ManCave Modeler Presents...
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Panzer Kampfwagen II Ausf. F/G
Sd.Kfz.121 |
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| Originally designed as a stopgap during the Development of the Mk III and IV tanks, The Panzer II played an important role during the French and Polish Campaigns of 1939-40
It also saw action in both North Africa and the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union The Panzer II's were mostly replace by the Panzer III and IV medium tanks by 1940-41, and used for training purposes and on secondary fronts. The first Ausf.F's were completed in March 1941. Production stopped at the end of July 1942.
They were used mainly on the Eastern Front as a reconnaissance tank but some Panzer II Ausf.F light tanks were sent to Libya as replacements. In the desert, they were issued to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Panzer Regiment, 21st Division (II.Abt/Pz.Rgt.5).
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One of Tamiya's original kits, I remember building this classic kit when it first came out in the 1970's and I'm sure it lacks detail by today's standards and the rivet counters have a field day complaining about it.
Once the box was opened, I could see all the standard features of Tamiya tanks of the time. In the bottom of the hull there's a battery box and all the mounting points for the on/off switch and the drive mechanism, and the upper hull snaps on to the lower section to accommodate battery replacement.
In spite of the age of the kit, the parts are still remarkably crisp and flash free. With all that being said this kit comes with four sprues , two for the Tank and two with soldiers of the Afrika Corps along with the lower and upper Hulls all molded in German desert tan. The tracks included with the it are the standard (of the time) Tamiya silver vinyl tracks with pins that need to be melted flat. There are markings for five different tanks. The instructions are one page with a total of five steps (not including the figures). The flip side of the instructions contains a painting guide with some tips for painting the camouflage (if you can read Japanese). The colors listed on the sheet are generic as this kit predates Tamiya's line of acrylics and the common use of fed std and RAL color numbers seen in kits today. Overall, a very simple build for the younger modeler or someone looking for a weekender to kill time with. I found the only thing I needed to do is drill out the gun barrels and the exhaust pipe (and change the track I put on backwards) 
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| click to enlarge
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Build, Primed and first coat
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Factory fresh, right off the dock in Tunisia,
A little light weathering and dry brushing, A few patches of primer showing through some nicks and rust
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