Tamiya 32536 - 1/48 King Tiger Tank Kit for Detailed WWII Dioramas  [32536]

In-depth look at the Tamiya 32536 1/48 King Tiger

The Tamiya 1/48 scale German King Tiger faithfully recreates one of WWII's most imposing heavy tanks. The kit highlights the famous 88mm gun and the distinctive heavy armor profile, making it a strong focal point for small scale battle scenes. The model represents the production type with the angular Henschel turret, suited to late war scenarios like Ardennes engagements.

Background and period accuracy

Designed late in the conflict, the King Tiger was Germany's response to heavily armored Allied and Soviet tanks. Early examples used a Porsche turret, but later production switched to the Henschel turret seen on this kit. The real vehicle combined thick frontal protection with an 88mm L71 main gun; historical figures cited include 150mm frontal plating, 80mm on the sides, and penetration estimates of about 170mm at 1,000 meters. The tank also carried two 7.92mm machine guns on the hull and turret.

Kit construction and detail

This assembly kit reproduces the production turret and provides separately molded crew hatches that can be posed open or closed for display variety. A die-cast lower hull adds weight and authenticity, while the single-piece straight track components make assembly more straightforward. Modelers will also find three decal sets included for historical marking choices.