In Box review of the HISTORIC PLASTIC MODELS 1/35 Panzer IA 'Modificado'
Kit No. 35-003
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1999
I bought my kit via air mail, from the Skyway Model shop in Seattle, WA, for $24.50 plus postage. The kit can be found on Ebay.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1999
I bought my kit via air mail, from the Skyway Model shop in Seattle, WA, for $24.50 plus postage. The kit can be found on Ebay.
HISTORY:
After Hitler came into power, Germany repudiated the Treaty of Versailles and started to build up its armed forces again. The light Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. A became the first German tank and it began production in 1934. The type had its baptism in fire before the beginning of WWII, during the Spanish Civil War. Germany sent a contingent of Pz.kpw. I Ausf. As and Ausf. B light tanks, including crews to support their ally, General Franco.
The first 41 tanks arrived in Spain in October of 1936. They were engaged in combat for the first time, against Republican T-26s near Esquitas. Later, they operated around Madrid. These tanks were subsequently left in Spain after the withdrawal of the German experts, because Spain in the meantime had trained its own tank crews.
Pz.kpw. I Ausf. As and Bs entered service with the 1st and 2nd Aggrupation de Carros, that took part in combat under Teruel and Brunette around the Ebro River and at Catalonia. After the end of the Spanish Civil War the army kept this type in service until the end of the 1940s and the last machines ended their career in training units.
A small number of Pz.kpw.'s were modified in Spain to the 'Modificado' version (the subject of this kit). The original turret was raised and the two machine-guns were replaced by a 20mm Breda automatic cannon. Tanks modified in this way had been created as a counter-weapon to the Republican T-26 and BT tanks of Soviet origin. They were armed with a 45mm cannon. The combat experience proved that the original machine-gun armament was insufficient against these machines.
TECH DATA:
Weight: 5.4 tons
Length: 4.02 m
Width: 2.06 m
Height: 1.92 m
Armament: 20mm Breda automatic cannon
Crew: 2
Armor: 13 mm
Engine: M 305 (57 hp)
Max: Speed 37 km/h
Range: 145 km
After Hitler came into power, Germany repudiated the Treaty of Versailles and started to build up its armed forces again. The light Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. A became the first German tank and it began production in 1934. The type had its baptism in fire before the beginning of WWII, during the Spanish Civil War. Germany sent a contingent of Pz.kpw. I Ausf. As and Ausf. B light tanks, including crews to support their ally, General Franco.
The first 41 tanks arrived in Spain in October of 1936. They were engaged in combat for the first time, against Republican T-26s near Esquitas. Later, they operated around Madrid. These tanks were subsequently left in Spain after the withdrawal of the German experts, because Spain in the meantime had trained its own tank crews.
Pz.kpw. I Ausf. As and Bs entered service with the 1st and 2nd Aggrupation de Carros, that took part in combat under Teruel and Brunette around the Ebro River and at Catalonia. After the end of the Spanish Civil War the army kept this type in service until the end of the 1940s and the last machines ended their career in training units.
A small number of Pz.kpw.'s were modified in Spain to the 'Modificado' version (the subject of this kit). The original turret was raised and the two machine-guns were replaced by a 20mm Breda automatic cannon. Tanks modified in this way had been created as a counter-weapon to the Republican T-26 and BT tanks of Soviet origin. They were armed with a 45mm cannon. The combat experience proved that the original machine-gun armament was insufficient against these machines.
TECH DATA:
Weight: 5.4 tons
Length: 4.02 m
Width: 2.06 m
Height: 1.92 m
Armament: 20mm Breda automatic cannon
Crew: 2
Armor: 13 mm
Engine: M 305 (57 hp)
Max: Speed 37 km/h
Range: 145 km
THE KIT:
Historic Models is based in the Czech Republic.
I am unable to find a site for them on the net, to see what all they manufacture.
The kit comes in a blousy (3” too long) shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a Panzer IA rolling down a dirt road with the turret hatch open and a crewmember seated in the side hull hatch. It is in a camouflage of a base of medium-grey, with sand-brown wave pattern. It has a white upper turret hatch, with a black letter X on it on top of the turret and a white mantle. On the front left side of the hull there is a white triangle with a black letter E on it, followed by a Spanish flag and white symbol of swords crossed. (Spain 1938).
Historic Models is based in the Czech Republic.
I am unable to find a site for them on the net, to see what all they manufacture.
The kit comes in a blousy (3” too long) shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a Panzer IA rolling down a dirt road with the turret hatch open and a crewmember seated in the side hull hatch. It is in a camouflage of a base of medium-grey, with sand-brown wave pattern. It has a white upper turret hatch, with a black letter X on it on top of the turret and a white mantle. On the front left side of the hull there is a white triangle with a black letter E on it, followed by a Spanish flag and white symbol of swords crossed. (Spain 1938).
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
There are four trees of medium grey plastic parts, and a decal sheet in one sealed, clear cello bag.
The instructions consist of a small staple bound instruction booklet. Of 16 pages in 5 ¾” x 8 ¼” page format
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art. Over the history and specifications of the Panzer IA Modificado and BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions.
Page 2 repeats the history and specifications, over international assembly symbol explanations in Czech and an illustration of the decal sheet.
Page 3 is the parts trees illustrations. Some parts are shown Xd-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 4 through to page 12 give, what I count as 15 assembly steps. They are not numbered.
Pages 13, 14 and 15 are painting and marking guides.
Page 13 shows a 5-view of the Pz.Kpfw. IA that is overall panzer-grey, with a white upper turret hatch , with black letter X on it and a Spanish flag on the front and rear of the hull. With rust colored mufflers on the rear ends of the fenders.
It was with Panzergruppe Drohne, Legion Condor (Spain 1937).
Page 14 shows another 5-view of the Pz.Kpfw. IA in the box art scheme (already described above). Spain 1938.
Page 15 shows another 5-view of the Pz.Kpfw. IA that is overall Panzer-grey. It has the white upper turret hatch with black letter X across it. On top of the front of the hull there is a large white no. 424, that is repeated on the lower right rear of the hull. High on the front of the hull is a white lower-half of a circle, followed by a Spanish flag and the white crossed swords insignia. Below them is a small white no. 424. With Bandera de Carros de Combate de la Légion (Spain 1938)
Page 16 shows 7 black and white cover arts of other kits that Historic
manufactures:
Kit no. 48002, an Arado Ar-196. Kit no. 48005, a P/F-51H Mustang. Kit no. 35002, another boxing of the Pz.Kpfw. Ausf. A. a kit of a Sd.Kfz. 231 (Grad) (no kit number or scale is given). Kit no. 48004, a Blohm & Voss Bv. 141B. Kit no. 48003, a Heinkel He 100D and this kit.
Parts-trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: the upper superstructure of the tank, a turret for making the basic German version with the twin machine-gun armament, turret hatches, and vision flaps. Two parts are X'd out on the plans as excess. (23 parts)
There are four trees of medium grey plastic parts, and a decal sheet in one sealed, clear cello bag.
The instructions consist of a small staple bound instruction booklet. Of 16 pages in 5 ¾” x 8 ¼” page format
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art. Over the history and specifications of the Panzer IA Modificado and BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions.
Page 2 repeats the history and specifications, over international assembly symbol explanations in Czech and an illustration of the decal sheet.
Page 3 is the parts trees illustrations. Some parts are shown Xd-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 4 through to page 12 give, what I count as 15 assembly steps. They are not numbered.
Pages 13, 14 and 15 are painting and marking guides.
Page 13 shows a 5-view of the Pz.Kpfw. IA that is overall panzer-grey, with a white upper turret hatch , with black letter X on it and a Spanish flag on the front and rear of the hull. With rust colored mufflers on the rear ends of the fenders.
It was with Panzergruppe Drohne, Legion Condor (Spain 1937).
Page 14 shows another 5-view of the Pz.Kpfw. IA in the box art scheme (already described above). Spain 1938.
Page 15 shows another 5-view of the Pz.Kpfw. IA that is overall Panzer-grey. It has the white upper turret hatch with black letter X across it. On top of the front of the hull there is a large white no. 424, that is repeated on the lower right rear of the hull. High on the front of the hull is a white lower-half of a circle, followed by a Spanish flag and the white crossed swords insignia. Below them is a small white no. 424. With Bandera de Carros de Combate de la Légion (Spain 1938)
Page 16 shows 7 black and white cover arts of other kits that Historic
manufactures:
Kit no. 48002, an Arado Ar-196. Kit no. 48005, a P/F-51H Mustang. Kit no. 35002, another boxing of the Pz.Kpfw. Ausf. A. a kit of a Sd.Kfz. 231 (Grad) (no kit number or scale is given). Kit no. 48004, a Blohm & Voss Bv. 141B. Kit no. 48003, a Heinkel He 100D and this kit.
Parts-trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: the upper superstructure of the tank, a turret for making the basic German version with the twin machine-gun armament, turret hatches, and vision flaps. Two parts are X'd out on the plans as excess. (23 parts)
Medium-grey letter B tree holds: the lower hull pieces, and the link and length type track links. (54 parts)
Medium-grey letter C Tree holds: the bogie parts, suspensions, road wheels, drive sprockets, idler wheels, return rollers, mufflers, and tools. (74 parts) One part X'd-out as being excess.
A smaller medium-grey letter D tree holds the 'Modificado' turret parts. Five parts on this tree are X'd-out as being excess. (10 parts).
The decal sheet has markings for three Spanish Civil War machines.
The first marking choice is for a machine of the Panzergruppe Drohne, Legion Condor (Spain 1937) This machine is shown as having the machine-gun armed turret on it.
The second marking choice is for a 'Modificado'' (Spain 1938) with the tall 20mm armed turret.
The third option is a machine of the Bandera de Carros de Combate de la Légion (Spain 1938) This machine sports the machine-gun armed turret also.
The decal sheet has an error printed on it. A circle, divided in half horizontally, is shown as being white and red. A second, smaller decal sheet is included to correct the colors. It gives the circles again in yellow and red – as they should be.
The instructions are an 8" x 5" booklet.
The first page of this booklet gives a black and white copy of the box art and the history of the vehicle in English. Page 2 begins with the history again, but in Czech this time. The bottom of the page gives the international symbol explanations and a picture of the decal sheet. Page 3 shows the parts tree drawings, with Xs over the parts on these trees that are to be sent to the spares box. Pages 4 through 12 give the assembly steps for the kit. Pages 13 to 15 give the painting and decaling guide drawings.
These drawings are shaded, in different tones, to tell you what colors to use per the shading guide at the bottom of page 12. However, maybe it is my tired old eyes – but some of these black shadings are so close in tone that telling them apart is hard. I think I will go by the box art.
The box art shows a crewman hanging out of a side hatch. However, there are no figures included in the kit. This is too bad, as you can position most of the hatches and flaps in the open position if desired.
Conclusion:
I have had the Italeri offerings of the Pz.Kpw. I Ausf. B versions for years. This kit of the Ausf. A is very welcome. By the way – HiPM also has a kit of the Befehlswagen (command version) of the Ausf. A, and a flamm version too (flame-thrower). I hope to get each of these later.
I think that HiPM has done a very good job of molding this tank and recommend it highly.
I traded a friend in Australia for mine (Thank you Kevin). It should be easily found at most well stocked hobby shops.
The second marking choice is for a 'Modificado'' (Spain 1938) with the tall 20mm armed turret.
The third option is a machine of the Bandera de Carros de Combate de la Légion (Spain 1938) This machine sports the machine-gun armed turret also.
The decal sheet has an error printed on it. A circle, divided in half horizontally, is shown as being white and red. A second, smaller decal sheet is included to correct the colors. It gives the circles again in yellow and red – as they should be.
The instructions are an 8" x 5" booklet.
The first page of this booklet gives a black and white copy of the box art and the history of the vehicle in English. Page 2 begins with the history again, but in Czech this time. The bottom of the page gives the international symbol explanations and a picture of the decal sheet. Page 3 shows the parts tree drawings, with Xs over the parts on these trees that are to be sent to the spares box. Pages 4 through 12 give the assembly steps for the kit. Pages 13 to 15 give the painting and decaling guide drawings.
These drawings are shaded, in different tones, to tell you what colors to use per the shading guide at the bottom of page 12. However, maybe it is my tired old eyes – but some of these black shadings are so close in tone that telling them apart is hard. I think I will go by the box art.
The box art shows a crewman hanging out of a side hatch. However, there are no figures included in the kit. This is too bad, as you can position most of the hatches and flaps in the open position if desired.
Conclusion:
I have had the Italeri offerings of the Pz.Kpw. I Ausf. B versions for years. This kit of the Ausf. A is very welcome. By the way – HiPM also has a kit of the Befehlswagen (command version) of the Ausf. A, and a flamm version too (flame-thrower). I hope to get each of these later.
I think that HiPM has done a very good job of molding this tank and recommend it highly.
I traded a friend in Australia for mine (Thank you Kevin). It should be easily found at most well stocked hobby shops.
Recommended.