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Dynamo Models returns with a set of figures hard at it winding up a Tiger! Looks easy, but seems hard – we look at the set in our preview.
Preview: Dynamo Models German Tank Crew “Hand-Cranking the Engine” in 1/35th, 1/48th & 1/72nd...
The Subject: German Tank Crew "Hand-Cranking the Engine"
Dioramas often focus on the heat of combat, but this release turns the spotlight onto the physical labour required to keep heavy armour operational. The set depicts two crewmen working at the rear of their tank, combining their strength on a hand crank to turn over a massive engine. It is an ideal scene for a vehicle at rest, undergoing field maintenance, or preparing to move out.
Starting the restored Tiger II at Overloon
The physical effort required for this task is authentic; hand-cranking a Maybach engine on a Panther or King Tiger was highly demanding, requiring coordinated muscle power to overcome the internal compression of the V12 powerplant. This release provides a practical vignette that changes the narrative flow of a heavy armour display.
The Figures:
The figures are produced in high-quality, 3D-printed resin. Dynamo Models provides this set across three popular scales: 1/35th, 1/48th, and 1/72nd. The figures are sold as a two-figure set, capturing a fluid, connected pose as both men strain against the heavy starter crank.
German Tank Crew “Hand-Cranking the Engine”
From Dynamo Models
Available scales: 1/35, 1/48, 1/72
Kit No #35231 (1/35th scale)
Two 3D sculpted figures, printed in resin
Optional heads and a separate hand crank included.
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The breakdown of the poses reveals the tension engineered into the sculpts. The first figure wears a standard field cap, leaning back with bent knees, utilising his body weight to pull the crank handle upwards. The second figure, bareheaded with moulded hair detail, leans heavily forward into the stroke, his face contorted in a realistic grimace of physical exertion.
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The clothing folds and fabric tension on their uniforms match their body movements, illustrating the mechanical resistance of the engine. The set comes complete with a separate, cleanly printed hand-crank tool that slots directly into the hands of the figures and attaches back to the starter guide on the rear plate of your chosen Panther or Tiger kit.
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The optional head choices are included to provide alternative expressions or headgear configurations depending on your diorama's setting.
These are now available from the Dynamo Models website...
