PMMS
Voyager Models
Pzkpfw.III M/N
PE Update

Set No. PE 35005
Review by Terry Ashley

Dragon This PE update set is designed for the Dragon PzKpfw III Ausf M/N SdKfz 141/2 (kit No.9015) and is quite comprehensive as with previous Voyager etched sets.

The packaging again sees the PE frets enclosed in a stout cardboard foldout pack similar in size and shape to a double music or software CD pack and offers good protection for the contents.

The set has seven PE frets of excellent finely etched parts with nice relief on the details and excellent effects on the radiator grills and treadplate with the parts having the usual engraved lines to help with the bending process, a metal bending tool such as the Etch Mate or Hold & Fold will be handy in using the set.

The frets in the set are etched in three different thicknesses with five in .015mm, one in 0.25mm and one in thicker 0.50mm for the front armour plate.

The contents of the set is:
Voyager Models

The largest parts of the set are the new fenders which include the upper surfaces with nice tread plate pattern and additional parts for the hinge details and separate front and rear fenders. This requires you to remove the moulded on fender details from the Dragon kit to accept the new etched parts but this should be easy to deal with while the top screens for the side engine intakes have nicely done weave effect.

Click for larger viewProbably the most impressive part of the set is the spaced armour on the front of the superstructure; this consists of the front plate from the thicker .50mm etched fret which has hexagonal indentations to take separate hex nuts with small sections of the 0.5 plastic rod added for the bolts ends. The front plate is attached to the hull with metal brackets like the real thing and the side and top sections are also separate parts that could probably benefit form being soldered to the front plate instead of using cyanoacrylate.

Nicely detailed multi-part tool claps and mounting brackets are included as well as brackets for the wooden jack block, antenna tray and the numerous lifting hooks around the hull and turret; these are made up of two parts each from the thicker etched frets for good detail definition. On the rear engine deck there are the two types of steel rope brackets, the securing brackets and clips to hold the steel rope in place to add further details.

On the turret the upper and lower panels for the mantlet are provided as well as internal bracings brackets plus the top ventilator and side smoke grenade mounting brackets. Around the rear turret basket are several etched strips with bolt head details to add what is missing from the kit parts. The cupola MG mount is also supplied but this would probably look better in 3D wire.

The instructions are three pages of exploded line drawings showing the assembly of the parts and included enlarged sections to show additional details and are quite easy to follow and should make assembly easy.

Overall this is another excellent detail set from Voyager for the Panzer III M/N with many smaller details that will add greatly the final appearance of the kit.

Highly recommended.
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The etched frets

Click on thumbnail for larger view
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See the Voyager Models website for additional details.

Thanks to Voyager Models for kindly providing the review samples.



Page Created 2 March 2004

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