Rye Field Model RM-5036 PZ.KPFW.VI AUSF.B (VK36.01) W/ WORKABLE TRACK LINKS

The VK 3601 (H) is a German prototype heavy tank from the Second World War. The first fully operational prototypes of this vehicle were built in 1942, but the car never entered mass production. The length of the tank was 6.05 m, with a width of 3.14 m and a height of up to 2.7 meters. The weight of the tank did not exceed 40 tons. The drive was to be provided by a single Maybach HL-174 engine with a maximum power of 550 HP. The main armament of the car was to consist of either the 75mm KwK 42 or the 88mm KwK36 gun. The additional armament was to consist of two 7.92 mm MG 34 machine guns. The VK 3601 (H) vehicle was developed at the Henschel plant as a prototype of a new heavy tank for the German land forces. Externally, the car resembled the Panzer IV, but it received a completely new suspension with overlapping wheels, which to some extent resembled the later solutions used in the Panzer V and Panzer VI. Efforts were also made to achieve a large unification of spare parts between the new tank and the Panzer IV - a perfect example of this is the VK 3601 (H) turret. However, the car did not enter into mass production, although the experience gained from the work on it significantly contributed to the development of the VK 4501 (H) design, which was in fact the progenitor of the Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger.