Vk. 100.01(P) K3382

Takom # 2187

Takom's CAD Drawings tank views

With the growing interest in Paper Panzers in recent years, it's not surprising that Takom has released another model.  Takom, a prominent manufacturer of injection-molded polystyrene model kits, is based in Dongguan, a central city in Guangdong Province, China.  The company is well known in the modeling community for producing high-quality kits in scales ranging from 1/72nd to 1/16th.  You can find more information on their website: http://www.takom-world.com

So what is a Paper Panzer?  For those unfamiliar, Paper Panzers refer to German WWII tank (Panzer) projects that were either conceptualized or blueprinted (hence "Paper") and, in some cases, manufactured as prototypes, but never entered mass production.

The development of the "Mamut" (Mammoth)  began in March 1942 when Ferdinand Porsche was contracted to design a 100-ton tank.  This design, known as the Vk 100.01 or Porsche Type 205, was a 120-ton predecessor of the superheavy tank that existed only in blueprints and never saw service.  It was merely an intermediate stage in the development of the Maus. A lot of information is available online about this specific Paper Panzer, but many sources provide contradictory dates.

The Box:

This new arrival was packaged in a surprisingly large box, measuring 15" (381mm) long x 10" (254mm) wide x 5" (127mm) tall with colorful box art showing the Vk. 100.01(P) K3382 with a tank commander in the hatch.  The contents include 9 grey sprues, 1 upper hull, 1 lower hull, 1 turret, 2 sprues of polycaps, 1 package containing 4 lengths of rubber tracks, 1 photoetch fret, 1 small decal sheet for the 3 paint versions, 1 package containing the 4 metal track pins, and 1 instructional booklet in landscape orientation.

Paint and Markings Guide

Sprue B x 2 containing the sprockets and roadwheels

Sprue C x 2 containing the suspension arms

Sprue K 

Sprue L

Sprue P containing upper hull and main guns

Sprue Q 

Sprue R 

Turrets

Lower Hull

Polycaps

Takom's CAD drawings of the movable suspension and tracks

Rubber/Vinyl Tracks

Track Pins and Track Closeup

Decals and Photoetch fret

Takom's CAD drawings of the photoetch placement 

Conclusion:

Molding is crisp with an excellent level of detail.  As with any Takom kit, flash is something not seen anymore.  The parts trees are easily identifiable making this hobby a pleasure.  However, I wish the gun tubes were one-piece slide molded instead of two parts or a metal barrel included.  I don't foresee this being problematic though.  With that said, I am looking forward to the full build.  Stay tuned. 

Highly Recommended for Beginner to Advanced builders.

Thanks goes out to Takom for this review kit.

Reviewed by Phillip Cavender

If you liked this review, consider joining AMPS. Your annual membership
includes six copies of AMPS's magazine, Boresight,
and helps to support our ongoing reviews.

Click here for more information about joining AMPS