ARM: Review - DML Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. A Modified Version

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale '39-'45 Series Kit No.

6356; Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. A Modified Version - Smart Kit; 487 parts (192 "Magic Track" links, 220 in grey styrene, 46 clear styrene, 29 etched brass); price estimated at US $28-31

Advantages: "Smart Kit" concept provides fine details in a nearly all- styrene kit; "Magic Track" will please many modelers...

Disadvantages: ...but track links are quite small and not intended for the multi-thumbed

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: for all early WWII and German armor fans, plus other venues such as the Spanish Civil War

There are times that model companies get stuck in an "in your face" rut and, while the subjects of choice are sure to please a niche of the market, leave the rest of us stumped. DML came out with a very nice "Smart Kit" early model Pzkw. I Ausf. A a year ago, but it was met with some snitfits by a few modelers due to errors and "it's not as good as the Tristar kit: whinges. Whatever that does to the DML management causes them to strike back and strike hard, and as a result they have now released this kit as "counterbattery" fire against Tristar.

To be sure, they have apparently taken much of the criticism to heart, as this kit shows that it has only two unchanged sprues (main suspension sprue A and upper works/turret sprue C) from the 2006 release and a modified hull pan. The rest of the sprues are either slightly reworked, modified, or new to this version. Most of the new bits are the requisite ones for the interior, turret fittings and engine bay, but the kit also includes new wheels with brass overlays to give the road wheels a "lip" on both sides as per the original. (This technique seems a good idea, and it would have saved one of the worst flaws in the Academy Sheridan kits, but I digress.)

The kit simply adds new bits for those sprues where needed; there was apparently some problem with the glacis access panel to the transmission but a new hatch (B44) is provided.

The interior is relatively complete and includes internal bulkheads, controls, batteries, foot pedals, a brass radio mount, copious amounts of magazines for the machine guns, two breech ends with fittings for the guns, very complex but complete clear view ports and frames, and all hatches and ports on the upper side of the vehicle are optional position bits.

The tracks are again "Magic Track" links, which in this scale would be fine except for the fact that they are smaller than most 1/72 scale track links. This is one area where the use of DS plastic flexible track would probably have been more popular!

Finishing instructions and decals are provided for three different tanks: HQS 6th Panzer Division, Western Front 1939-1940 (grey); 3./ Pz.Abt.z.b.V.40, Norway 1940 (grey); and 1st Abt 15th Panzer Regiment,

5th Panzer Division, Sandomierz, Poland 1939 (grey). All are provided with white decals from Cartograf.

Overall, this is a nice kit and is now likely at least as detailed if not better than the competing Tristar kit. But did we really need another Pzkw. I Ausf. A kit?

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Umm ... when DML hype their kits as being unsurpassed in accuracy, and then release a kit that contains some pretty darn basic inaccuracies (regardless of how nice a build it might be), so that the unmodified kit can't build ANY accurate version, it's hardly fair to say that to complain is to "snitfit". And, frankly, the kit was NOT as good as the Tristar, despite being released afterwards (although I don't know why anyone would "whinge" about that; you just don't buy the Dragon kit).

Of course this is the part that makes no sense at all. Tristar seem completely uninterested in releasing any Pz.I.B kits, and there are several I.A variants that they seem happy to let Masterbox cover. (In fact the Tristar and Masterbox lines are very complimentary, with the caveat that the MB kits are not as good as the Tristar kits.) Dragon could exploit any of those gaps very handily -- their basic I.B kits are very good, and there are several I.B variants that are currently only addressed by old and/or crude Italeri/Zvezda and Alan kits. Instead they try and entice the consumer with I.A kits that Tristar have already done (several times, even!) and done very well. It all seems very counter-productive.

Frankly I'd be astonished if it's better than the Tristar kit, simply because that kit seems as good as one could ever hope for. I'd be happy if it's "just as good". It certainly wasn't what any Panzer I enthusiast (such as myself) was hoping for though.

Bruce Melbourne, Australia

ARM: Review - DML Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. A Modified Version - Smart Kit