In Box Review of DML Dragon 1/35th Scale
'39-'45 Series, Smart Kit
Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. M w/Wading Muffler
Kit no. 6558
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $58.98
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $58.98
HISTORY:
The Panzerkampfwagen III, commonly known as the Panzer III, was a medium tank developed in the 1930s by Germany, and was used extensively in World War II. The official German ordnance designation was Sd.Kfz. 141. It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and serve alongside the support Panzer IV; however, as the Germans faced the formidable T-34, stronger anti-tank guns were needed.
Since the Panzer IV had a bigger turret ring, the roles were reversed. The Panzer IV mounted the long-barrelled 7.5 cm KwK 40 gun and engaged in tank-to-tank battles. The Panzer III became obsolete in this role and for most purposes was supplanted by the Panzer IV. From 1942, the last version of Panzer III mounted the 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24, better suited for infantry support. Production of the Panzer III ended in 1943. However, the Panzer III's capable chassis provided hulls for the Sturmgeschütz III assault gun until the end of the war. The Ausf. M had minor modifications of the Ausf L version, such as deep-wading exhaust and Schurzen side-armour panels.
The Panzerkampfwagen III, commonly known as the Panzer III, was a medium tank developed in the 1930s by Germany, and was used extensively in World War II. The official German ordnance designation was Sd.Kfz. 141. It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and serve alongside the support Panzer IV; however, as the Germans faced the formidable T-34, stronger anti-tank guns were needed.
Since the Panzer IV had a bigger turret ring, the roles were reversed. The Panzer IV mounted the long-barrelled 7.5 cm KwK 40 gun and engaged in tank-to-tank battles. The Panzer III became obsolete in this role and for most purposes was supplanted by the Panzer IV. From 1942, the last version of Panzer III mounted the 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24, better suited for infantry support. Production of the Panzer III ended in 1943. However, the Panzer III's capable chassis provided hulls for the Sturmgeschütz III assault gun until the end of the war. The Ausf. M had minor modifications of the Ausf L version, such as deep-wading exhaust and Schurzen side-armour panels.
THE KIT:
DML Dragon is a prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They make all kinds of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. M passing by a ruined building. In the background behind some bushes is a second Pz.Kpfw III. The Ausf. M in the foreground is in overall panzer gray with a worn coating of winter white-wash on it. It carries the black turret number of 414. The commander is looking out of the upper turret hatch and is talking on a microphone and has head set on. He wears the all black Panzer uniform.
One side panel has 5 side views of the tank:
The box art subject.
A Pz.Kpfw. III in overall earth-yellow with the turret no. in black of letter I and a 3.
A Pz.Kpfw. III in a base of earth-yellow with green wave bands and a red turret no. 222 outlined in white.
A Pz.Kpfw. III in overall earth-yellow with the turrt no 331 in yellow outlined in black.
A Pz.Kpfw. III in overall Panzer-grey with the black turret no. 851 over a white inscription that says WALTER TESSAMANN over 14-3-43.
DML Dragon is a prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They make all kinds of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. M passing by a ruined building. In the background behind some bushes is a second Pz.Kpfw III. The Ausf. M in the foreground is in overall panzer gray with a worn coating of winter white-wash on it. It carries the black turret number of 414. The commander is looking out of the upper turret hatch and is talking on a microphone and has head set on. He wears the all black Panzer uniform.
One side panel has 5 side views of the tank:
The box art subject.
A Pz.Kpfw. III in overall earth-yellow with the turret no. in black of letter I and a 3.
A Pz.Kpfw. III in a base of earth-yellow with green wave bands and a red turret no. 222 outlined in white.
A Pz.Kpfw. III in overall earth-yellow with the turrt no 331 in yellow outlined in black.
A Pz.Kpfw. III in overall Panzer-grey with the black turret no. 851 over a white inscription that says WALTER TESSAMANN over 14-3-43.
These are followed by a CAUTION about being careful with glue near an open flame or breathing the vapors, in 6 languages including English.
The kit is intended for modelers over 14 and no suitable for kids under 3 due to small parts.
The copyright date of the kit is 2011.
DML's street address in Hong Kong, China is provided and their web address. The kit was made in China.
The other side panel repeats DML's web address followed by 8 illustrations of features of the kits done as white illustrations against all black background.:
The kit is intended for modelers over 14 and no suitable for kids under 3 due to small parts.
The copyright date of the kit is 2011.
DML's street address in Hong Kong, China is provided and their web address. The kit was made in China.
The other side panel repeats DML's web address followed by 8 illustrations of features of the kits done as white illustrations against all black background.:
Slide-molded engine deck. The an illustration of the engine deck posed open and closed. A water-resistant muffler with realistic detail. Two types of muffler mount are provided as options. Two types of exhaust pipe included as options.
The bottom of the tray has 35 more white illustrations of part features in the kit, again against all black background:
Optional add-on armor for mantlet. Top plate or spaced armor over mantlet. Photo-etched parts provided as option for mantlet add-on armor. Slide-molded recuperator housing with great detail. Gun barrels are slide-molded. 3 directional slide-molded gun sleeve f9or greater detail. 5cm KwK L/60 gun with delicate detail. Side hatches can be assembled open or closed with interior details. Incorporates toothed ring in turret interior. Optional brackets for extra armor on hull top. Optional extra armor on fighting compartment front plate. Turret made by 3-directional slide molds. Commander's hatches with interior detail. Direct sighting post can be made from photo-etched part. Clear parts for vision port glass. One-piece slide-molded lower hull is superbly detailed. Lower hull sides come with full detail. Finely detailed hull bottom with weld seams. Commander's cupola realistically recreates structural details. Cupola vision blocks can be assembled open or closed. Complete tun assembly with full detail. Includes hollowed-out undercut on turret bottom. Slide-molded torsion bars included. Jack reproduced in multiple parts. Turret side hooks especially designed with undercut details. Finely detailed rear turret hooks and stowage bin brackets. Access panel with great design. Delicate brake cooling inlets produced for frontal plate. Fenders with pattern detail on both top and bottom surfaces. Slide-molded stowage bin with fine details can be assembled open or closed. Injection-molded tow cables for engine deck. Toolbox with padlock produced by slide mold. Air intake covers with mounts realistically reproduced. Slide-molded hydraulic shock absorbers extremely well detailed. Detailed suspension swing arms. Cooling air intake cover included. 40cm Magic Tracks. Accurate sprocket wheels. Road wheels with accurate details. Final-drive housing covers are seperate parts for maximum detail. Idler wheels with photo-etched parts. Detailed track-tension adjuster..
Wow!! That's a lot of details. However, I tend to think that DML gets carried away with the superlatives they use about these details. How wonderful and great they are.
Optional add-on armor for mantlet. Top plate or spaced armor over mantlet. Photo-etched parts provided as option for mantlet add-on armor. Slide-molded recuperator housing with great detail. Gun barrels are slide-molded. 3 directional slide-molded gun sleeve f9or greater detail. 5cm KwK L/60 gun with delicate detail. Side hatches can be assembled open or closed with interior details. Incorporates toothed ring in turret interior. Optional brackets for extra armor on hull top. Optional extra armor on fighting compartment front plate. Turret made by 3-directional slide molds. Commander's hatches with interior detail. Direct sighting post can be made from photo-etched part. Clear parts for vision port glass. One-piece slide-molded lower hull is superbly detailed. Lower hull sides come with full detail. Finely detailed hull bottom with weld seams. Commander's cupola realistically recreates structural details. Cupola vision blocks can be assembled open or closed. Complete tun assembly with full detail. Includes hollowed-out undercut on turret bottom. Slide-molded torsion bars included. Jack reproduced in multiple parts. Turret side hooks especially designed with undercut details. Finely detailed rear turret hooks and stowage bin brackets. Access panel with great design. Delicate brake cooling inlets produced for frontal plate. Fenders with pattern detail on both top and bottom surfaces. Slide-molded stowage bin with fine details can be assembled open or closed. Injection-molded tow cables for engine deck. Toolbox with padlock produced by slide mold. Air intake covers with mounts realistically reproduced. Slide-molded hydraulic shock absorbers extremely well detailed. Detailed suspension swing arms. Cooling air intake cover included. 40cm Magic Tracks. Accurate sprocket wheels. Road wheels with accurate details. Final-drive housing covers are seperate parts for maximum detail. Idler wheels with photo-etched parts. Detailed track-tension adjuster..
Wow!! That's a lot of details. However, I tend to think that DML gets carried away with the superlatives they use about these details. How wonderful and great they are.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains 6 large medium-grey trees, 7 medium-sized medium-grey trees, 4 small medium-grey trees, the medium grey hull tub part, 2 clear trees, a brass PE fret and the decal sheet in 9 sealed cello bags. The PE fret is inside a further zip-lock type cello bag. The instructions complete the kits contents.
One of the largest quantities of things that are more than any other kit in my stash.
2 more sealed cello bags are attached to a cardboard sheet that has a tread-plate design on it. They contain the Magic Tracks.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7 1/2" x 13 1/2" page format.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, followed by the parts trees illustrations.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTIONS about the kit in 6 languages including english and international assembly symbol explanations plus a listing of GSI Creos Corp. Aqueous Hobby colors and their Mr. Color paints.
Below these is the first 3 assembly steps.
Page 3 to 7 give a grand total of 24 assembly steps.
Page 8 has five 3-views for painting and marking schemes:
1. The box art scheme (already discribed above) is a tank with the Pz.Rgt. 3, 3rd Panzer Div. "Totenkopf", South Russia 1943.
2. The Panzer-grey based tank with green wave pattern and turret no. of a letter I and 3 is with the 23rd Pz. Div. South Russia 1943.
3. The Panzer-grey based tank with green wave pattern and turret no. 222 is with the 3rd Pz.Rgt. "Totenkopf", Prochorovka 1943.
4. The panzer-grey tank with turret no. 331 is with the 8th Pz.Rgt. 2 "Das Reich", Karkov 1943.
5. The Panzer-grey tank with the turret no. 851 and the white inscription has no information with it as to the unit.
Below these schemes is Dragon's European address in Graz, Austria, the copyright date of 2011 and decal application instructions in 6 languages including English.
There are 2 identical large medium-grey letter A trees. They hold: the road wheels, return rollers, drive sprockets, idler wheels. final transfer housings. torsion bars etc. (59 parts per tree)
The kit contains 6 large medium-grey trees, 7 medium-sized medium-grey trees, 4 small medium-grey trees, the medium grey hull tub part, 2 clear trees, a brass PE fret and the decal sheet in 9 sealed cello bags. The PE fret is inside a further zip-lock type cello bag. The instructions complete the kits contents.
One of the largest quantities of things that are more than any other kit in my stash.
2 more sealed cello bags are attached to a cardboard sheet that has a tread-plate design on it. They contain the Magic Tracks.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7 1/2" x 13 1/2" page format.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, followed by the parts trees illustrations.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTIONS about the kit in 6 languages including english and international assembly symbol explanations plus a listing of GSI Creos Corp. Aqueous Hobby colors and their Mr. Color paints.
Below these is the first 3 assembly steps.
Page 3 to 7 give a grand total of 24 assembly steps.
Page 8 has five 3-views for painting and marking schemes:
1. The box art scheme (already discribed above) is a tank with the Pz.Rgt. 3, 3rd Panzer Div. "Totenkopf", South Russia 1943.
2. The Panzer-grey based tank with green wave pattern and turret no. of a letter I and 3 is with the 23rd Pz. Div. South Russia 1943.
3. The Panzer-grey based tank with green wave pattern and turret no. 222 is with the 3rd Pz.Rgt. "Totenkopf", Prochorovka 1943.
4. The panzer-grey tank with turret no. 331 is with the 8th Pz.Rgt. 2 "Das Reich", Karkov 1943.
5. The Panzer-grey tank with the turret no. 851 and the white inscription has no information with it as to the unit.
Below these schemes is Dragon's European address in Graz, Austria, the copyright date of 2011 and decal application instructions in 6 languages including English.
There are 2 identical large medium-grey letter A trees. They hold: the road wheels, return rollers, drive sprockets, idler wheels. final transfer housings. torsion bars etc. (59 parts per tree)
A third large medium-grey tree is also labeled as A. It holds: the turret hull mounting plate, tools, tow hooks, aerial etc. (93 parts) 14 of these parts are blued-out in the parts illustrations as being excess and not needed to complete the model.
Medium-sized medium-grey letter B tree holds: bogies, rear hull plate etc. (37 parts) 10 parts are excess.
Medium-sized medium-grey letter C part tree holds: tow cables, alternate front vision plates, alternate turret front plate, alternate mantle part etc. (40 parts) 7 parts are excess.
Large medium-grey letter D tree holds: engine air intake louver panels, engine upper deck and doors etc. (30 parts).
A second medium-sized letter D tree holds: the main gun parts etc. (34 parts)
Medium-sized medium-grey letter E tree holds: turret and turret bin parts with 2 different turret front panels etc. The upper turret part broke off this tree.
Small medium-grey letter F tree holds: turret hatch upper doors, upper turret sections and vision blocks (15 parts)
Medium-sized medium-grey letter G tree holds: the fenders, mantle parts, a gun cleaning rod etc. (11 parts) 7 of these parts are excess.
A second medium-sized medium-grey letter G tree holds: another aerial, hatch doors etc. (52 parts) 6 parts are excess. I don't have a clue what most of the tiny parts are on this tree and wouldn't even attempt to name them.
A second small lower case letter g tree holds: another gun cleaning rod,the jack and tools etc. (66 parts) All but 3 of these parts are excess.
Large medium-grey letter H tree holds: a different upper deck plate, front upper deck plate, hatch doors, a different turret hull mounting plate etc. (35 parts)
There is no letter I tree.
There is no letter I tree.
Small medium-grey letter J tree holds: a machine gun, seats for inside the turret, an ammo pouch etc. (8 parts) 1 part is excess.
Lettering now jumps to the clear letter M tree. It holds vision block windows and light lenses (15 parts) 4 parts are excess.
The letter MA brass PE fret holds rings that go in the center of the two idler wheel halves. What the other parts are I haven't a clue for now. (29 parts)
The second smaller letter P clear tree hold more light lenses (4 parts)
There is no letter Q parts tree.
There is no letter Q parts tree.
Medium-sized medium-grey letter R tree holds: another 2 gun cleaning rods, another aerial, a front vision plate etc. (30 parts) 6 parts are excess.
Lettering now jumps to the medium-grey letter X part which is the hull tub.
The Magic Tracks and the decal sheet complete this kits contents. The Magic Tracks consist of 2 parts per link 108 of each part.
I don't recommend this kit to novice modelers. It has many many parts and is very complex with some really almost microscopic parts. It is definately NOT a weekend project.
I don't recommend this kit to novice modelers. It has many many parts and is very complex with some really almost microscopic parts. It is definately NOT a weekend project.
I was given this kit as a gift years ago.