I just got this kit for under $20.00 off eBay–I don’t know a thing about it, but couldn’t resist the sale. I have only one Tamiya Pz III in my stash, and none built yet.
Anybody know anything about this kit? Good, bad, accurate or not?
The kit is one of the older Imperial Series kits so has all the things you would expect from an older kit to deal with but builds up well enough with care and attention. It’s accurate so far as I’m aware but could benefit from the usual upgrades for the tool clamps, screens, etc.
I still build Mk III’s from the old Imperial series…they are based on the old Gunze Sanyo molds and in the '90’s were state of the art and sold for around $300 a pop…I believe it was the first time a kit had the screws on the turret roof depicted…the K was a rather rare command variant…I have pics of a few from the Grossdeutchland Division with Diamonds winner Col. Stratchwitz in the cuploa…
To expand on Manny’s comment above.
The commanded these prices at the time because they were amongst the “first wave” of multimedia kits, containing injection moulded parts, cast metal, etched metal parts and MK tracks.
When Dragon took the kits over, they replaced the cast metal parts with styrene replacements and retooled some parts to replace the parts represented by the PE in the original kits, and provided their own indy link tracks. Not sure about the “K” but many of the “III” kits come with PE intake screens.
One peculiarity which afflicts all(?) Imperial Series PzIII kits is the deep ejector pin marks between the raised bolt heads on the front face of the recuperator housing. These require careful filling and cleanup.
[#ditto]
Hey thanks, guys, for all the info–looks like I got a pretty good kit for for a steal, then?
Cool beans! [:P]
Hey Manny, can you PM me a pic or two of that tank?! [:D]
The K is basically a Panzer III with a Panzer IV turret. I believe you get almost two complete turrets in the kit. It was released back when Dragon would chuck a whole sprue in the box if you just needed one or two bits from that sprue. Now it seems like they will physically cut one or two parts off of the sprue if it is used for another version they want you to buy a complete kit of.
I was checking out the instructions online and it appears that the instructions indicate that you have to cut out the turret ring on the hull to mount the larger turret…
The turret is odd in that it mounts a 50mm gun but has a visor (like a driver’s visor) to the right of the gun—and it is off-set from center…
I don’t believe that’s true…although the turret is modified, I believe it is basically a Mk III turret (note that only 50 were produced):
"The Panzerbefehlswagen Ausf K was virtually identical to the standard Panzer III Ausf M, but with some of the ammunition removed to make way for the new radios. As with all of the command tanks extra vision ports were cut into the side of superstructure. The Ausf K saw the replacement of the distinctive frame antenna with a more standard star antenna, removing the most obvious visual difference between the Panzerbefehlswagen and the standard Panzer III. Having said that the Panzerbefehlswagen Ausf K remained in front line service after the Panzer III itself had been withdrawn, rather reducing the difficulty of identifying it!
The different Sd Kfz numbers refer to the radio equipment installed -
Sd Kfz 267: FuG6 (ultra short wave) and FuG8 (medium wave)
Sd Kfz 268: FuG6 (ultra short wave) and FuG7 (ultra short wave)
Names
Panzerbefehlswagen mit 5cm KwK39 L/60
Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf K
4 Series Pz Beg Wg Ausf K
Sd Kfz 267 or 268
Stats
Number produced: 50
Produced: December 1942-February 1943
Length: 6.41m/ 21ft
Hull Width: 2.95m/ 9ft 8in
Height: 2.51m/ 8ft 2in
Crew: 5
Weight: 23 tons
Engine: Maybach HL120TRM
Max Speed: 40km/hr/ 24mph
Max Range: 155km/ 96 miles
Armament: One 5cm KwK39 L/60, plus one 7.92mm MG 34 in front of superstructure
Will do…but don’t tell Roy or Bill about it or I might get a copyright lecture…[;)]…
OH Sheesh! Nothing is ever easy! [sigh] Can you post that link, Phil?! I’d like to take a gander at that?
Funny! I almost made a bid on that same kit. Mostly out of curiosity (price wasn’t bad either). Does the “K” model come with the shorter 50mm barrel? I’ve got the “M/N” kit from DML, and kinda want a “J” model kit.
gary
Squeakie,
It’s fitted with the long barrel L/60 5.0cm gun. Many of the J’s were fitted with this too as well as the shorter gun, so you can actually build either a short or long J depending. [;)]
Regarding the turret type, Spielberger doesn’t mention anything about that in the short few sentences devoted to the K but Achtung Panzer #2 indicates it used a reworked Pz IV F turret. This would make sense in terms of keeping the 5.0cm main gun while still accomodating the necessary additional radio gear for a Befehlspanzer. They even have a diagram comparison showing the K turret next to a J turret so you can see the subtle differences…and there are many, the most notable being the different style of stowage bin and corresponding pistol port locations as well as the rain gutters over the crew hatches and style of grab handle. It’s interesting to note that additional pistol ports and visors were added on both sides of the hull superstructure to go with the extra radio positions.
If you want a REALLY NICE Mk III J, look no further than Dragon’s SMART Mk III J—it is in my stash and puts the Imperial series to shame, and I still like the Imperial series…tons of marking options as well…also gives you options for an early (short barrel) or late J…
It’s funny you got a imperial series kit for about the same price I got mine a few months back.
getting several Imperial series kits for $20 each would be better since you would have 3 kits for the price of 1 brand new DML kit[:D]
I really tought I could help you here, Doog. But turns out my DML Imperial Serie Panzer II is a Pzbeowg. III Ausf. H… But it does have a WEIRD turret… MG in the middle and the cannon on the side… haha!
Well, sorry for not being able to help!
Hi Karl,
The instructions are here: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10073768
If you click on the “assembly guide” thumbnails, step 8 appears to indicate that the turret ring needs to be cut out a little.
After a little more research, I stand corrected: it appears the K model did sport a reworked Mk IV turret (some refs contradict this but the most credible seem to confirm)…here are some images:
Thanks, Phil!
Boy, I hope that at least it’s scored? That’ll be one serious PITA to just have to “wing it”?! [banghead]