Interseting that Panther, Tiger and King Tiger had these particular wheels, must get veryheavy but how many did they build with those wheels?

I don't know the answer to your question, but the reason why there is "steel wheels" is to differentiate them from road wheels that were rubber-rimmed. Rubber was a strategic resource and once the Far East was cut off from the German mainland, they had to conserve rubber. Since rubber is vital to wheeled vehicles and aircraft (tires, hoses, etc.), they delete the rubber from vehicles that can do without, like tank road wheels. The only reason why tank road wheels are rubber-rimmed is to reduce the shock and vibration which in turn reduces crew fatigue and and wear and tear on internal components like radios and optics.

So I guess the kit doesn't actually have steel wheels ( I know it's a dumb question)? Reading the explanation (logical though) it makes me ask another question: How often they had to change the rubber on the rims?

The rubber doesn't get changed. When it gets worn or chunked, the entire road wheel gets replaced. The steel is either scrapped or if the mounting holes are otherwise undamaged (not oblonged or something), it is probably sent back to the factory to have rubber retreaded.

The Late Model Tiger I, with the "Steel Wheels" really did have steel road wheels... Rubber was scarce, so a "rubber disk" was used inside a steel wheel.

Steel wheel production started in Feb. 1944... and approximately 550 tanks were produced from Feb 44 until Aug 44 when all Tiger I production ceased.

Let me know if you need to know more about the Tigers... they are one of my favorites.
Later,
Tim

No. I'm pretty sure the steel wheels are represented in plastic in the kit.

Nic

Your 100% correct Nic, the kit does represent steel wheels in plastic.

Russ