiger or Tiger II. Both vehicles had 6 fender panels on each side, but the Jagdtiger being longer had a longer end panel. The set does not include front or rear fenders, which are included in Voyager’s (see separate review of Tiger II set on Track-Link) (and several other firms) general detail sets for the respective kits.

The one page Voyager instruction sheet has clear diagrams and is easy to follow with a dual Chinese-English key to the symbols (bend, cut etc).

The parts can be cleanly removed from the fret and folded along the well-defined crease lines using a photo etch bending tool (Hold & Fold) before holding the PE against the kit’s plastic part to achieve the factory profile. I choose not to use the PE mounting points as those on my Dragon kit are well defined and hidden by the fenders. I would recommend using a reputable brand super glue as its important that the panels stay attached during painting, weathering and transport to club meeting etc.

This set has the option of either being used with the kit’s plastic front (inner) fenders or aftermarket PE front fenders, which are typically included with the general PE detail sets. This Voyager PE set should work on the (forthcoming) Dragon Tiger II Final; but as this kit will presumably have the ribbed front fenders, you may also want to purchase a general PE detail set specific to this kit.

When compared to photos and scale plans, to me this set appears accurate for all Dragon and Tamiya Tiger II and Jagdtigers. The forward mounting bracket is in the same position as on the Dragon and Tamiya kits, this being the more typical position (a few Tiger II had it further forward). Photos show that late-final production Jagdtigers and Tiger IIs often had an extra forward mounting points. If you are modelling either AFV with fenders, this feature can be added by gluing extra hex bolts to the fenders. The Voyager set includes plenty of spare bolt heads.

Recommendation

This well designed set provides an effective way to add that front line look to a King Tiger or Dragon Jagdtiger. With good detail and the ability to readily replicate battle damage this set is well worth considering. Definitely recommended.

Related 1/35 Kits

• Dragon King Tiger – Henschel Production turret and combat tracks attached to the sprues with widely used 9 tooth drive sprocket (kit 6208).
• Dragon King Tiger – “battle of the Bulge” Henschel Production turret and combat tracks improved “Magic Track” which come ready to assemble with the widely used 9 tooth drive sprocket (kit 6254).
• Dragon King Tiger – Late Ardennes 1955 Henschel Production turret with 18 tooth drive sprocket and KGS 73/800/152 combat tracks (kit 6232).
• Dragon King Tiger – Porsche turret and combat tracks attached to the sprues with widely used 9 tooth drive sprocket (kit 6189).
• Tamiya King Tiger – Henschel Production turret (kit 35164).
• Tamiya King Tiger – Porsche turret (kit 35169).
• Tamiya King Tiger –Ardennes Front (kit 25252). This, consists of the production turret version but includes two additional crew figures, a DKW motorbike with despatch rider, alternative decals and a choice of mantlets (stepped (as per original kit) or a smooth tapering profile. Both mantlet styles were widely used.
• Dragon Jagdtiger – Dragon has released 4 versions: Porsche suspension (6051), Henschel suspension with combat tracks attached to the sprues (6050) and Henschel suspension with transport tracks, command aerial and late production features (9036) and Henschel suspension with combat tracks in improved “Magic Track” which come ready to assemble (6285).
• Revell’s Jadgtiger is based on the Dragon kit (Henschel suspension and standard combat tracks) but lacks the etched metal grilles.

Voyager Model PE is available from Puma Models, the Irish and UK distributor.

User Contributed Notes