AFV2-3

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The
Cromwell
Models
Panzer III D1
command Tank
By Phil Hyslop
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Cromwell Models Panzer IIID1
Panzerbefehlswagen was one of
the company’s more recent, low
key releases, designed as a
conversion kit for the Dragon
Panzer III E. Phil Hyslop takes us
through building the kit.
This is a vehicle that I have always found appealing and I was
very keen to get hold of an example. My first impressions upon
opening the box were very favourable although the complexity of
the suspension system did look a little daunting. As you can see
from the photographs of the unpainted model, for a conversion kit
you need very little from the donor kit. In fact the main
requirement is a set of 36cm track, although with a lengthened
3D
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chassis a standard after market set may
not be long enough. The other parts are
mainly tool stowage and light fittings etc.
You may well be able to find all these parts
in your spares box already, especially given
the proliferation of extra parts in the Dragon
Panzer III kits. I understand from Cromwell
that they intend to release the model as a
full kit soon, partly because the Dragon
Panzer IIIE can be hard to find and Cromwell
realise modellers are reluctant to ‘waste’ so
much of the donor kit.
The main hull casting was very well cast
with the usual Cromwell style open floor
and required very little additional work
before I began to fit the suspension. I
recommend taking your time and doing a
lot of dry runs. I ran into problems locating
the return rollers when I found that the
tracks were fouling the track guards. Some
slight adjustment was called for and the
problem was overcome. The suspension
components have well marked location
points on the hull and its just a matter of
getting everything round the right way.
Despite the fragile appearance of the
running gear the whole thing is quite solid
once it has been assembled.
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I chose to use a set of Dragon 36cm tracks
which fit the bill although they are maybe
not as sharp as some of the after market
alternatives. Cromwell provide the supports
for the frame ariel but the modeller must
make the actual ariel. I made his using
plastic rod, but brass would work just as
well.
The turret was virtually built straight from
the box with my only additions being a
machine gun for the front mount and lifting
points on the turret roof. The side hatches
on the turret come with fully detailed
interiors and the roof has the additional
hatches peculiar to the command version
moulded in place. It would be quite simple
to open up the biggest hatch on the roof
and add the huge extendible telescopic
ariel.
I made new grab handles for the engine
deck and fitted a tow rope made from
nylon rope in its stowed position. Almost all
the tool stowage I added came from
Dragon donor kits with the exception of the
jack which is a Tamiya item and the smoke
grenade rack which is a Sovereign item
and the rhomboid number panels which I
scratchbuilt.
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The crew which I chose also comes from the
Cromwell range and is designed specifically
for this turret. These figures required a small
amount of adjustment to make certain that
the arms aligned correctly, and that they
were holding the correct bits of the vehicle.
I always paint my models using Humbrol
enamels and with the IIID1 the
choice is between grey and grey.
In the end he went for grey
with the distinctive yellow
centred crosses to add a splash
of colour and the crew were also
finished using enamels.
Below:
A head on view of a Panzer III D
Command tank which appears to have been
used for training. Noteable are the dummy
turret machine gun, the open pistol port that
replaced the hull machine gun and the notek
headlight bracket which is missing the light
itself. The chassis number is stencilled
across the front of the hull.
(Photo: Akira Takiguchi)
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