Rubicon Models: Neue Previews

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No more Monday morning blues as we unboxed our first Panzer III testshot from the factory!

A total of SIX plastic sprues for our new Panzer III project, yielding EIGHT variants, Ausf E to Ausf N. Each variant might include different guns, up armour, and upgrades, including command (Panzerbefehlswagen) and flamethrower (Flammpanzer) versions. The total possible built counts now stand at TWENTY-ONE !!

Since this is our first testshot, there are still lots of details missing, but those that were done are just amazing… can’t wait for the second testshot. Enjoy!!

Here is a brief background info of the various Panzer IIIs:

Ausf E – 1939/40 – 96 units – Suspension re-designed, switching from leaf-springs to torsion-bars, now using 6 larger road wheels per side. 300 PS HL 120 engine.
Ausf F – 1940 – 450 units – Improved Ausf E, first mass-production version, late production armed with 5cm KwK 38 L/42 main gun.
Ausf G – 1940/41 – 594 units – More armour on gun mantlet. Armed with 3.7cm KwK 36 L/46.5 (later 5cm KwK 38 L/42) gun.
Ausf H – 1940/41 – 286 units – 5cm KwK 38 L/42 as standard gun. Bolt-on armour added to front and rear hull (30mm base + 30mm plates).
Ausf I – Variant mentioned in Allied intelligence reports but not an actual existing vehicle. Possible confusion with Ausf J.
Ausf J – 1941/42 – 1,521 units – Hull and turret front armour increased to solid 50mm plate. Some were produced with 5cm KwK 39 L/60 gun and later re-designated Ausf L.
Ausf K – 1942/43 – 50 units – Panzerbefehlswagen command tank variant with a modified turret. Carried actual main armament rather than a dummy gun as found on other Panzer III command versions.
Ausf L – 1941/42 – 1,470 units – Re-designated Aus. J equipped with long 5 cm gun, 20 mm stand-off armour plates on hull and turret front.
Ausf M – 1942/43 – 517 units – Minor modifications of the Ausf L such as deep-wading exhaust and Schürzen side-armour panels.
Ausf N – 1942/43 – 614 units – Infantry support tank, armed with a short-barrelled 7.5cm KwK 37 L/24 gun.

Command Tanks

Ausf D – 1938/39 – 30 units
Ausf E – 1938/40 – 45 units
Ausf H – 1940/41 – 175 units
Ausf J – 1941/42 – 81 units
Ausf K – 1942/43 – 50 units

Flamm – 1943 – 100 units