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Once upon a time, I built armor on a regular basis, often side-by-side with an aircraft build as a way of switching things up. In the nine months or so this went on, I managed to knock out a Tamiya M4 Sherman, AFV Club Achilles IIc, Dragon Panzer IV Ausf.G and a Cyber-Hobby Panzer III Ausf.L. Then we moved, and things kind of fell apart. I managed to finish up a T-34/85 toward the very end of 2011, and then…nothing.

My recent experience building Panda’s big 1/16 Pz.38(t) has rekindled the interest, however, and I’ve been aching to build a German cat of some kind. I even set up a poll to help choose, though the vote between the Tiger I and King Tiger has proven so close that it’s basically been a wash.

So today, on my way up to King’s Hobby, I told myself their selection would settle things. I needed Friul tracks, so whichever they had, that’s what I would build. Well, they had both. And moreover, they had both on sale for $30 – WAY cheaper than you’ll find Tiger Friuls basically anywhere.

Crap. No closer to a decision.

Fortunately, they also had Kagero’s Tiger I Topcolors book, which contains markings for 16 different Tiger tanks. I fell in love with this number on the back cover. And yes…the barrel stripes are included on the decal sheet.

My kit of choice will be Dragon’s Tiger I 3-in-1, which I actually started briefly way back in 2011. I discovered early on that it needed painting in the midst of construction, and since my paints were all packed for an impending move, well…back in the box it went.

Aftermarket will include Cavalier resin zimmerit, an RB Model barrel, the Friuls, and a PE set to be named later (I need PE track skirts, basically…and exhaust covers would be nice…)

Stay tuned! This is going to be a fun one!