Military Model Scene

This year has been a difficult one for Revell, having been sold off once more.  However, it hasn't stopped them and among a couple of new small scale armour kits comes this very neat little Luchs, the late variant of the Pz II.  Looking quite different to the earlier versions, about 100 examples of the Luchs were built in 1943/44 and they were used by reconnaissance units.  The running gear was different, the only Pz II variant with interleaved road wheels and a 'slack' track, it was capable of quite high speed for an AFV, up to 60kph. , and a good range.  It was still only armed with a 20mm main gun and co-axial mg.

The kit itself is moulded in grey plastic and is quite simple to build.  The hull builds cleanly and the road wheels are moulded as sets with internal wheels as one piece, a send layer with the middle set and then just individual items for the two outer road wheels on either side.  The sprockets and idler also assemble neatly.  Once all these are in place, the tracks are solid mouldings, in a link and length style.  Start with the top run of track, as indicated in the instructions.  Just check to fit it in the right direction (clearly indicated) and then add the remaining shorter lengths to build up the complete track on either side.  I found the fit to be spot on.  The reast of the hull is easy enough, and the turret is also simple to build.  Interesting that the top plate, mantlet and gun barrels are moulded together in a single piece.

Two options are provided for colours and markings:-

A) Panzer-Aufklarungs-Abteilung 4, 4th Panzer Division, Kurland, in the Winter of 1944/45.  Vehicle number 001 and an overall winter white colour.

B) Panzer-Aufklarungs-Abteilung 9, 9th Panzer Division, Unternehmen Citadelle. Orjol, summer 1943.  This is in three colour camouflage of sand/green/brown.

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Another very neat small scale armour kit from Revell and so good to see the Luchs done in small scale plastic at last. 

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Robin