(Login zappa93) MODERATORS ONLY - Time on Target from IP address 162.83.171.241
DRAGON MODELS LIMITED
Product Specifications.
6394, Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.J 2-in-1 Smart Kit. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 515 styrene parts (including 15 clear), two bags of Magic Tracks, one etched brass fret, eight water-slide decal marking schemes and 10 pages of instructions in 23 steps.
Introduction.
At the time of its introduction into service in the late 1930’s, the Pz.Kpfw.III was the world’s first purpose-built tank designed to do battle directly with enemy tanks. It featured such innovations as a five-man crew, each with specific duties; this allowed for unprecedented tactical flexibility, especially compared to other contemporary tanks. While early versions featured some form of external leaf-spring/bogie unit suspension system, from the Ausf.E onwards, the very advanced (for that time) torsion bar system was used.
The Ausf.J, the subject of this new DML “Smart Kit” introduced an armor basis of 50mm to the series, while later production versions of this particular model mounted the more powerful L/60-caliber 5cm KwK. Vorpanzer (spaced armor panels) could also be seen fitted to the gun mantlet and superstructure front plate. Other modifications during production of the Ausf.J included re-designed engine deck access hatch lids for more efficient cooling in so-called “Tropen” or tropical climates; this kit features only the final configuration where the one-piece lids hinged to open towards the front.
Tracks.
These come loosely packed in two bags and are so-called “Magic Tracks”. They represent the 40cm-wide links that had hollow guide horns and plain cleat faces. These tracks are also “handed”, so the modeler is cautioned not to open up the bags and mix things up prior to assembly; as an added bit of help, each side’s links are a slightly different color of gray styrene. Being “Magic Tracks”, they have no sprue attachment points, which is a definite time saver since no cutting or clean-up in that regard is required. Each has a pair of extremely faint ejector pin marks on the inner face. These can be ignored or erased as the modeler sees fit. They fit together easily but quite loosely, and must be fixed together with glue prior to handling.
Suspension System.
The road-wheels are conventionally molded in inner and outer pieces, with integral rubber tires. The outer faces of the wheel hubs feature perforations and weld beads where appropriate, while the tires have a facsimile of the manufacturer’s logo (Continenta“U”) on their rims. On the inner faces, the pins (or tubes?) that helped join the wheel halves together are molded on, providing an unprecedented level of detail in this regard. Spare road wheels and spare track pins are also given for stowage. The return rollers are conventionally-molded in two parts (inner and outer halves).
The drive sprockets come as conventional inner and outer pieces and are completely detailed. The idler wheels are also in inner and outer parts, but feature separate hubs as well as etched brass inner rings. The idler wheels also have separate “cranked” axles that can be adjusted; the modeler is advised not to glue them in place on the hull until the fit and sag of the tracks have been worked out.
Separate internal torsion bars are given as are beautifully-detailed separate external swing arms. This will allow the suspension to be fixed in an articulated fashion if the modeler desires to place his work on a base with irregular terrain; to do so, simply cut off the pins that protrude from the hull sides, which are there in case the modeler wants a level, fixed suspension. Bump stops, slide-molded shock absorbers and final drive housings (as well as mounting plates for the latter, which have the holes for tow hooks) are also separate parts
Hull.
The main part of the hull comes from a slide-mold so it is fully detailed on all faces. This includes mounts for the road-wheel torsion bar/swing arm units, idler wheel mount, bump stops and shock absorbers, as well as the various bolted strips that connected the hull to the superstructure. Panel seams and weld beads are also present. The belly has drain plug and access plate detail molded in place, plus bolt and rivet heads, as well as weld beads.
A major modification to this part, when compared to that included in the previously-released StuG.III Ausf.G, are the openings for the crew escape hatches on the side walls. Separate hatch lids with separate hinges and internal latches complete the area.
The bow plate is separate and its configuration represents the base armor of 50mm introduced on the Ausf.J. The hull rear plate is composed of many separate parts including the exhaust deflector, spacer plates, various access covers, tow points and exhaust pipe/muffler assemblies. These last come with opened pipe ends and separate mounts. Finally, an etched brass screen is provided to be placed under the superstructure over-hang.
Separate fenders are provided, with the main parts being detailed on the top and bottom surfaces; neither is marred by ejector pin marks. There are a number of styrene and etched brass parts added to these main parts so that all braces, etc. can be depicted in great detail. A very nice touch are the two different rear mud-flap configurations provided; these will allow them to be raised or lowered without any accuracy or detail compromises. Most of the tools, as well as the five-part jack, two-part, slide-molded jack block and two-part convoy tail-lamp are attached to the fenders. The tools have nice clasp details, while the tow cable mounts and jack mounts are separate parts.
Superstructure.
The engine deck is a separate part and is configured much like the original; the entire assembly can be left off to depict an engine change. Coming from a slide mold, it has details on all faces including various styles of plate and weld detail as well as attachment flanges and bolt heads. The four hatch lids are separate parts, with proper coaming detail around the hatch openings and separate hinges. The air intake cowls that surmount the hatch lids are separate parts as are their mounts. Separate parts for the lifting hooks are also given for maximum detail fidelity. Two all-styrene tow cables are provided for the engine deck, but I’d have preferred the option of a wound wire/etched brass/ styrene option for better detail and flexibility. A new rear plate with separate filler cap and multi-part smoke grenade dispenser is also given. At the side are proper air intake vents, with the correct means of attachment to the walls, including their internal openings. These are topped by etched brass screens.
There are two different roof plates, one of which is configured to mount Vorpanzer (spaced armor). Both feature a turret ring with a properly-detailed race, devoid of the usual openings to bayonet-mount the turret. I prefer this, but this means the turret will not be especially secure on the finished model. The part is finished with more separate lift hooks as well as a turret ring shot deflector.
Separate side and front superstructure panels are then fitted. These feature separate, multi-part view-port flaps that include clear parts for the vision blocks; naturally they can be modeled opened or closed. The starboard side features an antenna and its mount, while the associated stowage trough, complete with wood-grain effect is mounted on the fender. The radio operator’s MG34 features complete internal mount detail and is a “Gen2” molding with pre-drilled muzzle. The optional Vorpanzer is then fitted if desired, using styrene and etched brass parts.
The separate glacis plate is of the type with two hatch lids, one slightly wider than the other; these can be depicted opened or closed. The bases for the head-lamps are molded in place, and clear lenses are provided for them. Separate, two-part armored cowls are given to cover the brake cooling air openings.
Turret.
The upper shell is a one-piece affair, created from a slide mold. The detail is crisp and complete, including counter-sunk screw head details, separate view-port flaps (with clear vision block inserts) and side wall access doors. The roof gets a two-part vent cover, separate signal port flap, and grab handles; the separate turret floor has a gear pattern on the ring race. The commander’s cupola features two-position view-port covers, clear internal vision blocks and separate hatch lids.
The Gepäckkasten (baggage bin) on the turret rear is also based on a slide-molded part; therefore it is completely detailed on all faces. It also comes with a separate lid, which can be shown opened up; finally, its rear wall is a separate part. It also purports to be the first accurately-configured bin in styrene, showing the subtle differences in the contours at either side; this last item is confirmed in photos, but does not appear in any of the cited scale drawings. More separate lift hooks, as well as separate pistol port covers complete this area.
Each of the main gun configurations has a complete inner breech. The L/42 and L/60 gun tubes are slide-molded and pre-bored. Optional parts for the recuperator housing is given, with an exquisitely-rendered slide-molded sleeve for the gun tube provided as a separate part. There are two mantlet configurations (one or two view-port flaps, which are separate and feature internal details) as well as etched brass and styrene parts for the Vorpanzer and its frame. For the latter, there are three different armor configurations offered, but two appear identical. Finally, the pre-bored coaxial MG 34 is furnished, mounted in its armored sleeve; a second sleeve is provided, but without the MG in place.
Molding, Fit and Engineering.
Like many of their recent new-tool kits, DML’s designers have gone to great lengths to provide a level of detail on the styrene parts not often previously seen. Although not a new technique (it is as old as injection-molding), “slide-molds” have been used in a very intelligent way either to allow for better detail rendition, or for ease of assembly. On visible surfaces, not a single ejector pin mark was found and there was no shrinkage of any kind. Fit of major parts was excellent and mold seams were faint and easily dealt with. As usual, the road-wheels and return rollers will require the most effort to clean, since there are 24 of the former and 12 of the latter; all have seams around their middles as well as sprue attachment points.
Accuracy.
Currently available scale drawings appear to confirm that this kit is very accurate dimensionally; however, some parts of some of the drawings are suspect (see references 2, 3 and 5), particularly where they depict the configuration of the turret stowage bin. Regardless, I noted no major discrepancies.
On the subject of “omissions”, it can be presumed that more than a few modelers, myself included, will bemoan the lack of an optional earlier engine deck hatch lid arrangement.
Decals and Markings Information.
The decals are the usual excellent Italian product from Cartograf. They are crisp, in register and have thin, closely-cropped carrier film. Markings for eight tanks are given as follows:
• Red/white 523, 5.Kp./Pz.Rgt.24, 24.Panzer-Division, Stalingrad 1942*.
• Black 100, 1.Kp. 3.Panzer-Grenadier-Division, Stalingrad 1942*.
• White 200, 2.Kp./Pz.Rgt.18, 18.Panzer-Division, Russia 1942.
• Red/white 901, 9.Kp. 23.Panzer-Division, Ostfront 1942.
• Red 556, 5.Kp./SS-Pz.Rgt.1, 1.SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “LAH”, Kharkov 1943*.
• Red/white 122, 1.Kp./SS-Pz.Rgt.5, 5.SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division “Wiking”, Russia 1943.
• Black outline 3/16, 3.Kp./Pz.Rgt.7, 10.Panzer-Division, Tunisia 1943*.
• Red 3, 3.Kp./Pz.Rgt.8, 15.Panzer-Division, Tobruk 1942*.
Using the references cited below I could only photographically confirm five sets of markings; these are marked with an asterisk (*). There are also issues with two of those schemes as follows: any photos of 24.P-D Ausf.Js indicate the Tac numbers were solid white (not red/white). I also believe that the Tac numbers on the turret sides of the whitewashed “LAH” Ausf.J should be the Dunkelgrau vehicle base color, and that those on the rear stowage bin should be a white outline on the base color, with the entire rear face left without a whitewash. One must also be careful regarding the colors called out in the markings sections as opposed to what colors are actually appropriate for the Panzer in question. However, all that’s really needed here is a modicum of proper research by the modeler.
The two Waffen-SS units are not listed as such (I have listed them here as they should be, not as they actually are in the instructions), probably due to concerns with European laws.
Instructions.
These are in the usual drawn style and except for the markings placement info (some color information is dubious, and in many cases is not given at all), appear to be well-done. As usual, they are busy, and there are many “steps within steps”. Modelers are cautioned to proceed with care, especially when considering which physical options go with a particular markings scheme.
Conclusion.
This kit is every bit as remarkable as DML’s recent (and extremely well-done) Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F2/G and StuG.III Ausf.G Smart Kits. This is not surprising since it is based on parts from both of these kits. And, although the options in the box (aside from the fact that this kit can also be built to represent an early Ausf.L) may not be exactly what modelers wish for, but they are certainly worthy of consideration. Regardless, a “new” Pz.Kpfw.III, made with the most modern production techniques is finally here. Rejoice!
Highly recommended.
Frank V. “Curley the Stooge” De Sisto
References consulted for this review included, but were not limited to:
1. “Panzerkampfwagen III, Ausf.A, B, C und D”, Panzer Tracts 3-1, by T. Jentz & H. Doyle.
2. “Panzer III & Its Variants”, Schiffer, by W. Spielberger.
3. “Panzerkampfwagen III”, Achtung Panzer 2.
4. “Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Revised Edition”, by P. Chamberlain, H. Doyle & T. Jentz.
5. “Pz.Kpfw.III”, Wydawictwo Militaria 11, by Z. Barowski & J. Ledwoch.
6. “The Panzerkampfwagen III at War”, Concord 7010, by M. Jerchel & W. Trojca.
7. “Armor of the Deutsches Afrika Korps”, Concord 7021, by T. Cockle & A. Wrobel.
8. “Panzers in North Africa”, Concord 7043, by J. Healey & J. Restayn.
9. “Panzer III in Action”, Squadron Armor 1, by U. Feist.
10. “Pz.Kpfw.III in Action”, Squadron Armor 24, by B. Culver & D. Greer.
11. “The Panzerkampfwagen III”, Osprey Vanguard 16, by B. Perrett, D. Smith & M. Chappell.
12. “Panzerkampfwagen III”, AFV Profile 2, by W. Spielberger.
13. “SS Armor”, Squadron 6014, by R. Stern, D. Greer & R. Volstad.
14. “Panzer Vor!, Vol.2”, Concord 7056, by F. De Sisto & L. Lecocq.
15. “Panzer Colors III”, Squadron 6253, by B. Culver & D. Greer.
16. “Panzerkampfwagen Ausfuhrung J”, Bellona Military Vehicle Prints Series 32, by W. Spielberger and H. Doyle.
Reviewer’s note: Since May of 2005, I have been working on books for Concord Publications, a sister company to DML. The reader may wish to take this into consideration. For my part, I will attempt to maintain an objective viewpoint when writing these reviews.
DML kits are available from retail and mail-order sources. For information and images see their web-site at: www.dragon-models.com.
