Sturmtiger

Manufacturer: MR Modellbau MR-7218 + Revell03116

By MarkoMäkinen .

If a modeller wants to build a 1/72 replica ofthe Sturmmörser "Tiger", which was a rare (only 18pieces were produced in the late 1944) and strategicallyinsignificant but as such a fearsome and potent vehicle, he needsto base the work either on the rather crude AMC kit or on a resinkit. My model is constructed of a MR Modellbau resin set (see in-box review elsewhere in this site) which is mated with a Revelllate Tiger E lower hull and wheel/track combo.

The MR Modellbau kit is very comprehensive anddetailed, fitting well on top of the Revell hull. Especially thehull weld seams, the 380 mm mortar tube and the mortarprojectiles are very convincingly done. Also the white metalparts, including the loading crane are very workable with someadditional detailing. The mating procedure was overall quite aneasy job to carry out, but required a fair amount of filing,sanding and putty filling. One particularly annoying part of thebuilding process was the installation of the tracks because ofthe wide overhang of the upper body, and I did not succeed 100%.

All parts of my model are from either of thekits (Revell & MR Modellbau), except for the engine intakegrills (from a coffee brewer), some crane details, drivers visor,hatch handles, side hooks, side mud guards, lower part of theright exhaust cover, towing cable and antennae, all of which aremore or less self made. Also the fighting compartment sidefringes had to be replaced with plastic strips, as the originalresin edges crumbled away. Because of the high quality of both ofthe kits the final result looks accurate and is well detailed,while any roughness of the finishing is due to the lack in my ownmodelling skills.

Sturmtigers were mainly used in the westernfront, which defines the painting to be a form of the Ardennes"ambush" camouflage. The markings are from my sparesbox and cover only balkenkreuzes as national insignia.