Easy Model Platinum Collection 36225
Porsche Sd.Kfz.184 Elefant Display Model
German Army sPzJgAbt 653, #213, Kursk, USSR, 1943 |
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Porsche Sd.Kfz.184 Elefant | | 4.5" | | 1.75" |
The Panzerjager Tiger (P) Elefant (Sd.Kfz. 184) was a Panzerjager (tank hunter) of the German Wehrmacht in World War II. They were originally built under the name Ferdinand, after their designer, Ferdinand Porsche. The design evolved from cruder, improvised designs of 1941-42, as well as the later, but still defective, Marder designs. The chassis was created from the 90 Porsche Tiger I models already built with new tracks and an all-steel wheel arrangement. Suspension consisted of six twin bogies with longitudinal torsion bars. The engines were placed in the middle of the hull to give room for the armament at the rear in a simple box structure on top of this chassis. The engines drove electric generators, which in turn powered electric motors connected to the rear sprockets. The driver and radio operator were in a separate compartment at the front. The vehicle was fitted with an 88 mm PaK 43/2 L/71 gun. The L/71 had originally been developed as a replacement for the famous 88 mm anti-aircraft gun that had been used against Allied tanks in the Western Desert Campaign, although in the event it was never fielded as an anti-aircraft weapon. The L/71 had a much longer barrel than the L/56 Flak 18 and Flak 36 guns, which gave it a higher muzzle velocity. It also fired a different, longer cartridge. These improvements gave the 88mm L/71 significantly improved armor penetration ability over the earlier 88 mm. As fitted, the gun was capable of only 25 degrees traverse and a similarly limited elevation.
Presented to Hitler on March 19th, 1943, the German Panzerjäger or Elefant was originally built under the name Ferdinand, after its designer Ferdinand Porsche. A six man crew operated the 88mm gun mounted on this 70 ton tank. Engines were located in the middle of the hull, which allowed space for the armament at the rear. The Elefant's armor plate was as thick as 8 in. on the front-this helped it flatten obstacles and clear the way for lighter vehicles. The Elefant's extreme firepower/protection ratio gave it an enormous advantage; in "kills per loss," it might have been the most successful "tank destroyer" of the war. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Easy Model "Platinum Collection" range presents highy-affordable, ready-made plastic models of military vehicles. While these models may not have the same "heft" as their diecast siblings, they do offer remarkable value for money. Most importantly, they look perfectly at home alongside diecast modes, allowing collectors to "flesh out" their collection with types and paint-schemes not yet available in diecast.
Easy Model "Platinum Collection" display military vehicles feature:
- Molded plastic construction.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
