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DML
6606 Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. N with Winterketten
The Panzer III Ausf N was often deployed to provide close support to the Tiger heavy tank units. Schwere Panzer Abteilung 502, the first unit to field the Tiger was assigned a battalion of Panzer III Ausf N which served in this role and first used these two tanks together in the winter of 1942/43 in the Leningrad region where they achieved considerable success against Soviet armor. The Ausf N was armed with the short-barreled 7.5cm KwK37 L/24 gun which had been previously fitted to the early production Panzer IV. Ausf N were built from 1942 to 43, often reusing chassis from tanks returned from the front line for overhaul.
Being Magic Tracks each link comes loose. Each link has solid guide horns and no chevrons on the outer faces. You have to fit 72 separate ice cleats to the tracks. There is a separate set for each side to reflect how the track pins were fitted and each side is separately packed with its own shade of grey.
Photo etch (often optional) is provided for the mesh screens on the side and downward facing rear vents, upper fender supports (angled plate), centres for the idler wheels, top and side of frontal spaced armor, and small detail such as the rear convoy light and parts of the rear fender flaps. The gatefold instructions have 22 steps of line drawings that are clearly laid out.
The slide-molded engine deck has separate parts to allow the hatches to be modelled open (supply your own engine) as well as crisp detail for the hinges, weld detail etc. The air intake/vent covers on the engine deck hatches run north-south (as per an Ausf L) and there are PE mesh screens for the side intakes. A pair of tow cables have closed clamps and guides integrated into it allows for a realistic look which captures the twisted strands of wire nicely. Alternatively the tow cables can be left off and alternative parts fitted to model the empty clamps and guides.
The front upper hull has the supplementary spaced armour with PE used for a few parts and injection plastic for the main frontal armour which benefits from plastic¡¦s ability to depict the bolt head sharply. Spare winterketten tracks are mounted on a front rack and the tooling has captured small details such as counter sunk screw holes. The hull MG 34 is a Gen-2 tooling with internal detail.
The lower hull has side escape hatches (on Ausf J and early Ausf L and dropped for late Ausf L) which are separate and could be left open for a diorama (unlike kit 6475 which has the alter hull without the side hatches). This kit has the early Panzer III rear exhaust with a pair of mufflers with downward venting outlets and a rear smoke candle mount. PE is used for the downward facing mesh screens on the rear hull. The side fenders have anti-skid pattern on the upper surface and underside and integrated front fender flaps. The holes for the tools are predrilled. The tools have the brackets and clamps cast on for ease of assembly. Two Bosch head lamps are included and mounted on the hull as per an Ausf L (and not on the fenders like with an Ausf M hull). TURRET
The turret is based around a 3-directional slide molded shell with sharp detail including realistic weld marks. The commander's cupola has internal detail with five vision blocks (clear plastic), and a hinged split hatch with a lock mechanism. The side hatches have internal detail and can be modelled open. The toothed turret ring is integrated with the turret¡¦s base and the commander¡¦s seat is attached to it. The turret has separate parts for the varying handles, commander¡¦s sight, lifting hooks etc, while the rear stowage bin which can be modelled open and has plenty of small detail such as counter sunk screw holes. Inside the turret there is the gun breech, guard and spent shell catcher, providing a complete gun assembly. The turret has the option of smoke dischargers which were fitted to most Ausf N, but were dropped in mid 1943, and hence should be fitted if using the decals provided. DECALS The instruction sheet profiles two Ausf N from s.Pz.Abt.502, each of which is supported by three view plans plus a colour profile on the side of the box. The decals are by Cartograf and include a black ace unit emblem for a third (unprofiled) Panzer.
The tank on the box art has whitewashed over the grey, turret number 116 and wears the mammut (mammoth) which was the unit emblem of sPz.Abt.502 around the winter of 42/43. The other profiled Ausf N is dark grey with turret number 142 and Balkan Crosses.
This kit is a pleasing addition to Dragon¡¦s Panzer III range and once more demonstrates the strength of the Smart Kit series in delivering kits which are both accurate and rewarding to build. The Winterketten Magic Tracks when combined with the suggested paint schemes will give the kit the distinctive appearance of a front line vehicle in the Russian winter, an image seen in many wartime photos. Strongly recommended.
- Neville Lord Introduction The panzer III was originally conceived to be the main tank of the German fighting forces, before this role was usurped by the previously conceived and designed Panzer IV. The Panzer III Ausf.N was also the last real version of the gun-armed Panzer III variants, armed with the short-barrelled 7.5cm KwK 37 L/24 gun that fired a mixture of high explosive or armour-piercing shaped charge rounds.
The Kit Contents The kit contents consist of twelve large sprues of Dragon's light grey styrene, three smaller ones plus two transparent sprues, a separate lower hull and turret shell, two bags of Magic Track Winterketten tracklinks in two shades of grey, a small photo-etched fret, decal sheet, and a small plastic bag of many tiny ice cleats.
It's more or less the same kit as Dragon kit 6474, minus the schurzen, plus the tracks and ice cleats, and with certain other sprues and parts swapped out to allow for the deletion of the schurzen, so for example a slightly different turret shell is supplied without the locating holes for the turret schurzen, etc.
Construction begins with lower hull and running gear as normal, the one-piece lower hull showing some superb welded detail, even on its lower surface. The running gear consists of cast two-part idler wheels, each of which sandwiches two photo-etched rings for greater detail, onto which the hub cap is fitted. The roadwheels have the now ubiquitous 'Continentau' moulded onto their tyre, which can be made to read 'Continental' with a deft swipe f a scalpel blade. Dragon continue to hang on to the excuse that it was a licensing issue with that one, but I'm still convinced it was an original mistake by one of their designers!
There are separate drive housings and two part drive sprockets, and working torsion bar suspension that can be articulated should you be working towards a diorama setting.
The Winterketten 'Magic tracks' are supplied as normal 'Magic Tracks' in two small poly bags fixed to a cardboard header. Left and right are supplied in two different shades of grey so that you don't become confused during assembly. The instructions are clear on which shade goes on which side, and you've always the box art to help! Also supplied is a small bag of roughly triangular-shaped ice cleats. These are fitted between the track links...or not...dependent on your choice or references. There seems to have been no specific rule for the placing of these, except that they were fitted at regular intervals to increase traction further. The instructions offer a number of spacing suggestions, and it would be wise to either follow one of these, or calculate how many you'll need should you decide to fit them at smaller intervals.
As in kit no. 6474 the front of the vehicle has the new brake cooling inlets for the glacis, as well as separately moulded access hatches with catches moulded onto their internal surfaces, which were a bit crude, but as I said in that review, they can serve as a template for new scratched ones. There's no internal detail in this part of the hull though, so if you did want to leave them opened, you're going to have to source an aftermarket set. The engine air intakes either side of the engine deck are newly-tooled with some very nice detail. On the engine deck itself there are two coiled tow ropes provided in plastic. I have always hated these, and although they're well moulded....I still hate them. Much better to either leave empty brackets, or replace with something from Karaya. Fortunately we're given the choice, since there are alternative empty brackets provided, so scratchbuilt ones would only be required if you weren't quite satisfied with these.
The front armour of the upper hull is provided with a MG34 for the co-driver, which is always offered as a full assembly in Dragon kits, even when no other internal detail is offered, such as in this kit. The driver's armoured visor is provided with a transparent part to represent the armoured glass and can be modelled opened or closed.
The front wall of the upper superstructure, is fitted with the kugelblende and armoured visor, which once constructed has another piece added to represent bolt on armour. In one it consists of two small holes that need to be opened up, and in the other it's an oval-shaped hole. Which one is used is down to your references, as the instructions indicate nothing except the choice itself, which is a common shortcoming on Dragon instructions. A separate part is fitted over this wall to represent the bolt-on armour, consisting of different parts to those supplied in 6474.
The turret itself is provided as a one-piece slide-moulded part, onto which all the rest of the parts are assembled. There's also a slide-moulded turret bin. The gun is provided with a full breech assembly, including spent shell basket, so it will look adequate should you wish to leave the hatches opened, especially if you have a crew member or two obscuring the view. The barrel itself is provided as a slide-moulded piece, which has internal rifling. The co-axial MG34 sleeve is provided empty or with MG34 part-barrel, and there's a choice of notched or smooth locking ring around the gun sleeve, again no indication of which to use, just the choice.
The commander's cupola is a miniature work of art, being provided with transparent periscope to slot inside their housing, and then into various rings that make up the cupola itself, which can then be posed opened and periscopes in use, or closed. The hatch is provided with two alternatives, one with the latches moulded into place, and the other with separate plastic ones that can be fitted into position.
The smoke grenade launchers are supplied with small inserts to represent grenades, or you can model them empty. The turret rear bin is slide-moulded and just needs its rear wall and lid fitting, and its a very complicated shape to be moulded in one piece. Obviously it can be modelled opened, and the lid has internal detail. The two crew access hatches either side of the turret are provided as separate parts with internal detail, as you would expect, with their vision blocks being provided in transparent plastic.
Marking Options Only two marking schemes are provided, one in overall panzer grey, the other with a winter whitewash. The white one is marked up to represent Panzer Abteilung 502 at Leningrad during 1943, and the grey 503 on the Eastern Front during 1942. For full details check out the pictures below.
Conclusion I suspect a lot of modeller will want to build this model just for the tracks. They'll certainly look different to what we normally see of Panzer III models. Putting the tracks aside, it's obviously a great kit in it's own right, even without those tracks....but with them, it's almost a must-have for most Axis modellers! Recommended.
- Vinnie Branigan DRAGON MODELS LIMITED
6606, Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.N w/Winterketten s.Pz.Abt.502, Leningrad 1943 Smart Kit. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 514 styrene parts (including 19 clear), two bags of Magic Tracks, one bag of track grousers, one etched brass fret, two water-slide decal marking schemes and eight pages of instructions in 22 steps.
The Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.N is the subject of this latest DML re-box of an earlier Smart Kit. The Ausf.N introduced the 7.5cm KwK L/24 taken from the Pz.Kpfw.IVs that had been up-graded with a 7.5cm KwK40 L/43 or L/48 as the main armament. It should be noted that many Ausf.Ns were based on re-manufactured Ausf.J and Ausf.L hulls, which is the version provided in the box. Many of these mittlerer Panzer were organic to a few of the earliest Tiger battalions. Water-slide decals are now provided to mark two different vehicles from s.Pz.Abt.502 as they appeared on the Leningrad front in late 1942 and early 1943. Also new for this kit are the so-called Winterketten (winter tracks), which featured extended outer ends for better floatation in snow and mud. Also included are several dozen Mittelstollen (central grousers) that are to be used in the center of selected track links; these enabled a better grip in extreme icing conditions. These are loosely packed in a bag and much like the included Magic Tracks, need no clean-up prior to use. Tracks. These come loosely packed in two bags and are so-called Magic Tracks. They represent 40cm track that were widened on their outer edges for better flotation in the snow and mud that often prevailed on the Ostfront. Naturally, these Winterketten tracks are handed, so the modeler is cautioned not to open up the bags and mix things up prior to assembly; as an added bit of help, each sides links are a slightly different color of gray styrene. Being Magic Tracks, they have no sprue attachment points, which is a definite time saver since no cutting or clean-up in that regard is required. Each has a pair of extremely faint ejector pin marks on the inner face. These can be ignored or erased as the modeler sees fit. They fit together easily but quite loosely, and must be fixed together with glue prior to handling. The aforementioned Mittelstollen can be used as the modeler sees fit. Suspension System. The road-wheels are conventionally molded in inner and outer pieces, with integral rubber tires. The outer faces of the wheel hubs feature perforations and weld beads where appropriate, while the tires have a facsimile of the manufacturers logo (ContinentaU) on their rims. On the inner faces, the tubes that helped join the wheel halves together are molded on, providing an unprecedented level of detail in this regard. Spare road wheels and spare track pins are also given for stowage. The return rollers are conventionally-molded in two parts (inner and outer halves). The drive sprockets come as conventional inner and outer pieces and are completely detailed. The idler wheels are also in inner and outer parts, but feature separate hubs as well as etched brass inner rings. The idler wheels also have separate cranked axles that can be adjusted; the modeler is advised not to glue them in place on the hull until the fit and sag of the tracks have been worked out. Separate internal torsion bars are given as are beautifully-detailed separate external swing arms. This will allow the suspension to be fixed in an articulated fashion if the modeler desires to place his work on a base with irregular terrain; to do so, simply cut off the pins that protrude from the hull sides, which are there in case the modeler wants a level, fixed suspension. Bump stops, slide-molded shock absorbers and final drive housings (as well as mounting plates for the latter, which have the holes for tow hooks) are also separate parts Hull. The main part of the hull comes from a slide-mold so it is fully detailed on all faces. This includes mounts for the road-wheel torsion bar/swing arm units, idler wheel mount, bump stops and shock absorbers, as well as the various bolted strips that connected the hull to the superstructure. Panel seams and weld beads are also present. The belly has drain plug and access plate detail molded in place, plus bolt and rivet heads, as well as weld beads. A major modification to this part, when compared to that included in the previously-released Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.J, are the deletion of the openings for the crew escape hatches on the side walls. The hatch lid parts are still provided so if the modeler wishes to use them to depict a particular Panzer, this can be done. The bow plate is separate and its configuration represents the base armor of 50mm introduced on the Ausf.J. The hull rear plate is composed of many separate parts including the exhaust deflector, spacer plates, various access covers, tow points and exhaust pipe/muffler assemblies. These last come with opened pipe ends and separate mounts. A new engine deck rear plate is provided that has the outer bolt details seen when smoke candle dispensers were fitted behind it. The latter is naturally now included and is composed of multiple parts. Finally, a pair of etched brass screens are provided to be placed under the superstructure over-hang on either side of the smoke candle dispenser unit. Track-guards and OVM. Separate track-guards are provided, with the main parts being detailed on the top and bottom surfaces; neither is marred by ejector pin marks. There are a number of styrene and etched brass parts added to these main parts so that all braces, etc., can be depicted in great detail. A very nice touch are the two different rear mud-flap configurations provided; these will allow them to be raised or lowered without any accuracy or detail compromises. Most of the tools, as well as the five-part jack, two-part, slide-molded jack block and two-part convoy tail-lamp are attached to the fenders. The tools have nice clasp details, while the jack mounts are separate parts; parts for the KwK L/24 bore swabs and rack are also included. Superstructure. The engine deck is a separate part and is configured much like the original; the entire assembly can be left off to depict an engine change. Coming from a slide mold, it has details on all faces including various styles of plate and weld detail as well as attachment flanges and bolt heads. The four hatch lids are separate parts, with proper coaming detail around the hatch openings and separate hinges. The air intake cowls that surmount the hatch lids are separate parts as are their mounts. Separate parts for the lifting hooks are also given for maximum detail fidelity. Two all-styrene tow cables are provided for the engine deck, but Id have preferred the option of a wound wire/etched brass/ styrene option for better detail and flexibility. At the side are proper air intake vents, with the correct means of attachment to the walls, including their internal openings. These are topped by etched brass screens. The roof plate is configured to mount Vorpanzer (spaced armor). It features a turret ring with a properly-detailed race, devoid of the usual openings to bayonet-mount the turret. I prefer this, but this means the turret will not be especially secure on the finished model. The part is finished with more separate lift hooks, as well as an optional turret ring shot deflector. References should be consulted if using this item. Separate side and front superstructure panels are then fitted. These feature separate, multi-part view-port flaps that include clear parts for the vision blocks; naturally they can be modeled opened or closed. The starboard side features an antenna and its mount, while the associated stowage trough, complete with wood-grain effect is mounted on the fender. The radio operators MG34 features complete internal mount detail and is a Gen2 molding with pre-drilled muzzle. The Vorpanzer is then fitted using styrene and etched brass parts. The separate glacis plate is of the type with two hatch lids, one slightly wider than the other; these can be depicted opened or closed. The bases for the head-lamps are molded in place, and clear lenses are provided for the lamps themselves. Separate, two-part armored cowls are given to cover the brake cooling air openings. Turret. The upper shell is a one-piece affair, created from a slide mold. The detail is crisp and complete, including counter-sunk screw head details and side wall access doors. The side walls of the turret are devoid of the openings for vision port flaps, which were dispensed with earlier. The roof gets a two-part vent cover, separate signal port flap and grab handles; the separate turret floor has a gear pattern on the ring race. The commanders cupola features two-position view-port covers, clear internal vision blocks and separate hatch lids. Triple-tube smoke grenade launchers are provided for both sides of the turret; they include separate rounds to fit into each tube. The Gepackkasten (baggage bin) on the turret rear is also based on a slide-molded part; therefore it is completely detailed on all faces. It also comes with a separate lid, which can be shown opened up; finally, its rear wall is a separate part. More separate lift hooks, as well as separate pistol port covers complete this area. The main gun has a complete inner breech for the 7.5cm KwK L/24, with an exquisitely-rendered slide-molded recuperator housing for the gun tube provided as a separate part. There are two mantle shields provided, but only one is marked for use. Although not seen on any Ausf.Ns for which markings are provided, at least two of these Panzer did have the Vorpanzer (spaced armor) fitted over the mantle shield, as seen in references 10 and 11. Finally, the pre-bored coaxial MG 34 is furnished, mounted in its armored sleeve; a second sleeve is provided, but without the MG in place. Molding, Fit and Engineering. Like many of their recent new-tool kits, DMLs designers have gone to great lengths to provide a level of detail on the styrene parts not often previously seen. Slide-molds have been used in a very intelligent way either to allow for better detail rendition, or for ease of assembly. On visible surfaces, not a single ejector pin mark was found and there was no shrinkage of any kind. Fit of major parts was excellent and mold seams were faint and easily dealt with. Accuracy. Where I could match the kits components and dimensions against reliable scale drawings, I found no discrepancies of any import. Physical details compare well with available photographs. Decals and Markings Information. The decals are the usual excellent Italian product from Cartograf. They are crisp, in register and have thin, closely-cropped carrier film. Markings for two mittlerer Panzer from s.Pz.Abt.502 are given as follows: White
outline 116, 1943, base painted in Dunkelgrau, with winter whitewash.
Instructions. These are in the usual drawn style and except for the color info, appear to be well-done. As usual, they are busy, and there are many steps within steps. Modelers are cautioned to proceed with care, especially when considering which physical options go with a particular markings scheme. Conclusion. Although not the most widely-used version of the Pz.Kpfw.III, the Ausf.N served in particular with some of the early Tiger Abteilungen, thus their relative popularity. This kit is accurate, very well-engineered, with the Winterketten and Mittelstollen being an attractive new feature. With proper use of references a rather unique model will be the result; this will be especially welcome by those modelers who have an interest in early Tiger units as seen on the Ostfront.
- Frank V. De Sisto Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited (cyber-hobby.com)1/35 Scale ¡¥39-¡¥45 Series Kit No. 6606; Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. N w/Winterketten s.Pz.Abt. 502 Leningrad 1943 - Smart Kit; 837 parts (576 in grey styrene, 216 ¡§Magic Track¡¨ links, 26 etched brass, 19 clear styrene); price unknown
6431; Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. N Smart Kit; 838 parts (565 in grey styrene, 216 ¡§Magic Track¡¨ links, 42 etched brass, 15 clear styrene): price via Dragon USA US$41.99
Advantages: builds one specific variant of this tank; ¡§Smart Kit¡¨ minimizes the amount of etched brass required
Disadvantages: kit does not come with DS tracks, which will disappoint a few modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all WWII German fans, and anyone doing early Tigers
F I R S T L O O K
There are two sides to every story, and the loss of the first Tiger I in Russia in early 1943 is one of them. The Germans very rarely if ever want to admit these tanks were lost in combat, and the records uncovered by Tom Jentz show that in most cases they only cited damaged tanks repaired and not the cost to the Germans to ensure the tanks were not taken by the enemy.
In early 1943, during one of the battles outside Leningrad the Soviets came upon a broken-down Tiger I and proceeded to try and capture the tank. The Germans fought back furiously and tried stuffing the Tiger with engineer explosives in case they failed. But the Russian counterattack was too stiff and the Germans were driven back, losing the Tiger to the Red Army.
The German version only notes the loss of one Tiger I. The Russian version notes that in addition to the captured Tiger, which had to be cleared of explosives before it could be moved, the Germans also lost five Pzkw. III Ausf. N escort tanks and about 200 infantry in trying to recover the tank. Flummoxed by the enormous bulk of the Tiger, under fire from the Germans the Soviets had to come up with ¡§harness¡¨ linked to FIVE T-60 light tanks in order to tow their prize from the battlefield. A few short weeks later, the Tiger was on display in Red Square and later was sent out for range testing for Soviet tank guns.
DML has now released a kit of one of these specific escort tanks, and while it is basically only their original Pzkw. III Ausf. N kit from 2008 they have added a nice set of ¡§Winterketten¡¨ with the extended blades on the outside of the track, and also thrown in a set of ice cleats for these tracks.
As such there is little changed from the first kit. However this kit, unlike the others, has an early hull pan is a with the side hatches. It retains the full torsion bar suspension from the other kit and the detailed suspension components and muffler assembly. As with the StuG all hatches are separate with some interior details and can be positioned as the modeler chooses. All engine deck ventilators are spaced and mounted on separate frames to get the correct appearance and ¡§lift¡¨ needed to give an accurate representation of the original.
The kit provides some of the options for spaced armor arrays to include the additonal armor. Options also include blackout or clear headlight lenses and the ¡§kugel¡¨ mount for the bow machine gun. All viewports and viewers may be positioned open or closed as well.
Once again this kit includes the rudiments of an interior, which accurate as far as they go. This should please the ¡§after market boys¡¨ as there is more than enough room for a nice resin interior here and enough ports and hatches to see it.
Once more this kit offers DML ¡§Magic Link¡¨ single link 40 cm tracks with the extended blades molded in place. For people who find that tedious, DML has also thrown in a set of 72 ice cleats which have to be cemented to the track links. They provide suggested attachment patterns. Perhaps it is easier and stronger to use ¡§Magic Link¡¨ tracks for this configuration.
Technical advice was provided by Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.
The kit provides two finishing options: s.Pz.Abt. 502, Leningrad 1943 (whitewash with grey number patches and white 116); and s.Pz.Abt. 503, Eastern Front 1942 (grey with white 142). All markings are targeted and from Cartograf.
Overall while perhaps releasing a separate set of Winterketten and ice cleats would have provided modelers with options for previously purchased kits. this does provide an opportunity for making a known Tiger escort tank.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 82
Pzkw III J hull details and turret mounting - Frank- Cookie Sewell V. De Sisto Copyright 1998-2010 Dragon Models Limited. All Rights Reserved |