Italeri 1/35 Sd.Kfz.184 Elefant

Kit No. 211

The Sd.Kfz.184 Elefant was one of the heaviest and most heavily armed armored fighting vehicles fielded during World War II. Originally developed from Ferdinand Porsche’s failed Tiger tank chassis design, the vehicle first appeared as the “Ferdinand” during the Battle of Kursk before later upgrades led to the improved “Elefant” designation. Armed with the devastating 8.8cm Pak 43/2 L/71 gun and protected by extremely heavy frontal armor, the Elefant could destroy enemy tanks at long range but suffered from poor mobility and mechanical reliability.

Italeri’s 1/35 scale Elefant is one of the company’s classic armor kits dating back to the 1970s-era Italaerei tooling period. While the kit shows its age compared to modern Dragon, Takom, or Amusing Hobby releases, it remains popular with nostalgic builders and modelers seeking a lower-complexity Elefant project.

Builder & Reviewer Feedback

Builders consistently praise the kit for:

• Impressive size and shelf presence

• Straightforward assembly

• Good basic overall shape

• Excellent practice platform for weathering

• Strong value for casual armor builders

• Classic nostalgic Italeri feel

• Large surfaces ideal for camouflage work

Military Issue’s retailer listing highlights:

• Approximately 9.5-inch finished length

• Included crew figures

• Decals for four versions

• Gluable rubber tracks

FineScale Modeler forum discussions frequently mention:

• Good beginner platform for learning German camouflage

• Easy-to-understand assembly

• Older-school armor building experience

• Strong weathering and zimmerit opportunities

However, experienced armor builders commonly criticize the kit for:

• Very old tooling

• Soft detail

• Incorrect or simplified features

• Poor vinyl tracks

• Lack of zimmerit texture

• Basic interior detail

• Dimensional inaccuracies

• Heavy cleanup work required

Other experienced builders in the same discussion recommended:

• Replacing the tracks

• Adding aftermarket zimmerit

• Using metal barrels

• Upgrading the turret and hull details

• Considering modern alternatives like Amusing Hobby or Dragon instead

Still, many hobbyists appreciate the kit specifically because:

• It builds faster than modern super-detail kits

• It costs less than premium Elefant kits

• It works well as a painting/weathering platform

• It has nostalgic collector appeal

Recommended Skill Level

Beginner to Intermediate

Features

• 1/35 scale German Elefant tank destroyer

• Massive 88mm gun

• Includes 3 crew figures

• Rubber band-style tracks

• Decals for 4 versions

• Large late-war German armor subject

• Vintage Italeri tooling

• Strong weathering and diorama potential

Recommended Aftermarket

• Zimmerit coating sets

• Metal gun barrel

• Individual-link tracks

• Photo-etch grills

• German heavy tank crew figures

• Kursk diorama accessories

Paint Suggestions

• Dunkelgelb (Dark Yellow)

• Red Brown camouflage

• Olive Green camouflage

• Heavy mud and dust weathering

• Rust streaking around exhausts

• Matte finish recommended

Builders frequently recommend:

• Heavy Eastern Front mud effects

• Worn steel weathering

• Chipped zimmerit effects

• Dust buildup around suspension and running gear

Store Recommendation

A classic vintage armor kit with nostalgic charm and strong display presence. Best suited for modelers who enjoy traditional armor modeling, heavy weathering projects, or collecting classic Italeri/Italaerei releases rather than builders seeking modern museum-level accuracy.