Kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen (Sd.Kfz. 265)

[panzerjager.]

In order to recover some of the time I spend playing WOT, I start a "2 in 1" project with this little panzer. My intention is to take advantage of the miriad of lefct over parts fron other Dragon kits Para recupto improve the Zvezda one.

Info:

By mid 1936 the name "kleiner Panzerbefehlsawagen" (Sd.Kfz. 265) was applied to the command version of the Panzer I. Basically it was a Panzer I chassis with an added superstructure made of nickel-chromiun arnor plates, 13 mm thick at sides and front, 8 mm thick at the roof. The crew consisted in 3 men: driver, radio-operator and commander/gunner. Armament consisted in a MG 34 in a frontal ball mount. The radio equipment consisted in a trasnmitting/receiving Fu 6, beside the original Fu 2 of the Panzer I


184 vehicles was produced between july and august 1936.

Modifications and/or improvements was introduced during or after productions; the most important for modellers are:

• Adding, in 1937 of 2 "loop-holes" in the superstructure.

• Backfitted, in 1938 of two types of commander's cupola


Models to use:

1) Dragon 6597: edited in 2010, it looks well molded, with crisply details, but with 2 fails: there should be 2 "L" sprues, with 8 road wheels weach, but the box contain only 1; I've not checked the second fail yet, buy I read there is not enough track links in the bag to complete both tracks

Revisión en ModelArmour


2) Zvezda 3523: kit edited in 1982; I couln't find online reviews

www.scalemates.com/products/product.php?id=184903


WALKAROUNDS

The only survivor was captured in Africa by british troops and is exhibited in the Tank Museum of Bovington


www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=3740

gallery.kitmaker.net/showgallery.php/cat/13467

militarymodels.co.nz/2012/05/30/walkaround-kleiner-panzerbefehlswagen-i-ausf-a-pz-kpfw-i-command-tank/

jtrowbridge5.smugmug.com/BovingtonsLightandMediumtanks/Panzer-1-repainted

kentylertankphotos.built2scale.com/2012/04/21/panzer-i-b/

Recommended books

German Military Vehicle Rarities 2 - Tankograd Sp 4002
Panzerkampfwagen I & II - Almark
Panzer I - Podzun-Pallas - Waffen Arsenal 18
Panzerkampfwagen I - Panzer Tracts 1-1 y 1-2
Pz.Kpfw I Vol.I - Wydawnictwo Militaria 226
PzKpfw I - KlPzBfWg - Wydawnictwo Militaria Militaria in Detail
Die PanzerKampfagen I und II - Motorbuch Verlag

Lets go with the first steps.

Chasis comparation, pretty similar



Adding weldings to Italeri model. Note the armor plates added (seen on Bovington's vehicle)



Adding to the interior: floor, boxes and firewall are from other Dragon kits Bison and Pz Jg I), adapted with cutter and sanding; radios are not used parts from Dragon Bison II (not the same Fu, but fair enough). The spare MG barrels case is from an unknow kit; the holders for the flags are styrene rod from Lion Roar; the upper firewall and the ammo rack are made out of styrene sheet.



The seat back is from a Dragon 251, the cushion is styrene sheet



Here the tragic-funny part: you know Leo, my kleine-adjutant; as you can see, he looks interested in the small road wheels





And he helps me to get the sprues from the box





It seems one morning, he was boring, and take some parts to play (a bogie)....he bite the parts or he simply left them on floor and then me or someone of my family walk over parts...or whatever



Well, lets start to fix this

Darío

[Deleted]

Dario , good scratch building and a good start considering what you have to deal with as far as the damage .
I had a cat damage model parts for me once so I helped her move to a new town and family .

[deafpanzer]

Chuckling about the cat's story... at least we can say the damages look pretty realistic.

You have my attention as usual!

[Deleted]

Nice choice and great pics of yer cat!

[wbill76]

It's a Panzer-Cat! Looks like a fun project Dario, looking forward to seeing this one come together.

[panzerjager.]

Thanks guys!
Well, I can't resist to add more interior details...damn, I can't wait to start the painting!
Added the seats, radio frames and a electric box and wires



Added the original radio, frame, MG and related items




Those details would not be much visible later:





I repaired some of the parts broken by the cat:





That's all for today. Thanks for your visit

[deafpanzer]

Excellent save on the damaged parts! SUPERB work on the interior!!!

[Deleted]

yep great work on the interior will look good painted up

[TRM]

Looking great Dario!! Keep it coming!!

[wbill76]

Looking good Dario, that interior detail is a nice 'upgrade' for sure.

[panzerjager.]

There is little progress because of WOT but it's something:










As I said ... then you will see very little of the interior, but I enjoy adding details.

Darío

[remarc777]

Hi there Dario,

Love this little fella! I still have the idea in my head to build this one in a scene during the "Blitz days". So if you don't mind I'm going to save these excellent how to-pictures on the interior on my harddrive for refference. Thanks for sharing  !

greetings, Richard. 

[desertrat]

loving this!! right down to the flags!! i,ll keep watching this one!

[wbill76]

Nice work on the interior Dario...even if you might need a dental mirror to see it in the end, at least you know it's there!