Jagdtiger Sd.Kfz.186
The Ultimate Tank Hunter
 

Italeri, 1/72

Reviewed by Glen Porter

Italeri's 1/72 scale Jagdtiger is available online from Squadron.com

It is a bit of a pity that  Italeri didn't release some of these ex-Esci small scale armour kits a few years ago. Esci's range was so vast that some of them are unlikely to ever be done again and some are up there with today's best.

This kit, judging by the level of detail, is one of Esci's latter efforts, in fact, when the Editor gave it to me to review, he thought it was a new Italeri moulding (I really did - ed.).

Italeri's 1/72 scale Jagdtiger comprises 79 parts moulded in light tan plastic, 46 silver-grey link and length tracks on one sprue plus alternative rubber band tracks; and decals for four vehicles.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

All the hatches can be modelled open, including the large doors at the rear of the fighting compartment. All tools and attachments are separate. You even get three reasonably moulded figures, one full length and two busts, with mounts so they can be placed in the open hatches. The road wheels are nicely detailed except that each pair are moulded as one, although, it would not be hard to put a groove in each to make them a pair. That said, however, the back of each wheel has three ejector pin marks right in the middle of all that lovely detail, which you will have to live with, but at least they will not be visible from the outside of the completed model.

Tracks are the usual Esci link and length - beautifully moulded on the out-side and nothing within.

Decals are printed by Zanchetti Buccnasco of Mi. Italy. They demonstrate perfect register and minimal carrier film as we've come to expect from Italeri, with markings for four vehicles but crosses for only two.

Instructions are the usual Italeri format with nine very clear build diagrams and two pages of paint and decal drawings, three of which are repeated in colour on the rear of the box.

I am not aware of any other 1/72 scale Jagdtigers, but if there were one, it would have to be very good indeed to improve on Italeri's offering.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Italeri for the review sample.

Review and Images Copyright © 2005 by Glen Porter
Page Created 14 September, 2005
Last updated 14 September, 2005

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