How To Build Tamiya's Steel Wheeled Tiger I By Angus Creighton ADH Publishing, ©2001 56 pages Reviewed By Michael Benolkin

Introduction

A few months ago, I was surprised to find a book published by ADH Publications, under the Tamiya banner, that covered construction, detailing and painting of the Tamiya 1/48 Fairey Swordfish. I reviewed this book shortly thereafter and was very pleased with the author's approach at sharing details and techniques that will make for an award-winning 'Stringbag'. When ADH Publications announced their latest offering, I was pleased to have the opportunity to see if their approach to sharing great modeling techniques would continue.

The Book

This new title covers the steel-wheeled versions of the infamous SdKfz 181 Tiger I. The author starts off with a compulsory history of the Tiger, and then dives headlong into topical areas for construction and detailing. Some of the topics covered include:

• Adding texture (adding the dents and pock marks)

• Zimmerit

• Common Hull Features

• Common Turret Features

• Battle Damage

• Tracks

From there, the author covers camouflage and markings, as well as setting the kit up with figures and other details for different vignettes. Just thumbing through the book, you'll learn some interesting techniques that will not only help you with your next Tiger project, they will also enhance many other military vehicles that you have lined up.

Conclusion

This is a great book! I find this book more helpful to the armor modeler than many of the Verlinden 'How To' books currently on the market. While it is aimed squarely at assembling and detailing Tamiya Tigers, you'll also find it a useful resource if you are building Tigers from other manufacturers.

You'll also be interested to know that there is a sequel in the works for this book by the same author covering the rubber-wheeled Tigers (including that 1/16 R/C beauty recently released by Tamiya).

My sincere thanks to ADH Publishing for this review sample! You can find this title (as well as the Swordfish) on the Hannant's Online Store.