Discussion About the New "503" Early Tiger I

[Mr. Football]

I often find it interesting to lookup the history of each of the tanks released in the Dragon Armor line. When the "503" Early Tiger came out, I pulled out my "Tigers in Combat I" book and looked up 503. There are 1 or 2 photos of the "123" Tiger, but you really have to be looking for them. One pretty major inaccuracy of this otherwise spectacular model is that it should have a Pzkw IV Turretbox, rather than the usual Tiger I Turretbox (a quirk that was common in PzAbt 503).

Factoids:
- 503 was the oldest and most successful Tiger I battalion in the war, having the most kills (1700 tanks, 2000 guns)
- 503 fought in Russia, France, Austria and Hungary
- 503 was equipped with Tiger I's, Tiger II's and Pzkw III's (early on)
- 503 was used in the actions to relieve the Cherkassy Pocket led by famed German Tactical Commander, Dr. Bake.
- In all 49% Losses were from self-destruction, 45% from action, and 6% Other
- 247 Tigers were delivered to the 503rd (171 Tiger I's, 76 Tiger II's)
- Top Scorer in the 503 was Feldwebel Knispel - 162 Tanks

[hworth18]

Good work..
Dragon simply used a tank it already had molds of and I am sure the storagebox was an oversight.. It is curious to note that Tigers of the same unit and different Company had the later style box similar to what we have now..

[nfafan]

The 502nd was the 1st unit to get the Tiger, the "Leningrad Tigers".

Yes, your'e right, the early 502 Tigers either had no turret box, or, made their own or absconded a PzIII or IV box.