1/35 E-100 Super Heavy Tank

The E-100 super heavy tank was one of a series of proposed tanks--the Entwicklung (developmental) series--designed with standardization and parts interchangeability in mind. The series was to include the E-5, E-10, E-25, E-50, E-75, and E-100. The numbers referred roughly to the proposed weights of the vehicles. Only the E-100 made it off the drawing board, and only then as a partly assembled prototype chassis, hull, and running gear. This turretless prototype was discovered by the British Army, sent to England, and eventually scrapped.

Trumpeter's E-100 kit joins the older Dragon release (and re-release, linked below) as the only two injection-molded kits of this vehicle in 1/35 scale. While the Dragon kit went with the commonly accepted notion that the E-100 would use the same turret as the Maus super heavy tank, Trumpeter's release takes it a step further with this completely speculative version featuring an "Ausf. B"-type turret. The parts are very sharply molded in gray styrene, with tracks supplied as flexible (and glue-able) one-piece belts. Night-fighting IR equipment is included. Also includes a set of photo-etched metal detail parts for the engine deck screens, and decals for two fictitious vehicles. An interesting note is that this kit was inspired and heavily influenced by a work created by modeler extraordinaire Michael Rinaldi, a fact that Trumpeter acknowledges right on the top page of the instruction sheet.