DML Dragon 1/35 Sd.Kfz. 265 Kleine Panzerbefehlswagen Kit No. 6218 MSRP: $28.00 By Ray Mehlberger

History:

The concept of the Command Tank came about following the realisation that the leaders of massed panzer formations would not only have to travel in tanks themselves, but the vehicles would have to carry extra equipment and personnel to assist the commander in his duties. Therefore, in 1938, the Pz.Kpfw. I training tank was converted to a command vehicle. The rotating turret was changed to a boxed superstructure to give more space and allow room for map boards and paperwork (though even then the space was not voluminous). More powerful radios were installed and a signaller added to the crew. Around 200 conversions were made, and the tank first saw action in the Polish Campaign in September of 1939, later being used in France and North Africa. It was finally replaced by conversions of larger tanks.

Tech Data:

Crew: 3
Weight: 12,768 lbs.
Dimensions: Length: 14 ft. 7 in., Width: 6 ft. 9.9 in., Height: 5 ft. 7.7 in.
Range: 180 miles.
Armor: 0.24-0.5 in.
Armament: One 7.92 mm machine gun.
Powerplant: One Maybach NL38TR petrol engine developing 100 hp.
Performance: Maximum road speed: 25 mph., Fording depth 2 ft. 10 in., Vertical obstacle climbing capability: 1 ft. 5 in., Trench crossing capability: 5 ft. 9 in.

What's in the box?:

The kit comes in a tray and lid type box. The box art shows a Panzerbefelswagen leading a group of four Pz.Kpfw. Is. This box art is not by DML's usual artist Valstad. A side panel has four photos of the built-up model and a photo of the PE fret included in the kit. Another side panel shows illustrations of the five vehicle markings provided on the decal sheet.

Inside the box are seven cello bags that contain eight trees of parts. Seven of these trees are medium gray and the eighth tree is clear parts. A decal sheet, brass PE fret and the instructions complete the contents.

The instructions are a large sheet that accordian folds out into eight pages.

Page 1 begins with a black and white copy of the box art. This is followed by the parts tree drawings. Some parts are shown as shaded in blue, indicating that they are excess and not needed to complete the kit.

Page 2 begins with some cautions in six languages, followed by international assembly symbol explanations and a color listing. The bottom of the page gives us the first two assembly steps.

Pages 3 through 6 give us the balance of 12 total assembly steps. The 12th step being for the assembly of the crew figures.

Pages 7 and 8 have the markings and painting illustrations for five alternatives:

• The 2nd Pz.Div., Germany 1938 (markings for war games)

• The 9th Pz.Div., Holland 1940

• The 4th Pz.Div., France 1940

• The 5th Leichte Div., North Africa 1941

• The 11th Pz.Div., Balkans 1941

Letter A parts tree holds: tools, the fire extinguisher, nose piece, springs, body panels, muffler etc. (35 parts).

Letter B tree holds: more tools, hatch covers, the jack, fender front pieces, and many other small parts (65 parts). Trees letter D & E are attached to this tree.

There are two identical letter C trees. These hold the individual track links, drive sprockets, road wheels, boggies, return rollers and idler wheels (128 parts per tree).

Tree lettering now jumps to letter G. This tree holds the upper body parts (12 parts). Letter J tree is attached to this tree also.

There is no letter H tree.

Letter I is the single bottom body tub piece.

Letter K tree holds: Upper body parts, the antenna and its tray, vision ports, hatch lids etc. (22 parts).

An unlettered tree holds the parts of four crewmen. However, it is indicated for the modeler to just use two of these and the other two being excess. (45 parts)

A small tree, letter P, provides the clear parts and includes three light lenses.

A brass PE fret provides a perforated muffler shield, some chains (for smoke grenade launcher tubes), head phone straps etc. (24 parts) two parts are excess.

Conclusion

I can see, immediately, that this kit is vast improvement over Italeri's kit of the Panzer-Befehlswagen and I highly recommend it.