Chris Johnson completes Takom’s Porsche Production Jagdtiger.

KIT: TAKOM

SCALE: I/35

Regular readers may remember that in the October 2023 instalment of ‘On The Bench’ I reviewed Takom’s Porsche Production Jagdtiger w/ Zimmerit kit. I left off with the model built straight out of the box. With the review completed, I decided that there were a few changes that I wanted to make before taking it to the paint booth. To assist in that endeavour, I was fortunate to have J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing’s Combat History of Schwere Panzerjäger Abteilung 653 in my reference collection as it’s a goldmine for early production Jagdtiger photographs.

Getting Started

In the first place, I wanted to remove several track fenders on both sides, so I took razor saw and hobby knife in hand. The first step was to perform some minor surgery on the front fenders, removing the outer portion of each one so that their outer edges would be flush with the outside edge of the hull sponsons. It was a simple modification as there is a recessed joint to guide the razor saw. The side fenders would receive similar treatment. Be aware that just as with the Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B, the second and fourth fender sections have raised edge strips on both ends. As sometimes happens when deep diving into fine details, I didn’t realise this until the fender sections were removed. That being the case, I had to go back and replace the missing edge strips with white plastic. Next to be addressed were the footman loops just below the top edge of the casemate. I have no doubt that there are photoetch replacements for the plastic blobs Takom gives us, but I decided to make my own. I shaved the existing ones off, drilled holes for wire replacements and super glued them in place. Then I punched out 0.7mm discs with my RP Toolz punch and die set and cemented them in place against the loops. I think they look the part, and in the end, that’s what counts.

Another modification I made was based on photos of Porsche production Jagdtigers arriving in Paderborn with the casemate roofs completely covered by a tarp, tied down to the footman loops. My initial tarp replicated this feature and was made with Tamiya epoxy putty. Once it was in place though, I just didn’t like it covering all the detail on the roof, so I made a second one. This one was styled as partially thrown back and mussed up. Now I had the best of both worlds; a roof tarp that doesn’t cover all the detail.

All in the Detail

It was at this juncture in the project that I succumbed to tunnel vision concerning my reference photos. It sometimes happens that I become fixated on a particular photo to the exclusion of others, and that’s what happened here. Porsche production Jagdtiger serial numbers were as follows: 305001, and 305003-305012. Takom’s kit specifically replicates 305004 which is on display at the Tank Museum, Bovington. It’s missing a complete road wheel station and as my model isn’t, 305004 was out of the mix for me. That being the case, I was drawn to a full-page front view photo of Jagdtiger 305009 appearing in the 653 book. In the first place, it clearly showed the serial number centred on the glacis plate. Second, it had patchy Zimmerit on the hull MG armoured cover, and third, the 12.8cm gun was secured in a gun crutch. All these features appealed to me, so I decided to add them to my model.