Dragon 1/72 Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.N DAK Plastic Model Kit [7386]

Features:
- Newly tooled Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.N rendered w/details
- Side fenders w/pattern detailed on both surfaces
- Delicate on-vehicle tools
- Coaxial MG w/hollow muzzle
- Detailed 5cm KwK 39 L/60 cannon
- Tow cable on engine deck included
- Commander's batch can be assembled open/closed
- Slide-molded stowage bin
- Photo-etched ventilation grill installed
- Photo-ethced parts installed on the bottom of the engine deck
- Intricate sprocket wheels, idlers and road wheels
- One-piece DS tracks for easy assembly

The final production variant of the medium-class Panzer III was the Ausf.N. This type appeared in June 1942, by which time the Pz.Kpfw.III was outclassed in tank-versus-tank engagements. The tank was thus relegated to the infantry support role, and it was equipped with a short-barreled, low-velocity 7.5cm KwK 37 L/24 gun. Before production finally ceased in August 1943, a total of 663 new Panzer III N tanks had been manufactured, plus another 37 were converted from Ausf.J/L/M models. The Pz.Kpfw.III N was typically assigned to Tiger battalions and some were therefore deployed to North Africa to support the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK). The DAK expeditionary force, under its famous commander Erwin Rommel, fought gamely in North Africa before its remnants were finally forced to surrender in May 1943.

Dragon's Armor Pro series is proud to launch its very first 1/72 scale kit of the Panzer III medium tank. This kit specifically offers modelers the chance to build a Panzer III Ausf.N variant that fought with the DAK in North Africa. As the first in the family, the kit includes all-new toolings and it draws upon the technical and technological pedigree of 1/35 Smart Kits. The upper hull is slide molded as a single piece, as is the accurate lower hull. The turret is made from a multi-directional slide mold, and hatches can be shown open or closed depending on the builder's preference. The entire running gear - including the sprockets, road wheels and idlers - are brand new. Appropriate photo-etched pieces such as mesh for the deflector grill are offered too. This DAK kit constitutes a hot debut for Dragon's 1/72 Panzer III family!

Reviews

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7386; Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. N DAK; 110 parts (102 in grey styrene, 6 etched brass, 2 DS Plastic track runs); pre-order price US$17.50 via Dragon USA Online

Advantages: first kit of a Pzkw. III Ausf. N from DML in 1/72; based on StuG III kits with same attention to detail

Disadvantages: nothing major noted

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: for all German small-scale modelers

Released as a pair with a new 1/72 scale Panzer III Ausf. L kit, this new release of an Ausf. N shares most of the parts and details from the latter. Its one major difference is that it comes with the 7.5 cm L/24 barrel and none of the details that came with the Ausf. L barrel sprue.

As with its twin, only sprue D (wheels) and E (the tracks) are retained from the StuG kit. Three new sprues cover the upper hull and turret of the L model and its details.

As before the kit makes a great deal of use of slide molding for its parts. The return rollers are molded together but the slide mold provides for the face details of each pair. The same is true for the gun barrel and a hollow bore as well as some other smaller details.

The kit does not provide any of the options seen on Ausf. Ns such as skirts or zimmerit paste. This is a bit of a shame, but DML has shown in the past it will do optional kits if there is a demand later on.

The kit now has supplemental directions for the DS Plastic tracks that advises pulling on them if too short or trimming them if too long: as they do take standard plastic cements this is not a major problem and will ensure a good fit.

The kit comes with six etched brass bits: the engine radiator air intakes and exhaust grilles and the rain shield over the forward spaced armor array. Two braces do not show up in the directions.

Credit is given to Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson for technical assistance.

The kit offers two finishing options: sPz.Abt. 501, Tunisia, 1942/43(sand, sPz.Abt. 501, Tunisia, 1943(sand, black 242). A targeted sheet of Cartograf decals is provided.

Overall this is a nice (and simple!) kit of the Tiger I escort tank and as such should be a popular model.