Description

he Panzer III was a medium-class tank that, at the outbreak of WWII, was designed to be the primary platform of the all-conquering panzer divisions. However, with the advent of more heavily armored and up-gunned enemy tanks, the role of the Panzer III became secondary to that of the Panzer IV and production finally ceased in 1943. A number of specialized command tanks containing long-range radios were created based on standard gun tanks, and one of these was the Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf.J. As its name denotes, it was based on the Ausf.J chassis, of which 2,616 were built by German factories from March 1941 to July 1942.

Dragon...s new 1/35 scale kit of the Pz.Bef.Wg.III Ausf.J depicts a command tank fitted with a 5cm L/42 main armament. Whereas earlier Panzer III command tanks were fitted with dummy cannons, the Ausf.J retained its main cannon. This kit allows modelers to fill a gap in the Panzer III family tree, and it is produced to the very best engineering levels. Indeed, this is Dragon...s first Panzerbefehlswagen III built to the latest standards. While it does wisely utilize parts from recent Panzer III kits, it also features entirely unique components such as a rear-mounted star antenna and frontal armor without a bow MG fitted. Furthermore, true-to-scale Sch...rzen armor plates are installed on the hull sides. All in all, this kit forms an interesting and different Panzer III kit for modelers... collections and dioramas.

Features:

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• Pistol port produced
• Pz.Bef.Wg.III Ausf.J w/star antenna accurately presented
• Antenna mount w/realistic detail
• Engine deck hatches can be assembled open/closed
• Newly tooled antenna guard and mount
• Side-skirt bracket accurately designed
• Slide-molded engine deck for Pz.Bef.Wg.III Ausf.J
• Engine hatches can be assembled open/close
• Slide-molded mantlet is newly tooled
• Gun barrels are slide molded
• 5cm Kw.K L/42 gun w/delicate detai
• 3-directional slide-molded gun sleeve for greater detail
• Cooling air intakes are slide molded
• Photo-etched air intake grills
• Delicate top plate for spaced armor over mantlet
• Photo-etched parts provided as option for mantlet add-on armor
• Air intake covers w/mounts realistically reproduced
• Turret side hooks especially designed w/undercut details
• Newly tooled fenders w/pattern detail on both top and bottom surfaces
• Photo-etched mesh included
• Air deflector accurately represented
• Complete gun assembly w/full detail
• Includes hollowed out undercut on turret bottom
• Slide-molded stowage bin w/fine details can be assembled opened/closed
• Side hatches can be assembled open/closed w/interior details
• Intricate turret made by 3-directional slide-molds
• Final drive housing covers are separate parts for maximum detail
• Accurate sprocket wheels
• Road wheels w/accurate detail
• Slide-molded torsion bars included
• Exhaust pipes w/hollow ends
• Toolbox w/padlock produced by slide mold
• Notek headlight w/exquisite detail
• One-piece slide-molded lower hull w/exquisite detai
• Lower hull sides come w/full detail
• Fully detailed weld seams on hull bottom
• Idler wheels w/photo-etched parts
• Detailed track tension adjuster
• Slide-molded hydraulic shock absorbers well detailed
• Detailed suspension swing arms
• One piece DS tracks w/defined detail
• Injection-molded on-vehicle tools provided w/clasp