Build Review of Tristar 1/35th Scale
Munitionsschlepper auf Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. A
With Ammo Trailer
Kit no. 35050
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2011
This kit was sent by Tristar to Cybermodeler site as a review sample. I was on the staff at the site, at this time and the head-man of the site gave me this kit, in November of 2011. At that time the MSRP of the kit was $45.20.
Kit is available in the later 2016 boxing, as kit no. 80146, at Hobbylinc for $40.19 or at Sprue Brothers for $43.49 or at 1001 Hobbies for $37.99 or at Kit Linx for $43.35 and at 3 locations overseas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2011
This kit was sent by Tristar to Cybermodeler site as a review sample. I was on the staff at the site, at this time and the head-man of the site gave me this kit, in November of 2011. At that time the MSRP of the kit was $45.20.
Kit is available in the later 2016 boxing, as kit no. 80146, at Hobbylinc for $40.19 or at Sprue Brothers for $43.49 or at 1001 Hobbies for $37.99 or at Kit Linx for $43.35 and at 3 locations overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
As the Panzer I was phased out of front-line service, the Panzer I chassis was repurposed into other missions such as mounting an anti-tank gun on the chassis and creating the early Panzerjagers or changing the armor and adding a radio to create the Panzerbefehlswagen (command tank). Another useful variant was the battlefield 'gopher' - an armored tractor that could go for ammunition and transit through a battle zone that would not be safe for a truck.
THE KIT:
Tristar is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of two Munitionsschlepper on a grassy plane. The one in the foreground is pulling a two-wheeled ammo trailer. It is passing a wood fence that surrounds a bunch of sunflowers.
Both Schleppers are overall Panzer-grey, with white skeletal type German crosses on their sides. The commander of the one in the foreground is dressed in a field grey uniform and is bare headed. He is standing in the open roof hatch.
In the distance there is a burning tank. It is hard to make out what nationality it is. Russian ??
The lower right corner of the box art says: Figure not included. Ammunition is included. Photo etching is included.
One side panel of the box gives the copyright of the kit as 2011, over Tristar’s street address, telephone, FAX, E-mail and web address in Hong Kong, China. This is followed by a color photo of the tank and trailer made up in the box art scheme.
As the Panzer I was phased out of front-line service, the Panzer I chassis was repurposed into other missions such as mounting an anti-tank gun on the chassis and creating the early Panzerjagers or changing the armor and adding a radio to create the Panzerbefehlswagen (command tank). Another useful variant was the battlefield 'gopher' - an armored tractor that could go for ammunition and transit through a battle zone that would not be safe for a truck.
THE KIT:
Tristar is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of two Munitionsschlepper on a grassy plane. The one in the foreground is pulling a two-wheeled ammo trailer. It is passing a wood fence that surrounds a bunch of sunflowers.
Both Schleppers are overall Panzer-grey, with white skeletal type German crosses on their sides. The commander of the one in the foreground is dressed in a field grey uniform and is bare headed. He is standing in the open roof hatch.
In the distance there is a burning tank. It is hard to make out what nationality it is. Russian ??
The lower right corner of the box art says: Figure not included. Ammunition is included. Photo etching is included.
One side panel of the box gives the copyright of the kit as 2011, over Tristar’s street address, telephone, FAX, E-mail and web address in Hong Kong, China. This is followed by a color photo of the tank and trailer made up in the box art scheme.
The other side panel of the box says the kit is for modelers aged 14 and older. In 10 languages, including English. Cement is not included. Ready to assemble precision model kit. Followed by 2 color box arts of other Tristar kits: Kit no. 35040, a Sturmpanzer IV Early Version (Mid-production) and kit no. 35o49, a Fieseler Fi-156 C-3/Trop Storch aircraft. Kit made in China.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 18 tan parts-trees, a clear tree, a brass PE fret and the decal sheet, in sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of 2 sheets, accordion-folded into 12 pages in 7” x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over a line drawing, side-view of the tank and trailer. At the bottom of the page there is READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions, Tristar’s street address, telephone, FAX, E-mail and web address in Hong Kong, China and kit is intended for modelers aged 14 and older, in English and Chinese.
Page 2 is the parts-trees illustrations.
Page 3 begins with international assembly symbol explanation, in English and Chinese.
The bottom of page 3 through to the top of page 12 gives a grand total of 15 assembly steps.
The 15th step is just the line-drawing side view of the tank and trailer repeated. The bottom of the page shows a 3 view of the sides of the tank and trailer, the top of the tank and rear of the trailer. In overall Panzer-grey, with skeletal type German cross on the tank’s sides and on each of the doors of the roof hatch.
The tank was with an unknown unit, Eastern Front 1941.
The bottom of the page has decal application instructions and a color listing.
Trees are alphabetized.
Tan letter A tree holds axles etc. (25 parts)
The kit holds 18 tan parts-trees, a clear tree, a brass PE fret and the decal sheet, in sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of 2 sheets, accordion-folded into 12 pages in 7” x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over a line drawing, side-view of the tank and trailer. At the bottom of the page there is READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions, Tristar’s street address, telephone, FAX, E-mail and web address in Hong Kong, China and kit is intended for modelers aged 14 and older, in English and Chinese.
Page 2 is the parts-trees illustrations.
Page 3 begins with international assembly symbol explanation, in English and Chinese.
The bottom of page 3 through to the top of page 12 gives a grand total of 15 assembly steps.
The 15th step is just the line-drawing side view of the tank and trailer repeated. The bottom of the page shows a 3 view of the sides of the tank and trailer, the top of the tank and rear of the trailer. In overall Panzer-grey, with skeletal type German cross on the tank’s sides and on each of the doors of the roof hatch.
The tank was with an unknown unit, Eastern Front 1941.
The bottom of the page has decal application instructions and a color listing.
Trees are alphabetized.
Tan letter A tree holds axles etc. (25 parts)
Tan letter B tree holds turret parts etc. (these turret parts are shaded out as being excess) 26 parts. 7 are excess.
Tan letter C tree holds body panels etc. (30 parts) 3 parts are excess.
There are 2 identical tan letter D trees. They hold drive sprockets, road wheels etc. (29 parts) 5 parts are excess
Tan letter E tree holds: control levers, floor, sides, bottom steering wheel etc. (39 parts). I have used this tree to assemble the lower hull.
There is no letter F tree.
There is no letter F tree.
Clear tree GP holds the clear parts for the turret and headlights.
Tan letter H tree holds: ammo, roof, trailer wheels etc. (71 parts)
Tan letter I tree holds: the grill, roof section, etc. (56 parts)
Tan letter J tree holds: fenders etc. (36 parts) 11 parts are excess.
Letter PE is the brass PE fret. It holds the exhaust guards, chains, etc. 45 parts
Tan letter T holds the track links.
The decal sheet is next.
There are several loose and assembled parts I still need to attach to the model to complete it.
kit features a nice interior around the driver's compartment as well as for the vehicle commander in the upper hull. The interior includes a detailed transmission and driver's station as well as internal stowage. Behind the firewall is a fully populated engine compartment complete with a Krupp engine and its support systems. The upper hull has the commander's station complete with radio equipment which allows the crew to deliver ammunition where it is needed.
The viewing ports, crew access hatches and engine access hatches are all positionable ,so you can pose the vehicle closed-up in a combat situation or opened up to show off all of that nice detailing inside.
The trailer is also nicely detailed and includes a full supply of tank ammunition hanging in the racks. The top access doors of the trailer are also positionable so you can pose the trailer to match the setting of your Panzer I-based tractor.
I have assembled the Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. A, all but the roof and treads. I still have to assemble the 2-wheeled ammo trailer and then paint and mark the tank.
The viewing ports, crew access hatches and engine access hatches are all positionable ,so you can pose the vehicle closed-up in a combat situation or opened up to show off all of that nice detailing inside.
The trailer is also nicely detailed and includes a full supply of tank ammunition hanging in the racks. The top access doors of the trailer are also positionable so you can pose the trailer to match the setting of your Panzer I-based tractor.
I have assembled the Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. A, all but the roof and treads. I still have to assemble the 2-wheeled ammo trailer and then paint and mark the tank.
No crew figures are included in this kit and it sorely needs one.
Recommended.
Recommended.