1. Panzer Division (Vermacht)

SdKfz 251/1 Ausf A, 1. Panzer Division, Poland, Poland, September 1939. These were the first production run of the 251 series halftracks with 100 being produced in 1939. The 1. PD was the only unit issued these vehicles for the Polish Campaign. Mainly used as armored troop carriers, these halftracks would become multi-purpose vehicles for a great number of roles. Kit is by ICM, paint and markings are overall dark gray with solid white crosses (decals from spares)
 

SdKfz 251/1 Ausf A, 1. Panzer Division, Poland, September 1939. These were the first production run of the 251 series halftracks with 100 being produced in 1939. The 1. PD was the only unit issued these vehicles for the Polish Campaign. Mainly used as armored troop carriers, these halftracks would become multi-purpose vehicles for a great number of roles.  

SdKfz 251/1 Ausf A, 1. Panzer Division, Poland, September 1939. These were the first production run of the 251 series halftracks with 100 being produced in 1939. The 1. PD was the only unit issued these vehicles for the Polish Campaign. Mainly used as armored troop carriers, these halftracks would become multi-purpose vehicles for a great number of roles.  

PzKw I AusF A, 1. Panzer Regiment, Poland, 1939. With total production reaching 1,190 in 1935, this diminutive, little tank was the first major production type for the new Panzer Forces of the Third Reich prior to WWII. The engine was deemed to be under-powered and upgrading that in the AusF B required lengthening the hull and adding 1 roadwheel per side.
Intentions were for these vehicles to merely train the fledgling Panzer troops until the real battle tanks (PzKw III and PzKw IV) were ready. Selays in development and production of the main battle tanks and Herr Hitlers heavy handed politics and ambitions force the hand of the Wehrmacht to use these tanks despite their weak armor and armament. 

PzKw I AusF A, 1. Panzer Regiment, Poland, 1939. With total production reaching 1,190 in 1935, this diminutive, little tank was the first major production type for the new Panzer Forces of the Third Reich prior to WWII. The engine was deemed to be under-powered and upgrading that in the AusF B required lengthening the hull and adding 1 roadwheel per side.
Intentions were for these vehicles to merely train the fledgling Panzer troops until the real battle tanks (PzKw III and PzKw IV) were ready. Selays in development and production of the main battle tanks and Herr Hitlers heavy handed politics and ambitions force the hand of the Wehrmacht to use these tanks despite their weak armor and armament. 

PzKw I AusF A, 1. Panzer Regiment, Poland, 1939. With total production reaching 1,190 in 1935, this diminutive, little tank was the first major production type for the new Panzer Forces of the Third Reich prior to WWII. The engine was deemed to be under-powered and upgrading that in the AusF B required lengthening the hull and adding 1 roadwheel per side.
Intentions were for these vehicles to merely train the fledgling Panzer troops until the real battle tanks (PzKw III and PzKw IV) were ready. Selays in development and production of the main battle tanks and Herr Hitlers heavy handed politics and ambitions force the hand of the Wehrmacht to use these tanks despite their weak armor and armament.

Kit by Takom, out of box. Ammo Mig dark gray modulation. Vallejo dunkelbraun cammo color. 

PzKw I AusF A, 1. Panzer Regiment, Poland, 1939. With total production reaching 1,190 in 1935, this diminutive, little tank was the first major production type for the new Panzer Forces of the Third Reich prior to WWII. The engine was deemed to be under-powered and upgrading that in the AusF B required lengthening the hull and adding 1 roadwheel per side.
Intentions were for these vehicles to merely train the fledgling Panzer troops until the real battle tanks (PzKw III and PzKw IV) were ready. Selays in development and production of the main battle tanks and Herr Hitlers heavy handed politics and ambitions force the hand of the Wehrmacht to use these tanks despite their weak armor and armament. 

PzKw II AusF C, Poland, September 1939. The PzKw II was ordered in 1936 as a stop-gap model to provide a training vehicle with a light canon to provide at least minimal armor piercing ability. This was needed as the PzKw III and PzKw IV (ordered in 1935) were not yet in production and further delays were anticipated. PzKw II, like the PzKw I, was never intended to be used as a combat tank, but by the time of the Polish Invasion less than 100 PzKw III's were completed and only about 200 PzKw IV. 1. Panzer Division was issued only 26 of the 130 PzKw III's required to fully equip, and it was therefore necessary to substitute PzKw I and II. Overall, the PzKw II performed very well but Polish AT guns claimed a number of kills. Kit is Tamiya PzKw II AusF C (Polish Campaign). 

PzKw II AusF C, Poland, September 1939. The PzKw II was ordered in 1936 as a stop-gap model to provide a training vehicle with a light canon to provide at least minimal armor piercing ability. This was needed as the PzKw III and PzKw IV (ordered in 1935) were not yet in production and further delays were anticipated. PzKw II, like the PzKw I, was never intended to be used as a combat tank, but by the time of the Polish Invasion less than 100 PzKw III's were completed and only about 200 PzKw IV. 1. Panzer Division was issued only 26 of the 130 PzKw III's required to fully equip, and it was therefore necessary to substitute PzKw I and II. Overall, the PzKw II performed very well but Polish AT guns claimed a number of kills. Kit is Tamiya PzKw II AusF C (Polish Campaign). 

PzKw II AusF C, Poland, September 1939. The PzKw II was ordered in 1936 as a stop-gap model to provide a training vehicle with a light canon to provide at least minimal armor piercing ability. This was needed as the PzKw III and PzKw IV (ordered in 1935) were not yet in production and further delays were anticipated. PzKw II, like the PzKw I, was never intended to be used as a combat tank, but by the time of the Polish Invasion less than 100 PzKw III's were completed and only about 200 PzKw IV. 1. Panzer Division was issued only 26 of the 130 PzKw III's required to fully equip, and it was therefore necessary to substitute PzKw I and II. Overall, the PzKw II performed very well but Polish AT guns claimed a number of kills. Kit is Tamiya PzKw II AusF C (Polish Campaign). 

PzKw II AusF C, Poland, September 1939. The PzKw II was ordered in 1936 as a stop-gap model to provide a training vehicle with a light canon to provide at least minimal armor piercing ability. This was needed as the PzKw III and PzKw IV (ordered in 1935) were not yet in production and further delays were anticipated. PzKw II, like the PzKw I, was never intended to be used as a combat tank, but by the time of the Polish Invasion less than 100 PzKw III's were completed and only about 200 PzKw IV. 1. Panzer Division was issued only 26 of the 130 PzKw III's required to fully equip, and it was therefore necessary to substitute PzKw I and II. Overall, the PzKw II performed very well but Polish AT guns claimed a number of kills. Kit is Tamiya PzKw II AusF C (Polish Campaign). 

PzKw IV AusF J, Ist Panzer Regiment, Hungary, December 1944. (This is a Dragon kit I have had stashed since the 1990's)
The J model was the final production type of the PzKw IV series. The changes from the previous H model eliminated certain features and downgraded others, Power traverse for the turret was omitted and screened side skirt armor reflected the desperate state of German industry late in the war,  

PzKw IV AusF J, Ist Panzer Regiment, Hungary, December 1944. (This is a Dragon kit I have had stashed since the 1990's)
The J model was the final production type of the PzKw IV series. The changes from the previous H model eliminated certain features and downgraded others, Power traverse for the turret was omitted and screened side skirt armor reflected the desperate state of German industry late in the war,  

PzKw IV AusF J, Ist Panzer Regiment, Hungary, December 1944. (This is a Dragon kit I have had stashed since the 1990's)
The J model was the final production type of the PzKw IV series. The changes from the previous H model eliminated certain features and downgraded others, Power traverse for the turret was omitted and screened side skirt armor reflected the desperate state of German industry late in the war,  

PzKw IV AusF J, Ist Panzer Regiment, Hungary, December 1944. (This is a Dragon kit I have had stashed since the 1990's)
The J model was the final production type of the PzKw IV series. The changes from the previous H model eliminated certain features and downgraded others, Power traverse for the turret was omitted and screened side skirt armor reflected the desperate state of German industry late in the war,  

PzKw IV AusF J, Ist Panzer Regiment, Hungary, December 1944. (This is a Dragon kit I have had stashed since the 1990's)
The J model was the final production type of the PzKw IV series. The changes from the previous H model eliminated certain features and downgraded others, Power traverse for the turret was omitted and screened side skirt armor reflected the desperate state of German industry late in the war,  

PzKw V (Panther) Ausf G early production, 1. Panzer Division, Lake Balaton, Hungary, February 1945. 1. Panzer Division was first issued Panther tanks in August of 1944 while reforming from the Soviet Summer Offensive in Belarus (Bagration). After fighting defensive battles in Poland in late 1944, 1. Panzer Division was sent to Hungary where it fought at Lake Balaton and the attempt to relieve Budapest in February 1945. Once again, heavy losses were incurred and the division retreated to Austria and Bavaria until VE day where they surrendered to US Forces. 

PzKw V (Panther) Ausf G early production, 1. Panzer Division, Lake Balaton, Hungary, February 1945. 1. Panzer Division was first issued Panther tanks in August of 1944 while reforming from the Soviet Summer Offensive in Belarus (Bagration). After fighting defensive battles in Poland in late 1944, 1. Panzer Division was sent to Hungary where it fought at Lake Balaton and the attempt to relieve Budapest in February 1945. Once again, heavy losses were incurred and the division retreated to Austria and Bavaria until VE day where they surrendered to US Forces. Kit is Tamiya (from my 1990's stash), Tamiya Panther PE and Zimmermit stickers, Verlinden TC figure. Paint and markings: I did a 3 color camo as it may have been issued in Summer of 1944. then added whitewash and weathering. Decals were from spares as the 1990's decals fell apart once placed in water. 

PzKw I AusF F light tank, Soviet Union 1943
This was the last of the Pzkw I series models. Despite the obvious fact that the Pzkw I models (A and B) used in Poland and France were not effective combat tanks, the German Army felt there was still a need for a light infantry assault tank. The F bore almost no resemblance to the original other than the main armament. Frontal armor was increased to 80 mm and overall weight was over 21 tons. To support this great weight interwoven road wheels and wide tracks were added. A batch of 30 tanks was produced from April 1942 to January 1943.
In March 1943, 8 Pzkw I AusF F were delivered to the 1. Panzer Division. 

PzKw I AusF F light tank, Soviet Union 1943
This was the last of the Pzkw I series models. Despite the obvious fact that the Pzkw I models (A and B) used in Poland and France were not effective combat tanks, the German Army felt there was still a need for a light infantry assault tank. The F bore almost no resemblance to the original other than the main armament. Frontal armor was increased to 80 mm and overall weight was over 21 tons. To support this great weight interwoven road wheels and wide tracks were added. A batch of 30 tanks was produced from April 1942 to January 1943.
In March 1943, 8 Pzkw I AusF F were delivered to the 1. Panzer Division. 

PzKw I AusF F light tank, Soviet Union 1943
This was the last of the Pzkw I series models. Despite the obvious fact that the Pzkw I models (A and B) used in Poland and France were not effective combat tanks, the German Army felt there was still a need for a light infantry assault tank. The F bore almost no resemblance to the original other than the main armament. Frontal armor was increased to 80 mm and overall weight was over 21 tons. To support this great weight interwoven road wheels and wide tracks were added. A batch of 30 tanks was produced from April 1942 to January 1943.
In March 1943, 8 Pzkw I AusF F were delivered to the 1. Panzer Division. 

PzKw I AusF F light tank, Soviet Union 1943
This was the last of the Pzkw I series models. Despite the obvious fact that the Pzkw I models (A and B) used in Poland and France were not effective combat tanks, the German Army felt there was still a need for a light infantry assault tank. The F bore almost no resemblance to the original other than the main armament. Frontal armor was increased to 80 mm and overall weight was over 21 tons. To support this great weight interwoven road wheels and wide tracks were added. A batch of 30 tanks was produced from April 1942 to January 1943.
In March 1943, 8 Pzkw I AusF F were delivered to the 1. Panzer Division.