I could try to post some picture of the friul sprocket later today. They are "used". I started a couple of years ago to backdate the older dragon/ imperial series #9029 Pz.kpfw III ausf H,however I didnt completed it. So I was filled with joy when Dragon announced this kit. But now it looks like I have use those friul sprockets anyway.

Thanks, Richard, for posting that link. Friulmodel makes 2 sprockets, AW-01/A and AW-01/B. How do you know /B is the right one?

Here you go, a bit hard to show the details because of the dark grey colour. It's the friul AW-01/B



Sprocket on a stick, need some rework to fit the tub

Thanks, Tommy! Much obliged.

This kit had me wondering ,so I took out my trusty Panzer Tracts and read a bit more on the H , and looking at the sprue shots I noticed you do get the newer sprocket and Idler wheel in the kit , so from what I read there were some H's with the new sprocket and idler but still had the early shock absorbers . So you can build the kit without buying any aftermarket stuff , but if you do want the earlier sprocket and you buy one ,be sure to add a spacer to the idler wheel or things won't line up .. See what you got me doing at 3:45 in the morning ..lol

Rick

TWS1085 Panzer III 40cm Drive Sprocket (DRA) $3.50
This is a set of Early Panzer III Sprockets with the 40cm track spacer. The spacer is very well done and has the appearance of being bolted on rather than a solid molded piece.


Hi Guys,

It's a shame the kit doesn't come with the correct usable sprocket. I just wanted to let you all know that TWS has the correct spaced sprocket at a very good price. Hope this helps.


Brian

Thanks Brian ..Never thought to check TWS... Another good option .. Still too bad that we have to look elsewhere .. Come on Dragon, this should have been caught before the kit was brought out .. Let's hope they make it right and even for those who have already bought the kit. This is a job for ... (no not Superman) Dragoncare..

Rick

I finally took a look in the Dragon Nashorn 3-in-1 kit... Yes, it does have the modified III-early sprockets, along with a set of the standard later III type.

Turns out that probably relatively few Hornisse and Nashorn came along with the modded early - certainly the less-common configuration and generally seen only in the early production vehicles. Not common in war-time photos of the type

As many know, the German vehicle industry practiced "FILO" parts-stocking and usage... newest stuff added into the pile got used before old stock did... which does allow that even later-production Nashorn could occasionally have those early-type sprockets. But only seldom.

So... IF you have the 3-in-1 kit, AND you want to build your Nashorn with the more-common configuration... you have some modded early sprockets for your early H.

@Richard C.; Adding a spacer to the idler? I'm not sure! That idler in the III-H kit should already be in position for the correctly-supplied 40cm tracks, right? So replacing the erroneous early sprocket with the necessary wider "modded" sprocket should already be accommodated, I would expect.

But stranger things (not limited to kits needing "AM" modded 40cm early sprockets to fit their supplied 40cm tracks) have of course happened in the scaly world of the Dragon!

PS: About that kit supplying "correctly-sized" later-type sprockets along with the wrong early types... well, "so what?"! The art shows the early H with its widened early-type sprockets, and I would guess many of us would love to have that distinct different appearance on our build. I, for one, would expect to build it "early-early" so that it does look distinct from later H, etc.

Bob

Hi Bob ... I'm not sure if you need a spacer or not but I'm thinking that you better test fit the tracks so that the track tooth lines up with the middle of the idler before gluing everything together...
As for the later sprocket ...I agree that it's not a solution to the problem but at least if someone has already bought the kit and does not want to spend money on an aftermarket sprocket...The kit can be built as an actual vehicle that existed ..I guess you'll need new decals. It was just to give people another option..

Rick

Rick; I'm NOT taking any sort of shot at what you said!

I AM, however, taking yet another shot at the D. They sell this kit with what I believe is clear intent to say you can build the visually-distinct early H from this box - and "nicely provide you the option of building a later vehicle" - while not providing you what you need to make what you wanted when you bought this one! "You can always build a later H, if you "WISH"! A squishy sort of b*tt-cover so that builders might not squeal as much!

You are absolutely right about the track n wheels question... I, too, would heartily suggest doing some checking and fitting of tracks - the more so given that they did do this actually odd-seeming gaff with a narrow sprocket! I do assume that the sprocket can actually be floated out on its little stub-axle the 12 - 15 thou needed to center it in the wider track... but a spacer would ensure that it did get fixed in place. As long as one is checking positions of things... the return rollers might need a tweak, as well. All the wheel goods need to be centered perhaps 15 thou further out from the hull-side to accommodate that wider 40cm track (or there is already enough space for the wider track to fit closer to that hull...).

Cheers!

Bob

Hi Bob ...Didn't think you were at all ...lol I understand completely...
I do think the wheels and return rollers will be ok since they are already the later (wider type) so they should be fine with the 40cm tracks ..
I enjoy this kinda post ..and I bet it has been a while since a review has got over 1000 views..lol I think we have done a good job letting people know what to expect on buying this kit .. That's what forums are for..

Rick

As I see it looking over the instruction front pages of 6641 early H and 6642 late H the two kits are almost identical. 6641 has all of 6642 except the turret stowage box the so called Rommel box and adds the dubious early sprockets and of course both kits have diff decals. Now 6642 has everything 6641 has except those sprockets and you get the Rommel box . So since the Early sprockets are wrong you are better off getting 6642 as the Rommel box is nice to have and this new tooled Dragon one is the best Styrene one on the market in my opinion. There just isn't enough offered in the newer 6641 , yes 6642 was first even though the numbers say otherwise . Oh one other small note in 6642 you get an actual bent wire for the front headlight Dragon has since in 6641 made it plastic. So overall unless you need those decals or just want those Early sprockets I see 6642 to be the better kit. Just my two cents.


Brian

Hi Brian.. With all this talk of Panzer IIIH's going on here, I took out my late (6642) last night and started it .. It really is a nice kit.. One thing you don't get in the late kit are the early shock absorbers.. both kits have a Z sprue but looking at the pictures they aren't the same . It is nice to see everything else but the Rommel box in the kit to "desertise" the early .. I suppose it won't belong before they do a specific desert early H kit and that might be the time for them to correct the sprocket!
One thing that bugs me about the late kit is it is focused mostly on desert vehicles (decals)but don't give you any optional diagrams on how the stowage was changed when they added the spare wheels to the fenders ..I've been trying to figure out where to put everything .. Even Ron Volstad's art has the wheels on the fenders ... Come on Dragon !!

Have a great day everyone
Rick

Hello Richard,

What you need is the new PanzerTracts book specific to the E thru H models. Has a ton of pictures and a lot of great drawings showing diff configurations. I personally love PT books I think they are the best and they don't cost an arm n a leg. If you are wanting a spaced larger Early sprocket set I would trade you a TWS set for your Early 36's.

Brian

Hi Brian .. I already have the PT books (got them all and love them ) as for the sprockets ..I'm fine I've got an early Nashorn kit .. Thanks for the offer..You might ask Bill if he's interested.. I'm sure he would be.

Rick

So Gents (especially Bob), to sum up:

You can build the kit with the later sprocket without problems, but if you want to use the earlier, more "ornate" and "distinctive" sprocket, you're going to need a spacer or an AM replacement.

Is that correct?