Chan,
Here is a quote from the (hopefully forthcoming) K&C book about both wood tigers (the 1991 $165 one which was made in China was designated WSS5, the 1996 $384 one which was made in the Philippines was designated TK01):
"In 1991, 150 wood and metal Shermans, Tigers and Panthers (50 of each) were produced in China. . . . Andy . . . commissioned 50 each of the Tiger, Panther, and short barreled 75mm M4A1 Sherman. These vehicles were (rather roughly) hand carved, with a separate turret attached by a wood pin, a (very) few added wood and metal detail pieces, and had one piece hand carved track and boogie wheel sections which were attached to the chassis (often at a slight angle, giving the tank a ‘bowlegged’ appearance).
Upon receipt of the 150 models, which, in the case of the Shermans were painted a plain dark green, and the Tigers and Panthers a simple light tan, Andy and Gordon personally painted (again with brushes) each with camouflage and individual unit markings. The Panthers were done in a two tone reddish brown over tan camo, and the Tigers were done in a three tone green and reddish brown over tan camo. Each was given unit numbers and the runic insignia of the “Das Reich” SS Panzer Division. One or two of the Tigers and Panthers were brush-painted over with white wash as custom ordered Winter Tigers and Winter Panthers, sold through Jim Hillestad of the Toy Soldier Museum. . . . The less than stellar sculpting (hatches did not open, grills were poorly carved, etc.) and brush painting looked amateurish, and these vehicles (which were designated WSS5, and retailed for $165.00) did not sell well. In fact, the last of the tigers and panthers were still available in 1993-1994, when the author commenced collecting."
"As of February, 1996, the para jeep, along with the rest of the first five highly detailed and beautifully finished wood "Normandy Fighting Vehicles", the Tiger, Stug IV, Hanomag, and Bren Gun Carrier, the two wood RAF vehicles, an Austin K2 Ambulance (in Blue, Green [rare] and desert tan [only 5 made]) and Bedford QL Fuel Bowser, appeared in both the flyer and the price lists. . . . These vehicles mark the zenith of King & Country armored vehicle production. They were produced in the same factories in the Philippines which produced the Warbirds, hand-carved to a much higher standard than the earlier tanks, and finished with many better crafted metal detail pieces. The hatches were hollowed out deep enough to accommodate a half-figure of a tank commander, and the hatch covers (which opened and closed) were attached with tiny metal hinges. The paint was applied with airbrushes. Individual wood wheels were carved and attached, and resin tracks separately applied for added realism. The effect was stunningly realistic.
Different factories were used, which produced slightly different versions of these armored vehicles (such as Tigers with and without the front blackout lamps, with only one or no top hatches that open, or one version of the Stug IV [referred to as the ‘low belly Stug’] which is squat, lower to the ground and which has longer rear track covers than is appropriate). These factories were also highly unreliable (and according to Andy run by “cheeky devils”), often getting orders completely wrong, delaying orders for in excess of six months, and sending poorly packaged and damaged goods to K&C headquarters in Hong Kong. . . .
The Tigers were produced primarily in two-tone reddish brown on tan camouflage, although a limited number were produced in three tone green and brown on tan camo schemes. They came in the markings of the First (Liebstandart Adolf Hitler) SS Panzer Division, with principally the numbers 201 and 101 on the turrets. They had either tan or black resin tracks, and were truly the Cadillacs of K&C armored vehicle production. On the best of these tanks, the gun elevated, both top turret hatches opened, and there were blackout lamps of the front deck of the tank’s chassis. These tanks came with a half-figure of a black coated SS Tank Commander. This vehicle, designated TK01, originally retailed for $346 in 1996 but quickly increased to $384 by July, 1997. Between 50 and 100 of these vehicles were produced."
I hope this helps.
