The Panzer I Ausf A was one of the Dragon’s first kits in their Smart Kit range. While the original release is a solid kit that fits together well, this new updated release adds an interior as well as improving finesse and accuracy. The Panzer I Ausf. A was built from 1934 to 1936 and first saw combat in the Spanish Civil War with Germany’s Condor Legion and was used in the early Blitzkreig victories. The Ausf. A was only equipped with two machine guns in its turret and was shorter than the later Panzer I Ausf B (also available from Dragon) which had a significantly upgraded engine. Some Panzer I Ausf A had varying modified features such as a revised engine deck with smoke candle dischargers.

CONTENTS

The most obvious improvements in this kit are the new parts for the fighting compartment’s interior. However close comparison to the 2006 release (kit 6289) reveals changes and to a significant proportion of the kit including the modified road wheels, improved tracks, engine deck with modifications, and lower hull.

Like with other Smart Kits it has extensive use of refined molding techniques, such as slide molding, to produce crisp detailed parts. With the inclusion of new parts for the modified version and many spare parts from the original release, you have considerable flexibility in what production period and modifications you make. You also have the flexibility as to how much or little of the interior detail is fitted. This versatility ensures the kit has broad appeal as it both allows for an impressive kit to be built out of the box while also providing a solid basis for super detailing both the interior and exterior.

Photo etch is provided for the perforated shields over the mufflers, the shields mountings, small detail on the MG controls and the radio rack.

LOWER HULL & SUSPENSION

The hull has been retooled so that the mounts for the return rollers are now correctly positioned. The mounts are now positioned such that going from front to back each mount is slightly lower than the previous one. The crisply detailed and accurately contoured front and rear plates are separate parts.

The suspension features numerous improvements. The new road wheels for the modified version, have separate metal rings fitted to the plastic rims to provide additional detail. The rear idler has been enhanced and is still quite intricate with separate metal rims for accuracy. The springs and swing arms on the forward bogies have been updated.

The pre-cut Magic Tracks are revised tooling and as before feature the open guide horns. The links come loose and can be assembled without any need for cleanup. There are no noticeable injection marks on the links.

As before the suspension can be assembled with some articulation to allow for positioning on a diorama base either with the kit’s own tracks (while the glue dries) or with aftermarket workable tracks.

TURRET WITH INTERIOR

The crisply tooled turret shell is based around a slide molded turret shell which has fine detail for counter sunk holes, the slots in the head of screws and weld texture where the armour plates join. The side vision port covers can all be assembled open or closed. The two M.G. 13k machine guns are moveable and have crisp detail but the ends will benefit from being drilled out. Moreover the guns now have their internal detail including the breech, loaded MG ammunition clips and firing controls. Inside the turret there is now an accurate seat for the commander/gunner. The turret hatch has internal handles and the option of being modeled open to reveal the internal detail.

UPPER HULL & ENGINE DECK

The upper hull and engine deck are revised tooling and have crisp detail for items such as hinges and realistic counter sunk screw heads. One noticeable change is the new air intake cover on the rear of the engine deck which is a feature of the Panzer I Ausf A modified version. The new smoke candle dischargers are located below this cover.

The side fenders have an anti-skid pattern on the upper surface and a lip (fold) on the outer edge. There are no predrilled holes on the fenders, and the out of the box build involves drilling holes in the pre-marked recesses on the fenders’ underside before fitting the tools which have molded on clamps. The forward and rear fenders flaps are separate parts and could be easily replaced with aftermarket PE if you wish.

The revised front glacis plate has separate transmission inspection covers, fine bolt heads proud of the glacis and a newly tooled siren. The hull fittings are sharply defined and include the ribbed forward exhaust pipe, jack block, rear towing point, forward siren, headlamps, and tow cable stays. The multipart jack is very good and like with the wire cutter has separate brackets. The injection plastic antenna can be left stowed in its tray or assembled upright.

The rear exhaust pipes feature the ribbing, while the flanged ends of the mufflers are drilled out. They come with PE mesh screens with PE brackets.

DRIVING COMPARTMENT INTERIOR

This release has a comprehensive interior, which includes the driver’s compartment, driver’s seat and foot pedals, battery case, realistic rear bulkhead and the transmission, which is made from multiple slide-molded parts. The radio rack is made from a single PE part, while the plastic radio has crisp dials. Just below the turret are the weapons stations and ammunition storage racks. There are clear plastic vision blocks and a driver's visor that can be assembled open or closed. By leaving the commander’s turret hatch, the side crew access hatch and the front transmission cover open much of the interior detail can be showed off. You may want to add some crew gear like gas masks from your spares box. Overall the level and crispness of the internal detail is impressive and surprisingly modeler friendly.

DECALS

A crisply registered decal sheet by Cartograf containing markings for three Panzer I Ausf. A, each of which is supported by 3 view profiles on the instruction sheet and a colour side profile on the box.

The tanks, all from the early Blitzkreig campaigns are:

• White turret number R6 of 6th Panzer Division Western Front 1940 (France/Lowlands) which is shown in the box art.
• White 13 of 3rd Panzer Abteilung z.b.V.40 from the invasion of Norway 1940

• White 22 of Panzer Regiment 15, 5th Panzer Division from the invasion of Poland 1939

While the solid grey colour scheme shown on the instruction is widely seen in references some newer material suggests approximately 1/3 of the Panzer was painted dark brown, so you may want to check your references to make up your mind.

RECOMMENDATION

With the addition of the fighting compartment interior and the varying other improvements, Dragon’s new Panzer I Ausf A Modified Version offers a comprehensive and very accurate model of this early Panzer. The combination of the Smart Kit format and the interior detail offers modellers considerable flexibility and ensures the kit has broad appeal. Highly recommended.

- Neville Lord