Kit: No. 35-121
Scale: 1/35
Manufacturer: ICM, available from Squadron Mail Order, 1115 Crowley Dr., Carrollton, TX 75011-5010, &972-242-8663
Price: $22.98
Comments: Injection molded, 343 parts, decals.

Although it looked like a Mini Panther, the Luchs (Lynx) light reconnaissance tank was the developmental end of the line of the Panzer II. Only 100 were built, and they were used in the reconnaissance units of just a few panzer divisions.

ICM’s dark-yellow plastic parts have sharp surface detail and almost no flash. Features include separate track links and one figure. Several turret hatches can be posed open, but no interior detail is provided.

The multi-piece lower hull went together well. The main fender piece (A11) fits too tightly and doesn’t allow the glacis plate to sit properly onto the lower hull, so I filed and sanded it and the tow points on the hull sides (A3 and A4).

Don’t worry about the obvious seam below the engine air intakes – stowage boxes cover most of it. The armored visors for the driver and radio operator can be posed open or closed. The spare track set is molded together with support framework and the inner surfaces of the drive bulges. I cut this into components to simplify painting.

Paint the area under the engine intakes black as the yellow base color of the plastic will be noticeable through the large openings. These openings usually were covered with screening, but none is provided in the kit. I couldn’t resist adding vinyl mesh from my spares box.

I had to fill and sand the noticeable seam between the upper and lower parts of the turret. Detail on the 20mm cannon appears simplified.

When working on the suspension, check the fit of the wheels to the suspension arms. Most of mine fit too tightly, but a little filing and sanding fixed them. The tracks have good detail and went together fine. There are ejector-pin marks on the inside surfaces, but in most cases they won’t be visible.

I painted my model with Polly Scale’s panzer colors – dark yellow, olive green, red brown. Decals for five vehicles are provided, and they went on fine. Trimming excess film yields a better appearance.

My main reference was Darlington Productions’ Tech Intel Vol. 2. It has an official U.S. Army report with photos on the Luchs. Panzerkampfwagen I and II German Light Tanks 1935-45 by Eric Grove also was useful. Compared to photos, the finished model looks mostly right, but the turret doesn’t seem tall enough.

I enjoyed the 22 hours it took to complete my Luchs. It not only fills a gap in German armor collections, but also looks good among the big boys from Dragon, Italeri, and Tamiya.

– Jim Zeske