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1/35 Scale Kit Number 35008S; German Panzer I Ausf.A
Late
German Panzer I Ausf.A Late
by Cookie Sewell
Summary
Stock Number and Description
Tristar Limited Edition 1/35 Scale Kit No.
35008S: German Panzer I Ausf. A Late Model
Scale:
1/35
Media and Contents:
620 parts (420 parts in tan styrene [Model
Kasten track set], 184 in grey styrene, 15 etched brass [by Aber], 1 in
tan styrene)
Price:
US $50.00
Review Type:
FirstLook
Advantages:
Pretty full up kit for less than the sum of
its parts; very clean little kit
Disadvantages:
Price seems high for a little bitty tank!
Recommendation:
Highly Recommended for all German and
"Between the Wars" Third-World armor fans
FirstLook
Tristar is now making a foray into the "boutique" armor kit market
and this particular model does it the easy way – they use etched
brass from Aber of Poland and Model Kasten single-link tracks from
Japan to complete this kit. These kits come with "serial numbers" –
this one was number 609 out of 1000 – and also a recommendation
(read shameless plug!) on the bottom of the box for two books by Tom
Jentz, who also assisted in the production of the kit.
The basic kit is the earlier Pkzw. I Ausf. A Early model from
Tristar but with a new upper hull in tan styrene to make the Early
Version as well as grey styrene parts to make a late model. This
isn't a bad idea, as it provides the modeler with a lot of options.
As noted the tank is pretty small – about the size of a Panther in
1/72 scale – and has a tremendous amount of detail provided with it
for its size. Tristar does not seem to be interested in a "who can
be tiniest parts molder?" competition with other companies, and thus
many small parts are molded into other components, which makes
assembly easier for the modeler. The suspension is nicely detailed
but still consists of parts that can be seen when assembling them,
and are not likely to be sacrificed to the "carpet monster."
The turret is nicely done with all view ports separate, and both
upper hulls come with all hatches as separate parts. However, there
is not one whiff of an interior, but if the two nicely done crew
member figures are used they will hide it anyway.
The kit is pretty simple overall and the brass frets provide two
muffler shrouds and the headset bands, but also nine truly tiny
tie-downs for the vehicle which for the life of me I could not
locate in the directions! The kit does come with extra air intake
and exhaust shrouds, which I take to be for the Africa version.
The only change in the "simpler is better" category is the inclusion
of the Model Kasten tracks, which while admittedly superbly detailed
are frustratingly busy to assemble. Each single link comes with a
link and two pins which must be cemented in place to permit the
track shoe to work. I have heard that Model Kasten has designed the
sprues such that cutting off each side of the sprue will permit six
links to be joined at once, but still it is tedious and nobody who I
have talked to has said much good about the method. But if you want
tiny working tracks, it's about the only way to have it come off.
(Personally I could have hoped for a nice system like that used with
Tristar's Pzkw. 38(t) kit that I recently reviewed – snap together
and touch lightly with cement when in position!)
The crew figures are a bit static - both standing, with one full and
one 3/4 figure – but they also come with two heads, one with the
prewar Panzer crewman padded beret and one with soft caps, one a
sidecap and one a peaked soft cap used in Africa. Two pairs of shoes
are provided (one boots and one "chukka" boot type for Africa, a
nice touch) and three-piece headsets with separate cups and an
etched brass band.
The model came with two complete decal sheets, one for the early
model in Spain and one for the later versions in Poland and North
Africa.
Overall this is a "one-stop" kit and while I am sure some modelers
will want extra etched brass, this kit is pretty complete as is and
only wants for an engine and interior. But given its small size, I
can't blame Tristar for concentrating on getting the basics down.