I need some advice/suggestions on my next build.

I have Dragon's M21 on the bench right now. In fact I'm not far into it yet, but I'm looking toward my next project.
I was heavy into the hobby years ago but I have been out of it for some time. My current build is my 4th since coming back so I back in the saddle again as far difficulty of the build go. (Of course now that I said that I've cursed myself.)

I want to build one of each of the main tanks Germany from WWII. So here is the question.
I'm looking for an early war (‘39-‘41/’42) tank, maybe Pz I or Pz II, or a 38(t). A Pz III would not be out of the question if it's the right one. I want a kit that is accurate and looks true to the original vehicle of course.
I'm also looking for a kit that is fairly complete right out of the box with plenty of PE parts, metal barrel, good figures and true to life markings. I will be doing my research on any vehicle I chose and will try to make as real as I can. I don't mind buying extra decals or PE part and other add-ons but I'm looking to keep this to a minimum. There are so many good kits out on the market I thought some advice from some of you who have hands-on experience with them would be good.
Suggestions? …. and thanks in advance.

I should add I'm looking for 1/35 scale.

Thanks again

Robert:

Early WWII German "main types of TANKS" (as versus "vehicles", "AFV", etc.) and 1/35 kits...

IMHO, the best places to look for these - German TANKS used in Poland, the Low Countries, France, Norway - if these meet the "early" definition (by me, something prior to 1941 and Operation Barbarossa)- would be Tristar and Dragon. There are some few out by other makers, but not up to those standards, IMO. The kinda-middle ground would be some Tamiya kits.

Germany went to war in 1939 with Pz. IA, Pz. IB, Pz.II, Pz.III A - F, and Pz.IV A - D (OK, E came out in SEP 1940). Germany also fielded the ex-Czech 35(t) and 38(t) (Ausf A - D thru France, 1940). Not any sort of "main type", but there were also those few "NeuBauFahrZeug" 3-turret monsters.

This is the list you might choose from. My opinions about the kits?

I highly highly recommend the Tristar Panzer 1A (specifically their 35028 kit with really nice interior).

The Dragon Panzer IA "modified" kit has a pretty nice interior coupled with their "SmartKit" 1A exterior. Also a great detailed build.

IB.... best served by Dragon with the "DAK version" but the Dragon IB kits need some suspension parts and work to get nice, IMO.

Pz II is well-served by the Dragon kits (with interiors) (but all needing a little work to get "fully-right") and by the later Tamiya "Ausf A/B/C" kits (which are curb-side only but great exterior builds of this icon). No "F" allowed in this run!

Pz. III E and F are super-served by the recent Dragon SmartKits 6631 and 6632 - big projects and great builds, although there are a few things which could be improved, of course.

Pz. IV early versions A - D? Dragon just released their new A - could be a real show-stopper Pz IV early. There are the CyberHobby B and D and Dragon C - all of which are full-bore "superkits" with lots of stuff - PE, metal barrels, etc. Tristar also put out some early IV - I think the IV-D "tauchpanzer" is their best kit in this genre and pretty nicely detailed.

The ONLY really good Pz. 38(t) which will allow you to build the right hull for an A-D is the Tristar "B" kit 35026 or 35029 (with fantastic and replete interior.

(Dragon has put out 3 really nice Pz. 38(t) kits with great interiors and engines, but all are of the later "flat-faced" versions which did not come into service until after NOV 1940).

There is NO really good Pz. 35(t) kit out - but one is apparently on its way from Bronco (hurrah!).

And then there are those NeuBaFahrZeug kits - Trumpeter, Dragon, Amusing Hobby. All have their ups and downs, all are pretty new.

About the kit bits... ALL of the above offer some - some a LOT - of PE. A couple of Pz. IV offer metal barrels. The kit styrene barrels on the Dragon and Tristar kits are pretty nice, IMO.

All this is, of course, just my non-expert opinion on the matter, and there are others who will certainly differ!

I think you have a LOT of choices to paw about in! The earlier war German is rather well-served, IMHO!

Bob