(Login zappa93) MODERATORS ONLY - Time on Target from IP address 162.83.170.8
DML CYBERHOBBY
6263, Pz.Kpfw.II Ausf.F. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 475 styrene parts (including 51 clear), two bags of “Magic Track”, one photo-etched brass fret, one stamped/etched brass part, three formed metal wire parts, seven water-slide decal marking schemes and ten pages of instructions in 23 steps.
Introduction.
It has been decades since Tamiya first released a kit of the Pz.Kpfw.II Ausf.F, while Alan (along with a DML re-box) chimed in much later with an Ausf.C. More recently, DML issued a Marder II, based on the Ausf.F chassis. Thus, it was only a matter of time until a “gun tank” version was issued. And, since the Marder II with PaK40 was based on the Ausf.F chassis, DML followed the logical path; finally, modelers have a new-tool Pz.Kpfw.II worthy of the new millennium.
Tracks.
From the ground, up, these are individual-link “Magic Tracks”, which press-fit together. They come in two separate bags since they are “handed”, meaning that each bag is for use on a specific side of the vehicle (they are also in two different shades of grey). So, don’t open the bags, pour the links out and begin to assemble them; you’ll get yourself into trouble. The fit of the links is relatively positive, but they will not take rough handling and will most certainly need to be fixed with cement after the fit is finalized. They all have a tiny pip at one edge from the mold, which is all-but-invisible and there are no knock-out pin marks at all. The idler wheel axle is separate and can be positioned to adjust the final fit; do not glue it in place until you are satisfied with the track’s final appearance.
Suspension System.
The road-wheels are very nicely-rendered and include weld details around their rims and manufacturer’s logo on the rubber tires; the return rollers are similarly detailed. There are three variations in idler wheels (in the area of their hubs), which include a separate rim ring for the proper appearance, and two variations in drive sprockets (differing rim bolt pattern details). The final drive housings are laid-out somewhat like those in DML’s Pz.Kpfw.IV kits in that there are some tiny bolt heads that must be cut from a sprue and added separately by the modeler. The spring bundles are all separate parts as are the shock absorbers and bump-stops. DML provides each spring bundle with the same numbers of leaf springs; this is incorrect, as Tom Jentz demonstrated at his seminar on the subject, which I attended at (if I recall the year correctly) AMPS 2005. In my opinion, this is not a major problem.
Hull.
The lower hull pan is a one-piece affair that incorporates the side plates; the belly is detailed with access panels and bolts. It is finished with separate bow and stern plate assemblies. The stern plate is finished with a multi-part exhaust muffler that includes a pre-bored pipe and an etched brass perforated heat shield. The trailer hitch is also a multi-part affair complete with etched brass retaining chain. The area is finished off with a station-keeping tail-lamp, brake-lamp, access plates, tow rings and multi-part smoke grenade dispenser. The bow is finished off with separate bolted plates for the inner segments of the final drive housings. Unlike the Marder II kit, an optional stowage bracket for the individual-link spare track sections is not included.
Superstructure.
Working from front-to-back, the glacis plate features a separate access hatch, spare road-wheel (or optional tow cable brackets, but no tow cable), tow hooks, head-lamps (oddly, since there are 51 clear parts in the kit, WITHOUT clear lenses) and Notek lamp (with etched brass base and lens element). The front superstructure plate has a two-position driver’s visor that includes internal detail as well as clear parts for the glass block; his visors on the port and starboard side superstructure plates are also separate, and include internal details with clear parts for the glass blocks. Many of the various side plates are separate parts that feature weld bead and bolt details and they all get attached to the main superstructure/engine deck part, which also includes the main sections of the fenders in situ. An extremely nice touch is the separate air intake section seen on the starboard side of the engine compartment; it includes pre-shaped metal parts to construct the grill. Separate lift hooks and splash plates finish the area.
There are separate mud-flaps front and rear; these can be posed raised or lowered, or left off entirely. The access hatch lids for the engine compartment, as well as the fighting compartment, are separate parts. The radio antenna can be raised or lowered and it fits into a multi-part etched brass and styrene storage trough; internally, the cranking mechanism is provided as a separate part. All tools are separate and come in two versions; one version has molded-on clamps and brackets, while the other is bare and requires the included etched brass clamps and brackets. Various tool boxes are included as well as the large Gepäckkasten (baggage bin) seen on the starboard side fender; both it and one of the tool boxes features separate lids and each comes from a slide-mold for enhanced detail. A jack, jack block and fire extinguisher finish off the OVM.
Fighting Compartment Interior.
This area begins with a part for the floor to which a nicely-done multi-part transmission/final drive unit is mounted, along with separate mounts and drive shaft. Also up front, there is a station for the driver complete with seat, his hand and foot controls, instrument panel, internal details for his view-ports, and various stowage lockers. Further aft the main item is the air cleaner and fuel tank; two fuel filler caps sit atop the tank, while a drive shaft and cover, as well as many smaller detail parts finish the area. The whole is backed by excellently-detailed compartment bulkhead sections as well as the forward segment of the radiator. The radio operator’s seat, as well as his “transceiver” set, are provided. The radio is mounted flush against the hull side wall, and although the usual shock-mounts are provided, they are marked as not for use. This is curious, since I am positive something of the sort is needed; there are no other accessories for the transceiver, such as transformers and junction boxes, etc.
Turret and Interior.
The turret is completely new and is the type that was called “Normalserie” by the time the Ausf.F was in production. It differed from earlier types in that it was designed from the outset with a commander’s cupola with seven periscopes and a 30mm-thick front plate. The core of the turret is slide-molded and it has separate view-port covers all ‘round; weld beads and screw head details are also present. Separate and delicately-molded lift hooks are then added to the assembly. The commander’s cupola is a multi-part assembly with separate hatch lid and clear parts for the periscope heads. The often-seen Gepäckkasten (baggage bin) that was fitted to the turret’s rear face is not provided; this will limit the markings options for those who wish to go further a-field and in fact must be used for one of the schemes provided in the box.
Multi-part internal details to include frames, hinges and clear styrene for the glass blocks are given to detail the inner surfaces of the view-port flaps. The gun mantlet is movable and has separate view-port flaps, while the tiny opening for the gunner’s sight is also included. The 2cm Kwk30 is from a slide-mold, so it is pre-bored and includes perforations on the flash suppressor; the two knurled areas (often mistaken for differences in paint finish) on the tube are not represented (see below). Internally, the main gun as well as the Gen2 co-axial MG34 are very well-detailed. There are trunnions, sight, travel lock and ammo magazines. While the MG has two nicely-detailed “snail-drum” magazines, the magazine for the 2cm KwK is a simple trapezoid shape. There is a commander’s seat and mount as well as a turret traverse hand-wheel; the turret race has gear-tooth detail and simply drops into place without the “non-scale” feature of a bayonet mount to hold it in place. Personally, I prefer this method.
Molding, Fit and Engineering.
Overall, I found the fit of the main components to be very good, if a bit tricky in parts. This is because there are loads of nooks and crannies where detail is present. In essence it is up to the modeler to use his basic skills in order to get the most out of this kit. There were no sink marks of any consequence, and in almost all cases ejector pin marks were eliminated from any visible surface.
Instructions.
As always with DML, the instructions are extremely busy but very well-rendered as traditional line art. Many sub-steps are called out in each of the 23 main steps. The only advice here is that the modeler should proceed with caution and not glue anything down until he is sure of its place.
Accuracy.
Overall, referring to drawings in the Panzer Tracts books (references 1 and 2), the kit appears to be accurate. For the turret, I referred to reference number 2, and for the hull length, to number 1. Scale plans in reference number 5 do not agree with the Panzer Tracts drawings (and the kit parts!), especially regarding overall hull length and turret size. In any such “contest”, I usually go by what Mr. Doyle has presented.
As is often the case, there are some omissions that should have been in the box, especially since some of the markings schemes demand their inclusion for accuracy’s sake, or to allow for more variety. For the former, a turret rear Gepäckkasten (baggage bin) is essential for vehicle “II05” as seen in photographs; the latter would include spare track stowage brackets for the bow plate and a tow cable for use in place of the bow-mounted spare road-wheel. It is also probable that a number of internal items are missing such as ammunition stowage and crewmen’s personal items (gas mask case, MP40, etc.).
Decals and Markings Information.
Water-slide decals from Italy’s Cartograf are provided to mark seven vehicles. The designs are very crisply printed on thin carrier film and feature excellent registration and color saturation; this is a hallmark of this printer’s products. Markings for the following leichter Panzer are provided:
I was able to confirm the schemes marked with an asterisk (*) using the cited references. It should be noted that the black (or white), “stripe” decals that are called out to be added to the 2cm KwK30 are very probably a misinterpretation of photographs as mentioned above regarding the turret parts; the difference in tones in that area is a result of the metal’s surface being textured.
Conclusion.
This long-awaited kit, despite some minor omissions is precisely what modelers have been waiting for. Let’s hope that at the very least an Ausf.C follows some time in the future so that a representational “stable” of the Pz.Kpfw.II can be modeled.
Highly recommended.
Frank V. De Sisto
References consulted for this review included, but were not limited to:
1. “Panzerjäger”, Panzer Tracts No.7-2, by T. Jentz & H. Doyle.
2. “Stände mit Pz.Kpfw. Türmen”, Panzer Tracts No.21-1, by T. Jentz & H. Doyle.
3. “Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Revised Edition”, by P. Chamberlain, H. Doyle & T. Jentz.
4. “Leichte Panzers”, Squadron Armor In Action No. 10, by U. Feist & M. Dario.
5. “Pz.Kpfw.I and II”, Achtung Panzer No. 7, by M. Bitoh, H. Kitamura & T. Namie.
6. “Panzerkampfwagen I & II”, AFV Profile No. 15, by Maj.-Gen. N.W. Duncan.
7. “German Light Panzers”, Osprey Vanguard 33, by B. Perrett & T. Hadler.
8. “Panzer II”, by J. Ledwoch.
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 on-line shops; for details visit their web site at: www.dragonmodelsltd.com.
