German King Tiger Tank

I might have a new favorite Tamiya kit. This is a beauty. Fun build, quality instructions and tidy sprues. The motorcycle is a nice touch. I think King Tiger kits deserve single piece barrels. This is another two piece. The interior of the turret is nice, and by adding the King Tiger brass shells to the racks in the turret, it gave this build that extra something that we often can't put a finger on. Great decals. No PE. The tank crew figures aren't bad at all, but not excellent. Overall, however, this kit is excellent. Years ago, I wrote an article entitled, 'Why King Tiger', to explain why such armor was pursued by Germany. With superior tactical know-how and technology, with superior scientists and engineers, yet with a gross mismatch in raw material and industrial capacity, Germany had little choice but to pursue wunderwaffe like the King Tiger. Too often the KT is dismissed as megalomania on behalf of Hitler and the NSDAP. There was practicality to the pursuit of the King Tiger. While it's arguable that they should have produced as many Panzer IVs and Stugs as possible, instead of the heavy Tiger tanks, the German high command made a decision to pursue the King Tiger, and I'm sure we're all glad they did. Despite all of the opportunities for improvement the KT did have, it was many decades ahead of the rest of the world's armor. If the KT was able to get to the battlefield, it owned the battlefield.