Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. H (late)

Features:

Accurately tooled rear hull w/newly tooled armor plates
5cm Kw.K L/42 gun w/newly tooled 35mm gun shield
Brand new Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.H realistically produced w/authentic detail
DS track with full details
Slide-molded engine deck for Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.H
Engine hatches can be assembled open or closed
Choice of new hatches as options
Armor plate realistically presented w/weld seams
Finely recreated gearbox access hatches can be assembled open/closed
Turret realistically made by 3-directional slide molds
One-piece slide-molded lower hull w/exquisite detail
Fully detailed weld seams on hull bottom
Full detail on lower hull sides
Complete gun assembly reproduced w/full detail
Turret side hatches can be assembled open/closed w/interior details
Driver's vision port can be assembled open/closed
Hollowed-out undercut on turret bottom included
Cupola hatches can be assembled open or closed
Vision ports w/open or closed option
Commander's cupola authentically recreates structural details
Fenders w/pattern detail on both top and bottom surfaces
Slide-molded torsion bars included
Injection molded tools w/clasp details
Starter crank port cover can be assembled open/closed
Slide-molded cooling air intake
Photo-etched air-intake grills
Toolbox w/padlock produced
Final-drive housing covers are separate parts for maximum detail
Accurate sprocket wheels
Idler wheels w/photo-etched parts
Detailed track tension adjuster
Road wheels w/accurate detail
Exhaust pipes w/hollow ends
Injection-molded plastic fender catch for accurate presentation
Slide-molded hydraulic shock absorbers
Detailed suspension swing arms

Dragon has released a number of fine Panzer III tanks in 1/35 scale before, including the recent Ausf.E (Item No.6631) and Ausf.F (Item No.6632). Now, Dragon has produced the very first Panzer III Smart Kit, and what a stunning creation it is. The Smart Kit depicts an Ausf.H variant, the first Panzer III version to be fitted with a 5cm Kw.K L/42 cannon. An order for 759 Ausf.H tanks was placed in January 1939, but as it turned out, only 308 were produced up till April 1941 before the Ausf.J entered production. To accommodate the bigger gun, the tank turret was redesigned and a turret basket added to the rear. Furthermore, additional armor plates were bolted to the rear, glacis and front superstructure of the hull. Mechanically the tank received a new transmission with redesigned sprocket and idler wheels.

This 1/35 scale Smart Kit has a great many brand new parts. For starters the lower hull, rear plate, glacis plate and front superstructure plate are all newly tooled. Add to this a new mantlet with 35mm-thick armor, and a new vision block. For a smoother ride there are newly tooled hydraulic shock absorbers and new 40cm Magic Tracks appropriate to the initial track design. All in all, this kit has been completely overhauled in comparison with earlier Panzer III plastic kit releases. The Smart Kit label ensures it’s cleverly engineered for easy assembly thanks to the widespread use of advanced molding techniques. Up-gunned and upgraded, this Panzer III Ausf.H Smart Kit will attract a lot of attention from modelers!