In Box Review of Alan 1/35th Scale
Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. C
Kit no. 004
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $29.90
Alan was a model company once based in St. Petersburg Russia and now out of business. The only ever did models of WWII AFV’s. All their molds went to the Ark model company.
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $29.90
Alan was a model company once based in St. Petersburg Russia and now out of business. The only ever did models of WWII AFV’s. All their molds went to the Ark model company.
HISTORY:
The Panzer II is the common name used for a family of German tanks used in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen II(abbreviated PzKpfw II).
Although the vehicle had originally been designed as a stopgap while larger, more advanced tanks were developed, it nonetheless went on to play an important role in the early years of World War II, during the Polish and French campaigns. The Panzer II was the most numerous tank in the German Panzer divisions beginning with the invasion of France. It was used in both North Africa against the British and on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union.
The Panzer II was supplemented by the Panzer III and IV by 1940/1941. Thereafter, it was used to great effect as a reconnaissance tank. By the end of 1942 it had been largely removed from front line service and it was used for training and on secondary fronts. Production of the tank itself ceased by 1943 but its chassis remained in use as the basis of several other armored vehicles, chiefly self-propelled artillery and tank destroyers such as the Wespe and Marder II
Specs:
Type
Light tank
Place of origin
Nazi Germany
Service history
In service
1936–1945
Wars
World War II
Production history
Designed
1934
Produced
1935–1943
Number built
1,856 (excluding conversions)
Specifications (Ausf. A-C)
Weight
8.9 tonnes
Length
4.81 m (15 ft 9 in)
Width
2.22 m (7 ft 3 in)
Height
1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)
Crew
3 (commander/gunner, driver, loader)
Main
armament
1 × 2 cm KwK 30 Ausf. a–F
1 × 2 cm KwK 38 Ausf. J–L
Secondary
armament
1 × 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34
Engine
6-cyl petrol Maybach HL 62TRM
140 PS (138 hp, 103 kW)
Power/weight
15.7 PS/tonne
Suspension
Leaf spring
Operational
range
200 km (120 mi)
Speed
40 km/h (25 mph)
THE KIT:
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box are shows a Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C in a very pale overall grey with a red 14 outlined in white on the turret sides. There is a thin black German cross outlined in white on the sides of the hull. In the background are very pale (almost ghost-like) illustrations of some Sd,Kfz. 251 German half tracks with figures standing atop of them.
The box art says that modeling skills are helpful if under 10 years of age and the kit is not suitable for children under 3.
One side panel has a profile of a Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C in a wither white overall camouflage with a red Roman numeral III followed by a number 14, both outlined in white, on the turret sides. It has a small black German cross outlined in white on the hull sides. This is followed by a one paragraph history of the tank and the statement that the kit was made in Russia.
The other side panel has color box arts of 3 other AFV kits that Alan marketed.
1. A Soviet 3-ton truck, Zis-5, Kit no. 003
2. A German Sd.Kfz. 123 “Wespe”, Kit no. 005
3. A Soviet BA-6 armored car, Kit no. 006
The Panzer II is the common name used for a family of German tanks used in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen II(abbreviated PzKpfw II).
Although the vehicle had originally been designed as a stopgap while larger, more advanced tanks were developed, it nonetheless went on to play an important role in the early years of World War II, during the Polish and French campaigns. The Panzer II was the most numerous tank in the German Panzer divisions beginning with the invasion of France. It was used in both North Africa against the British and on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union.
The Panzer II was supplemented by the Panzer III and IV by 1940/1941. Thereafter, it was used to great effect as a reconnaissance tank. By the end of 1942 it had been largely removed from front line service and it was used for training and on secondary fronts. Production of the tank itself ceased by 1943 but its chassis remained in use as the basis of several other armored vehicles, chiefly self-propelled artillery and tank destroyers such as the Wespe and Marder II
Specs:
Type
Light tank
Place of origin
Nazi Germany
Service history
In service
1936–1945
Wars
World War II
Production history
Designed
1934
Produced
1935–1943
Number built
1,856 (excluding conversions)
Specifications (Ausf. A-C)
Weight
8.9 tonnes
Length
4.81 m (15 ft 9 in)
Width
2.22 m (7 ft 3 in)
Height
1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)
Crew
3 (commander/gunner, driver, loader)
Main
armament
1 × 2 cm KwK 30 Ausf. a–F
1 × 2 cm KwK 38 Ausf. J–L
Secondary
armament
1 × 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34
Engine
6-cyl petrol Maybach HL 62TRM
140 PS (138 hp, 103 kW)
Power/weight
15.7 PS/tonne
Suspension
Leaf spring
Operational
range
200 km (120 mi)
Speed
40 km/h (25 mph)
THE KIT:
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box are shows a Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C in a very pale overall grey with a red 14 outlined in white on the turret sides. There is a thin black German cross outlined in white on the sides of the hull. In the background are very pale (almost ghost-like) illustrations of some Sd,Kfz. 251 German half tracks with figures standing atop of them.
The box art says that modeling skills are helpful if under 10 years of age and the kit is not suitable for children under 3.
One side panel has a profile of a Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C in a wither white overall camouflage with a red Roman numeral III followed by a number 14, both outlined in white, on the turret sides. It has a small black German cross outlined in white on the hull sides. This is followed by a one paragraph history of the tank and the statement that the kit was made in Russia.
The other side panel has color box arts of 3 other AFV kits that Alan marketed.
1. A Soviet 3-ton truck, Zis-5, Kit no. 003
2. A German Sd.Kfz. 123 “Wespe”, Kit no. 005
3. A Soviet BA-6 armored car, Kit no. 006
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains a large sealed cello bag that holds 5 medium grey trees of parts, the decal sheet and a steel PE muffler jacket screen. The instructions complete the kit’s contents.
The kit contains a large sealed cello bag that holds 5 medium grey trees of parts, the decal sheet and a steel PE muffler jacket screen. The instructions complete the kit’s contents.
The instructions consist of a single sheet, folded in the middle to create 4 pages in 8 ½” x 12” format.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, followed by the tank’s history in Russian, English and German.
Page 2 and 3 give a grand total of 9 assembly steps.
Page 4 has a single 3-view line-drawing with numbered arrows pointing to where you put your choice of 4 different division markings.
Page 2 and 3 give a grand total of 9 assembly steps.
Page 4 has a single 3-view line-drawing with numbered arrows pointing to where you put your choice of 4 different division markings.
1. Roman number III 14 on the turret and a yellow Y symbol for the 7th Panzer Division, Russia 1941 (the box art subject)
2. A large number 14 followed by a smaller 12 on the turret sides and a circle with a V inside it for the Pz.Abt. zbV 40, Norway 1940.
3. I11 on the turret sides and an upside-down letter Y followed by 3 dots of the 7th Panzer Division, France 1940.
4. 54 on the turret sides and a letter E with it’s arms pointed down of the 3rd Panzer Division, France 1940.
Below these its says “Until 1943 all Wehrmacht tanks were painted standard tank grey. In the winter, grey surfaces were over-painted with white color that was easily washed off”. Six colors are listed and Alan’s P.O. Box address in St. Petersburg Russia is provided.
There are no hull interior details provided and the turret only contains gun breeches and a scope in it. No crew figures or clear parts are provided and there are no parts trees illustration in the instructions.
2. A large number 14 followed by a smaller 12 on the turret sides and a circle with a V inside it for the Pz.Abt. zbV 40, Norway 1940.
3. I11 on the turret sides and an upside-down letter Y followed by 3 dots of the 7th Panzer Division, France 1940.
4. 54 on the turret sides and a letter E with it’s arms pointed down of the 3rd Panzer Division, France 1940.
Below these its says “Until 1943 all Wehrmacht tanks were painted standard tank grey. In the winter, grey surfaces were over-painted with white color that was easily washed off”. Six colors are listed and Alan’s P.O. Box address in St. Petersburg Russia is provided.
There are no hull interior details provided and the turret only contains gun breeches and a scope in it. No crew figures or clear parts are provided and there are no parts trees illustration in the instructions.
Large medium grey letter A parts tree holds: the hull bottom, top and sides, fenders, rear hull plate, glacus plate etc. (24 parts)
Medium size medium grey letter B parts tree holds: turret parts, the main gun, muffler, tow hooks, turret hatch doors, a machine gun, vision port flaps etc. (42 parts)
Large medium grey letter C parts tree holds: road wheels, drive sprockets, idler wheels, return rollers, the jack, suspension arms and tools etc. (62 parts)
There are 2 identical small medium grey parts trees that are not alphabetized. They hold the individual track links. (62 parts per tree).
I highly recommend this kit to modelers of average building skills. It is an easy kit for even a beginner. I have several of the old Alan kits in my stash, that I traded the owner of Alan for years ago when we were once pen pals.
I want to thank John Kelley, who made me a gift of this kit.