This review is an inbox review, of the newly released 1/35 scale kit from Master Box Limited, The Panzerkampfwagen 1 Ausf. A Breda, or Light German Tank T1-A Breda.
I have been waiting in anticipation for this kit to hit my mailbox, mainly because it is a really cool model subject, and it is another fine addition to MB Ltd. line of 1/35 scale armor subjects. If you are not familiar with this company yet, Master Box Limited is a model manufacturing company based in the Ukraine, who are producing a growing line of 1/35 scale armor subjects to date. This company is concentrating on making subjects that are not currently being mass produced by other model manufacturers, sticking to unique and more uncommon model kits. The newest addition, The Breda, is also a 1/35 scale model of its larger counterpart.
The history of this tank is very interesting - 28,October 1936, Pz-1A tanks of the Drohne and Condor legion collided with T-26 Soviet tanks adopted by the Republicans. The Germans machines were virtually helpless against the Soviet tanks, so some revisions were made to the Panzers in the field immediately. Rising the height of the Turret, as well as beefing up the armor was first at hand, then the addition of a 20mm machine gun of Italian origin known as The Breda, hence the tank nickname. Several machines were thus altered, but only one photo of those years demonstrating the adaptations is known in military literature. So, onto the model kit!!
INSIDE THE BOX
MB Ltd. packs all of their kits in medium weight cardboard lidded style boxes, which protect the contents quite well. On this kit you will find a full color rendition of the tank in action, as well as four different color views of the tank for reference on the box front. The supporting text on the sides of the box (in six languages) is helpful in understanding some of the history of this machine. Inside this box you will find a sealed plastic bag of goodies which include the following;
Sprue A, which contains 31 separate plastic pieces, mainly the tank body parts and suspension and propulsion systems respectively, molded in a light gray plastic color. Detail of the parts is very good with no visible warping or flashing.
Sprue B, 61 parts on this one, contains most of the smaller, more intricate parts of this Panzer, including the turret assembly, machine gun, and tank tools, etc. These are molded in light gray plastic also, with excellent detail on even the tiniest part (count the rivets!!!).
Sprues C and D, both contain MB Ltd's Separate Tank Treads, with enough separate pieces to build two complete tread assemblies, with plenty of leftovers to spare.
A decal sheet, although small, but definitely a colorful and accurate set of markings for this time period (Spain 1936-1938).
A small Ziploc bag of brass photo-etched parts, namely two exhaust screens and two muffler guards. I think that these are a fantastic addition to these tank kits because you can actually burn them with a flame to add realism to your machine to represent high heat damage.
A four page instruction sheet, booklet style, full of blow up style assembly diagrams, very detailed and easy to read and understand, with supporting text in six different languages as well. Also included in this kit, as is all of MB Ltd. other tank kits, is a step by step black and white photo assembly sheet, which is extremely helpful in assembling these kits. I must also add for those unfamiliar, that on the company website, under the Assembly heading, you will find additional color photographs for even more assembly instruction.
To accurately represent this tank, paint color recommendations is a Panzergrau and Dunkelgelb Camo pattern which is richly illustrated on the kit’s box top for reference.
All in all, this looks to be another good kit from start to finish, and personally I can’t wait to get it onto my workbench! I have had previous experience with MB Ltd. Panzer kits, and although there are some mildly challenging moments in the beginning assembly steps, they are a real gas to build! (For more details on this subject, look up my Built review of the Pz-1A Ambulance Version). Strongly recommended for the discerning treadhead, look for The Breda and add it to your armor line!
Many thanks to Mr. Alexander Surzhenko, Director of Master Box Limited, for providing this and all other MBL kits to date, sent promptly overseas.
About Mark R. Smith (Gunny) FROM: PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES
I have been building models of all sorts all of my life, concentrating mainly on the coolest one's when I was younger, but now I focus directly on all military subjects, from armor to warships. After years of counting rivets, I put away the calipers, dial indicators, and micrometers and now just ha...
