Three Amigos: Takom, Tamiya & Dragon Neo - Panzer IIIN build log

[Armor_Buff]

Definitely can understand Dan. Seems like a good canvas for that type of build. The ball mount for the MG drives me postal…this kit needs the spaced armor on the glacis to hid hide that molded in ball mount. That I really don’t like too…1970’s

One item of note is how snug the road wheels, sprockets & idlers fit as is without polycaps (or the white glue trick to make a ghetto version polycap). In great road wheel fit & sitting level with all wheels touching the ground this kit is outstanding. Better than Tamiya, RFM (Stug III G suspension), Dragon and every thing is better than Takom’s feeble attempt with their Pz III N.

[Dan]

Just looking at prices for the academy kit on ebay and Amazon, and they seem to be a bit pricy in my book.

[Armor_Buff]

Agreed it’s pricey.

I paid $55 for the Academy Pz III Ausf J from Spruebrothers.com back in August of 2021. It’s probably available somewhere for less etc.

The RFM Pz III Ausf L was $44 which was a pretty good deal from SB around the same time. Got the RFM Stug III G for $29 on sale! Happy with that one’s 1980’s price!

[Dan]

The prices seem to be the same as what you paid.
I’ll keep an eye open for a sale on it.
I was a bit surprised at its price.
I blame its importer.

[Armor_Buff]

Tested out the Zoukei-Mura Pro nippers removing the fenders from the sprue. They are outstanding with sharp pointed nose to get into a tight area. Very minimal clean up required after snip. I think they do cut closer than ye ole trusty GodHand nippers.

Building version #5, decided with all those holes best to mark each hole to be drilled on the fenders with a Sharpie. Yes, I even numbered one fender playing it safe.

Meng’s inexpensive finger drill bits proved the right tool for drilling. Used a .9 mm, rather be a hair under than over.

Underside of the fenders is pretty nasty probably ~30 undrilled holes to fill with CA and ~35 punch marks to fix. Dragon has the best Pz III fenders. Academy the fast build Rolex lower hull. RFM the killer inexpensive workable tracks.

No worries, The Nuclear Option to Obliterate punch marks (MicroLux) isn’t needed.

Conventional warfare with a #15 blade quickly takes care of business.

Scraped, filled w/black CA & stippled with thinned Molak to obscure sanding & tool marks.

[Armor_Buff]

The newer Pz III kit manufacturers agree that two pieces of PE are the best way to address the raised lip beside the air intakes. Academy molds that lip to the fender like its 1999.

Left thinned, right stock.

My inner Panzer Policeman insisted on thinning the lip with a razor blade.

Thinned, I think it’s passable without PE.

The fenders fit very well. There’s a nice alignment tab in the rear and plus a pair near the front. I’m 99% sure if fit issues occur down the road it’s core issue will be at the tip of the fenders in front.

[Dan]

Fender madness.
I’m also got the Super Snipper today and tried it on a Tamiya kit and GWH and it is the bees knees!
My godhands are now weeping!
Doesn’t the RFM III give your two PE choices for that part you sanded thin? If so, you could cut it away and use the RFM part?

[Armor_Buff]

Dan, had one PE choice in the RFM Stug. I also checked my RFM Pz III J and it too only has one PE choice. Was it another kit Dragon or MiniArt maybe?

[Dan]

I’ll have to think of it more, but I know somwheres i saw a choice of two PE.

[Armor_Buff]

[ On soap box ]

B24 makes me want to…take this kit like the monkey in 2001: A Space Odyssey did that bone.

Check out B24

For kicks, I pulled my copy of Dragon 9020: PzKpfw.IV Ausf.G Kursk 1943 (Imperial Series Kit), the 1990’ update/repop of the Gunzy Sangyo Pz IV from the 1980’s. Even that decrepit old warhorse has the MG mount molded as a separate part.

[ Off soap box ]

[brekinapez]

Never seen options for those PE bits in a Dragon kit and I literally just built ten of them at one go last year. Only one piece per fender is what was included.

[TopSmith]

So far, where does the Academy kit rate compared to the other 3?

[Armor_Buff]

??? RFM Pz III??? build next ???

So far…my take…flamesuit on…

#1 Academy Pz III Ausf J North Africa - Best

#2 Dragon Pz III Ausf N North Africa - Outstanding

#3 Tamiya Pz III Ausf N - Very Good

#4 Takom Pz III Ausf N - Turd
It’s not it’s

For what I value with a 5 point scale with high being best see below. Based on building an RFM Stug III, I think an RFM Pz III may score better than the Academy kit.

Break down by points

Takom
5 Price $28 ($42 retail, Scale Hobbiest $32)
1 Instructions
1 Molding Quality
1 Plastic Quality - very soft
2 Parts Clean Up
2 Ease of build
0 Accuracy (Redo hull & turret)
1 Fit (suspension)
4 Doesn’t Require Aftermarket
5 Details Out of the Box
22 points out of 50

View as collection of some worthwhile spare parts to be used on kits actually worthy of your construction time in my opinion.

Tamiya
4 Price $35 (Scale Hobbiest $62 !!!)
4 Instructions
4 Molding Quality
5 Plastic Quality - perfect
5 Parts Clean Up -
5 Ease of build -
2 Accuracy
4 Fit
0 Doesn’t Require Aftermarket
0 Details built Out of the Box sad
33 points out of 50 possible

If one doesn’t mind scratching up details and buying aftermarket parts the kit can easily pick up 6 to 10 points. However, what comes in the box is how I rated it. The Tamiya PE is lame, worst screen pattern and as other have said nearly as though to cut & file as tungsten. However, the fenders aren’t up to snuff, that turret top is devoid of details and needs detailed, you’ll be adding lots of weld seams, the MG almost require replacement with Aber brass etc.

I’d happily build another Tamiya Pz III

Dragon
1 Price $80 (Retail $103, Scale Hobbist had for $69)
3 Instructions - (full of bugs)
5 Molding Quality - perfect fenders!
3 Plastic Quality - very hard brittle
2 Parts Clean Up - nasty & time consuming
4 Ease of build
5 Accuracy
4 Fit - very good
5 Details built Out of the Box
4 Doesn’t Require Aftermarket
36 points out of 50

I won’t buy another Neo kit. The original heyday Dragon Pz III kits are more desirable with the better magic link tracks.

Academy
4 Price $55
5 Instructions are best in class
3 Molding Quality
4 Plastic Quality
5 Parts Clean Up best in class
5 Ease of build best in class
3 Accuracy
5 Fit best in class
3 Doesn’t Require Aftermarket
3 Details built Out of the Box
40 points out of 50

Edit 2-16-2023, revised Academy score after finishing build, deducted 1pt in Accuracy. Final Score 40 out of 50.

I’m stunned because I’ve hated Academy since the 1980’s and accordingly refused to purchase any of their products for 30+ years

Times change

[brekinapez]

I have 461 kits; only 3 are Academy.

[TopSmith]

Thanks for the honesty. I have the turd in the stash. Looks like an Academy is in the works. Maybe use the Schutzen from the turd kit and choose the best track of the two. I made the mistake of ordering the Takom based on the quality of some of their other kits. Sometimes I get bit when I do that.

[Dan]

I have one in mine.
I was interested in the III until I saw it’s price.

[Armor_Buff]

Greg, that’s an excellent plan and sounds like a fun build. There are a lot of very good, nice looking parts in the Takom kit. Would enjoy following the build. A++

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I should have put a foot notes under each - edit.

[SSGToms]

Wade, you’re working the styrene magic with the fender thinning. Only an old Master like you would think of that offhand.
I just got the Academy Panzer III L from Scalehobbyist for $46.99. Same kit, different instructions. I think they’re the cheapest Stateside.

[Armor_Buff]

@SSGToms Matt, thank you.
That’s very kind.

That’s an excellent price on the Academy kit👏 Well worth that IMHO.

I think you’d really like my dear friend RP.

Couple years ago I showed him the GodHand nippers. He chopped a few parts loose and said, “Meh, you say you paid $60 for this thing? I’d send it back if you can. You need this!.”

Out comes a double edged razor blade wrapped in masking tape. He proceeds to quickly slice out parts with laser precision! Then adds, “Can get cut sometimes if you get careless but you got superglue? OK, No problem, when it happens, right? The parts don’t need clean up other than mold seams.”

Understatement!

I said no thanks, I’d end up in the ER with that thing…wink.

Needless to say he didn’t buy a pair of GodHand’s etc…I didn’t buy any double edged razor blades…and still have all my fingers…wink

Will probably be away from the workshop for a couple of days. So current Academy Pz III status:

Top box of superstructure snapped in place with perfect precision. Zero fit issues. In fact it snapped in so perfect on test fit, I left it in place and LC’d accordingly as no trim, shave or tweaking was needed.

[SSGToms]

Oh gee-zuss! Wade I’m not trying to get highbrow on you but that’s just hillbilly modeling! That’s one of the craziest things I’ve ever heard. I guess RP had some thick skin. Trying that would get me straight to the ER with my wife babbling about how stupid I am. She thinks swinging a #11 blade around is dangerous!