About The Panzer III
The Panzer III helped form the backbone of Germany’s vaunted Panzer divisions, especially in the earlier stages of WWII. To keep this medium tank competitive on the battlefield, it received a number of improvements in armor and armament throughout its life. The Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J, manufactured between March 1941 and July 1942, was the first model to feature 50mm thick basic frontal armor. The rear and engine deck were also redesigned since the hull was lengthened. The Early Ausf. J retained the 5cm KwK38 L/42 gun, while Late models received the longer 5cm KwK38 L/60.

Dragon’s brand new 1/35 scale kit of a Panzer III Ausf. J was recently unveiled at the Shizuoka Show in Japan. This is a 2-in-1 Smart Kit that allows both Early and Late models with their different gun barrels to be produced. The kit is another masterpiece from the experienced Japanese design team, and because it’s a Smart Kit, ease of assembly is assured. This kit is replete with a sizzling level of detail, and no effort has been spared in producing the world’s best model of this Panzer III variant. A total of 1549 tanks of this mark were produced, ensuring that it was widely used on the Eastern Front and in North Africa. Its diverse use against T-34s and KV-1 tanks in Russia, or Grants and Valentines on North Africa’s battlefields, provides modelers with even more opportunities in depicting this tank in different displays or dioramas. This range of options is enhanced by a selection of high-quality decal markings. This is an exciting new Panzer III kit from Dragon, and it easily maintains the impetus of Dragon’s trailblazing Smart Kits!