Tiger (P)

Explore one of the most unusual German armoured vehicle projects of World War II with the Brixago Tiger (P) 35003 building set. This detailed brick-built replica represents the heavy tank prototype designed by Ferdinand Porsche as part of Germany's effort to develop a new generation of heavily armoured combat vehicles. Its distinctive silhouette, substantial turret, long main gun and tracked chassis make it an intriguing subject for military history enthusiasts and collectors.

Built to 1:35 scale, the completed model measures approximately 26.3 cm long, 10 cm wide and 12.8 cm high. The design combines a clean, dark grey finish with carefully recreated exterior features, including the tracks, road wheels, hull panels and turret details. These elements give the model a convincing armoured-vehicle appearance while preserving the distinctive proportions of the historical prototype.

The model includes a rotating turret and a movable main gun with adjustable elevation. An opening turret hatch adds another point of interest, while the modular construction allows selected sections to be separated and examined. Detailed tracks and running gear complete the overall design, making the finished vehicle suitable for display on a shelf, desk or in a military vehicle collection.

The Brixago Tiger (P) offers an opportunity to build a vehicle that differs from the familiar production tanks of the period. It is especially appealing to collectors interested in experimental German armour, prototype engineering and the complex development history behind the Tiger family.

Specifications

• Brand: Brixago
• Name: Tiger (P)
• Set Number: 35003
• Scale: 1:35
• Assembled Dimensions: Approx. 26.3 × 10 × 12.8 cm
• Piece Count: 1,119

Product Features

• Brand: Brixago
• Name: Tiger (P)
• Set Number: 35003
• Scale: 1:35
• Assembled Dimensions: Approx. 26.3 × 10 × 12.8 cm
• Piece Count: 1,119
• Rotating turret
• Movable main gun with adjustable elevation
• Opening turret hatch
• Modular construction for examining the vehicle's structure
• Detailed tracks and road wheels
• Dark grey finish inspired by historic military vehicles
• Collector-oriented building set for assembly and display

Historical Background: Tiger (P) — Ferdinand Porsche's Experimental Heavy Tank

In the early 1940s, the German armed forces sought a heavy tank that could combine substantial armour protection with a gun capable of engaging increasingly well-protected enemy vehicles. Competing designs were developed by Porsche and Henschel. Porsche's entry was designated VK 45.01 (P) and is commonly known as the Tiger (P) or Porsche Tiger. The project involved cooperation with Krupp, which was responsible for the turret and main armament.

One of the most distinctive features of the Tiger (P) was its unusual petrol-electric drive system. Instead of relying on a conventional mechanical transmission, petrol engines powered generators, which supplied electricity to motors driving the tracks. This was an ambitious engineering concept for its time, but it introduced considerable complexity. The powertrain proved difficult to maintain and suffered from reliability problems. The design also required substantial quantities of copper, an important strategic material during the war.

In 1942, the Porsche prototype competed against Henschel's design. Comparative testing showed that the Porsche vehicle did not meet the required standards of reliability and battlefield readiness. The Henschel design was selected for series production and became the Tiger I. However, the connection between the two projects did not end there: the turret developed for the Porsche Tiger was also used on early production Tiger I tanks, giving the vehicles some shared external features.

Although the Porsche tank project was cancelled, the work and components were not simply discarded. A substantial number of prepared chassis and hulls were repurposed to create the Ferdinand tank destroyer, later modified and renamed the Elefant. Parts intended for an unsuccessful heavy tank therefore found a second life in a very different armoured fighting vehicle.

Today, the Tiger (P) remains an important example of experimental German tank development. It never entered mass production as a heavy tank, yet its unconventional engineering and its links to the Tiger I and Ferdinand make it a particularly interesting subject for military vehicle collectors. The Brixago set recreates this lesser-known chapter in armoured history in a format designed for building and display.