6577 - Flakpanzer I

DRAGON MODELS LIMITED

Product Specifications

6577, Flakpanzer I Smart Kit. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 355 styrene parts (plus 16 clear), one bag of Magic Tracks, three etched brass frets, 16 etched brass rings, two stamped photo-etched brass parts, five water-slide decal marking schemes and ten pages of instructions in 22 steps.

Introduction.

A couple of years back, DML released a kit of this vehicle (number 6220), which I thought was based on (and I quote) the most accurate Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.A chassis on the market. Frankly, I was wrong, since I missed the one major error on that kit: the improper spacing of the return roller mounts. DML had corrected that error when they released their second Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.A kit; that new part is now included in this re-release, while enhanced parts for the suspension system, new Magic Tracks for easier assembly (the original kit had the individual links attached to sprues at five points each), a new front superstructure plate in styrene to replace the original stamped/etched brass item and a new ammunition locker configuration are all present in this box.

So, this kit is a distinct improvement over the original on many levels, including accuracy, detail and ease of construction. This, despite derisive posts by some when the kit was announced, who apparently could not understand why a manufacturer would do such a foolish thing as to re-issue a kit. At that point, no one had actually seen the parts that were to be included in the box, which, in my opinion, renders most comments premature. On the other hand, not a few individuals love to deride a manufacturer who, once an error is discovered, may in fact ignore it. So what should a manufacturer do?

In my opinion, DML has done the right thing.

Tracks.

The tracks are of the Magic Track individual-link type. This means that there is virtually no pre-assembly clean-up required. While they fit together quite well, glue will be required to keep them under control when the modeler installs them.

Suspension System.

The suspension system features some parts that will remain movable after assembly; the wheels will rotate and the bogies will pivot. I recommend that the modeler fix the units in place after everything is in its proper location. If desiring to put the model on a base, plan ahead so the suspension system will properly follow the contours of your ground-work. One nice feature is a multi-part idler wheel that will properly represent the way the spokes intersect with the rim along with the channel that results on the inner rim surface. The improved road-wheels have brass rings fitted to their rims, so that the undercut seen where the spokes meet the rim, is accurately reproduced. Another feature is the separate coil spring, which is the proper diameter according to drawings in the cited references.

Hull.

The lower hull is a one-piece slide-molded tub with integral side panels, which makes for ease of assembly. As mentioned above, the spacing of the return roller mounts has been corrected for a much more accurate appearance. A separate bow plate/transmission housing is attached to the front, while a separate stern plate is attached in the rear. Another point not properly represented on most current (or past) Pz.Kpfw.I kits (both Ausf.A and Ausf.B-based) is the way in which the belly plate meets the bow plate/transmission housing. The bulges on either side are not a complete semi-circle; they are flat at the bottom. Or if you prefer, the belly plate extends out under these bulges, with the result that they are flat at the bottom. The kit part, while not appearing to be completely correct in this regard, is closer than any others to being accurate, especially after it is fitted in place. The rear plate is fitted with the enlarged trailer hitch assembly, which is comprised of both styrene and etched brass parts. Other items mounted back there include the jack block, tow points and tail-lamp.

Superstructure.

The track-guards are bare of tool and OVM locating holes on the upper surface, and have no knock-out pin marks underneath. The front and rear mud-flaps are separate multi-part affairs, while the tiny devices that hold the forward set to the fenders are separate parts, a rather nice bit of detail engineering. Track-guard-mounted OVM items include a multi-part vehicle jack, various tools, fire extinguisher and Notek head-lamp. The exhaust mufflers have their fish-tail pipes opened-up due to the intelligent use of slide molds; the flexible hose that runs into the engine compartment is also properly angled. The units are covered with perforated etched brass guards.

The gun platform has diamond-pattern non-skid tread-plate detail as well as nicely represented seat cushions and separate, multi-position side and rear panels. These can be modeled raised in travel mode, or lowered in firing mode. The engine deck features etched brass side plates with this vehicles unique engine vent perforations, while the screens on the rear plate are molded into the styrene. A very delicately-detailed spare gun tube container mounts at the extreme end of the deck, along with a vertical plate. Since the top of the vehicle is somewhat open, DML has chosen to include some of the major interior components. So, floor plates and a rear bulkhead, drivers seat, instrument panel, hand and foot controls, transmission/drive shaft and battery compartment assemblies are all provided.

The superstructure front plate is represented by a new styrene part, which replaces a stamped/etched brass item seen in the original kit. It has extremely thin edges and is fully detailed on both the inner and outer surfaces. Fully detailed multi-position view-port flaps (with clear styrene glass blocks) dress up the area very nicely. The glacis plate has a separate transmission access hatch lid (featuring open bolt holes on the internal mounting flange, for a better look if its removed), which along with a separate access panel on the gun mount, and the opened area just forward of it, will allow much of the interior to be viewed.

2cm FlaK38.

The complete kit of the previously-released 2cm FlaK38 is included, minus the stamped/etched brass gun shields; etched brass parts are included for the small shield that covered the gunner and his sight. Styrene shields, with extremely thin edges are provided to cover the gun. This kit retains the etched brass screens that are used to depict the mesh that was mounted on many guns to catch spent shell cases. In reality they were stretched over frames, so DML has already pre-shaped some of the relevant parts to ease assembly. There are other bits of brass to detail the remainder of the kit. These include parts for the gun as well as the turntable.

DML used slide-molds for the gun tube, which allows the flash suppressor on the 2cm gun to be molded with an open bore as well as the appropriate holes and slots. Properly cleaned and painted, this will easily rival a comparable turned metal item. To this is added one of three different types of receiver covers so that the modeler can depict slightly different production variations. There are choices of etched brass or styrene parts to depict the shell ejector port on the guns side.

The turntable can be constructed to allow the gun to rotate 360-degrees in azimuth. The gun cannot freely elevate as that would have compromised scale accuracy. DMLs designers instead provided tailored parts that will allow for four positions of the gun tube. They are zero-degrees, 20-degrees, 40-degrees and 60-degrees of elevation. When the modeler gets to this stage in construction, be sure to follow the instructions carefully so the proper parts are used. Also note that the seam around the edge of part A71 belongs there, since the prototype item was welded together at that point. It will require some finesse during clean-up since the sprue gates are naturally attached to the seam itself.

Ammunition Trailer.

The Sd.Ah.51 trailer can be depicted with the landing gear either deployed or retracted. It is nicely detailed and includes separate handles, a locker that can be shown opened or closed, racks for ammunition magazine containers and nicely done wheel/tire assemblies. These last also include the tiny air inflation valves.

The new parts for the ammunition locker that was mounted onto the Sd.Ah.51 trailer depict the configuration normally seen: that of a large rectangular box attached directly the bogie unit. It has a separate lid, which can be fixed opened or closed. There are also three tools: a shovel, pick and axe; each has multi-part etched brass clamps to keep them in place.

The Sd.Ah.51 configuration given in the original DML kit is also included. I believe it was a field-expedient ammunition locker, because it is mounted directly onto the gun platform, which in turn is mounted to the bogie unit in the normal fashion. The locker has a separate lid and can be shown opened or closed. Either configuration can be augmented with stowage items such as a pair of spare gun tubes in their opened carrying case, separate spare 20-round ammunition magazines (slide-molded for maximum detail on all faces) and two slide-molded ammunition magazine carrying boxes, with magazine inserts if depicted opened.

Painting and Markings.

The kits markings for the only unit to field these guns, FlaK-Batallion (mot.) 614, are printed in Italy by Cartograf. They are crisp and in register with thin, close-cropped, matte carrier film. Kompanie markings are given (a musicians drum within a shield) as are Tac numbers and white-outline Balkenkreuz national insignia. Limited references confirm two of them as accurate. The instructions depict specific markings for three vehicles, while two other un-marked Flakpanzer Is are also depicted.

Instructions.

The instructions are in the conventional line-drawing style and are (as usual) quite busy; I could not find any problems with them.

Molding, Fit and Engineering.

Molding and detail on the styrene parts are first-class with no visible ejector pin marks of shrinkage to be seen. The fit of major components was excellent, something I have concluded due to my experience with this kit and its constituent components as seen in other kits.

Accuracy.

I have no reliable plans depicting this vehicle configuration. Only those seen in the Jentz/Doyle title on Flakpanzer in the Panzer Tracts series shows that the parts in the DML kit match the profile of the gun mounted on an Sd.Kfz.10. In particular, the proportions and length of the gun tube and its receiver match perfectly. I referred to Panzer Tracts 1-1 for relevant details of the chassis and that books few 1/35th-scale plans (most are in a less-useful 1/24th-scale) show that DMLs kit is well within acceptable tolerances regarding dimensions; the suspension system is now spot-on.

Conclusion.

This kit has much to recommend it. It is now about as accurate as it can be. Construction is eased by the inclusion of Magic Track; incremental detail improvements as seen on some of DMLs other Pz.Kpfw.I kits are also included. The new, more common ammunition trailer configuration is simply icing on the cake.

Highly recommended.

- Frank V. De Sisto