Dragon Models offers a complete lineup of the Pz.Kpfw. III family tree in 1/35 scale, including several new kits in this last year alone. The subject of this review is the Pz.Kpfw.III (F) Ausf. M (w/Schürtzen), from their “’39 to ‘45” Smart Kit series. The [F] stands for FlammenPanzer, or ‘flame tank’.

A flame tank is a type of tank equipped with a flamethrower, most commonly used to supplement combined arms attacks against fortifications, confined spaces, or other obstacles. The type only reached significant use in the Second World War, during which the United States, Soviet Union, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom (including members of the British Commonwealth) all produced flamethrower-equipped tanks.

OK, here’s a diorama accessory for aircraft or armor, or any other idea you can come up in 1/144 scale. How about N Gauge railroading?

The product is a set of 6 metal barriers with legs and connectors, so you could make a hexagonal pen, or put 6 of them against a wall with a 2X2 setup and the wall is the 4th side.

There was a time when I wished we had those barriers for the static display aircraft at my Guard unit’s air show. In spite of the “NO SMOKING” signs prominently displayed around the aircraft, there was one guy who lit one up. Right under the wing of an F-14. Next to the fuel tank. Well, it was a shady spot. I called him on the “no smoking” rule, and he was going to put his cigarette out in the nicely provided butt can. Except this can was actually for overflowed fuel from the wing tank, and if I hadn’t physically restrained him, he would have burned himself and the aircraft. And possibly me too.

Very little flash and the parts fit very well on this kit. I had thought about trying to fit a V8 engine but the car is just too small.

Engine

The little 4-banger engine is very well detailed with all the parts fitting extremely well.

Interior

Interior panels are very well engraved and cry out to be detailed.

Body

There’s no chrome on the body. I made the mistake of masking all the window frames and painting them with black chrome when all that really needs to be done is paint the edge of the glass. The body is in beautiful shape right out of the box. I used HOK marine blue to get a pretty close to factory color.

This really cool kit to work on and Revell needs to be commended for their craftsmanship. Thank you also to IPMS for allowing me to review this kit.

Windsock WWC Spring 2015 is the first edition of Volume 31. The cover carries a banner celebrating 30 years of this publication. This edition provides readers with what has come to be expected…a variety of expert information on WWI aviation history, aircraft modeling, articles by expert aircraft model builders, technical references and up to date information on recently announced hobby products related to the Great War.

History Brief

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor aircraft/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Douglas Aircraft. It was also adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force. The Phantom is a large fighter with a top speed of over Mach 2.2. It featured a tandem two-seat with twin-engines. It can carry more than 18,000 pounds (8,400 kg) of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and various bombs. The F-4 was designed without an internal cannon, but later models incorporated an M61 Vulcan rotary cannon. Beginning in 1959, it set 15 world records for in-flight performance, including an absolute speed record, and an absolute altitude record.