Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. C mit Zusatzpanzer

Reviewed by Cookie Sewell

Summary

FirstLook

There are times when going to the movies the next action that is going to take place is “telegraphed” – e.g. you can see what is going to happen based on seeing many other films. When the villain hands the hero a drink, you can bet it’s got a “mickey” in it. When the heroine goes into a dark room, you know the nut-job with the butcher knife is waiting for her. When “Bruce” the great white shark has his music playing, you know somebody’s on the snack menu.

The same thing seemed obvious last year in October when DML and cyber-hobby.come released a new kit of the Pzkw. II Ausf. F. While some modelers were disappointed that DML chose the last main production version, it was “telegraphed” that the rest of the series would follow later on. Sure enough, no sooner does Tamiya announce a new mold kit of a Pzkw. II Ausf. A/B/C then DML pops up with this new version of the Pzkw. II Ausf. C.

According to the info I have the Ausf. C was the final early production variant of the Pzkw. II and originally nearly indistinguishable from the Ausf. c, A, and B variants. The new version followed the others seamlessly and was built from June 1938 through April 1940 with 1,030 of all four models being built. But based on lessons from France and Poland when the little tanks were found to be vulnerable to antitank rifles and light antitank guns, their armor was upgraded with a 20mm applique applied to the front of the turret, superstructure and glacis. Also, due to commanders’ complaints a retrofitted commander’s cupola with eight periscopes was provided as a kit. These were the tanks that the Germans took to the desert as well as into Russia.

DML has built upon their earlier Marder II and Pzkw. II Ausf. F kits, but made many of the necessary changes for this kit. First and foremost are a new hull with “rolled” lower glacis plate and new springs which more accurately represent the lighter tank ones and not the reinforced self-propelled gun springs which came with the Ausf. F. But this kit is literally designed to only built an uparmored – “Zusatspanzer” – version with the retrofitted commander’s cupola, so anyone wanting the early Polish/French campaign Pzkw. II variants will have to wait for the kit of the B variant to be released.

As noted this this kit comes with a full interior. Again it comes with a number of J sprues, with most of the interior parts. Bins and hatches all have separate lids so the interiors can be displayed, but no tools, rations or internal “chaff” is provided for the stowage bins.

The “Zusatzpanzer” upgrades are integral in the new casemate and frontal parts so this is the only version which can be built, and the new commander’s cupola comes with its base as part of the turret. The detailing is nicely done with weld beads or rivets where needed to match.

As noted the running gear here does differ from the Marder II, and provides both new springs and mounts as well as new idlers. The kit again uses the “Magic Track” single link type, which may be the one area where the Tamiya kit – with its already ballyhooed link-and-length tracks, may have the advantage on it. But so far other than tedium I have not heard too many complaints about the “Magic Tracks” other than figuring out which run is left and which is right! (Hint: left side on the header card – left, right side – right.)

The turret is packed to the gills with parts, which is surprising when one considers how small it really is. The 2 cm is complete and the model uses a complete MG-34 from the generic German weapons sets. This comes with the ground mount for the bipod and ground sights, which no longer appear to have to be removed prior to installation as it has a slightly different assembly so that they can be installed as is (flaps vice through the aperture installation).

Technical assistance on this project was provided by Ed Kusiak, Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.

A total of seven finishing options are shown but only six are provided, an odd mistake:8th Panzer Regiment, 15th Panzer Division, Libya 1941 (sand, Black 4); 3rd Company, Pz.Abt.z.b.V. 40, Norway 1940 (grey, White 12); Unidentified unit, the Caucasus, 1941 (whitewash over grey, Black 121); 31st Panzer Regiment, 5th Panzer Division, Eastern Front 1941 (whitewash over grey, no number); Unidentified unit, Libya 1942 (sand with green mottle, Red II-14); 7th Panzer Regiment, 10th Panzer Division, Tunisia 1943 (sand with green splotches, white band). A very nice sheet of Cartograf decals covers these targeted markings.

Overall this is another member of the Pzkw. II family and one where DML has listened to some of the complaints about the Ausf. F and reacted. The B may follow soon.

Highly Recommended.

Sprue Layout:

A 57 Pzkw. II Ausf. F - upper hull and details
B 49 Pzkw. II Ausf. F - turret and armament
C 113 Marder II - interior parts and engine
D 14x2 Pzkw II - road wheels and springs
E 9x2 Pzkw II - drivers/idlers
F 14x2 Pzkw II - road wheel backing and details
G 9 Pzkw II - final drives
H 5x2 Pzkw II - bump stops
J 38 Generic German tools and lights
J 38 Pzkw. II - interior parts
J 11 Clear styrene
L 10/15 Pzkw. II Ausf. B/C springs and idler wheels
N 12 German generic “jerry cans”
N 41 Pzkw. II Ausf. B/C upper hull and turret shell
P 100 “Magic Track” links - left
Q 100 “Magic Track” links - right
W 12 Clear styrene
X 22 Clear styrene
Z 1 hull
MA 80 Etched brass
MB 5 Etched brass (jerry cans)
MC 1 preformed etched brass
MC 3 pre-bent steel wire
MD 1 Etched nickel
RD 14 German Radio Generic - radio sets
WC 4 MG-34

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.