Model Forum / General / Models / August 2010

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No.
6625; Panzefaerhe Gepanzerte Landwasserschlepper Prototype No. 1 -
Smart Kit; 654 parts (406 in grey styrene, 216 “Magic Track” single
link tracks, 22 etched brass, 9 clear styrene, 1 length of nylon
string); estimated retail price US$59.95

Advantages: first kit of this vehicle in this scale in styrene

Disadvantages: requires second prototype and decking to create a ferry
(see text)

Rating: Recommended (see text)

Recommendation: for all German Pzkw. IV fans

    Like many combatant nations in WWII, the Germans were faced with
river crossings roughly every 10 miles or so in European conditions.
While taking bridges intact was obviously a priority and having
engineer bridging units a must, they did not have any true means of
amphibious crossings in hand during the war. The closest that they
came was the boatlike Landwasserschlepper which was not armored. Later
in the war Magirus was tasked with creating an armored replacement,
and as such did produce two prototypes of the Panzerfaerhe (armored
ferry) vehicle.

    This it was not, as it was basically a large amphibious vehicle that
carried any troops or cargo internally (ferries by their very nature
carried their cargoes on open decking or at least on a main deck). As
a result, experiments were made with a decking set that connected two
of these vehicles together (and which was apparently tested with the
two Magirus prototypes). But by that time (mid 1942) the Germans
apparently saw such vehicles as a luxury they could no longer afford.

    While several kits have recently been released of the curious
Landwasserschlepper this is the first kit of the Panzerfaerhe to
emerge. While it is an interesting vehicle on its own, as noted it
requires two of them together to make an actual ferry and DML has
shown advertising material they eventually plan to release just such a
kit. (As an aside, note that the US was the only major combatant to
create a true amphibious vehicle - the Roebling inspired LVT series -
and get it into large-scale production. After the war the Soviets
developed a number of amphibians and self-propelled tracked ferries
such as the GSP.)

    Other than the road wheel sets from its line of Pzkw. IV kits, DML’s
ferry is new from the ground up. The kit comes with a foam bumper over
the mounting bracket for the vehicle’s tow hook (seen in action on
page 119 of the Chamberlain/Ellis/Jentz “Encyclopedia of German Tanks
of World War Two” with an amphibious trailer in tow) which is a nice
way to protect a fragile bracket.

    Assembly is like that of the tank kits and begins with the
suspension. It then moves to the propeller and propeller guard (I
profess ignorance of the vehicle, for it seems to lack a rudder so I
have no clue how it was steered!)
    The deck and casemate are next, and while they all come with separate
hatches there is zero interior anywhere on the model to show by
leaving them open. The armored flaps on the front of the casemate may
also be positioned.

    The four vent stacks come next, and where they may be folded down for
travel on the original the kit only provides for them to be shown in
the up or operating position. With some work they can apparently be
folded down. The winch and crane are next and neither one may be shown
in any position but stowed.

    Step 9 covers general assembly and adding the false bow (flotation
chambers) before attaching the deck. The tracks are next (dark gray
left, light gray right) as well as two curious lengths of chain at the
front and rear of the hull. The tracks appear to be the earlier 38 cm
tracks and lack traction cleats.

    Note that there are a number of holes that must be drilled out during
construction. Also this kit came with an addendum that notes if you
leave the armored flaps open you need to cement the clear styrene
windows into the openings from the inside.

    The nylon line is used on this kit for the handrail stanchions and is
not part of the winch or any tow cable.

    Technical assistance was provided by Notger Schlegtendal, Tom Cockle
and Gary Edmundsen.

    Finishing directions are provided for Prototype 1 in the hands of an
unknown unit (probably either the factory or a weapons/engineer test
range). A set of white crosses are provided on a Cartograf sheet.

    Overall this is a nice enough model on its own, but it appears it
requires the Number 2 prototype and decking to complete it as a
prototype tactical ferry. Given today’s prices that may be an
expensive model.

    Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell