Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. L (Afrika Korps)
Admiral Toys 1:72 Scale Vehicle Review
The Admiral Toys diecast 1:72 scale Panzer III Ausf. L is a command tank of the officer commanding 5. Kompanie, 8. Panzerregiment, of 15. Panzerdivision of the Afrika Korps; the same vehicle featured on the box cover of the Panzer III Ausf. L by Matchbox.
Evaluation
Good choice of subject, the Panzer III Ausf. L by Admiral Toys may be used as a late version of Panzer III Ausf. J („Mark III Special“) with 5 cm L/60 KwK 39 gun; the vehicle still has escape hatches on the hull sides which were only dispensed with in later production models of Panzer III Ausf. L.
The tank is sold fully assembled and painted. Unfortunately, the camouflage pattern is incorrect; hull and turret have been painted Gunze H403 »Dark Yellow« and the tank was later fitted with »Desert Yellow« (Humbrol 93) plastic parts. This procedure may have simplified the production of the model, but it does not replicate the actual camouflage pattern of an armoured vehicle.
Compatible with Altaya, Atlas, CDC, De Agostini, Dragon Models, Eaglemoss, ESCI, Hasegawa, Italeri, Revell, Zvezda.
This Panzer III Ausf. J/L by Admiral Toys needs to be repainted Yellow Brown RAL 8000, Brown RAL 8020, or Dark Yellow RAL 7028, with camouflage patches of Grey Green RAL 7008, and heavily weathered so it no longer looks brand new.