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These are a related set of "What If - Paper Panzers" produced by Cromwell in their 1/72 scale "Combat Ready" range.
This range is aimed at the modeler with little time to assemble kits, but who is also not willing to sacrifice too much on detail either. In this regard,
you can consider these models as resin "Quick Build" kits.
All 3 kits are based on the hull of the proposed version of an E-50. The only differences in the kits are the turrets and guns.
- Kit 72123: 8.8cm E-50 IR is the version with the schmallturm (small turret), which was also mounted on the Panther (Panther II)
- Kit 72124: Twin 3.7cm Flak E-50 is the version with the second Coelian Turret, which was proposed for the Flak panzer Panther AA versions
- Kit 72125: Twin 5.5cm Flak E-50 is one of the late "Super Coelian" Turrets, for the Flakpanzer Panther AA versions
- Kits CA003 & CA004: are the 3.7 and 5.5cm Twin Flak Turrets, intended for any 1/72 scale Panther kit, and are available as
separate accessory parts
These kits represent proposed versions of the E-50, a vehicle that never existed. The various versions are based on possible
existing drawings and/or pure speculative fantasy on the part of the designer of the kit masters. The Schmallturm and experimental Flakturrets were tested on different
versions of the Panther, but as far as I know none of the Flakturms were ever used in combat.
The kits come in a plastic bag and contain only 15 to 20 parts.
- The models are cast in grey resin
- There is no instruction manual or painting guide
- The models are simple to build but will need much reworking to bring them to an acceptable level for display or contest purposes
- There are no decals
- There are no tools
The hull and track are cast as one single piece and the casting is upside down leaving the plug on the bottom of the hull.
The upper side and sidewalls are without air bubbles or flash.
The underside (casting side) of the hull and the tracks are the weak point of the model. The underside of the hull has numerous air bubbles and
on the tracks there are casting blocs. It will be necessary to delete the casting blocs and to rework the belly of the body.
There is flash between the tracks that you have to clean carefully. Personally I don't like one piece casting of track units as they make the moulds complicated
and subject to early wear and tear during removal of the parts. In my examples I found remainders of the silicon mould and some of the gaps between the wheels
were filled with resin due to mould damage. This will give a lot of unnecessary work.
If it is needed to simplify a model, then I prefer that the wheels & track units be separate pieces from the hull with the outer wheels also as separate castings.
This method will give a better end product and the mould will not suffer from unnecessary damage.
The hatches on hull and turret are open. The other separate parts are well cast.
The lack of a construction manual is not a problem. With so few parts the model out-of-the-box is very easy and quickly built. For a display model you will need to do a lot
more work. First the track units need to have the flash removed. The large number of air bubbles will need filling, some parts should be reworked, and more detail
should be added, such as tools, cables and
tow loops. For the missing tools and so forth, you will have to purchase some from another source, scavenge from your spare box, or do some scratch building, as can be seen
in my inprogress construction pictures below. Regarding the turrets, all of them are nicely cast and are simple to put together.
These are easy models for the wargamer, members of the wargame "World of Tanks", and for collectors that are interested in German
"What If - Paper Panzer" vehicles. For those who want a display model, a lot more effort will be needed during construction to make an acceptable model.
Review samples supplied by Gordon Brown of Cromwell Models.
| Common Parts |
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| Track Units |
Hull Underside |
Hull Upperside
(plus added detail - white & tan parts) |
| Kit 72123: 8.8cm E-50 IR |
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| Parts | Turret |
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| Common Hull with Turret |
| Kit 72124: Twin 3.7cm Flak E-50 |
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| Parts | Turret (also available separately as kit CA003) |
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| Common Hull with Turret |
| Kit 72125: Twin 5.5cm Flak E-50 |
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| Parts | Turret (also available separately as kit CA004) |
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| Common Hull with Turret |
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