Take on the challenge with our King Tiger tank model – an advanced building set designed by Buildarmy for fans of detail and precision. This impressive set of 1,145 parts is the largest model in our WW2 tank series. It authentically reproduces the legendary Königstiger at a 1:33 scale, carefully showcasing the massive structure and impressive armor of this tank.
The King Tiger measures a whopping 22.5 cm long, 11.5 cm wide, and 10 cm high, bringing the imposing dimensions and fine details of the historical tank to life. The turret features multiple sloped surfaces that require precise adjustment and assembly – making this building set an engaging challenge, even for the most experienced builders.
A brief history of the King Tiger tank
The Tiger II, officially designated as Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B , was also known by the informal name Königstiger – which was mistranslated by Allied soldiers as King Tiger. It was the largest and heaviest operational tank deployed by the German army during World War II.
Developed from 1941 as the successor to the Tiger I, its purpose was to break through enemy lines as a heavy strike force. The tank weighed nearly 70 tons and had a frontal armor thickness of 100 to 185 mm. It combined the thick armor of the Tiger I with the sloped design of the Panther medium tank, and was armed with a devastatingly long 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 anti-tank gun. This combination gave the Tiger II a formidable reputation on the battlefield.
The Tiger II was assigned to heavy tank battalions of both the German Army and the Waffen-SS. In 1944, it was first deployed by the 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion against the Allied invasion in Normandy, and by the 501st Heavy Panzer Battalion during the resistance against the Lvov–Sandomierz offensive on the Eastern Front.
However, this ‘beast’ arrived too late in the war and quickly became a burden for the overstretched German supply lines. Often, the tanks could not reach their positions due to a shortage of parts or fuel, and if they were damaged, they could rarely be recovered. As a result, more Tiger IIs were destroyed by their own crews than by the enemy. Between 1942 and 1944, a total of only 492 Tiger IIs were built.
