1:35 WOODEN BOX FOR PZ. KPFW III L-N, TYPE 7, WITH WOOD TEXTURE AND PE BRACKET

Wooden box for the Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. L to N, type 7, 1:35 (Elefant)

It is not a tank kit but a small accessory for one: a resin wooden stowage box for models of the German Pz.Kpfw. III tank in the Ausf. L to N versions in 1:35 scale. According to the name the casting has a wood texture worked into it and a photo-etched metal bracket belongs with the box. The part is meant to be fitted straight onto the model, with no need to alter the hull. The manufacturer carries a series of numbered types of this box; this item is type 7.

What the accessory is for

Boxes, jerrycans and tarpaulins are what sets a model built out of the box apart from a vehicle that looks as though it has use behind it. A box stowed on the fender or at the rear breaks up the monotonous surface of the armor, gives the model a sense of scale and offers a color contrast against the base shade. Resin has the upper hand over plastic here: the pattern of the planks comes out crisper and without a parting line across the wall of the box. The enclosed photo-etched bracket makes it possible to fix the box the way it was attached on the real vehicle, instead of merely gluing it flat.

The real subject

The Pz.Kpfw. III was a German medium tank of the Second World War. The Ausf. L and M versions carried a 50 mm gun in an extended barrel length and received added spaced armor plates, while the Ausf. N was armed with a short 75 mm gun and served in a support role. Vehicles of this family commonly carried boxes for stowage, spare parts and the crew's personal kit on the fenders and at the rear.

Building and painting tips

First wash the parts in lukewarm water with dish soap so that remains of the mold release agent are removed. Cut the casting blocks off with a fine saw rather than nipping them, as resin is brittle. It is best to sand wet and with respiratory protection. Use super glue (cyanoacrylate) for gluing, because ordinary polystyrene cement will not bond resin. Apply a primer before painting. Bend the photo-etched bracket over a sharp edge or in a bending tool and degrease it before painting. Wood is rendered well by laying thin filters and oil stains in various shades over a brown base and finally bringing the pattern of the planks out with a dark wash. Go over the edges and corners with a fine dry brush so that they look worn. Fit the box only after the vehicle has been sprayed, then unify it with the model under a shared coat of dust.

Who the accessory is for

• Modelers building the Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. L, M or N in 1:35 scale
• Diorama builders who work with stowage and loads on vehicles
• Modelers who want to practice painting wood on a small area
• More experienced modelers familiar with resin and photo-etched parts

This is not a model on its own but an accessory for a plastic kit. The set is supplied unassembled and unpainted; glue, paints and the base model are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.