Rudi Richardson provides an In-Box Review of the 15cm s.IG.33 (Sf) auf Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.B 'Bison I', a 1/35 scale kit by DML.

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Thanks!

Magnificent model,as I could see, and the good review - thanks Rudi !

Alexander.

I have one on the go over at planetArmor
http://www.planetarmor.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5925

Thanks gents.

James B, thanks for publishing

Alexander, thanks for the compliment. Much appreciated, and I hope others feel the same way.

James T, thanks for the link to your build. Impressive stuff!

I'll be starting my own blog of the kit as soon as I can get a few other items out the way - so hopefully early next week

Rudi

Good review. Thanks Rudi for your effort. Can't wait for the build blog...

-A-

Well, Rudi, I shall wait yours blog! I think it it will be interesting and useful - I collect money for purchase of this model and I hope to construct it sometime.

Alexander.

Nice review Rudi, looking forward to seeing your build log on this one. Also kudos to DML for including the correct 1940 two-tone scheme on the finishing guide for the vehicles in France.

Hey Bill this one must blow you away after all the work did on yours, you must be livid.

Excellent review Rudi, thanks! I'll have to pick one of these up.....looking forward to your build

James,

I think there's a secret law written in the model universe that states that no sooner does someone, somewhere, spend an inordinate amount of time creating a specific vechicle via scratchbuilding, kitbashing, etc. then a major manufacturer will announce a brand new tooled release scheduled within the next 6-12 months. It's happened to me before with the Alan Flakpanzer 38 as well as the Panzerjager I so you kind of resign yourself to it after a while as a potential risk.

Always struck me as being an extremely top heavy vehicle.

Nice review Rudi, and nice to see you doing a little tracked thing. Maybe a wheel vehicle is in the wings?

Excellent review Rudi. It's always great to look inside these kits before buying them.

Thanks for the excellent review Rudi. Thanks to you, I will pick one up, just to try something different. it is a cute little thing to put on the shelf.

You need help. That's just plain ugly! ;-)

Bill I was just thinking the SAME thing last night as I was typing that response. Thats why I posted it.

Ugly IS beautiful!

Kudos to Rudi for the great review. I've also been following Taiton's build at PA and it's some great stuff! Anyone interested should definitely check it out.




True words, I find it hard to get excited about all the slick surfaced and one-piece-looking WWII vehicles out there, I'm someone attracted by the odd and sometimes ugly. My next build is Dragon's Grille Ausf.H - UGLY!

Sebastian

Thanks gents. Appreciate all the positive feedback

Aleš, Alexander, James B: Yup, I'll also looking forward to the blog

Bill: Really appreciate your comments. Yeah, I'm torn between which scheme I'll be going for...

James Z: Yeah we probably should thank Bill for tempting fate like that

Dave: Thanks! Apparently the superstructure and gun really did put a lot of strain on the little Pz I chassis, it's high profile made it easily visible, and the open gun platform didn't give much protection to the crews. A wheelie review? Well nothing planned, but one never knows what the future holds

Jeff, Sebastian: It's a pleasure. I always try to write reviews I would like to read and present photos I would like to see - I know I can be pedantic and over the top at times, but rather too much information that too little

Sean: Ugly? A bit, but she's a "special" gal

Sebastian (Self-Propelled): Thanks mate! Looking forward to your build of the Grille Ausf.H. Another kit I'd like to pick up sometime in the distant future.

Thanks again gents. Believe it or not I was rather nervous about this review, as although I have 40 odd figure reviews under the belt, it was my first vehicle review!

Rudi

Good work, Mate!

Thanks Bill

Great review, Rudi.

It looks like this kit inherits the improved hull tub from the Panzerbefehlswagen Ausf. B 3 in 1 kit, and the improved road wheels from the Panzer I Ausf. A with Interior. The original Panzer I Ausf. B had thick fenders with no indention along the bottom. This made it difficult to leave off the front and rear mud guards, as doing so revealed the thick cross section of the fenders. The Panzerbefehlswagen 3 in 1 kit introduced the thin fenders with photo etched side inserts and the correct idler wheels (skeletal framework without tires). The latter was supposedly included in later boxings of the Panzer I Ausf. B, but I'm not sure if the improved hull bottom ever was. I believe this is the second kit with the improved road wheels featuring brass ring inserts.

I think the side headlights with blackout covers are new to this kit.

It appears this kit has an extra set of the smaller springs seen on the front road wheel station of the Panzer I Ausf. A Series 2 and 3 vehicles. If yes, they could be used to correct a potential issue with the original Panzer I Ausf. A Smart Kit.

It also appears the tropical engine hatches did not make it into the box? Nor the smoke candle rack? Interesting, though not necessarily pertinent.

I really want to buy and build this but I just cannot keep up.

-Doug

I didn't see any of these? I had to scratch my own using some old Tristar position lights (not headlights BTW ) (and because the DML ones are way to big!) and some Aber covers, for the single headlight I scratched a BO cover from plastic.

Hi James,

They lights I mention appear in the review, picture 60, Sprue H, on the left. The sprue appears to contains left and right lights with bases and wires plus the blackout covers. I believe they are marked as not for use.

I have read about the lights on the fenders being oversized in the Ausf. B kits (the ones in DMLs Panzer I Ausf. A kits are much smaller) and almost mentioned it BUT when I looked at Panzer Tracts 1-1, the drawings of the Panzer I Ausf. B show a sort of medium sized light. It's hard to explain. In comparison, the little ones in the Panzer I Ausf. A Smart Kit look too small. The ones in the Panzer I Ausf. B kit look too big. The ones in the Panzerbefehlswagen 3 in 1 kit look about right. All three examples sit built up, side by side on a shelf, so I cannot reliably measure against plans. I cannot comment further until I have the kit myself.

I did not know they were position lights! How were they used? Like the fender poles with white ends seen on many WWII German vehicles?

-Doug

That sprue is provided for the kit for a few specific parts. It is actually from a previous Panzer III or Stug kit (my opinion- it'll take some effort to back track through some of my models to check for sure). I actually cut them off this sprue and was going to use them. I took the time to trim the mount so it was close to the right look. During the process I noticed that they still appeared to big. So that is why I switched to the Tristar versions with the Aber face plates.

I think I decided to go with Tristar's from eyeballing various pictures- the kit's items seemed a bit big.