Product Features and Details
Model: Each REI Military Model is professionally hand-painted and therefore highly unique. Every set is finished in authentic Wehrmacht winter camouflage liveries and individually disassembled, masked, and airbrushed before being carefully reassembled for final detailing. Features include realistically weathered side frames, painted deck planking, authentic wooden chocks, and numerous additional details that bring the model to life.
For this REI custom set, we utilized a highly detailed Artitec Elefant tank destroyer loaded on an Artitec six-axle flat car finished in matching winter camouflage. The flat car features exceptional underframe detailing, realistic deck details, and is equipped with NEM 362 coupler pockets for reliable operation. This unique handcrafted model will make an outstanding addition to any military or railway collection.
Please Note: The Artitec Military Transportation Chain Set 387.300 would add additional realism and detail to this model.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Our artist is a professional model builder and one of North America's premier commission scale modelers. A former U.S. Army paratrooper, he has earned more than 300 awards for his work and has published dozens of articles in leading scale modeling magazines. He has also created box-art buildups for many of the world's most respected model manufacturers. His work can be found in private collections throughout the world. This is a rare opportunity to own a true piece of art created by a master modeler.
Elefant History: The Elefant heavy tank destroyer was one of the most formidable armored fighting vehicles fielded by Germany during World War II. Originally developed from the Porsche Tiger chassis that had lost the competition to become the standard Tiger tank, the vehicles were redesigned by Ferdinand Porsche into powerful tank destroyers armed with the fearsome 8.8 cm Pak 43/2 L/71 gun. This exceptionally powerful weapon could destroy virtually any Allied tank at ranges exceeding 2,000 meters, making the Elefant one of the deadliest anti-tank vehicles of the war.
Protected by up to 200 mm of frontal armor, the Elefant was nearly invulnerable to most enemy tank and anti-tank guns when engaged head-on. Its first combat deployment came during the Battle of Kursk in 1943, where it demonstrated remarkable long-range firepower and achieved numerous tank kills. However, the vehicle's immense weight of nearly 70 tons and lack of a hull-mounted machine gun initially made it vulnerable to close infantry attacks and mechanical difficulties. Later upgrades addressed some of these shortcomings, including the addition of a machine gun and improved commander visibility.
Only 91 Elefants were produced, making them among the rarest and most distinctive armored fighting vehicles of the Second World War. Their combination of immense firepower, heavy armor, and imposing appearance has made them legendary among military historians and armored vehicle enthusiasts alike.
PLEASE NOTE: These models are all handmade and individually painted, making every example unique. Paint patterns may vary slightly, and detail parts such as equipment, tools, antennas, weathering effects, and load positioning may differ from model to model. This variation closely reflects the appearance of actual wartime equipment and contributes to the authenticity of each handcrafted piece.
