In Box Review of Tristar 1/35th Scale
German Panzer Crew (Normandy 1940)
Kit no. 35001
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2001
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2001
Out of production
THE KIT:
Tristar is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer, based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped, end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end-flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art shows a color illustration of 5 crewmen atop a German Tiger tank (tank not included in the kit). Posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand does the majority of their box arts.
The tank is overall sand-yellow, with a coating of anti-grenade past. It shows no markings.
Three men wear spotted camouflage uniforms of sand, dark-green and red-brown spots and black cloth side caps. The other two men are officers. They wear black uniforms and grey officer’s hats with bills.
The box art says that the project for the kit was supervised by Hiroyuki Nakada and the kit was designed by Yoshitaka Hirano.
One side-panel of the box gives the copyright of this kit as 2001. Over Tristars street address, FAX and telephone number and web address in Hong Kong, China. Ready to assemble precision model kit. Modeling skills helpful is under 10 years of age.
Tristar is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer, based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped, end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end-flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art shows a color illustration of 5 crewmen atop a German Tiger tank (tank not included in the kit). Posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand does the majority of their box arts.
The tank is overall sand-yellow, with a coating of anti-grenade past. It shows no markings.
Three men wear spotted camouflage uniforms of sand, dark-green and red-brown spots and black cloth side caps. The other two men are officers. They wear black uniforms and grey officer’s hats with bills.
The box art says that the project for the kit was supervised by Hiroyuki Nakada and the kit was designed by Yoshitaka Hirano.
One side-panel of the box gives the copyright of this kit as 2001. Over Tristars street address, FAX and telephone number and web address in Hong Kong, China. Ready to assemble precision model kit. Modeling skills helpful is under 10 years of age.
The other side panel gives the street address, FAX and phone number for Tristar’s office address in Japan. Followed by a repeat of Tristar’s address etc. in Hong Kong, China and the kit was made there.
The bottom of the box serves as the assembly and painting instructions of the 5 figures. There are color illustrations of each of the 5 figures, showing their fronts and rears.
The figures are alphabetized.
Reading left to right on the cover art:
The 1st figure (letter C) is standing on the front of the tank with his left hand resting on the gun barrel of the Tiger.
The 2nd figure (letter E) to the right is standing in the upper turret hatch, with his right arm resting on the lid.
The 3rd figure (letter A) is seated in the driver’s hatch, looking out.
The 4th figure (letter B) is one of the two officers. He is standing on the rear hull deck, with his right arm resting on the top of the turret.
The 5th (and last) figure (letter D) is also standing on the rear hull deck. He wears a field-grey uniform jacket and jodhpur type trousers, that are bloused into high black jack-boots.
Also illustrated are 3 different patches of camouflage patterns that you can choose from to use on the 3 crewmen.
Below these illustrations is a paint color listing of Tamiya and Humbrol brands of hobby paints.
On the small end-tabs of the box, there are illustrations of maps of Normandy. That you can use to put into the hands of one of the officer figures. Nice touch.
Reading left to right on the cover art:
The 1st figure (letter C) is standing on the front of the tank with his left hand resting on the gun barrel of the Tiger.
The 2nd figure (letter E) to the right is standing in the upper turret hatch, with his right arm resting on the lid.
The 3rd figure (letter A) is seated in the driver’s hatch, looking out.
The 4th figure (letter B) is one of the two officers. He is standing on the rear hull deck, with his right arm resting on the top of the turret.
The 5th (and last) figure (letter D) is also standing on the rear hull deck. He wears a field-grey uniform jacket and jodhpur type trousers, that are bloused into high black jack-boots.
Also illustrated are 3 different patches of camouflage patterns that you can choose from to use on the 3 crewmen.
Below these illustrations is a paint color listing of Tamiya and Humbrol brands of hobby paints.
On the small end-tabs of the box, there are illustrations of maps of Normandy. That you can use to put into the hands of one of the officer figures. Nice touch.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds one medium-grey parts tree in a single sealed clear cello bag.
Two of the crewmen are divided into separate heads, torso, arms and legs.
The third crewman has only a torso and arms.
The first officer is divided into a separate head, full body, arms and shoes.
The second officer, with the jodhpur trousers, is divided into a separate head, body to his knees and jack boots.
Also on the tree are three pistols in holsters and two officer’s hats.
This kit holds one medium-grey parts tree in a single sealed clear cello bag.
Two of the crewmen are divided into separate heads, torso, arms and legs.
The third crewman has only a torso and arms.
The first officer is divided into a separate head, full body, arms and shoes.
The second officer, with the jodhpur trousers, is divided into a separate head, body to his knees and jack boots.
Also on the tree are three pistols in holsters and two officer’s hats.
The detail is very good.
Recommended.