Tiger rear view, left and right side are engine's tropical filters, each contained 2 filters with air tubes connected to engine compartment. Between them are mufflers and heat shields. In combat, muffler shields were usually crushed or torn-off after running into obstacles, while filter units were removed from European theater operations. For additional detailing, metal washer discs glued on top of filters, restraining bars around muffler heat shield made from plastic styrene. Antenna made from paint brush bristle since it was flexible than rigid plastic parts. The Tank Museum, Bovington UK - Restoration of Tiger Tank 131 - www.tiger-tank.com

Inset 1 : mid-production Tiger with Zimmerit anti-magnetic ceramic paste applied to hull surface and steel resilient wheels. Zimmerit prevented enemy from attaching magnetic mines onto vehicle. Steel resilient wheels replaced excessive wear-and-tear on rubber rimmed wheels due to tank's weight. In preparing for train transportation, this Tiger replaced wider tracks with narrow width tracks. Modelling Clay/Terracotta Zimmerit - www.ontheway.org.uk/articles/FaustniksZimmerit.htm

Large storage bin at turret rear is a Rommelkist (Rommel's Hump), named after German Deutsches Afrika Korps commander Erwin Rommel during his North African 1941-1943 campaigns. When war commenced in 1939, German tanks did not have large external storage since combat distance within Europe was relatively short. By 1941 as German forces pushed into Soviet Union, Balkans, and North Africa, armor crews logistically had to carry their own supplies where possible. Given cramped conditions inside tank compartments, non-essential combat items stored externally (ex. helmets, bed rolls, water canisters, tools). Deutsches Afrika Korps - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsches_Afrika_Korps

Rollover : Tiger top view, tank crews of Panzer Kommandeur and his gunner are wearing dappled spring camouflage patterned uniforms tunics, black pants, black field caps. Black was standard color for German Panzertruppen, but field green and camouflage uniforms introduced in 1942 to blend with surroundings. Black uniforms projected stark contrast on battlefield since Panzer crews regularly dismounted to recon - converse - coordinate attack with accompanying Panzergrenadier (mechanized armored infantry) and Landser (infantry). Feldgrau - The German Armed Forces 1919-1945 - www.feldgrau.com

Model figures from 1.35th TAMIYA King Tiger kit, Kommandeur was full body thus glued with silicon gel to small base inside turret, gunner was half-body thus insert plastic spur into its base and glued inside of tank. Konigstiger (King Tiger) or Tiger II was not an upgraded Tiger I but rather a completely new heavy tank design. Though armed with powerful 8.8cm high velocity gun, its weight hindered its movement across smaller bridges in both Western and Eastern fronts. Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger II Ausf. B Königstiger / King(Royal)Tiger / Tiger II Sd. Kfz. 182 - www.achtungpanzer.com/pz5.htm

Inset 2 : fake Tiger tanks are commonly used throughout Hollywood movies (ex. Kelly's Heroes, Saving Private Ryan, When Trumpets Fade), vehicles are usually sheet-metal conversions from various WW2 or modern tanks. To date, there are only two Tigers in running order, one at Bovington-United Kingdom, other at Samur-France, both are highly valued museum pieces. Key aspect of identifying fake Tigers is to examine the chassis and road wheel, example above used in movie Saving Private Ryan converted from Soviet T-34 tank (of which were abundant supply after WW2 end). Saving Private Ryan: SdKfz 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I tank - www.sproe.com/t/tiger-tank.html

Inset 3 : cut-away schematic, showing front transmission, crew compartments, armor thickness, gun mount. PzKpfw VI Tiger - www.wargamer.com/Hosted/Panzer/tiger.htm

Technical Specifications via German metrics :
Gewicht (weight) - 57 tons
Besatzung (crew) - 5
Motor - Maybach HL210P45 650PS/HP
Hoechstgeschwindigkeit (speed) - 45 Km/h

Kraftstoffvorrat (fuel capacity) - 534 liters
Laenge (length) - 824cm with KwK gun
Breite (width) - 373cm with Schurzen
Hoehe (height) - 288cm

Bewaffnung (Armament) - 8.8cm KwK36 L56 with 92 rounds (combination of armor piercing and high explosive warheads), 2@MG34 machine guns with total 3920 rounds. KwK is German acronym for Kampfwaffenkanon (Combat Battle Canon).