Kit Review: cyber-hobby.com 1/35 scale Kit No. 75 (Dragon Models Limited 1/=
35 Scale =9139-=9145 Series Kit No. 6765); Pz.Kpfw. III (3.7 cm) (T) Ausf. = G -Smart Kit; 973 parts (696 parts in grey styrene; 216 Magic Track single = links; 42 etched brass; 17 clear styrene; 2 pre-bent steel wire); pre-order= price (Special) US$49.95 via Dragon USA Online=20Advantages: unique variant of early model Pzkw. III; alternate version to t= he Ausf. F =93Operation Seeloewe=94 kit
Disadvantages: kit does not come with DS tracks, which will disappoint a fe= w modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all WWII German Panzer III fans
DML=92s boutique subsidiary cyber-hobby.com has now released a fitting com= panion piece to the Ausf. F diving tank from =93Operation Seeloewe=94 in an= Ausf. G with the diving fittings but none of the sealing materials provide= d in the first kit (cyber-hobby No. 71, DML No. 6717).=20
As noted in the review of the first kit, the Germans basically conceded th= at the tanks would sink, so their approach was to waterproof the tank and f= it it with a snorkel system and pressure relief exhaust so it could operate= autonomously under water. For their invasion of England that was planned f= or late 1940 (after the pesky RAF had been eliminated) the Germans converte= d 168 Pzkw. III Ausf. F and G tanks to use this system; these were dubbed = =93Tauchpanzer=94 or diving tanks. =20
The system consisted of a number of seals to prevent water leakage into th= e hull and a pressure relief exhaust fitting that prevented water backflow = into the engine. A floating snorkel buoy was developed that was fitted with= a rubber hose that could stretch up to 15 meters in length for air intake;= to avoid taking in the exhaust gases which would bubble up and also to avo= id problems with a high sea state there was an extended intake tube on top = of the snorkel buoy, as well as a short radio antenna for communications. F= or navigation purposes underwater a gyrocompass was fitted for the driver.= =20
The tanks were to be driven off a ramp from a landing ship into the water = and then driven to land, where the seals would be removed so the tanks coul= d then join in combat. But after the cancellation of =93Seeloewe=94 at the = end of September 1940 the tanks were then converted to a simpler system to = provide for limited water crossing capability of only about five meters for= use in the invasion of Russia. The best known use of the vehicles was on 2=
2 June 1941 when the modified Pzkw. III tanks of the 18th Panzer Division c= rossed the Bug River.=20This kit has most of the same components from the F kit less the DS Plasti= c seals and hoses. It does come with the depth gauges but the kit has you b= uild it as a =93defrocked=94 diving tank as used in Russia during 1941 afte= r crossing the Bug River.=20
As with all DML Panzer III kits the suspension begins with five of the ori= ginal seven =93mini-sprues=94 and three new ones provided for the early mod= el =93porthole=94 drivers and more complex idlers, plus newly molded shock = absorbers.=20
The hull pan is one with the side hatches and other detail changes. It ret= ains the full torsion bar suspension from the other kit and the detailed su= spension components and muffler assembly. As with the earlier kits all hatc= hes are separate with some interior details and can be positioned as the mo= deler chooses. All engine deck ventilators are spaced and mounted on separa= te frames to get the correct appearance and =93lift=94 needed to give an ac= curate representation of the original. A completely new engine deck is prov= ided for the early variants of the Pzkw. III with this kit.=20
The kit includes the rudiments of an interior, but unlike many Russian or = Ukrainian kits the details they provide are highly accurate as far as they = go. This should please the =93after market boys=94 as there is more than en= ough room for a nice resin interior here and enough ports and hatches to se= e it. The gun follows most of the DML standard design concepts and faithful= ly replicates the internal mantlet as well as the rest of the small details= of this petite weapon.
For the G model this kit does provide the early Pzkw. IV cupola as well as= a different turret shell with the ventilator fan mount. As it comes sans s= eals, it also comes with three MG34 machine guns (one hull and two turret v= ersions).=20
The kit comes with 36 cm =93Magic Track=94 single-links, and while not wro= ng many modelers appreciate the DS plastic tracks as they speed constructio= n.
Technical consultants are Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.=20
As this kit covers the tank in combat, it provides for three finishing opt= ions: oddly enough, they are all from Pz.Abt. D in 1940 and not the Barbaro= ssa ones. All three are in Panzer Grey with white markings: 101, 110Y or 11=
-35, all with white crosses. A tiny set of Cartograf decals are provided.
Overall this is a cheaper version of the diving Panzer III which is more u= seful to those who want to model one in =93combat=94 mode.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.=20
Cookie Sewell