FtF Panzer II Ausf C

Overview As far as I know, the First to Fight kit, released in 2014, is the first plastic model of an early PzKpfw II Ausf C, with the rounded hull's front without extra armour. (Ed.note.: In fact, Attack has this version in their range as well.) Practically identical were earlier models: Ausf c (small letter), A and B, constituting a family of so-called 'standard' PzKfw II tanks. Only after hard lessons from the Polish campaign, PzKpfw II were fitted with extra armour on the nose, giving it an angular look. Therefore, the model represents the most typical German tank from the 1939 Polish campaign. Such tanks also still constituted some 30% of the PzKpfw II fleet during the French campaign. The kit contains one sprue, with only 13 parts, a bottle of a smelly glue and a decal sheet (not counting a toothpick for the glue). A basic assembly instruction is on the back side of the box, which is sufficient for this build. It also comes with a booklet (actually the kit is a "bonus" to the periodical booklet) which is in Polish only. On the box you'll find a painting scheme with the corresponding Vallejo paint call outs, also repeated in the booklet The model is a quick build kit, similar in appearance, design and detail level to the late PzKpfw II C manufactured by S-Model. In fact, the similarity of the moulding quality of these two kits is striking. Both have tools finely moulded on the fenders, which also have a delicate pattern. All the parts are very sharp and highly detailed for a quick build kit. Separate parts are: a jack, headlights, an antenna trough, and, contrary to S-Model, a driver's visor. On my sample there were no sinkholes or flash. All the ejector marks were on the inside of the parts and not in visible places. Overall the moulding quality is very good and details are delicate.

	Unlike in S-Model's kit, there are no brass barrels nor PE mesh for the muffler's cover, but the existing plastic barrel is adequate in my opinion. As for the muffler's cover, it has a fine mesh pattern, but unfortunately, not in the upper part, where it should also be. Also, unlike S-Model's kit, a two-part turret hatch is molded closed, and there are no details on the tank's bottom. The gun and machine gun are molded as one part with their mantlet, and they can elevate, although it needed some plasticine to make it tight. The plastic is rather soft and easy to work with, however there will be a need to cut nubs, which should be sanded out and painted. Also on the front surface of the guns' mantlet there is a division line visible between the lower and upper form's parts. It needs to be sanded, but the presence of guns and hatches create some difficulty here. (S-Model's kit has this part better designed, and with more prominent hatches.)
Accuracy Visually the model does not raise doubts as for its accuracy. Details seen from the top view, as well as arrangement of tools, generally agree with a plan in the Polish book "Panzer II" by J. Ledwoch (1992). Maybe only the right edge of the hatches above the engine is a bit too close to the side. I took dimensions for the PzKpfw II C from "Encyclopedia of German Tanks of WWII" (Jentz/Doyle), rounded to 0.5 mm after scaling: Length: 4810 mm / calculated 67 mm / model 67 mm Width: 2220 mm / calculated 31 mm / model 31 mm Height: 1990 mm / calculated 27.5 mm / model 26.5 mm. Since this is a quick build kit, the main area of simplification is the suspension, which is all cast in one piece along with the tracks, for each side. They look almost identical, as in S-Model's kit. They can be attached to the hull without glue, and also the lower and upper part of the hull can be assembled without a glue. A vice of such technology is that the exterior surface of the tracks is rendered in simplified way, limited to transversal bars, although the designers spared an effort to imitate protruding drive sprocket teeth. On the other hand, the sides of the tracks have very nice details, including hollow sides of the guide teeth. Of course, with such technology, the two rows of guide teeth have been replaced with one thick row, but this is hardly visible and by no means striking. All wheels have a generally correct shape and look, save the fact, that in the idler wheels the eight spokes are a bit too short and do not connect with the hub, as they should (I can see the same in S-Model's kit). It is however disappointing, that rocker arms and springs have been flattened and partly interfere with the wheels (the same can be seen on S-Model's kit - possibly the technology did not allow to place rocker arms and springs deeper?).
Conclusion For a quick build, this kit is of high quality and moulded to a high standard. Recommended for wargamers due to its simplicity and low cost, but also for modelers, due to the high level of details and overall quality. While simplified tracks and suspension make it inappropriate in the role of a showcase model, it is a great addition to a Polish campaign diorama. Preview sample purchased by the author.

First to Fight		PzKpfw II Ausf C
Kit #: PL1939-010			Preview by Michal Derela - pibwl(at)poczta(dot)onet(dot)pl Edited by Rob Haelterman

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Article Last Updated: 04 July 2015