This kit really needs to be modified to be able to build it as anythin’ else like a DAK vehicle or the version that served in Norway. It seems that Dragon were a little betwixt and between with this kit. Anyway, it’s all there on the PMMS site, in the full review of this kit.
What this version of a Pz.Kpfw.1 will build into, is a very nice hard-edged camouflaged little number, 15 of which were given to the Chinese army in defence against the Japanese. It didn’t do too well, all 15 were destroyed!
I have a set of Bison Decals on order, which are totally accurate and will serve this project very well! Here’s a link on what i’m talkin’ about: http://www.angelfire.com/pro/bison/35016.html
Sounds like a nice “little” project Fingers, I’ve heard this one builds up very nicely as a “Smart Kit”, particularly when it comes to the indy links being of the “Magic” variety. I still have nightmares of removing the 5 sprue points on each link with the I-B series. [:)] Look forward to seeing you turn this one into a Chinese fighting machine!
HAHAH Eddie, great minds think alike… I’m workin on this same kit, though the later production Ausf B DAK kit by Dragon… with the PE Jerry can rack and the works… after working on modern MBTs this is a TINY TINY change! Can’t wait to tackle the tracks, I’ll be watchin your build with interest!
hey man-- sounds like an interesting project— i am sure with your talent, you will more than do it justice-- i look forward to many many pics![:D]–can’t wait!!— treadwell[:P]
I have this onboard for the build. I think it will transfer over to the Dragon kit superbly, even though its for the Tristar kit! I haven’t seen any etched sets out for the new Dragon kit yet, so this will have to do!
I have looked at these images in Photoshop, tweaking the contrast etc., and I cannot see any hard edged camo, it looks to be a single color. Also, I have read that they were delivered to the Chinese Nationalists in Schwarzgrau!
Now then, the question is whether the Nationalists repainted their Pz I’s in Dark Green or left it in the Schwarzgrau colour they had been delivered in.
Whilst it’s possible that the dust and dirt obscured the camo’ on the hull, you can see that there is no indication of any hard edged camo’ on the mantlet front whatsoever!
-Dark green or Schwarzgrau?
Did the Nationalist forces have time to repaint the Pz I’s in the standard dark green color for Chinese tanks? The Pz I’s were put into action with the 3rd Armored Battalion in Nanking from August to November 1937, but I do not have information on when they were received by the Nationalist forces.
In looking at the front of the mantlet and the undercut of the turret front, you can tell that the color is quite dark. These are areas where there will be less dust and dirt. If I had to speculate, I would lean towards a Schwarzgrau vehicle rather than a Dark Green one.
-Vehicle numbers!
Interesting to note that the vehicle numbers are of different sizes. Either the “1” is too big or the “3” is too small. The ‘1’ could even be a dash and not a number at all. The “3” seems to be inverted - the top of the number is fatter than the bottom. Could this be a result in rushing the Panzers into action hence no time to repaint?
Also, why is this the only numbered vehicle in the column?
And yes, it looks like all the Chinese tankers ran away and abandoned the Panzers! Those are Japanese troops in the pictures!!
These pics show that some, if not all these tanks were captured and not destroyed, as what I had read in an aticle concernin’ this war!
Information and pictures are courtesy of Lawrence Quah.
Some nice reference photos for sure, it’s tough to tell whether it’s schwarzgrau or green, but it’s definitely 1 color. Personally I’d vote for the green just because it would set it apart from the German scheme, but no idea on the accuracy question.
Thanks for the link, and getting back so quick, cheers. I’m going to watch this build closely man, I’m feeling revved up already and itching to go. I’m going to get the text translated as quickly as possible, my mate’s chinese. If I get anything I’ll pass it on.
It says that the picture is of Japanese soldiers Banzaiing on top of a Chinese army panzer 1 at the Nanjing battle front taken by a camera man from the Osaka newspaper The Mainichi Shinbun in December of 1937. And just adds that there doesn’t seem to be any damage to the tanks in the picture so the author thinks they were abandoned during the Chinese army’s retreat.
It doesn’t say anything about the camouflage or vehicle features unfortunately.
Looks like a great project. The Chinese must have had a lot of different pieces of military hardware from around the world. I think I’m going to do mine as an early German one as soon as I find some proper idler wheels.[:)]
Another little pearl of information, thanks Tankjunky! By the way, are you Japanese?
I’ve been lookin’ over the Aber PE set I have for this, and a lot of the stuff won’t be used, it’s a shame I know! I jus’ got it for the tool clasps and fittings. The Dragon kit is so well tooled you wouldn’t believe it possible some of the fine details that have been tooled in plastic on this kit!
this build is gonna be one of those wierd greens that never looks quite right-- to light?-- to dark?— heck with it— it is similar to russian tanks of wwII— if it was green — it worked o.k.–[swg]-- don’t worry man-- you will get it right when the time comes–[:D]-- keep us posted( i know you will!!)-- tread[:P]-- p.s.-- don’t obsess–represent!!-- lol!!
Tankjunky, they were posted on my thread by Lawrence Quah, over on another forum. So its a big thankyou to him, 'cos images like this are pretty thin on the ground! I’ve got no idea where he got them from!
Even though these tanks were abandoned, they still look very dirty and thats a cool reference to have also!
I’ve started to assemble the runnin’ gear, but the rail has not been stuck down yet, i jus’ wanted to see how it all looked mocked up together. To me this is one of the attractions of a Pz 1, it looks busy and beautiful!
I’ve checked out the Aber PE parts that are called out for the runnin’ gear, and to my amazement Dragon have already moulded these parts into the pieces, and made the Aber set almost redundant in this area. Superb! Also, the moulded pieces are on a par with the PE! I cannot believe it!
I’ve put together some elements of the tub chassis, but the runnin’ gear will have to be left off and painted independently, 'cos of the black wheel trim on the wheels. I’d sooner detail paint these in my hand rather than on the chassis!
The rear end has a lot of individual parts to maximise the detail.
The upper hull assembly is nearly finished, complete with all those clear parts for the visors! The sides, rear and front panels are all individual pieces complete with some nice, very thin weld seams. Even though the fit of parts are excellent, the final assembly still needed some liquid putty work, to make everythin’ look uniform and part of each other. Bein’ very careful around the weld seams when sandin’! To have a weld seam then a gap around the roof panel however thin, would not look good!
Clear parts for the visors have been assembled on and inside the turret!
Here is the inside of the hatch door on the turret. The levers are all moulded parts, I could have used the PE but I think these look much better, and when you compare a 1/35 scale figures hands next to ‘em, they look right, whereas PE does not have the correct thicknesses. It’s jus’ my rationale, that’s all!
Here is the superfine surface detail on the engine deck!
