The T-34 series of tanks together with the M4 Sherman series are THE most important tanks of the Second World War from the Allied point of view. The Panther tank, perhaps the most influential tank of WW2 from the German perspective was a direct result of German forces running smack bang into the T-34/76 on the Eastern Front, and the demand for German industry to provide a counter to it. In turn the T-34 needed to be upgraded once the Germans introduced more thickly armored tanks such as the Panther and the Tiger, and thus was born the T-34/85, an upgrading of the T-34 series from its original 76mm main gun, to a more lethal 85mm gun.

Meng has done something comparatively new to accompany their outstanding Porsche-turreted King Tiger model in 1/35^th scale, offering a separately-available decal sheet for the zimmerit coating found on so many of these monsters at this stage of the Second World War.

The decal sheet is certainly comprehensive – providing 3-dimensionally printed decals for literally every surface that might have had this coating on the real beast. All parts show a remarkable fidelity to the surface they’re supposed to cover and have virtually no film to interfere with the edges. On complicated areas, such as the rear of the hull and turret, multiple decals simplify getting around surface detail. All tool attachment points and other such extrusions are also left free of film to facilitate gluing.

This book describes the design, development, and operational history of US-made tanks in British service in World War II. The British were initially reluctant to endorse the American-made tanks as they felt they were inferior to British developed tanks. The British eventually appreciated the simplicity of American designed tanks and modified them to meet British needs. The Lend Lease program allowed Britain to obtain American tanks in adequate numbers to take pressure off of the British manufacturers. By the end of World War II the British tank regiments were equipped with more Sherman tanks than any other type.

This is a Zimmerit Decal set for the Meng Model Sd.Kfz. 182 King Turret (Porsche Turret) kit TS-037.

The set contains one sheet of textured decals and one instruction sheet.

Zimmerit was widely used on the early King Tigers. These decals will make adding the Zimmerit a lot easier.

The decals are printed onto one sheet with the patterns in relief. Individual decals are supplied for all the various areas of front, Sides and rear armor. The turret has the most decals to ensure all the areas are covered properly.

The textured pattern is very nicely raised on the decals and looks very good once applied.

It is highly recommended to primer coat under the contoured areas especially.

According to Sir Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This law describes the action of warfare as well, and so when the Allies introduced the revolutionary “tank” onto the battlefields of Western Europe in 1916, the opposing German forces quickly attempted to blunt the tank with the introduction of anti-tank weapons together with dedicated anti-tank units, known as Panzerjagertruppe. During the Second World War the anti-tank units were known as Panzerjager, or “Tank Hunters”, a separate arm of the Wehrmacht dedicated to the destruction of enemy tank forces. These troops utilized a wide variety of weapons, from man portable items such as anti-tank rifles, to towed artillery pieces such as the 3.7cm PaK and 8.8cm Flak 18, and self-propelled weapons such as the Panzerjager 1.