Want to see my build of this kit? Click here: https://nomad-models.com/2023/10/03/rfm-pz-iii-ausf-j/
One of my first ever “mainstream” kits I’ve built was Tamiya’s Panzer III Ausf. L. Ever since then, I’ve been a huge sucker for the tank. In my opinion the Panzer III was the most over looked tank of the second world war and as such, it’s got a soft spot in my heart. Funnily enough, I didn’t intend to pick this kit up. I originally wanted to give Tamiya’s new Marder III a go, however it wasn’t in stock at my LHS. Bought for $70 CAD, This kit is a little steep price wise for what you’re getting. The Pz. III isn’t a huge tank and I was pretty surprised by how few sprues there were in the box. Anyway, let’s get into it, here’s my inbox review for Rye Field Model’s Panzer III Ausf. J.
Kit Features: 16/20
The kit certainly isn’t lacking for specialty features. It includes individual length tracks, a generous amount of photo etch, and a few other goodies. One thing I was particularly happy to see was the ability to open and close lots of different hatches. RFM also gives the builder the option of a workable suspension if they desire, a increasingly common addition to kits these days. The “Figures” included in the kit are interesting to say the least, essentially just geometric shapes, they are only useful as a nice novelty and not something most builders would want to include in their build. The figures are a bit of a catch-22, odds are if you’re the kind of builder who stages figures in your model, you do it because you want some additional realism/life into the scene. The problem is that they are inherently unrealistic and don’t fit well in the build. If anything you can use them as painting dummies in the future to practice your figure painting skills. Besides that though, the kit really provides you with some nice accessories to play with. Of particular note are the tracks, which, don’t have any injector pin marks and will require little cleanup.
Quality of Molding: 45/50
The molding of the kit is definitely the best part of this build, the details are crisp and it’s obvious RFM put a lot of effort into this area. Small details are well defined and clearly visible. Of particular note are the weld seams molded into the plastic. In my opinion these are some of the best injection molded seams found today. Another specific area of note is the detail found in the running gear. The “Continental” branding on the tire can clearly be made out, furthermore, patches of weld beads can be seen on the inside of the wheels. With typical kits, the bottom of the tank will often consist of a “tub” that the suspension can be attached to before closing the top. In this kit however RFM has opted to split up this construction method, allowing for greater detail in individual pieces. Seeing as this is a 2020 release, this kind of detail is expected and the kit absolutely delivers. Points are only lost due to the absence of any texture in the molding.
Instructions: 19/20
I was pretty happy with the instructions upon my first impression. Printed on a large booklet they feature 3d colour CAD illustrations of various build processes to aid with part placement. The instructions also indicate where on parts glue should be applied, this is particularly helpful with the track construction. The only issue I think may be a problem is that they seem quite busy. They may be hard to follow for some builders.
Miscellaneous: 8/10
The kit gives the modeller a pretty wide selection of markings to choose from, all of which fit pretty neatly on a small sheet of decals. While these specific options aren’t my cup of tea, I have to say RFM did a good job providing options. The only issue I have with the markings is that they don’t indicate unit or location on the color plates. For $70 this is a pretty healthy kit feature wise.
Total: 88/100
There’s no other way to say it, this is a really capable kit at a reasonable price. This kit is leaps and bounds better than the other J variants on the market. I have no doubt it’ll build up to be a good looking Panzer III. It comes with a good helping of accessories and is loaded with detail. Definitely try to pick this one up.
