Is the New PzKpfw I (Dragon) Available From Retailers?

I don't know. I almost wonder if it is Dragon marketing the Tristar kit. Or is the Tristar kit the Ausf. A?

He looks like a mechanized centaur, doesn't he? I kid the Panzer I, but it was the conqueror of much of Europe.

Yes, it is interesting how widespread and successful this vehicle was in early war considering the fact that originally it was meant to be nothing but a training vehicle. "Tank fright" was more effective weapon than the machine guns and thin armor plates.

BTW, why experienced modelers insist on painting uniforms with semi-gloss paints? (check out the panzer commander) I hear opinions that it's more realistic. In real life, have you ever seen a guy with a semi-gloss wool sweater? Nonsense, only leather coats, helments, boots and accessories (belts, buttons, belt buckles, etc.) should have a semi-gloss finish in a well painted figure. You can also make the face somewhat glossy.

QUOTE: I don't know. I almost wonder if it is Dragon marketing the Tristar kit. Or is the Tristar kit the Ausf. A?

Yes, the Tristar kit is an A.

GM is showing it as still on pre-order, but I think I saw somewhere that it's due for release in July, but I might be remembering a different model.

And shouldn't he be wearing a beret?


M.

Pz I & II were never intended for fighting with other armor their purpose was infantry supprot (mobile pillboxes and clearing trenches and minor obstacles. The fact that they were used for roles that they were never intended for and survived say a lot for the little tanks.

QUOTE: He looks like a mechanized centaur, doesn't he?

LOL exactly what I thought!

QUOTE: And shouldn't he be wearing a beret?

I believe the Beret started in the SS divisions and may not have made it to the Heer divisions yet (This is an early vehicle from the 4th Pz. Div.). The crews could wear the beret or the garrison(sp?) cap once they were officially recognized.

QUOTE: QUOTE: He looks like a mechanized centaur, doesn't he? LOL exactly what I thought!

You guys are way too funny.

As far as the beret goes, the write up for the model says there are two figures included "each with two different head sculpts". So. maybe the "other" head has a baret.

I haven't seen anything yet, I doubt it'll be out in stores now. Probably in a couple of weeks. Once again, thanks to perthmilitarymodelling:
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/dragon/dr6186.htm

QUOTE: Originally posted by claymore68 I believe the Beret started in the SS divisions and may not have made it to the Heer divisions yet (This is an early vehicle from the 4th Pz. Div.). The crews could wear the beret or the garrison(sp?) cap once they were officially recognized.

As I recall, the padded beret was part of the original black Panzer Corps uniform when it was founded. The beret was discontinued in 1941, and the jacket was changed. I have a book on WWII with a photo of Panzer Is fording a river in Poland, and all the crewmen are wearing the berets.

It's a bit of a sore point with me, because I originally wanted to build Tamiya's SdKfz 222 as my first model, with a crewman in the early uniform, and I couldn't find any figures for it. So seeing even a Panzer I kit with the figure in the later uniform is like an extra kick in the teeth.

However,

QUOTE: Originally posted by zokissima Once again, thanks to perthmilitarymodelling:

Amen! Thanks to their photographs of the sprues, it's possible to see that wipw is right, and the other head is a beret. In fact there're two berets. And since the kit's figures are also sold separately as "German Sturmartillerie Crew," I don't need to buy the panzer kit to get them. Yay!

I still may buy the tank too. I was planning to get the Tristar kit for my Panzer I project, but that was when it was pretty much the only option.


M.

I am just wondering if the Panzer 1 had ever served in North Africa, if so, is there any off market decal for it. Thanks.

The two part beret (schutzmutze) was introduced in 1934 and was the only black headdress issued before the war. Since it proved to be unpopular with the panzer troops it was replaced with the m1934 field cap. By January 1941 the beret was phased out. During the invasion of france in 1940, the beret was discarded by most of the panzer crews and replaced with the preferred field cap. Crews thought the beret was too bulky and got in the way of radio headsets. (geez, whining isn't new in history I guess)

The "two part" of the beret was a hard rubber skull cap with the second part being an elasticated hem, wool covering that fit into a groove just above the brow band.

The figure on the box art wears the m1934 field cap in the right color. Field grey.
The black fieldcap was introduced through an order dated March 27, 1940. The new cap differed from the 1934 only in color. (black).

Thanks Mike!

QUOTE: Originally posted by wipw Thanks Mike!

M.

No probs guys...always a pleasure.