Panzer III Ausf. J (Early DAK Version with L/60 Barrel & Spaced Armor)

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July 9, 2022
One of the damaged long barrel Pz. III J’s of African campaign. Its left side drive sprocket and fender were fully fell off, while the rest parts remained in good condition.

No tactical NO. or divisional insignia could be seen neither on turret nor superstructure. Moreover , I am not sure about the production batch of the vehicle as I could not see the layout of engine decks.
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July 9, 2022
The Pz. III J from 5 Kp. of 8 Regiment.

There was no doubt this Pz. III J was the first production batch equipped with L/60 barrel, as its engine decks were still horizontally placed.

The earliest time that photo was taken should be sometime in spring of 1942. The first wave of Pz. III J with long barrel launched to North Africa in March 1942.
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September 27, 2024
Another early production Pz. III J with L/60 barrel in African theater.

A lot of jerrycans on the top of turret. Hard to determine if this vehicle had spaced armor.
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September 29, 2024
An early version Pz. III J equipped long barrel. It seemed the vehicle was in African theater based on the uniform of crews, but the location and time were unknown.
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July 9, 2022
A fully destroyed Pz. III J from 15 Pz. Div. which inspected by British soldiers.

We could see the 20mm spaced armor was added on its front superstructure, but no spaced armor was installed on mantlet. Engine decks were horizontally placed which indicated this vehicle was manufactured in early 1942.

According to many reference photos, I realized in mid of 1942 a great number of Pz. III J’s with short barrel have been updated by adding 20mm spaced armor both on turret and front plate, however, many Pz. III J’s with long barrel did not choose to upgrade their armor.
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September 20, 2024
A group of Pz. III J with L/60 barrel captured by Allies after the 5th Army surrender in May 1943.

We can clearly figure out their differences as some of them had spaced armor on both turret and front plate.

In the photo, the nearest two vehicles without space armor numbered 5 and 512 were from 15 Pz. Div., the vehicle 512 should be an early production Pz. III J due to the layout of engine decks were horizontal.
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July 9, 2022
80% completed.
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July 9, 2022
One of the drawbacks of Academy was that 2 meters antenna was too thick.
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July 9, 2022
The top coat were RAL8000 plus camouflage RAL7008. Primer was RAL7021 German grey.
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July 9, 2022
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July 9, 2022
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July 9, 2022
The jerrycan bracket was made by waste brass.
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July 9, 2022
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July 9, 2022
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July 26, 2022
Done ~
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July 26, 2022
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July 26, 2022
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July 26, 2022
Self-made RAL8000 versus RAL8020.
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July 26, 2022
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July 27, 2022
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September 20, 2024
Figure and accessories have been added.

Project could be eventually closed after couple of years ?
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September 20, 2024
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September 20, 2024
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September 20, 2024
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September 20, 2024
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September 20, 2024
Wanna to enjoy some can food❓

Commenti

18 9 July 2022, 07:06

Jan Peters
Following this👍🏻

9 July 2022, 07:11

J D
Thanks, Peters.

9 July 2022, 07:14

Neuling
Renovation accomplished!

26 July 2022, 07:34

J D
🫡, Neuling.

26 July 2022, 07:36

Doubtingmango
Nice work! Any thoughts about the kit?

20 September, 13:36

J D
Thx for your comment, Doubtingmango.

The new Academy 13531 Pz. III J launched in 2021 was an excellent kit.

Unlike the old kits produced by Academy in last century, there is no fitting problem and most details are presented nicely in this kit. The instruction manual is colorized, quite clear and could be read & understood easily even for the beginners. Highly recommended and great substitution for Dragon 6394 & 6543.

One of the drawbacks are the tracks of kit. Academy mistakenly offers the type 5B tracks, while actually Pz. III J in African campaign equipped type 3A tracks.

20 September, 14:14

Doubtingmango
👍🏻Adding it to my wish list

20 September, 15:25

Guy Rump
Very nice work. 👍

20 September, 17:55

J D
Thx, Guy Rump.

20 September, 20:13

Album info

This is also a renovation project on my early purchase kit. Slight modifications are made on the vehicle, including the self made jerrycan case and bracket for spare tracks.

The previous top coat XF-60 dark yellow has been washed away and now the vehicle is repainted into RAL8000 based on reference context.

The Pz. III J with L/60 barrel was a large family that included multiple variations; its early production shared the same chassis and upper structure with Pz. III J L/42 barrel version and its late production was pretty similar to Pz. III L. In late 1942, all Pz. III J's with L/60 barrel were classified as Pz. III Ausf. L due to the logistics and repairing issues.

Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J (Early L/60 Barrel Version)

42 immagini

1:35

Completato

1:35 German Panzer III Ausf. J (Tp) (Academy 13531)

Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J (L/60)

Wehrmacht Heer (German Army 1935-1945)
Pz.Rgt. 8, 15 Pz.Div. (Afrikakorps) 5/512
1942 World War 2»North Africa Campaign - Libya

RAL8000 Yellow Brown & RAL7008 grey Green

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