Barcode: 0 89195 86639 4
Case pack: 20 Pieces per carton
Box Size: 9.6" x 15" x 2.8"

Features:

• Brand new Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.G realistically produced w/authentic detail
• Slide-molded engine deck for Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.G Early Production
• Engine hatches can be assembled open or closed
• Armor plate realistically presented w/weld seams
• Injection-molded tow cable for engine deck w/cable brackets included
• Hollowed-out undercut on turret bottom included
• Starter crank port cover can be assembled open or closed
• 5cm Kw.K 38 L/42 gun w/delicate detail
• Complete gun assembly reproduced w/full detail
• Gun barrel and mantlet are slide-molded
• 3-directional slide-molded gun sleeve for greater detail
• Fenders w/pattern detail on both top and bottom surfaces
• Rear hull accurately tooled w/smoke candle rack
• Cupola hatches can be assembled open or closed
• Vision ports w/open or closed option
• 5-directional slide-molded commander's cupola authentically recreates structural details
• Turret side hatches can be assembled open/closed w/interior details
• Gearbox access hatches finely recreated
• One-piece slide-molded lower hull w/exquisite detail
• Full detail on lower hull sides
• Fully detailed weld seams on hull bottom
• Turret realistically made by 3-directional slide mold
• Slide-molded torsion bars included
• Slide-molded cooling air intake
• Photo-etched air-intake grills
• Injection-molded plastic fender catch for accurate presentation
• Idler wheels reproduced
• Detailed track tension adjuster
• Final-drive housing covers are separate parts for maximum detail
• Accurate sprocket wheels
• Road wheels w/accurate detail
• Slide-molded hydraulic shock absorbers are fully detailed
• Detailed suspension swing arms
• Injection-molded on-vehicle tools have clasp detail
• Exhaust pipes w/hollow ends
• Toolbox w/padlock produced by slide mold
• 38cm Magic Tracks
  

The Panzer III was a medium-class tank, which, at the onset of Operation Barbarossa, was numerically the most important tank in Germany’s panzer divisions. However, with the advent of more heavily armored and up-gunned enemy tanks, production of the Pz.Kpfw.III ceased in 1943. One of the models produced in the interim was the Ausf.G, with the majority of this type featuring a more powerful 5cm KwK 38 L/42 main gun mounted in an external mantlet. It was a marked improvement over the original 3.7cm gun. Armor on the front, sides and rear was upgraded to a thickness of 30mm. A total of 600 Ausf.G tanks were produced from April 1940 to February 1941 by German factories, and they served in places like the Eastern Front and North Africa.

Dragon is proud to launch its very first 1/35 scale Smart Kit of the Panzer III G tank. Already the kit lineup includes the E, F, H and J, and now the G has arrived! The kit’s parts are among the highest quality from Dragon’s Panzer III family. As a Smart Kit, it draws upon the technical and technological expertise of Dragon’s kit designers, plus it has a perfect balance between easy assembly and accuracy. The upper hull is slide molded as a single piece, as is the accurate lower hull. The turret is made from a 3-directional slide mold. Photo-etched pieces such as mesh for the cooling air grills are offered. The plastic tank also features an interesting range of Cartograf decal markings. This Ausf.G Early-Production kit fills a significant gap in Dragon’s 1/35 Panzer III family!

Review :

The Panzer III was a medium-class tank, which, at the onset of Operation Barbarossa, was numerically the most important tank in Germany’s panzer divisions. However, with the advent of more heavily armoured and up-gunned enemy tanks, production of the Pz.Kpfw.III ceased in 1943. One of the models produced in the interim was the Ausf.G, with the majority of this type featuring a more powerful 5cm KwK 38 L/42 main gun mounted in an external mantlet. It was a marked improvement over the original 3.7cm gun. Armour on the front, sides and rear was upgraded to a thickness of 30mm. A total of 600 Ausf.G tanks were produced from April 1940 to February 1941 by German factories, and they served in places like the Eastern Front and North Africa.

The Kit Contents

Another very full box from Dragon. It's always as a result of them releasing a new variant of a vehicle they have released previous variants of, hence an awful lot of parts supplied in the box that are marked as 'not for use', which although useful for the spares box, fill up the kit box really fast.

In addition to all the grey sprues we're also supplied with a couple of separate parts such as the commander's cupola, three small clear sprues, an etched brass fret, decal sheet, and two small pre-formed wires.

Construction begins with the assembly of all the running gear components onto the slide-moulded lower hull. The drive sprockets are produced in two halves, and there are also separate final drive housings, and each idler wheel is constructed of two halves with two etched brass inserts for added detail, sandwiched between the two halves, and a separate hub. Both the tyres for the roadwheels and the rubbers on the return rollers have manufacturers logo moulded onto them, and the 38cm 'Magic Track' individual link tracks are supplied in two slightly different shades of grey to reduce the chances of you getting the two sides, right and left, confused during assembly. The crew escape hatches on the lower hull are provided as separate parts so increasing the diorama potential. Each of the suspension torsion bars are provided separately, and are located through the lower hull to be fixed on the inside of the opposite wall. There are separate parts to represent the rear and front wall of the lower hull, the rear being detailed with smoke candle rack, that's provided with etched brass chains for added detail.

The two fenders in the kit have detail moulded onto both upper and lower surfaces, with all the various on-vehicle tools being supplied with moulded clasp detail. The engine deck itself is a separate part, supplied with separate hatches, and etched brass mesh screens for the air intakes along either side. The tow cable usually stowed in specific clamps on the engine deck is supplied as an injection moulded part, however, a series of empty clamps are provided should you wish to leave them empty or supply your own replacement cable. Moving to the front of the model, there's a full MG34 in ball mount supplied for the co-driver, plus moveable armoured visor for the driver. Just in front of these the two split access hatches are provided as separate parts with detail on their inner surfaces should you wish to display them opened.

A choice is then offered on the instructions, between constructing a late version commander's cupola suitable only for specific units, and an early version. Both are constructed using clear parts for the periscopes, and both are supplied with separate split hatches with detail on their inner surfaces. Although there's no internal detail as such provided in the kit, the 5cm KwK 38 L/42 gun is supplied with detailed breech assembly, including spent round basket. The main barrel is supplied in plastic, although it is slide-moulded and comes with pre-drilled end, although the co-axial MG34 next to it is only supplied as a barrel. The turret itself is provided as a slide-moulded shell onto which various panels are fixed into place. All the hatches as you'd expect are provided as separate parts, as are the vision blocks and their armoured covers, which can be modelled opened or closed.

There are five marking schemes illustrated on the instructions, all in panzer grey. See below for full details on these.

Conclusion

It's what you've come to expect from Dragon of a new kit. Great options, superb engineering with the modeller in mind, i.e. no unsightly ejector pin marks etc. It's about time we began to get a few more options in terms of internal detail, but for a close topped vehicle, this one will go straight on to the wish list of a lot of modellers.

-Vinnie Branigan-