Level 3 Model Kit of Tiger I "Early Version" Tank with 2 Scheme Options 1/35 plastic model kit by Airfix

Brand new plastic model kit of Tiger I "Early Version" Tank with 2 Scheme Options (Level 3) 1/35 plastic model kit by Airfix. Brand new box. Vintage style packaging. Officially licensed product. Contains 200+ detailed parts. Does NOT include display stand. Paint and cement required (not included). Manufacturer's original unopened packaging. Parts molded in Light Brown, unless otherwise indicated. Includes decals to design the tank in 2 different schemes. Dimensions approximately L-9.48, W-4.01 inches assembled. HISTORY ASPECTS: The Tiger I, Early Production Version, was Germany’s answer to the increasingly armored threats posed by Soviet T-34s and KV-1s on the Eastern Front. Introduced in late 1942, it represented a significant leap in firepower and protection, boasting an 88mm KwK 36 L/56 gun capable of destroying enemy tanks at extreme ranges. Its thick frontal armor—up to 100mm—gave it a major advantage in head-on combat. Early versions featured distinctive features such as rubber-rimmed road wheels, a drum-style cupola, and Feifel air filters for operations in dusty environments like North Africa. The Tiger I made its combat debut during the Siege of Leningrad in September 1942, but its first large-scale deployment was in Tunisia with the 501st Heavy Panzer Battalion. Despite initial mechanical issues due to its complexity and weight, the tank quickly gained a fearsome reputation. On the Eastern Front, it saw extensive action in battles such as Kharkov and Kursk, where its long-range gun dominated open terrain. However, its limited mobility and mechanical fragility often hampered operational success, particularly in muddy or cold conditions. Commanders like Michael Wittmann became famous for their exploits in the Tiger I, contributing to its legendary status. Early production variants were also used in Italy and throughout Western Europe following the Allied invasion of Normandy. Even as Allied and Soviet forces developed better tactics and weapons to counter it, the Tiger I remained a formidable opponent until its gradual replacement by the Tiger II and other late-war armored vehicles. This 1:35 scale model has extraordinary detail, from its Feifel air filters to its early-style turret and rubber-rimmed road wheels. Perfect for collectors and diorama enthusiasts, it offers a historically accurate tribute to the might and complexity of early German heavy armor on the battlefield.