Dragon 1/35 Panzerjäger I

The Panzerjäger I ("Tank Hunter I") was the first of the Panzerjäger designs for German tank destroyers in the Second World War. It was based on the converted chassis of the Panzer I Ausf. B and was armed with the Skoda 47 mm PaK L/43 anti-tank gun. The Panzerjäger proved to be a cheap and fairly effective solution to help counter French tanks, and served to extend the usable lifetime of obsolete Panzer I tanks.

As with most early tank destroyers, the crew was highly vulnerable, their only protection coming from a frontal gun shield; the gun also had a very limited traverse.

202 Panzer I tanks were converted, 132 by Alkett and 70 by Skoda. The Skoda conversion is recognizable by its seven-sided gun shield versus the Alkett model's five-sided shield.

They were first used in France, and continued to see action in North Africa and on the Eastern Front. After being replaced by better self-propelled guns in 1943, the Panzerjägers were relegated to missions patrolling occupied Europe such as operations against partisans in the Balkans.

The Panzerjäger's formal name was 4.7cm PaK(t) (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen I. The (t) stands for "tschechisch" (German for "Czechoslovakian") and the (Sf) stands for "Selbstfahrlafette" (German for "Self-propelled carriage").

Let me quote from Dragon on all the detail features of this kit:

Gun:
- Brand new mounted version of 4.7cm PaK (t)
- Muzzle brake reproduced by slide molds
- Slide-molded gun shield comes w/bolt detail
- Fully detailed gun w/breech assembly
- Gun breech and recoil guard fully reproduced
- PaK(t) gun carriage accurately represents the real one
- Realistic elevation mechanism allows gun to elevate

Fighting Compartment:
- “Ultra Slim” injection-molded armor plate
- Newly tooled one-piece fighting compartment armor made by 3-directional slide-molds
- Fighting compartment interior represented in detail – ammo box, gas mask canister, radio and first-aid kit
- Fighting compartment periscopes in fine detail
- Newly tooled ammo box w/finely detailed crewman’s seat
- Ammo box including ammunition rounds can be showed open/closed
- MG bracket finely represented by photo-etched parts

Upper Hull and Engine Deck:
- Newly tooled upper hull w/easy assembly
- Upper hull and engine deck with multi-piece for authentic detail
- Upper hull view port can be assembled open/closed
- Driver’s compartment interior details such as instrument panel and transmission battery and driver’s seat included
- Driver’s vision port can be displayed open/closed
- Realistically reproduced brake cooling pipe w/fine detail
- Engine deck exquisitely detailed
- OVM w/molded-on clasps
- Side fenders w/detailed tread pattern
- Engine hatch can be assembled open/closed
- New engine deck storage fence made from photo-etched parts
- Newly tooled hollowed exhaust pipe w/photo-etched exhaust cover

Lower Hull, Suspension, Wheel and Tracks:
- Lower hull formed from multiple parts for greater detail
- Details for suspension system
- New suspension w/coil spring in fine detail
- External suspension structure for Panzerjäger I have sharp detail
- Realistically reproduced road wheels w/photo-etched rings
- Newly tooled idler wheels accurately reproduced
- Magic Tracks in great detail

As you can see, that is a lot of stuff and that is what helps to make this such a great kit.

Markings are provided for five vehicles in a variety of camouflage schemes. Across the top from left to right:

First is with PzJgAbt 605 in North Africa during 1942/43.
Next are two tanks from PzJgAbt 'LAH' on the eastern front in 1941.
On the next row in a patchy winter camo is from PzJgABT 643, also on the eastern front .
Finally with 3./PzJgAbt 605 a desert camo version in Libya during 1942.

In all, an outstanding kit with everything you need to make a superb model of this widely used fighting vehicle.