Panzer III F Troop (15mm)

[Fitz]

Having got aeroplanes out of my system (for the moment), I've gone back and finished off this unit of Panzer III F tanks with their mighty 37mm door-knockers.

Or rather, mostly finished off, since as usual after taking a photograph I've noticed some bits that I've forgotten to paint.

These are 1:100 (15mm) models from The Plastic Soldier Company, and very nice they are too. If they have a fault, it is that, due to the way the tracks are moulded, they lack detail exactly where it's most needed — at front and rear of the tank, where they pass over the sprocket and idler wheels, and where they're most visible.

I've glued a slug of lead inside each one to give them a bit of weight, since otherwise they're so light a stray breeze could blow them off the table.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Very nice.

They could be 28mm.

The track issue dogs one piece tracks. Rubicon​ have resorted to a slide mould for the M4 tracks, but only on the front.

[acatcalledelvis]

Very nice - got some myself to build

[Ballardian]

 Theyare very nice little models, only very slightly let down by their lack of track detail. Battlefronts newer plastics do manage to detail their tracks better, but the range is still a little limited (much early war like your lovely Pz III's aren't represented yet) & you are paying the BF tax for the privilege.

[vodkafan]

I thought the ausf F had the short 50mm gun and only one co-ax MG? These look like ausf E to me, but I am no expert.

[Fitz]

The 50mm gun wasn't 100% standard throughout the production run until the Ausf. G. Early-run Ausf. F were built with the 37mm, later vehicles (still Ausf. F) with the short 50mm.

I think it was the Ausf.G that introduced the raised armoured engine vents (?) on the engine deck, but I'm not sure of that.