Following up from their earlier releases of the Panzer I Ausf B family, Dragon have released the Command version, the Kleiner Panzerbefehlwagen in the 3 in 1 format. The Panzerbefehlswagen featured a large fixed superstructure with a forward machine gun in place of the revolving turret to house extra radio equipment and additional crew. First used in the Spanish Civil War, this command vehicle with its distinctive profile was unduly conspicuous on the battle field and was phased out of the Panzer Divisions as command tanks based on the Panzer III became available, although it continued to serve with artillery units for longer.

This kit contains parts and instructions to build the Panzer in one of three options:

• Sd.Kfz. 265 Kleiner Panzerbefehlwagen I, with frame antenna
• Sd.Kfz. 265 Kleiner Panzerbefehlwagen I, with additional armor on the superstructure
• Sd.Kfz. 265 Kleiner Panzerbefehlwagen I, Tropical type with additional air louvers on the engine deck.

In addition the model can also be built as per DML 6218: Sd.Kfz. 265 Kleiner Panzerbefehlwagen without the additional armor but with only a rod aerial and with the second model commander’s cupola with the round signal port. It could also be built as a tropical version with additional armour fitted to the fronts, but not the sides as seen in some photos. The inclusion of both a early style headlamp for the front fender and the later “Notek” light, like the additional armor, provides flexibility over the vehicle and time period modeled. The Notek lamp was first introduced in 1939 and both lamp systems are seen in war time photos.

Contents

The layout follows that of other recent Dragon 1/35 kits and as expected most of the parts are common with earlier versions of the Panzer I series. This kit contains some new parts and other parts are upgraded to address the few concerns modellers had about the earlier releases. The model contains close to 500 parts and is well suited to someone with intermediate modelling experience who wishing a rewarding out of the box project or as the basis for a super detailing project. The model compares favourably to photos and scale plans.

The injection plastic parts are molded in light gray and have crisp detail. The overall standard of the parts, their breakdown and layout of the instructions (b/w line drawings) is high. The instruction sheet shows alternative steps depending on which version you choose, and hence should be studied in advance. Large parts are provided for the one-piece lower hull with integrated fenders, and the skeleton frame for the upper superstructure, while the engine deck is a separate part hull. Photo etch is provided for key parts where the medium is well suited such as the exhaust shroud, chains on the rear smoke grenade rack and mesh under the engine deck screens. Small items such as the jack and towing point are built up from multiple items to provide fine detail. No figures are included, nor is sprue ‘J’ from kit 6218 which had the square signal port, hence the kit can’t be built as an initial version without the pronounced cupola.

The tracks are the traditional separate link system with 5 connecting points and no sink marks. While not workable, each link has 4 small plugs, which mate with slots on the adjoining links. This will ensure a precise alignment of the tracks.

A new sprue ‘H’ is provided which contains the frame aerial and additional armor plates which were fitted to the superstructure, along with a clear plastic sprue containing vision blocks and associated frames and brackets giving the options of having them open. Sprue “H’ also contains a stowage box which can be positioned across the engine deck. This box, which is evident in photos including the captured ex-DAK Kl.Pz.bef.Wg in Bovington, has a separate lid which may be positioned opened or shut. As with the ‘DAK’ version of the Panzer IB, there is the option of the raised "Tropen" ventilation louvers on the rear deck plus four jerry cans with PE for the jerry can rack and the cans’ centre welded join.

Improved Tooling

The most significant parts in this kit are the new tooling which improves on earlier kits:

• Newly tooled commander’s cupola with improved interior detail without sink marks on the inside of the hatches and the option of using photo-etched elements to depict additional cupola armour.
• New two part rear idler with the option of having either spacer bars in line with the spokes or both in between and in line with the spokes. Both versions are appropriate according to my references (n.b. idler parts make 1 pair of idlers, not 2). This replaces the previous idler, which had a solid rubber tyre on the rim as per the Ausf A.
• Thinner front and rear fenders, which are more in keeping with the actual Panzer.
• Significantly thinner main fenders with a photo etch strip to form the vertical edge. This PE part would be fairly easy to fit. As the front and rear fenders were often loss, having thinner side fenders is a real advantage for modelling a front line vehicle. These fenders are integrated into the main hull tub.

Decals and Painting

A medium sized decal sheet by Cartograf is included. This sheet includes approximately 80 unit insignia decals and 4 pairs of varying forms of the Balkan Cross providing considerably flexibility in how the Panzerbefehlwagen can be modelled. Unit insignia are provided for Wehrmacht Panzer Divisions 1 through to 14 and the Afrika Korp (need to paint in the centre bar of the political symbol). Superstructure marking ‘I03’ in white outline is also provided as per a photographed DAK vehicle. No doubt many modellers will find the numerous spare unit markings handy for other projects.

Recommendation

The Kleiner Panzerbefehlwagen I is a well presented and accurate model of this early war command tank which has benefited from Dragon refining several details such as the fenders and rear idler. The inclusion of key PE parts and optional aerial and armour parts make it a flexible kit which will appeal to a wide range of modellers. Definitely recommended.

Thank you to Dragon Models for the review sample.

Review by Neville Lord.

Reference

Panzer Tracts 1-2 Panzerkampfwagen I : Kl.Pz.bef.Wg to VK 18.01, by Tom Jentz and Hilary Doyle

User Contributed Notes