News Update June 1, 2026 - World War II German Armor Special Pre-Order (2 Viewers)

[Julie]

JJDESIGNS NEWS UPDATE 1st JUNE 2026
THE SECOND WORLD WAR
GERMAN ARMOUR

The following model will only be available for Pre-order until the 30th JUNE 2026

PRE-ORDER PERIOD ENDS 30th JUNE 2026

NO PRE-ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE 1st JULY 2026

The schwere Panzerabteilung 505 (s.Pz.Abt. 505) was one of the most successful Tiger units. Its first major combat action was in Unternehmen Zitadelle (Operation Citadel), the epic Battle of Kursk. During the battle, s.Pz.Abt. 505 acquitted itself well, killing 164 Russian tanks for the loss of only 5 Tigers, for a 32.8 to 1 kill ratio. s.Pz.Abt. 505 would see continuous action, fighting in the sectors of Orel, Vitebsk, and northern Ukraine until late July 1944, when the unit was pulled from the front line and sent to the Ohrdruf Training Area where it was reconstituted with new Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. B “King Tiger” tanks. Sent into action in East Prussia in September, s.Pz.Abt. 505 fought in close cooperation with the 5. Panzer-Division (5. Pz.Div.) and the Fallschirm-Panzer-Korps Hermann Göring during the Gumbinnen operation that successfully relieved Goldap, the first German city captured by the Russians. This action also marked the last German victory on the Eastern Front. Continuing its attachment to 5. Pz.Div., s.Pz.Abt. 505 took part in the brutal defense of Königsberg and Samland, with its last King Tigers seeing action at Pillau on 15 April 1945, shortly before the unit disbanded. During the course of the war, s.Pz.Abt. 505 killed approximately 900 enemy tanks, for the loss of 78 Tiger I and 48 Tiger II tanks.



GA-58
THE SECOND WORLD WAR,
GERMAN ARMOUR,
German King Tiger #311,
Commanded by Tiger Ace Heinz Mausberg
Schwere Panzerabteilung 505,
East Prussia, Fall 1944.
(23 pcs)

Historically, King Tiger #311 was commanded by Feldwebel Heinz Mausberg. Mausberg joined the Wehrmacht in 1940, beginning his career in the Czechoslovakian-made Panzer 38(t) while serving with Panzer Regiment 27 of the 19. Panzer-Division. He served with 19. Pz.Div. until being seriously wounded by anti-tank fire while serving as a Panzerkommandant (Panzer commander) in August 1942. After recovering in a Dresden hospital, Mausberg was assigned to the 3./s.Pz.Abt. 505, which was in the process of forming. After numerous successes in the Tiger I, by the fall of 1944 Mausberg was serving as a Zugführer (Platoon Leader) in 3./s.Pz.Abt. 505 as the unit embarked for East Prussia. He successfully led his platoon during the relief of Goldap and in the hard defensive fighting during the Battle of Königsberg. For his actions, he was decorated with the German Cross in Gold on 15 March 1945.

Mausberg commanded two of the last four remaining King Tigers of s.Pz.Abt. 505 during the evacuation from Königsberg to Samland, giving a ride to two mothers and their three daughters as Mausberg’s small panzergruppe provided protection to scores of other fleeing German civilians. Heavy defensive fighting occurred in Tenkitten, where the four King Tigers were subjected to artillery fire, Sturmovik ground attack aircraft strikes, and assaults by scores of Russian tanks. The four King Tigers took a severe beating. Mausberg was able to pick off numerous Russian tanks from distances of over 2,000 meters, but the Russians possessed overwhelming numbers, forcing the group to blow up two of their heavily damaged King Tigers. Mausberg then pulled back with the last two surviving King Tigers to Peyse for makeshift repairs before breaking out and managing to reach Pillau during the height of the battle. The additional firepower of Mausberg’s King Tigers allowed the defenders to temporarily stall the Russian onslaught, but both tanks sustained heavy damage, ran out of ammunition, and Mausberg’s tank had a broken transmission. Both King Tigers were then blown up by their crews.

Mausberg then transferred to a Panther that had been accompanying them and fought on. After intense fighting, the Panther was damaged with a direct artillery hit to the tracks and another near miss that put the Panther’s cannon out of action. Although the Panther was technically repairable, because no recovery vehicles were available Fw. Mausberg made the decision to blow up the tank. This act was witnessed by an infantry company, whose commander, a Major, accused Mausberg of sabotage. Because the HQ section of s.Pz.Abt. 505 had already relocated, Mausberg had no higher ranking officer support as he was quickly tried, convicted, and sentenced to death in a flying trial typical of the chaos and desperation in the closing days of the war. He was sent to a penal battalion, and while awaiting his death sentence, the war ended. Fw. Mausberg was then handed over to the Russians and spent the next three years in a Russian prison camp near Moscow before finally being released and repatriated back to Germany. Felwebel Heinz Mausberg was one of the most successful Tiger aces of the war with 50+ kills.

JJ Designs is proud to announce the release of King Tiger #311 of the s.Pz.Abt. 505.

It displays the two-tone camouflage pattern of RAL8017 Rotbraun painted in large bands over the RAL7028 Dunkelgelb base coat typical of s.Pz.Abt. 505’s tanks. King Tiger #311 also sports the striking “Charging Knight” insignia of s.Pz.Abt. 505, which was painted on the turret sides of their King Tigers inside a rectangle where the zimmerit was removed. Additionally, the model features the unique tank numbering system of s.Pz.Abt. 505. The three-digit turret number #311 was painted in the normal fashion on the turret rear. However, on each side of the tank’s cannon, the Kompanie number “3” was painted on the upper cannon mantlet, with the Zug (platoon) and section numbers “11” painted on the sides of the cannon itself. This system resulted in the tank number appearing as #311 when read left to right from the right side of the tank, but appearing as #113 when read left to right from the left side of the tank. Needless to say, this system provided decades of consternation to historians and tank enthusiasts alike as they tried to identify individual tanks!

In addition to historically accurate markings and paint scheme, JJD’s King Tiger #311 includes the following features:

• All hatches open and close
• Detailed turret and hull interior
• Detailed engine bay
• Removable side mudguards

Once again, a big thank you to, Steve “The Foreign Expert” (Hunter Rose)

PRE-ORDER PERIOD ENDS 30th JUNE 2026
PRODUCTION PERIOD WILL START JULY 2026
ESTIMATED SHIPMENT AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 2026

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER TO PRE-ORDER​

Best wishes,
john jenkins

 

[tmanthegreat]

This model looks fantastic! Awesome to see a Henschel turret King Tiger with the zimmerit paste applied. Great story behind the tank as well.

 

[wayne556517]

What a beast order in

 

[Francis]

a superb racing beast

 

[villagehorse]

Yes an interesting history for this tank. Robin.

 

[Mark IV]

I have preordered this so looking forward to delivery in November

 

[Pan]

Definitely shall pre-order - hoping that postage wont cost a kidney and an eye lol

 

[Pan]

I have been asking for this version of the King Tiger for so long ..at last someone heard There is also a winter version of this King Tiger in another post which is awesome.

 

[Barkmann]

A true beast, in classic markings, remember making the same Tiger II as a model kit from Tamiya.

When a manufacturer releases a tank, i have noticed a lot of the time that collectors [on forum and at Shows] say "Great, but I wish he had done it in this other camo, markings, etc" Do you think John's strategy is to make every Tiger II and/or Tiger I [I am joking].

Great release

 

[Pan]

Placed my order for this extraordinary model with Treefrog. Thanks for the excellent and straightforward service.

 

[Pan]

A true beast, in classic markings, remember making the same Tiger II as a model kit from Tamiya.

When a manufacturer releases a tank, i have noticed a lot of the time that collectors [on forum and at Shows] say "Great, but I wish he had done it in this other camo, markings, etc" Do you think John's strategy is to make every Tiger II and/or Tiger I [I am joking].

Great release

Do you think John's strategy is to make every Tiger II and/or Tiger I [I am joking].

Not a bad idea collecting a series of King Tigers Also including a Sturmtiger and a Jagdtiger

 

[joesgis]

Definitely shall pre-order - hoping that postage wont cost a kidney and an eye lol

At least you have 2 of each organ, lol.

 

[Pan]

At least you have 2 of each organ, lol.

Hoping to keep it that way lol

 

[Barkmann]

At least you have 2 of each organ, lol.

Postage can be incredibly expensive, especially from an Auction House, they tend to charge like a Horny Rhino.
Add on costs, including postage, for the largest Toy Auction company/site in the UK tends to be around 50% than the hammer price.
Just imagine if you did not buy anything and get it posted to you? What else would the Post/Mail Man/Woman have to drop or to kick around the sorting office. I often think there is a different translation/meaning of the word 'Fragile' on a postal label to the postal service. They pale into nothing when you have to deal with the customs service. They are so slow, i do not what is slower, the custom service or evolution. The damage they have done to stuff when openning, T Gunn planes not tied down again or put in the box again incorrectly, K & C figures put back in the boxes and missing the top foam, so they rattle all over the place.

I had to go to the customs office [15 minutes drive], which was in a large postal sorting office to collect some K & C [few years ago]. There were charges* and was told I have to see a manager, so waited, 2 managers came out, took me a room and asked me to open all the sets [8 sets]. To be told "these are great and really cool", they asked me about a couple of AFVs and were extremely impressed. No problems, they were just interested. Did not mind and they explained to me why this shipment was stopped and my others were not, so i have changed my ordering accorcingly and not had a single customs charge in 4 years.

*Never moan about the charges as they legal and i am grateful we have such a service to stop drugs, guns, etc coming into the country and keeps us safer.

 

[Pan]

Postage can be incredibly expensive, especially from an Auction House, they tend to charge like a Horny Rhino.
Add on costs, including postage, for the largest Toy Auction company/site in the UK tends to be around 50% than the hammer price.
Just imagine if you did not buy anything and get it posted to you? What else would the Post/Mail Man/Woman have to drop or to kick around the sorting office. I often think there is a different translation/meaning of the word 'Fragile' on a postal label to the postal service. They pale into nothing when you have to deal with the customs service. They are so slow, i do not what is slower, the custom service or evolution. The damage they have done to stuff when openning, T Gunn planes not tied down again or put in the box again incorrectly, K & C figures put back in the boxes and missing the top foam, so they rattle all over the place.

I had to go to the customs office [15 minutes drive], which was in a large postal sorting office to collect some K & C [few years ago]. There were charges* and was told I have to see a manager, so waited, 2 managers came out, took me a room and asked me to open all the sets [8 sets]. To be told "these are great and really cool", they asked me about a couple of AFVs and were extremely impressed. No problems, they were just interested. Did not mind and they explained to me why this shipment was stopped and my others were not, so i have changed my ordering accorcingly and not had a single customs charge in 4 years.

*Never moan about the charges as they legal and i am grateful we have such a service to stop drugs, guns, etc coming into the country and keeps us safer.

However charges are not to prevent gun running or drugs, its more of a political/trading issue rather then anything else., In my county, Duty, VAT and additional administrative charges are collected over the internet before the item arrives. So far I never had any handling issues as well since service is very good But charges are exorbitant reaching nearly another 180 Euros and sometimes more in addition to the item price and postage. However postage quoted by Treefrog this time round is quite reasonable and fair.

 

[Barkmann]

However charges are not to prevent gun running or drugs, its more of a political/trading issue rather then anything else., In my county, Duty, VAT and additional administrative charges are collected over the internet before the item arrives. So far I never had any handling issues as well since service is very good But charges are exorbitant reaching nearly another 180 Euros and sometimes more in addition to the item price and postage. However postage quoted by Treefrog this time round is quite reasonable and fair.

Have bought from Tfrog myself and postage was always fair, they have no control over the VAT etc. Would agree with you on the customs was a political issue if we had not always had them, no matter, left or right, which political party was in power, on trade, certainly, which has been proved over the last couple of years. Is a Government income generator, but one which pays for the customs and border checks, still prefer them and having to pay for customs and border protection, need those people checking passports and building those walls, etc

Back to the Tiger II, like you, I like this version, have the Ardennes version, will probably go for the Normandy or Winter versions next if the opportunity arises. However, next will be the 3 Battle of the Bulge German Halftracks and the Panther. Followed by some of the smaller early war German tanks for the France and Low Countries in 1940, just love the grey stuff.

Hope the weather finds you well, here in the UK we had a very hot few days at the end of May, now warm and a bit of rain. We are expecting a dry/hot summer. Been to Malta, only holiday, went with an ex-partner and she was a bit peeved when i took time to go around the historical and military sites. So much so she said that the next holiday she would choose where [as i always wanted to visit the miitary sites] where ever we went. Her choice was Crete, how little she knew.