Kit Review: cyber-hobby.com 1/35 scale Kit No. 30 (Dragon Models
> Limited/ 1/35 Scale =9139-=9145 Series Kit No. 6295); Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. B
> mit Beobachtungsturm =A0- Smart Kit; 859 parts (532 in grey styrene, 200
> =93Magic Link=94 tracks, 88 etched brass, 36 clear styrene, 3 pre-bent
> steel wire); price US$41.99 via Dragon USA Online
>
> Advantages: nice new kit of the early war version of the Panzer II
> with full interior and all of the bits of the previous kits plus some
> corrections and modifications; optional position hatches
>
> Disadvantages: daunting number of parts for a relatively small
> vehicle; cannot be built as a regular Ausf. B
>
> Rating: Highly Recommended
>
> Recommendation: for all German armor fans
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 The latest =93boutique=94 kit from DML=92s affiliate cybe=
r-hobby.com is a
modified version of the Pzkw. II Ausf. B with a fixed observation
> cupola - =93Beobachtungsturm=94 in German =96 mounted over the commander= =92s
> hatch. Permit me to state right up front that the turret has bee
> modified specifically to mount this conversion assembly and cannot be
> built as a straight Ausf. B, which is still on most modelers=92 wanted
> lists. The hatch combing inside the cupola is set up for this assembly
> and is too far forward to convert it over to a straight B.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 The kit uses the modified Ausf. B/C kit parts DML created= for their
> last Pzkw. II kit (No. 6432) and their earlier Marder II and Pzkw. II
> Ausf. F kits with 24 new parts added specifically for this kit. These
> include the cupola of five parts, another new rolled armor bow with
> hatch openings in it (thanks to =93slide molding=94) amd the hatch flaps
> and hull details for the B model in specific.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 As before this this kit comes with a full interior. Bins = and hatches
> all have separate lids so the interiors can be displayed, but no
> tools, rations or internal =93chaff=94 is provided for the stowage bins.
> Also as noted the running gear here does differ from the Marder II,
> and provides both new springs and mounts as well as new idlers. The
> kit again uses the =93Magic Track=94 single link type, which may be the
> one area where the Tamiya kit =96 with its already ballyhooed link-and-
> length tracks, may have the advantage on it. But so far other than
> tedium I have not heard too many complaints about the =93Magic Tracks=94
> other than figuring out which run is left and which is right!
> (Hint: left side on the header card =96 left, right side =96 right.) >
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 The 2 cm is complete and the model uses a complete MG-34 = from the
> generic German weapons sets.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 The kit does have a large amount of leftover parts due to= the use of
> the Marder, F and B/C sprues, but most do appear to be useful with
> light armor projects.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Technical assistance on this project was provided by Ed K= usiak,
> Thomas Anderson, Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 A total of two finishing options are provided: two differ= ent (or so
> it would seem) Unidentified Unit, Eastern Front 1942 (either Panzer
> Grey with white outline crosses or black with white outline). A tiny
> sheet of Cartograf decals is provided.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Overall this is another odd choice for a member of the Pz= kw. II
> family, but I think (and hopefully one is coming from DML instead) a
> straight B model of the tank would have been a better choice of
> subject.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
>
> Cookie Sewell
Hi there Cookie.
Thank you for yet another kit review. Some of your reviews have prevented me from buying an unsuitable model. One thing I have often wondeered though, do you get to keep the review samples?
Cheers from Peter