Porsche KingTiger Anneliese - February 1945

[Jnewboy]

In February 1945 the German high command launched its last successful offensive aimed at destroying an advance by Russia towards the oilfields in Hungary. Known as Operation Southwind, Germany quickly and quietly moved men and armor from Germany by rail to Hungary. The 503 Heavy Tank Battalion (sPzAbt. 503) was among the armor already there fighting to defend Budapest. This unit had already engaged in heavy fighting in Normandy and it's surviving tanks had been withdrawn to Germany then sent to Hungary. One of the surviving tanks was a Porsche King Tiger known as "Anneliese" written on its gun mantel. By the time of Operation Southwind it had thawed and the "unpaved roads and the open terrain were muddy and hardly passable even for the tracked vehicles" due to the sudden melting snow. I wanted all of this to show on my model, the camo from the Normandy campaign peeking out from the withering whitewash and the presence of impassible mud from the spring.

I built two.

Here is the 1/16 Trumpeter version with full interior.
Untitled by jon newsom, on Flickr

Untitled by jon newsom, on Flickr

Untitled by jon newsom, on Flickr

Untitled by jon newsom, on Flickr

Here it is next to the 1/16 Henglong.

Untitled by jon newsom, on Flickr

which is which? That was my goal, to try to bring the Henglong up to the same standard as the Trumpeter.

Untitled by jon newsom, on Flickr

Left is Henglong, right is Trumpeter.

Full build available on the "Henglong builds Forum"

Stay thirsty my friends!

[Jimster]

A skilled modeler can take a turd tank and with right painting, detailing and weathering skills can turn it into a true masterpiece. Like you just did! (Not to imply that Heng Long tanks are turds)

[BarryC]

Nice, Very Impressive!

Barry

[maxmekker]

Wow
thanks for sharing. That running gear must've taken a beating during those last day's of 45 with all that mud

[Herr Dr. Professor]

That is some impressive weathering work, whether on the Trumpeter or HengLong version. Congratulations on a fine---two fine jobs! And it is great, too, seeing the interior detail. Now I want a Trumpeter model. But no matter how much I roll on the floor and kick my feet , my pension just doesn't increase.

[EAO]

As you know, I've commented how much I liked these Tiger's on your build post. I thought for sure I knew which one was which in your above posted picture....WRONG! Once again, amazing work!

Cheers,
Eric.

[FredtheFrench]

Very impressive job. The paint job is amazing!!! Where do you found the mechanic figures?

[Jnewboy]

Very impressive job. The paint job is amazing!!! Where do you found the mechanic figures?

Thanks! As far as the mechanics I custom make them, PM me if interested. Thanks!

[Son of a gun-ner]

Wow, just wow