King Tiger No. 453

The Tiger II, better known as the King Tiger, entered service in 1944. Weighing nearly 70 metric tonnes, it carried a crew of five and was powered by a Maybach V12 engine rated at roughly 700 horsepower. Its standard armament was the formidable 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 gun. For this build, I chose Takom’s optional 10.5 cm (105 mm) KwK L/68, representing a proposed upgrade that never entered production - a starting point for imagining a King Tiger serving beyond the war’s actual end.

The war has continued into late autumn 1945. No. 453 belonged to schwere Panzer-Abteilung 515 in the western foothills of the Harz Mountains, near Oserode. It was becoming common practice for tank crews to take shelter under roadside trees from ever increasing Allied aircraft patrol overhead when available. Its story ends during a withdrawal and subsequent mechanical failure forced the crew to abandon it. Allied troops subsequently recovered the tank for examination, and it was eventually scrapped as was the case with so many other tanks of the era.

I built the model from Takom’s 1/35 Late Production King Tiger kit, beginning with a black base and red oxide primer before applying the three-color camouflage. All the markings, including the yellow turret numbers and national crosses, were airbrushed using masks; no decals were used. Missing sections of side skirt expose the running gear and help give the tank a worn, working appearance.

The weathering combines accumulated dirt, restrained wear, dusty surfaces, and metallic highlights on the tracks. I also paid attention to the intact tow cables and added a light scattering of autumn leaves without burying the details. A final matte finish brings the camouflage and weathering together, completing the appearance of a heavy tank nearing the end of a long campaign.