History and Performance

The Panzerkampfwagen III was one of the workhorses of the German army during World War II. The development order was issued in 1935 for a full-tracked vehicle in the 15 ton class. The Ausf. A model was manufactured in 1937 and was armed with a 3.7 cm main gun. Ten of these vehicles were produced but were withdrawn from service in 1940 due to insufficient armor and poor suspension. Several other variants were manufactured in subsequent years with armament increased to include 5.0 cm and ultimately 7.5 cm main guns. There was also a model equipped with a flame thrower. The Panzerkampfwagen III saw service on all fronts during the war, but the improvements in armament and armor never quite matching its opponents.

Different modeling books tend to have a “tools round-up” in their introduction chapter. This book includes which probably is the more important tool: “The modelers’ eye”. What is meant here is that you have to study the subject, look at it several times, noticing details each time you look at the subject in order to take notes and attempt to recreate and model whatever you “see” when you are looking at pictures or the real thing you are planning to model.

The following chapter briefly covers the basic techniques of model weathering and then the book dives into very well photographed and highly detailed construction of 11 models, ranging from 1/32nd to 1/72^ndscale. Markings range from USAF, to Chilenean and Israeli Air Forces.

Dragon has countered Academy’s recent M7 release with their own excellent release of a mid-production Priest with a combination of the early suspension and additional armor. Coming in the usually sized Dragon box, this kit only clocks in with 260 parts as there are no individual track links or many left-over parts.

Those of you used to many of Dragon’s German subject that fatten the spares box will be disappointed with only about 10 left over parts! An entire sprue utilizes common parts from the previously released 105mm gun. The moldings are crisp and flash free with fine detail. The DS tracks are also well detailed and really pop when painted and weathered. I really won’t have much to say about assembly except that it was straightforward with excellent fit of the parts.

I chose to replace the prominent weld beads with styrene rod to replace the weld details that I lost due to some ham handed sanding.

This 8.5 x 11 hardbound publication contains 240 pages and more than 500 photographs, both color and black and white completely one of the most extensive compilations of information on both the F-4D Skyray and F-5D Skylancer. It is well written, very complete and successfully gets the history across to the reader about the Navy’s first delta wing fighter.

The text takes you through design and development programs, the intense rivalry between the Air Force F-102 and the Skyray and the engine changeover to the Pratt-Whitney J-57 that became absolutely necessary to the survival of the Skyray. Also included are short articles on both the F-102 and F-106 for comparison purposes. The aircraft held for a time not only the aircraft low altitude speed record, but “time to climb” records as well. Interesting reading are the pilots comments who obviously loved this machine.

This kit is composed of 12 sprues of injection molded plastic containing 219 parts plus 4 vacuum-formed sheets. The vacuform represent the building sides, two sheets for each of the 2 building sides. For those familiar with MiniArt kits, the sprues containing the parts for the stairs are the same ones contained in many of their kits, and this time they will be assembled in another one of the many ways they go together. Brilliant production work!

This kit builds up to a spectacular diorama base, but much care needs to be taken during its construction as it is very fragile. I recommend reading the entire review before starting on the kit as there are a number of issues upon which the instructions do not touch that need thought before you apply the glue.