“This one is going right to the very top of my build list.”

< full review here >
- Vinnie Branigan

DML 6289: Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. A
1/35 injection plastic kit with decals and photo etch

The early Panzer Is played a key role in the establishment and pre-war training of the German armoured divisions. The Panzer I Ausf. A was built from 1934 to 1936 and first saw combat in the Spanish Civil War with Germany’s Condor Legion and was used in the early Blitzkreig victories. The Ausf. A was only equipped with two machine guns in its turret and was shorter than the later Panzer I Ausf B which had a significantly upgraded engine.

CONTENTS
This is Dragon’s first model of the Panzer I Ausf A and their second release in Dragon’s new Smart Kit series. It features extensive use of refined molding techniques, such as slide molding, to produce crisp detailed parts and hence has reduced the use of photo etch. As such an impressive kit can be built out of the box by most modelers using standard construction techniques, while the kit also provides a solid basis for super detailing.

This kit’s dimensions compares favourably to scale plans and it has features such as ribbed rims on the road wheels and a brake lamp mounted on the hull rear typically of the 3.Series/La.S which were ordered in August 1934.

The gatefold instructions have 11 steps of line drawings that are clearly laid out. Photo etch is provided for the perforated shields over the mufflers, the shields mountings and the smaller mesh screens on the rear of the engine deck.

LOWER HULL & SUSPENSION

The hull is based on a one-piece tub, which has integrated mounts for the return rollers and to which crisply detailed and accurately contoured front and rear plates are added. Like with the related Flakpanzer IA, the crisply tooled suspension can be assembled with some articulation to allow for positioning on a diorama base either with the kit’s own tracks (while the glue dries) or with aftermarket workable tracks. The newly tooled rear idler is quite intricate, and it would pay to check the instruction first to ensure you have the road wheels facing the correct way.

The tracks are new tooling and feature the open guide horns as seen on new production Panzer I Ausf A. The links are the pre-cut Magic Tracks, which come loose and can be assembled without any need for cleanup. There are no noticeable injection marks on the links and these tracks are very good. These links are an improvement over those in the Flakpanzer I, which were attached to the sprue.

UPPER HULL & TURRET

The crisply tooled turret shell is slide-molded turret with counter sunk screw heads on the roof plate and weld texture where the armour plates join. The turret hatch and the side vision port covers can all be assembled open or closed. The two M.G. 13k machine guns have crisp detail but the ends will benefit from being drilled out. The turret interior has a pedestal to simplify placing a commander figure.

The driver’s vision port covers and the side crew access hatch can all be assembled open or closed. Clear plastic vision blocks are provided for the driver and also the turret.

The upper hull is newly tooled and has a slide molded rear engine deck with separate panels for the engine access hatches, which can be left open should you wish to add an aftermarket engine. Like with the turret realistic counter sunk screw heads feature. The front glacis plate has separate transmission inspection covers and fine bolt heads proud of the glacis.

The side fenders have an anti-skid pattern on the upper surface and a lip (fold) on the outer edge. There are no predrilled holes on the fenders, and the out of the box build involves drilling holes in the pre-marked recesses on the fenders’ underside and using a set of tools with molded on clamps. The forward and rear fenders flaps are separate parts and could be easily replaced with aftermarket PE if you wish.

The rear exhaust pipes feature the ribbing and have the flanged ends of the muffler drilled out. They come with PE mesh screens with PE brackets.

The hull fittings are sharply defined and include the ribbed forward exhaust pipe, jack block, rear towing point, forward siren, headlamps, and tow cable stays. The multipart jack is very good and like with the wire cutter has separate brackets. The injection plastic antenna can be left stowed in its tray or assembled upright.

DECALS
A small crisply registered decal sheet by Cartograf containing markings for three Panzer I Ausf. A, each of which is supported by 3 view profiles on the instruction sheet and a colour side profile on the box.

The tanks are:

White turret number 833 of Panzer-Regiment 5, of the 5th leichte-Division in Libya 1941 with a solid yellow top-coat painted over dark grey.
White turret number 13, from 3. Panzer-Abteilung z.b.V.40, Norway 1940 with solid dark grey paint.
Unidentified Unit, Nuremburg 1935 with a pre-war three colour scheme.

While the colour schemes shown on the instructions are widely seen in references some newer material suggests alternatives, such as having approximately 1/3 of the Norway Panzer painted dark brown, so you may want to check your references to make up your mind.

RECOMMENDATION

Dragon’s new Panzer I Ausf A is an impressive model of this early Panzer. The Smart Kit format works well for this kit as it provides a refined and affordable model, which can be built out of the box, while also providing a solid base for super detailing. Definitely recommended.

- Neville Lord