Si B’s 1/35 Takom blitz Pz III Ausf M

[Si Benson]

With the T-34 pretty much done, I wanted something super simple to get my teeth into and this seemed to fit the bill nicely.
Nice and simple with no interior and the only metal parts are the schürzen.

Here is a review of the kit.



Got started on the wheels and suspension, then thought about blogging it, hence some bits off the sprue’s.










Nice compact, clear instructions booklet...








Started this yesterday morning and within an hour had most of the lower hull done and the wheels snipped, glued and seem lines remove.




Shouldn’t take long at all at this rate.
I really wanted to build a Tamiya Pz III because they are super simple but couldn’t find one cheaper than this, paid £29 delivered. Let’s see how it goes

As usual, all abuse comments welcomed
Cheers

 

[Jim R]

Hi Si
Looks rather a nice kit in terms of detail. There does seem to be a lot of rather small, fragile parts.
Jim

 

[Steve Jones]

Well I will certainly pull up a chair for this one. Looking forward to seeing the three tone camo scheme. I must say I am surprised that a kit of this quality only gives you link and length tracks.. Good luck with the build and have fun painting all those wheels. I am doing the T34 wheels at the moment and its soooo nice not having to do tyres.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Looks a great kit. I haven’t seen many Pz IIIs built (lots of stugs though) so this will be interesting.

 

[BattleshipBob]

Hi Si, i have this half done, be aware of the very poor fit when joining the wheels together. I had new wheel spues from Takom after i complained, but not a great deal better.

Plan to restart it soon

Bob

 

[Si Benson]

Hi Si
Looks rather a nice kit in terms of detail. There does seem to be a lot of rather small, fragile parts.
Jim

There are some smaller bits admittedly, but compared to others kits it doesn’t look too bad....I hope

Well I will certainly pull up a chair for this one. Looking forward to seeing the three tone camo scheme. I must say I am surprised that a kit of this quality only gives you link and length tracks.. Good luck with the build and have fun painting all those wheels. I am doing the T34 wheels at the moment and its soooo nice not having to do tyres.

Ahhhh....Mr Jones, I’ve been expecting you
You’ll be pleased to know a three tone scheme seems inevitable According to Andy’s hobby headquarters on YouTube, he recons the kit is aimed at the easier end of the market...so link and length seem fitting and they look pretty good to be fair.
I hear you on wheel painting....them ruskies had the right idea about wheels unlike the Germans lol

Looks a great kit. I haven’t seen many Pz IIIs built (lots of stugs though) so this will be interesting.

Haven’t seen many Pz III’s built? I thought everyone here was sick to the teeth of anything Pz III/ IV and Tiger.....wasn’t even going to bother blogging....glad to have an interested watcher

Hi Si, i have this half done, be aware of the very poor fit when joining the wheels together. I had new wheel spues from Takom after i complained, but not a great deal better.

Plan to restart it soon

Bob

Hi Bob, well I already got all the wheels glued together without any issues.
I did think they where a poor fit initially, but after a head Scratch I found It was me being daft
Maybe you got a bad couple of Spues?

Glad to have so much interest so soon. There’s tea in the pot and cakes for the early birds, I can recommend the cherry bakewells



Good to have you along
cheers
Si

 

[Jim R]

There’s tea in the pot and cakes for the early birds, I can recommend the cherry bakewells

I was first in so yum-yum

 

[Jakko]

Nice, sensible link-and-length tracks with the curve already moulded in. I think this one is high on my list if I ever do get round to building a Panzer III

 

[Graeme C.]

Looks an interesting buils Si, will pull up a chair.

 

[BattleshipBob]

Hi Si, had same wheel issue with there StuG, perhaps they sorted it out?

 

[adt70hk]

Will be following this Si with interest.

Hope the build goes ok. Night Shift did a Takom Jagdtiger Blitz recently and the fit of the superstructure left more than a bit to be desired...

ATB.

Andrew

 

[Si Benson]

Nice, sensible link-and-length tracks with the curve already moulded in. I think this one is high on my list if I ever do get round to building a Panzer III

Your right about the tracks with built in undulations....great idea
I’ll see if I can tempt you into building one then

 

[Si Benson]

Looks an interesting buils Si, will pull up a chair.

Great to have you along Graeme....grab a bakewell before they all go!

Hi Si, had same wheel issue with there StuG, perhaps they sorted it out?

May well be of been an issue then. Glad mine where ok!

Will be following this Si with interest.

Hope the build goes ok. Night Shift did a Takom Jagdtiger Blitz recently and the fit of the superstructure left more than a bit to be desired...

ATB.

Andrew

Great to have you along Andrew. I watched that Night shift vid not long ago and was amazed a major defect like that got through quality control.
I see nightshift uploaded a PZ II re-do....worth a watch

 

[Si Benson]

Thanks for your interest gents....
Great to have some victims interested parties onboard

A little bench time post din-dins got the rear gubbins stuck on the back thingy and a run of Individual links put together.
I must say It’s a nice plastic to work with as well. It snips and sands nicely and takes TET, Mr Cement S and Tamiya liquid cement. Also they have clearly put some thought into the attachment points....pleased so far.






The attachment points on the tracks are minimal and are easy to snip cleanly off the sprue.



Hopefully get a bit more built tomorrow
thanks again for looking in

 

[JR]

Room for one more ?
Don't listen to a certain quarter about 3 part camo Si I have it on good authority that the duvett is indeed one .

Photo for discussion only, but based on an insider's information .

 

[yak face]

Like the look of this si , hope it doesnt live up to its bad press for you . I like the way you say just a nice simple build then show us 8 sprues crammed with tiny pieces . BTW the baking looks very tasty but are you subconsciously making a tank ? The cake being the hull and the cherry bakewells the wheels ?

 

[Tim Marlow]

Looking good so far, beautiful crispness to the parts. Those track links look like they are smiling at you

 

[adt70hk]

Great to have you along Graeme....grab a bakewell before they all go!



May well be of been an issue then. Glad mine where ok!



Great to have you along Andrew. I watched that Night shift vid not long ago and was amazed a major defect like that got pass quality control.
I see nightshift uploaded a PZ II re-do

No problem. I've had my eye on these Blitz kits as possible way into 1/35. Just started watching the Pz II re-do.

ATB.

Andrew

 

[Jakko]

I’ll see if I can tempt you into building one then

It will be at the top of my to-build list, right after my M4A3 (90 mm), M3 medium, M4A3 (76 mm), M578 ARV, M36B2, D7A bulldozer, AS.42 Sahariana, LVTP-7, M114, and whatever else I still have laying around

 

[Si Benson]

Evening gents,
In between the dreaded grocery shop and home schooling duties, I managed some plastic sticking

I may of been a bit overzealous with the progress pictures, apologies if it gets too heavy
Rear hull plate that was put together yesterday was added...




The instructions showed two covers to add under the rear deck I hadn’t a clue what they where and was given an option have them open or closed.

After a quick check it turns out they are engine air inlet covers that can be closed for wading, so glued them open....




From above you can see the two square holes that the covers close onto....






The wading muffler was next.
Made up of several pieces but nice details...




Then the drive sproket and rear idler made and attached loosely.




Then the next few steps are all focused on adding parts to the upper hull and yes, it looks like a lot but you soon pootle through them. Most of the parts added to the left fender and not a PE clasp in sight ...




Too late to carry on now especially after a quick look at what’s coming next...



Off for a sprawl on the couch and a glass of red.
All comments welcome