German
armor in WW2 used a very recognisable type of black-out lights (Nachtmarschgerät),
generally known by modelers as Notek
lights. (The name is actually a contraction of the name of the firm
that developed it, Nova-Technik GmbH.) It comprised a front headlight
(somewhat resembling a deformed German Stahlhelm) and a rectangular
rear
light. The latter had a small flap that allowed the lamp to be
used as a standard brake light or as a device allowing the next driver
to judge his distance from the vehicle carrying it.
The set
contains 16 pieces, 4 each for 4 different designs:
- The
Notek headlight (Notek Tarnscheinwerfer). On the Panzer III this
was introduced in March 1940 and retrofitted to older vehicles; they started to disappear in September 1942 when they were replaced
by Bosch headlights with blackout caps. It must be noted that the old Notek soldiered on and could (for instance) still be seen on Hetzers produced at the end of the war.
This light was 235 mm long and 170 mm wide; in 1/72 this gives 3.39
mm by 2.36 mm. The part is 3.00 mm by 2.36 mm.
- The
Notek rear light (Notek Abstandrücklicht). These are all given
in the configuration for estimating distance. They started to disappear on the Panzer III
in October 1942 when they were replaced by a tubular design that
performed the same role. It must be noted that the old Notek soldiered on and could (for instance) still be seen on Hetzers produced at the end of the war.
This light was 100 mm high and 196 mm wide; in 1/72 this gives 1.39
mm by 2.72 mm. The part is 1.59 mm by 2.71 mm.
- A
tubular
rear light (Abstandrücklicht), which is technically not
a Notek light. On the Panzer III it appeared in October 1942.
This light was 50 mm in diameter and 205 mm wide; in 1/72 this gives
0.69 mm by 2.85 mm. The part is 0.77 mm by 3.00 mm.
- A
disk-shaped rear light (Halteschlusslicht), which is technically
not a Notek light. On the Panzer III it appeared with the Ausf.E
and was actually removed (on the left fender) when the rear Notek
light was fitted later.
This light was 90 mm in diameter; in 1/72 this gives 1.25 mm. The
part is 1.31 mm.
Note that I used the Panzer III as a reference for the time-frame of the different items, but that this differed
from vehicle type to vehicle type.
Casting
quality is excellent and detail is superb for pieces that are this
small. One attachment bracket of a rear Notek light was broken off,
though. This can be replaced with sheet plastic.
(No matter how I tried, I failed to capture the detail of some of
the parts in the pictures. Better images can be found here.)
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References
[1] Panzer
Tracts 3-2 Panzerkampfwagen Ausf. E,F,G und H, T.L. Jentz, H.L. Doyle,
Panzer Tracts, 2007
[2] Panzer Tracts 3-3 Panzerkampfwagen Ausf. J, L, M und N, T.L. Jentz,
H.L. Doyle, Panzer Tracts, 2009
Review
sample kindly provided by JK Resin.
JK Resin
kits can be purchased from
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