Brickmania Blog

Special Offer:

Buy the Panzer VIII Maus by April 3rd and get free shipping on your entire order*

*Within the USA free shipping means delivery by the United States Postal Service using First Class Mail (packages up to 8 ounces) and Priority Mail (packages over 8 ounces). Select Countries: Free Economy Mail delivery (4-8 weeks) is also being offered to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Luxemburg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

About the Panzer VIII Maus:

The Panzer VIII Maus was a German WWII super-heavy tank completed in late 1944. It is the heaviest fully enclosed armored fighting vehicle ever built. Five were originally ordered, but only two hulls and one turret were completed before the testing grounds were captured by the advancing Soviet forces. These two prototypes – one with, and the other without a turret – underwent trials in late 1944. The Maus’ main armament was the Krupp-designed 128 mm KwK 44 L/55 gun, based on the 12.8 cm Pak 44 anti-tank field artillery piece which was used in the casemate-type Jagdiger tank destroyer. The 128 mm gun was powerful enough to destroy all Allied armored fighting vehicles then in service, some at ranges exceeding 3,500 m.

The principle problem in the design of the Maus was developing an engine and drivetrain which was powerful enough to propel the tank, yet small enough to fit inside it. The drive train was electrical, designed to provide a maximum speed of 12 mph and a minimum speed of 0.93 mph. However, during actual field testing the maximum speed achieved on hard surfaces was 8.1 mph with full motor field. The vehicle’s weight made it unable to utilize most bridges, instead it was intended to ford to a depth of 6 ft 7 in, or submerge up to a depth of 26 ft 3 in and use a snorkel to cross rivers. The Maus was intended to punch holes through enemy defenses in the manner of an immense “breakthrough tank”, whilst taking almost no damage to any components. There is a captured Maus prototype on display by the Kubinka Tank Museum in Russia.

Specifications:

• Number built: 2 (of which 1 incomplete)
• Weight: 188 tons
• Crew: 6
• Armor: 220 mm turret front, 200 mm turret side and rear, 200 mm hull front, 180 mm hull side, 150 mm hull rear
• Main armament: 128 mm KwK 44 gun L/55 (68 rounds)
• Secondary armament: 75 mm KwK 44 gun L/36.5 (co-axial with 100 rounds), 7.92 mm MG 34 machine gun (co-axial with 1,000 rounds); MP40
• Engine: MB509 V12 petrol engine DB 603 derivative (V1); 1,200 hp (V2)
• Operational range: 99 mi (road), 39 mi (off road)
• Speed: 12 mph maximum; 11 mph average road speed

Additional information about this Brickmania custom building kit:

The Panzer VIII Maus comes with the following features:

• Features detailed interior with 7 opening hatches
• Working rotating turret controller
• Includes one WWII German Maus Commander custom-printed minifigure
• 5 stud-wide technic track links included
• Removable fuel tank
• Includes 16 brick built shells, 6 BrickArms shells and BrickArms MG34 + MP-40
• Featuring one of a kind spring back antennas
• Designed by Yitzy Kasowitz
• 1/35 scale to match other Brickmania models.
• Includes 1096 genuine new-condition LEGO® bricks and BrickArms® elements
• Advanced Skill Level (4-6 years of experience with LEGO is recommended)

All Brickmania model kits are made of new-condition LEGO bricks. This model comes disassembled and includes complete printed building instructions and comes packaged in a sealed box. This is a limited edition kit and production may be discontinued at any time.

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