6577 - Flakpanzer I

DML 65770: Flakpanzer I (Smart Kit - Premium Edition)

1/35 injection plastic kit with decals and multi-media accessories

About 24 Flakpanzer I were constructed by mounting the widely used 20mm Flak 38 on the chassis of an early model Panzer I tank. This is Dragon's second release of this anti-aircraft tank and includes improvements which add finesse and simplify construction. The kit also includes a second larger storage box for the Sd.Ah 51 trailer. Other features include PE, clear visions blocks, improved driver's compartment, and road wheels with PE rings from Dragon's Panzer I Ausf. A Modified.

For the conversion, the hull of the Panzer I Ausf. A received a platform where the turret previously was, and the front superstructure was removed and replaced with a new design that was further forward. Three side plates were installed and were meant to be folded down as platforms for servicing the gun when in action, rather than for crew protection. The Flakpanzer I offered the crew negligible protection from small arms. A revised tow bar was added to the rear for pulling the Flak 38's Sd.Ah. 51 trailer which had a storage bin fitted.

While there is limited reference, surviving photos and veteran reports provide a good indication of their configuration and history. These photos show a high degree of consistency in the Flakpanzer I's appearance suggesting that they were a planned conversion. The Dragon kit compares favourably to these photos. The Flakpanzer I were used on the Eastern Front from 1941 until the surrender at Stalingrad.

PANZER I A HULL

The hull is based around a one piece lower hull tub and is particularly detailed and features small details such as the contour near the belly plate.

The Flakpanzer has a comprehensive interior, which includes an improved the driver's compartment with new seats, upgraded instrument panel, anti-skid plate behind the foot controls, and control levers, battery case, rear bulkhead and the transmission, which is made from multiple slide-molded parts. Clear plastic vision blocks and a driver's visor that can be assembled open or closed.

The platform for the Flak has a diamond pattern antiskid plate. The fontal armor around the driver's compartment has new Razor Edge tooling. This tapered design gives an in-scale effect while offering the ease of injection plastic for a structural part (previous release had PE for the top plates). The frontal armor has sharp detail for the weld marks and bolt heads.

The suspension can be assembled with some articulation to allow for positioning on a diorama base. The tracks have been upgraded in this release to Magic Tracks which are separate precut links which are ready to assemble without clean up. The road-wheels are now from Dragon's Panzer I A Modified which has precut PE rings to sit on the rims (the standard all plastic wheels are included as spares). The drive sprocket and rear idler are crisply tooled.

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 upper surface and the suggested build involves drilling holes in the pre-marked recesses on the fenders and fittings tools with molded on clamps. However for some of the tools, the kit includes spares without clamps as well as spare PE clamps and these spares would provide a very crisp result. The inclusion of two options which will both give pleasing results is good.

Photo etch parts are also provided for the vertical side plates on the engine deck where the PE works very well as the panels were perforated for ventilation and the mesh exhaust shrouds. There is clear lens for a headlamp. The rear tow bar is crisp being built from PE and injection plastic.

The front and rear fender flaps are separate pieces and the design lends itself to replacing them with aftermarket PE to depict battle damaged or to have them folded up.

FLAK 38

The gun has crisp detail and features a mix of slide-molding, multiple parts for items such as the main gun sight, and some photo etch. In this new release the top of the 20mm cannon's casing has option parts for the mid war, late and schwebelafette versions.

The barrel is a single piece slide-molding with a hollow muzzle opening, while the flash suppressors on the side are represented by indentations.

The injection plastic gun shield parts have tapering edges, no injection pin marks, detail for the brackets with nut heads and appear to be straightforward to assemble. The lower edges have been cutaway to clear the frontal armour and thus the Flakpanzer's shield is different to that in the standalone Flak 38 kit. The gun platform has a round base plate with raised anti-skid dimples, and bolt heads and countersunk recesses around the outer rim.

The weld marks going around the edge of the Flak's base are visible in photos (and should not be mistaken for seams that need removing). The base also has several small grab handles cast onto it and the alternative plastic and PE parts for the hand wheels are both finely reproduced.

Optional photo etch parts are included for the gunner's small shield, but not the larger main shield. The spent shell case has PE mesh for the netting and for the lower netting there is pre-formed metal for quick assembly.

Alternative arms and plates allow the gun to be positioned at one of four angles of elevation, namely flat at zero degrees, raised 20 degrees, 40 degrees and 60 degrees, which effectively allow a modeler to choose a position in each band of elevation.

Sd. Ah. 51 TRAILER WITH TWO BOXES

The trailer has been significantly improved with the addition of an optional second storage box.

The new storage box is noticeably larger than the original option and is well featured with internal details include some in PE and external details such as bolt heads, securing anchors, small

handles and several hand tools (axe, spade, pick-axe) with PE brackets. The lid can be modeled open.

The other storage box is smaller and sits on top of the Flak's cast metal base (which was carried to allow the Flak to be used as a standalone gun if required). This box can also be assembled either closed or open and several spare clips are included as are two small ammunition cases.

Both storage boxes are fitted to the Sd.Ah 51 trailer. The trailer has finely cast taillights and is based on a tube frame that has some seam marks which can be quickly removed with a hobby knife. The tyres are a two-piece injection plastic design with a recess where the valve was, hexagonal wheel nuts and a military tread pattern with large blocks extending onto the sidewalls. The trailer's coupling can be left articulated allowing the trailer to be used in either the parked position or being towed by the Flakpanzer.

DECALS

This second release has a new decal sheet from Cartograf containing markings for three Flakpanzer I, while 3 view outlines are included for two more vehicles. The vehicles are from Flak Abteiling 614 on the Eastern Front. The markings include the unit's emblem of a musical drum with sticks on a shield all in yellow in two sizes with the smaller size being for the trailer, white kill rings, white Balkan crosses and tactical numbers yellow "2" and "3" and white "213". The three vehicles with markings are in overall grey, while the unmarked guns are whitewash and dark grey. Photos of white Flakpanzer show the crew wearing white sheeting as camouflage over their field coats.

RECOMMENDATION

Dragon latest Flakpanzer I is a comprehensive kit which will make an impressive model out of the box. The improvements in this Premium Edition - Smart Kit release have resulted in a kit which will is both more detailed and easier to build. Highly recommended.

- Neville Lord