In Box Review of Dragon 1/35th Scale
German Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf.B
’39-’45 Series
KIT no. 6186
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2004
Out of stock.
I paid $25.52 for this kit at a local hobby shop that went out of business.
KIT no. 6186
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2004
Out of stock.
I paid $25.52 for this kit at a local hobby shop that went out of business.
HISTORY:
The Panzer I was a light tank/tankette produced in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Its name is short for Panzerkampfwagen I (German for "armored fighting vehicle mark I"), abbreviated as PzKpfw I. The tank's official German ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 101 ("special purpose vehicle 101").
Design of the Panzer I began in 1932 and mass production began in 1934. Intended only as a training tank to introduce the concept of armored warfare to the German Army, the Panzer I saw combat in Spain during the Spanish Civil War, in Poland, France, the Soviet Union and North Africa during the Second World War, and in China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Experiences with the Panzer I during the Spanish Civil War helped shape the German Panzerwaffe invasion of Poland in 1939 and France in 1940. By 1941, the Panzer I chassis design was used as the basis of tank destroyers and assault guns.
There were attempts to upgrade the Panzer I throughout its service history, including by foreign nations, to extend the design's lifespan. It continued to serve in the Spanish Armed Forces until 1954. The Panzer I's performance in armored combat was limited by its thin armour and light armament of two machine guns, which were never intended for use against armoured targets, rather being ideal for infantry suppression, in line with inter-war doctrine.
As a design intended for training, the Panzer I was less capable than some other contemporary light tank designs, such as the Soviet T-26, although it was still relatively advanced compared to older designs, such as the Renault FT, still in service in several nations, and others. Although lacking in armoured combat as a tank, it formed a large part of Germany's mechanized forces and was used in all major campaigns between September 1939 and December 1941, where it still performed much useful service against entrenched infantry and other "soft" targets, which were unable to respond even against thin armor, and who were highly vulnerable to machine gun fire.
The small, vulnerable light tank, along with its somewhat more powerful successor the Panzer II, would soon be surpassed as a front-line armoured combat vehicle by more powerful German tanks, such as the Panzer III, and later the Panzer IV, Panzer V, and Panzer VI; nevertheless, the Panzer I's contribution to the early victories of Nazi Germany during World War II was significant.
Later in the war, the turrets of many obsolete Panzer Is and Panzer IIs were repurposed as gun turrets on defensive fighting positions, particularly on the Atlantic Wall.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Light tank/Tankette
Place of origin: Germany
In service: 1934–1945
Used by: Nazi Germany, Bulgaria, Republic of China, Hungary, Spain
Wars: Spanish Civil War, World War II, Second Sino-Japanese War
Designed: 1932–1934
Manufacturer: Henschel, MAN, Krupp, Daimler
Unit cost; 38,000 ℛℳ (Ausf. B Without weapons)
Produced 1934–1938, 1943
No. built: 1,659 as light tanks, 184 as command tanks, 445 as training tanks, 147 as special convertible chassis
Mass: 5.4 tonnes (6.0 short tons)
Length: 4.02 m (13 ft 2 in)
Width: 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
Height: 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Crew: 2: commander and driver
Armor: 7–13 mm
Main armament: 2 × 7.92 mm MG 13 machine guns
Engine: Krupp M305 four-cylinder air-cooled gasoline engine of 60 PS (59 hp, 44 kW)
Power/weight: 11.1 PS (8.1 kW)/t
Suspension: Quarter-elliptical leaf spring suspension.
Operational range: 200 km (120 mi) on-road; 175 km (109 mi) off-road.
Maximum speed: 37 km/h (23 mph) on-road; 25 km/h (16 mph) off-road.
The Panzer I was a light tank/tankette produced in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Its name is short for Panzerkampfwagen I (German for "armored fighting vehicle mark I"), abbreviated as PzKpfw I. The tank's official German ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 101 ("special purpose vehicle 101").
Design of the Panzer I began in 1932 and mass production began in 1934. Intended only as a training tank to introduce the concept of armored warfare to the German Army, the Panzer I saw combat in Spain during the Spanish Civil War, in Poland, France, the Soviet Union and North Africa during the Second World War, and in China during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Experiences with the Panzer I during the Spanish Civil War helped shape the German Panzerwaffe invasion of Poland in 1939 and France in 1940. By 1941, the Panzer I chassis design was used as the basis of tank destroyers and assault guns.
There were attempts to upgrade the Panzer I throughout its service history, including by foreign nations, to extend the design's lifespan. It continued to serve in the Spanish Armed Forces until 1954. The Panzer I's performance in armored combat was limited by its thin armour and light armament of two machine guns, which were never intended for use against armoured targets, rather being ideal for infantry suppression, in line with inter-war doctrine.
As a design intended for training, the Panzer I was less capable than some other contemporary light tank designs, such as the Soviet T-26, although it was still relatively advanced compared to older designs, such as the Renault FT, still in service in several nations, and others. Although lacking in armoured combat as a tank, it formed a large part of Germany's mechanized forces and was used in all major campaigns between September 1939 and December 1941, where it still performed much useful service against entrenched infantry and other "soft" targets, which were unable to respond even against thin armor, and who were highly vulnerable to machine gun fire.
The small, vulnerable light tank, along with its somewhat more powerful successor the Panzer II, would soon be surpassed as a front-line armoured combat vehicle by more powerful German tanks, such as the Panzer III, and later the Panzer IV, Panzer V, and Panzer VI; nevertheless, the Panzer I's contribution to the early victories of Nazi Germany during World War II was significant.
Later in the war, the turrets of many obsolete Panzer Is and Panzer IIs were repurposed as gun turrets on defensive fighting positions, particularly on the Atlantic Wall.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Light tank/Tankette
Place of origin: Germany
In service: 1934–1945
Used by: Nazi Germany, Bulgaria, Republic of China, Hungary, Spain
Wars: Spanish Civil War, World War II, Second Sino-Japanese War
Designed: 1932–1934
Manufacturer: Henschel, MAN, Krupp, Daimler
Unit cost; 38,000 ℛℳ (Ausf. B Without weapons)
Produced 1934–1938, 1943
No. built: 1,659 as light tanks, 184 as command tanks, 445 as training tanks, 147 as special convertible chassis
Mass: 5.4 tonnes (6.0 short tons)
Length: 4.02 m (13 ft 2 in)
Width: 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
Height: 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Crew: 2: commander and driver
Armor: 7–13 mm
Main armament: 2 × 7.92 mm MG 13 machine guns
Engine: Krupp M305 four-cylinder air-cooled gasoline engine of 60 PS (59 hp, 44 kW)
Power/weight: 11.1 PS (8.1 kW)/t
Suspension: Quarter-elliptical leaf spring suspension.
Operational range: 200 km (120 mi) on-road; 175 km (109 mi) off-road.
Maximum speed: 37 km/h (23 mph) on-road; 25 km/h (16 mph) off-road.
THE KIT:
Dragon (sometimes called DML) is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. B moving down a street past 4 German infantry-men, standing on the sidewalk next to a brick wall.
The Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. B is overall Panzer-grey, with a black number 143, outlined in white, on the sides of its turret and a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull. The commander is standing looking out of the upper turret hatch. He wears a black Panzer uniform with a side cap and ear-phones.
The infantrymen are all wearing field-grey uniforms, steel helmets and black jack boots. They are all armed with 98K carbines and have various field gear on their belts.
One side panel of the box begins with 6 color illustrations of Pz.Kpfw. I turrets. They are all Panzer-grey, with numbers 143(the box art one) 24 over a skeletal white German cross, a solid white German cross followed by 523, a outlined white 142 over a black and white German cross, a yellow R03 over a white skeletal German cross and a white 11 over a skeletal German cross.
These are followed by a CAUTION, that says: When you use paint or cement do not be near an open flame and be in a well ventilated room.. For modelers ages 10 and over. In 6 languages, including English. Not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts, Over Dragon’s office address in Craz, Austria. In multiple languages, including English. Copyright of the kit is 2004, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China and the kit was made there.
Dragon (sometimes called DML) is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. B moving down a street past 4 German infantry-men, standing on the sidewalk next to a brick wall.
The Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. B is overall Panzer-grey, with a black number 143, outlined in white, on the sides of its turret and a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull. The commander is standing looking out of the upper turret hatch. He wears a black Panzer uniform with a side cap and ear-phones.
The infantrymen are all wearing field-grey uniforms, steel helmets and black jack boots. They are all armed with 98K carbines and have various field gear on their belts.
One side panel of the box begins with 6 color illustrations of Pz.Kpfw. I turrets. They are all Panzer-grey, with numbers 143(the box art one) 24 over a skeletal white German cross, a solid white German cross followed by 523, a outlined white 142 over a black and white German cross, a yellow R03 over a white skeletal German cross and a white 11 over a skeletal German cross.
These are followed by a CAUTION, that says: When you use paint or cement do not be near an open flame and be in a well ventilated room.. For modelers ages 10 and over. In 6 languages, including English. Not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts, Over Dragon’s office address in Craz, Austria. In multiple languages, including English. Copyright of the kit is 2004, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China and the kit was made there.
The other side panel of the box shows 4 walk-around type color photos of the model made up in the box art scheme and the brass PE fret in the kit.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 6 medium-grey parts trees and the lone hull tub, 2 brass PE frets and the decal sheet in 6 sealed clear cello bags and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 page in 8 ¼” x 11” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the parts trees illustrations. A few parts are shown blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the kit, over international assembly explanations and a suggested list of GSI and Model Master brands of hobby paints in 6 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 6 gives a grand total of 10 assembly steps.
The first 9 are for the tank and the 10th for the 2 crew figures and painting instruction for them.
Page 7 and 8 are painting and marking guides
Page 7 shows a 4-view and two 3-views.
The 4-view is the box art scheme (already described above), It was with 7th Pz.Div., France 1940.
The first 3-view is overall Panzer-grey, with white 11 over white skeletal German cross. With 4 Pz.Div. France 1940.
The second 3-view is also overall Panzer-grey, with solid white German cross and white 523 on turret sides. With 1st Pz.Div. Poland 1939.
Page 8 shows three more 3-views.
All are overall Panzer-grey
The first 3-view has red 24 outlined in white on its turret sides over a skeletal white German cross on the sides of the hull. With Pz.Abt.zbV 40, Denmark 1840.
The second 3-view has white RO3 on its turret sides, over a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull. With 14th Pz.Div. 1940.
The third 3-view has white outlined 142 on the sides of the turret over a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull. With 3rd Pz.Div. 1940.
There is a small 6” x 4” sheet, printed on one side, that is corrections to one of the assembly steps.
This kit contains 6 medium-grey parts trees and the lone hull tub, 2 brass PE frets and the decal sheet in 6 sealed clear cello bags and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 page in 8 ¼” x 11” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the parts trees illustrations. A few parts are shown blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the kit, over international assembly explanations and a suggested list of GSI and Model Master brands of hobby paints in 6 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 6 gives a grand total of 10 assembly steps.
The first 9 are for the tank and the 10th for the 2 crew figures and painting instruction for them.
Page 7 and 8 are painting and marking guides
Page 7 shows a 4-view and two 3-views.
The 4-view is the box art scheme (already described above), It was with 7th Pz.Div., France 1940.
The first 3-view is overall Panzer-grey, with white 11 over white skeletal German cross. With 4 Pz.Div. France 1940.
The second 3-view is also overall Panzer-grey, with solid white German cross and white 523 on turret sides. With 1st Pz.Div. Poland 1939.
Page 8 shows three more 3-views.
All are overall Panzer-grey
The first 3-view has red 24 outlined in white on its turret sides over a skeletal white German cross on the sides of the hull. With Pz.Abt.zbV 40, Denmark 1840.
The second 3-view has white RO3 on its turret sides, over a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull. With 14th Pz.Div. 1940.
The third 3-view has white outlined 142 on the sides of the turret over a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull. With 3rd Pz.Div. 1940.
There is a small 6” x 4” sheet, printed on one side, that is corrections to one of the assembly steps.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A is co-joined to letter L tree. They hold the turret and upper deck parts etc. (29 parts for A and 9 for L)
Medium-grey letter A is co-joined to letter L tree. They hold the turret and upper deck parts etc. (29 parts for A and 9 for L)
Medium-grey letter B is co-joined to letter D & E the trees hold the rear plate, engine covers, headlights, tools, etc. Letter B holds 46 parts, 3 parts are excess. Letter D holds 15 parts and letter E holds 5.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter C trees. They hold the individual track links and road wheels etc. (28 parts ea.)
Medium-grey letter F tree holds turret parts (22 parts) One part is excess.
An un-alphabetized medium-grey tree holds the parts of the 2 figures (divided into separate heads, torsos, arms and legs)with steel helmets, pistols in holsters, pair of binoculars etc. (28 parts) Four parts are excess.
The medium-grey hull tub part is letter I. (1 part)
Next are the 2 brass PE frets. Letter MA holds 15 parts and letter MB holds 6.
Clear letter tree P are the headlight lenses( 3 parts).
The decal sheet completes the kits contents.
Detail is very nice.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.