Panzer II, Kubelwagen & Brummbar Detail Sets

Voyager Model, 1/35 scale

Reviewed by Luke Pitt

FirstLook

I have grouped 6 of Voyager’s newest releases together for this review. The German Panzer II, Kublwagon and Tristar Brummbar receive the Voyager update treatment this time, with almost all parts of these vehicles being covered. As with the majority of Voyagers World War II German releases, the updates are pretty hard to fault.

PE35280: WW2 German Pz Kpfw.Ausf A/B/C update (Tamiya)

Hot on the heels of Tamiya’s recent release of the Panzer II comes a very welcome update set for this important early war German vehicle.  This update covers 6 photo etch frets together with 29 turned brass pieces, 2 lengths of plastic rod, 1 length of wire and one resin piece.  Four well laid out pages of instructions cover most of the finer external fittings on the vehicle. There are 53 construction sequences that cover the tools clasps (each with three photo etch pieces) internal hatch mechanisms and tool stowage. The rear engine vent is made up of no less than ten very small etch pieces and will look stunning when complete. Both of the external stowage boxes on the right side of the vehicle are covered; with the ability to model these in the open position. Two types of muffler guards are included, one without the smoke discharger and the other with. The optional smoke discharger is made up of 5 finely turned brass parts and 18 photo etch pieces. This assembly is a model unto it self and is very well done.

The last part of this update includes 24 conical shaped turned brass parts for the front of the turret. This update also includes updates for the kits commander figure. The update includes parts to replace the “softish” moulded badges and smaller details on this figure. Paint stencils are includes for two vehicles and are very well done. The brass itself is first class, with the bend marks clearly defined. Overall, this is a great set and would add certain finesse to the Tamiya kit as well as adding scale thickness to the various fittings inside and outside the vehicle. The complete nature of this product prompts me to give this set a very high rating. 

Highly Recommended

PE35281: WW2 German Pz Kpfw.Ausf A/B/C Fenders (Tamiya)

This set complements the previous set and covers 2 photo etch frets and 1 length of plastic rod. Two pages of instructions cover 20 construction sequences. The show piece of this set is the diamond shaped grid pattern on the fenders themselves and the well thought out assembly sequence. This set covers all of the fenders including the front and rear mud flaps with all their external and internal fittings included. The bend marks on all the etch pieces are clearly defined but, due to the length of the fender itself, a bending tool may be necessary to make the bends as neat as possible. As with the previous set this update would greatly enhance the Tamiya kit, adding scale thickness to the fender area and greatly improving the look of the vehicle.

Highly Recommended

PE35249: WW2 German Kubelwagen Type 82 update (Tamiya)

This update set is for the venerable Kubelwagen. The update set includes 4 photo etch frets, together with 2 pieces of brass rod (for the so called “baby pram” hood assembly), 1 piece of plastic rod, 1 piece of wire and 1 resin piece. Also included are a photo negative for the instrument face and a clear piece of plastic for the windscreen. Six pages of instructions cover basically all the internal and external fitting for this vehicle. There are 67 construction sequences and all of the bend marks on the photo etch are clearly defined. The main parts covered are the steering linkages (on the front underside of the vehicle), under-dash fuel tank bracing, wooden duck boards (on the interior of the vehicle), corner step plates on the front guards, rear springs on the back face of the seats and all of the various tool, stowage and gun racks on the vehicle.

The rear engine bay external body panels are all replaced with prominent engine vents being rendered as “see trough” (as they should be). The front windscreen is also replaced with a pretty clever “fold over” photo etch sequence that sandwiches the thin clear plastic between them. The last part of this update includes the so called “baby pram” roof bracing. Having owned a few early model convertible VW’s in my time, I can report this is very well done. The only down sine here is you will have to fabricate the roof itself with “rolled Milliput” or some other material.  This is a pretty good update and would really add a great deal to the Tamiya kit Dragon kit. Some of the parts (like the duckboard) are not really necessary but others, like the roof bracing, are simply breath taking in execution.

Highly Recommended

PE35260: WW2 German Stumpanzer IV Brummbar Early (Tristar)

The next 3 sets cover the recently released Tristar Brummbar and for the most part these updates improve this already excellent kit even more.  The first update covers 7 photo etch frets, 43 finely turned brass parts,4 very well cast resin parts, 2  lengths  of plastic rod and 1 length of tow copper tow rope. Three pages of instructions are included, covering 57 construction sequences. The show piece in this set is the additional side armour with 35 very well done turned brass conical rivets. The external fittings covered are the front tow brackets, tool clasps, muffler brackets and the large tool box on the right hand side of the vehicle. This box has all the internal fittings included, so the option of having this open is almost mandatory. A few internal fittings are also included, which consist of the internal roof bracing and the interior of all the hatches. The bend marks on all the etch pieces are clearly defined and the photo etch itself is, very well done. This set may well be a good “starter set” for the Tristar Brummbar. As a “stand alone” set  it covers most of which is seen on the vehicle and produces a higher level of detail.

Highly Recommended

PE35262:  WW2 German Stumpanzer IV Brummbar Early Fenders (Tristar)        
         
This set covers 2  photo etch frets ,2 lengths of brass wire , 2 lengths of plastic rod and  4 spring pieces.  There are 30 construction sequences on 2 pages of very easy to follow instructions, One large and one small photo etch frets cover the entire fender area and would pretty much suit any mid to late war Panzer 4 variant. The great bonus is the illusion of “scale thickness” when using this sort of set. The highlight is the inclusion of the small springs used to move the front and rear mud flaps. They are wonderful to look at and are accurate in both size and fit. The bends required for this update would best be handled by some sort of bending tool as they are very long and need to be pretty accurate. The tread pattern is included in 4 separate sections (as per the original) so battle damage would be simplicity itself. The only negatives are the front mud flaps. The characteristic "rolled” edge is missing and would best be added with thin wire blended in with putty .

There is a lot to like in the set, the inclusion of the front and rear springs are a real bonus.

Recommended.

PE35266:  WW2 German   Stumpanzer IV Brummbar Early side Skirts (Tristar)
              

This set covers 5 photo etch frets and one 1 length of plastic rod. There are 27 construction sequences on 2 pages of instructions. In a lot of ways, this is the most useful and indeed easy to construct set of all the ones being reviewed. The Tristar side skirts are finicky at best and this update tends to address this pretty well. The set will address one of the main failings in the Tristar kit.  The bend marks on all the parts are clearly defined but would benefit from a bending tool as some are quite long. The unique feature for these early side skirts was the cutouts in the skirt itself and this has been handled very well.  I have no hesitation in recommending this set.

Highly Recommended

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