Tamiya - Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. B (Sd.Kfz. 101)

This is another great kit from Tamiya, and as noted in the letter sent with the kit, this is Tamiya's latest 1/35 scale military miniature model kit, 100% new tooled kit, which means that the main German tanks of WW II are all now in Tamiya's line-up.

A brief history of the Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. B

Although Germany had been forbidden to develop tanks after the defeat of WW I, it developed the Panzerkampfwagen I under the name of "agricultural tractor" to deflect suspicions of rearmament, and the Pz.Kpfw. I became a mass-produced tank. The engine on the Ausf. B was upgraded to 100hp, nearly double the 57hp of the Ausf. A. Also, it had a 40cm longer hull, and was equipped with a pair of 7.92mm MG13 machine guns. While the Pz.Kpfw. I was developed for training, it first saw live action in Spain during the Spanish Civil War and was widely used in various situations such as the invasion of Poland, France, North Africa, and the Eastern Front.

Kit features:

1. 1/35 scale plastic model assembly kit. Length: 123mm, width: 60mm.
2. The compact, powerful form of the German Tank Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf. B is faithfully captured based on extensive research of the actual tank.
3. Assembly type tracks have one-piece straight sections and depict realistic "sag".
4. Right and left fenders are recreated in a one-piece component featuring anti-slip patterns.
5. Photo-etched part authentically depicts exhaust cover.
6. Includes one torso figure which depicts a commander. Choose between head sections with  beret and side cap.
7. Comes with a choice of three marking options to recreate versions which were in service during the attacks in Poland, France, and Russia.
   

What's in the Box? A whole lotta gray!

There are five sprue trees, all molded in a dark gray, plus one small clear sprue with three lenses for lights, and a photo-etch part for the muffler cover. There is also a small decal sheet for three Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. Bs in Poland, France, or Russia. 

Two x Sprue A with 3-piece road wheels, sprockets, 2-piece idlers, return rollers, most suspension parts, link and length tracks. There are no knockout holes on the track links. Pay attention when attaching the return rollers - part A4 is notched and has to go on the rear return roller station so that a track location pin can "lock" in to it.

One-piece sprocket wheel

Those are some small parts - grab your Optivisor!

Sprue B has the turret ring, tow cable, mantlet, hatches, visors, tools, 3/4 crewman figure with two heads, two MG13 machine guns (not slide-molded), front hull, muffler, and other hull attachments

MG13 machine guns - note there is a slight difference between them, so be careful when installing in the mantlet

Crewman figure, one of the heads

Turret Ring

Sprue C: bottom hull plate, both hull sides, hull top, firewall, two-part muffler jig for the photo-etch, antenna and two-part antenna trough

Close-up of anti-skid on fenders; bolt detail on the lower hull side

Sprue D has the turret and upper hull superstructure

Upper Hull Superstructure

Turret - it is very small, easy to see why it is just a one-man turret

Decal sheet for three tanks, plus epaulets, collar tabs, hat piping, belt buckle, emblems for the crewman - well done! The one piece of photo-etch in the kit is for the muffler shield

Recent Tamiya kits have been including Background Information sheets in four languages like this one. The color profiles help with decal placement and painting.

12-page instructions, starting with required paint colors, recommended tools, cautionary notes

Note the three partial tank profiles lettered A, B, C - steps 4, 10, 17, 18, 21, and 22 have sub-steps marked A, B, or C to alert the builder to select either an optional part or decal, or drill a hole, especially regarding the figure's uniform details. Several of the steps, like step 1 above, note parts should be attached in the numbered order.

In Step 6, note that return roller A4 has the notch for the track pin. In step 8 pay attention to the direction of the bogie sets and which side of the beam is facing out

Step 9 alerts the builder to attach parts in numbered order, and draws an arrow from the pin on the top length of track to where it will attach to return roller A4

Attach the upper hull to the chassis

Painting and attaching lights, tools, muffler using photo-etch and 2-part jig

Painting and attaching more tools and finished muffler. Note the Option A decal placement

Step 18 is attaching the 2-part antenna trough and antenna, lifting hooks, Option A decals. Step 19 is installing the MG13 machine guns into the mantlet with protective covers. Step 20 is attaching lifting hooks, mantlet with MG13s, turret top to turret ring. Attach parts in numbered order to install the mantlet and turret cover. Step 21 is unusual in that the two tow cable ends have a small length of shaved cable that is attached to the molded coiled tow cable assembly. Attach the commander's hatch to the turret, the tow cable assembly to the front hull, and depending on build option, either a headlight on the left fender or a decal on a visor cover. Final Step 22 is painting the commander figure and attaching rank and insignia decals.

PROS: I hate to use a tired cliche, but this is a typical Tamiya kit. It is well-engineered, using one part instead of the 3-6 another manufacturer might use for a suspension arm or track link. There are no visible knockout holes or flash, parts are crisp and the plastic is not brittle or soft. Instructions are not overly complicated nor are they cluttered with multiple sub-steps. Paint colors are called out in each step, and accompanied by a color drawings of the three tanks represented on the decal sheet with clear instructions on decal placement. No ridiculously small and fragile photo-etch parts to feed the carpet monster or drive a modeller insane. One good-sized photo-etch piece, with a two-part jig, for the muffler shield. The commander figure is well molded with two optional heads with different headgear.

CONS: No interior, other than the machine guns, but that is typical Tamiya. Tools have clamps molded on, and there are attachment holes drilled in the fenders for the tools. The plastic antenna has four sprue attachment points, so extra caution needed to remove it.

Highly Recommended for Beginner to Advanced builders; this tank would look great in an Afrika Korps vignette or diorama for the upcoming AMPS Show in Camp Hill, PA.

Thanks goes out to Tamiya America, Inc. for this review kit.

Reviewed by Joseph "Mac" McDaniel

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