I built this kit many years ago, and I picked it up again. To be precise, I remember that the previous kit was product number 028 and the inside of the kit was reproduced in terrible detail, and instead of that, the figure was not attached. This time it comes with 2 figures of German tank soldiers, so I think I will put them on. The 003 German Type I Tank A kit was released in the early 2000s. The first thing I felt when I opened the box was the exquisite precision of that time. From the suspension structure of the undercarriage, the fine rivets, and the molding on the back of the tank, we can feel the enthusiasm of the maker.
Now, there are a lot of precision tank kits from Dragon, AFV Club, Takom and Border models, but I think the Tristar products were really ahead of their time. In particular, it was quite a surprise to me, even as I was making a lot of tank plastic models at the time, that a relatively minor vehicle, Panzerkampfwagen I, was made into such a complete kit. Unfortunately, Tristar has gone out of business and it is difficult to get a new one. For that reason, the one that remains in your hands is like a “”legacy”” that tells the story of the golden age of models in the past. Well, maybe not all of them, but Hobby Boss takes the molds and produces them, so I think we can get some of them.
When I actually start assembling it, there are not so many parts, so I can easily assemble the chassis. The instructions in this manual are quite detailed. There is a slight difference in the mold between the front and the back of the rolling wheel, so I was instructed to install it carefully. I hardly know. And I adjusted the rolling wheel to be as straight as possible.
I haven’t installed the OVM and hatch on the tank yet, but the mold is fine and nice. Fender mesh mold, etc.
This is the turret of Panzer I. It is very small compared to a ballpoint pen. If you use a low viscosity plastic adhesive, it will get into the moving part of the turret, so I think a normal viscosity adhesive is more suitable.
Jack and fire extinguisher? The muffler and antenna case are attached and the assembly is gradually progressing.
(2025/07/15)
The tank I has a small turret and only machine guns. It’s like this. It’s a tank, but it doesn’t have any anti-tank capability. Panzerkampfwagen I was originally developed as a “training tank” for purposes of training and maintenance of mechanized units, so it’s only armed with two 7.92mm machine guns. It was a product of the early stages of German rearmament in the mid-1930s, so it was never intended to be “We’re gonna do some serious tank fighting!.” But they were used in the Spanish Civil War and the invasion of Poland, and of course they couldn’t compete with the full-scale tanks of other countries (like the T-26 and BT tanks) The German army also realized, “This is serious,” and it was a trend to rapidly release the following tanks, II, III, and IV. Its turret can be turned by separate parts, and its use of the leaf spring system provide the foundation for future German tank designs.
According to the article on Tank I in the Achtung Panzer 7 at hand, it was explained that the intake and exhaust armour cover was approved in July 1937 to compensate for the weak armour around the engine. The kit also comes with optional parts, so I decided to attach it. At the time of the Battle of Poland in September 1939, there must have been quite a few tanks like this.
The kit came with two pretty accurate figures. Because the tank is small, when I put two figures on it, it doesn’t just look like an accessory, it looks like another main character. It is very good because it was made by Mr. Yoshitaka Hirano, a figure sculptor. Their facial features are unique, and the wrinkles in their uniforms and the texture of their equipment are unobtrusive. They’re wearing the Panzer berets of the early tanks of the German elite, and they’re going to be a good match for the Polish war vehicles. Like the real one, the core of the inner cap has been reproduced, and I think it feels a little stiff. This helmet, which was common until the French game, was eventually replaced with a simplified field cap.
I don’t really know, but I think that the connecting track of this kit 003 is not just a plastic connection, but a Modelkasten SK-70 movable track is used as it is. It’s rare to have a structure where one side is inserted and the other side is inserted. It has excellent mobility and texture, and is very satisfying when assembled. The fact that we can enjoy high-quality third party parts is the highlight of Trystar.
Depending on the parts, it’s easier to shape them neatly with a nipper, or it’s better to cut from the top with a design knife. It is easy to make if the parts are accurate even though they are small.
(2025/07/19)
My past working German vehicles.
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