Cyber Hobby

1/35 Aufklarungspanzer 38(t) mit 7.5cm Kw.K.

Kit Number: CHC6310

Reviewed by  Bruce Drummond, IPMS# 37265

MSRP: $50.95 www.dragonmodelsusa.com If there is a particular vehicle of the Wehrmacht that catches my eye it is the Panzer 38(t) and its variants. It was designed and built in Czechoslovakia by the CKD firm starting in 1935 and designated the LT vz 38. After the Czech capitulation in 1938 the Germans redesignated it the LTM 38, July 1938 and later in January 1940 changed to Pz 38(t). The actual German Inventory listing was "Special Vehicle Designation" SonderKraftfahrzeug 140 or simply SD Kfz 140. Under German control the factory produced about 1400 vehicles during the war into 1942 when production ceased. They were used as Assault tanks, Anti-Tank Guns and Anti-Aircraft Guns Quite a story for a small vehicle that was generally outclassed from the onset of the war. The Box The box art work of this vehicle, while not exciting, is good source to use for a basic vehicle color and a limited reference for the builder with little or no reference material at hand. It's what's inside those counts! WOW! (Drool is starting to form). That's the word describing what I encountered when I first opened the Box. Soooo many parts! I quickly took out the instruction sheet and found that there are enough extra parts to upgrade other Pz 38t's in your personal inventory or at least enough extras to take an old chassis and represent a 'knocked out' version. When counted there are roughly about 500 plastic parts on 14 frets. Some 200 of which will hit the parts box (extras) with almost 300 being used to build this version of the Pz 38t Self Propelled 7.5 cm KwK gun. Photo etch will count for another 2 frets that include enough detail parts to dress out the kit nicely.1 small fret of clear plastic carries the Vision Blocks. The Decal sheet is just a few Balkencreuzes (crosses). There are also about 120 individual track links to be assembled. If track links are not for you, I believe you could substitute a pair of 'rubber band' tracks from another brand or older kit of the basic vehicle with little or no problem. The build The directions are typically of the 'exploded' type. Although a little 'busy' they are well executed and easy to follow. There are total of 21 total steps. The first 6 steps take you through the Chassis build complete with wheels and individual track links. My concern here is when building the tracks is "how many links are used for each run". Inclusive in this thought is another problem that does arise and that is that many times the rear idler wheels have no locating pins or notches on them and you are on your own for location/placement of the axles/wheels when gluing to the Chassis. I would recommend that the rear Idler wheels have a notch placed on them for positioning. If you glue them in place you cannot be assured of your track run fitting properly without having to 'fudge' a little by over sag or trimming a link to fit. Step 7, 8 & 9 has you build the Drivers pit and basic interior which is nicely represented. The floor tread plate does not fully stretch from side to side. I have checked this with my limited resources and found this to be normal in the actual vehicles. You will need to skip ahead and build the upper compartment walls prior to inserting the Interior. When both the upper superstructure and Interior are completed and are dry I would suggest that you test fit their placement. On my sample I had a positioning issue which in turn gave rise to a small gap between the upper rear wall and the interior engine wall and it is highly noticeable. I had to remove the forward locating pin to be able to adjust the interior location and I was able to make this gap disappear. There may also be a need to add filler between the upper walls of the fighting compartment and the sponsons. Mine had this small gap also. The only other glitch came when adding the details to the front glacis plate. If you follow the instructions and place all parts needed on the Glacis interior as I did, there may be a fit problem with the superstructure when added to the chassis. Part # D63 should be set in place closer to the vision port. I found out the hard way. All steps from 11 to 20 were completed with no additional problems; although I did have a little problem with the small photo etch tool box clasps but my fingers and photo etch is not a happy marriage. Not a fault of the Kits design. Decals and Painting When it was time to paint this vehicle, I sprayed it with Testors Modelmaster Afika Braun for the base coat. After sufficient time was allowed for drying, I used Future Floor wax, locally, to cover the locations of where the decals would be set and let this dry. I was then able to add the crosses which were in good register and went on easily with Micro Sol. When all this was dry the whole vehicle was given spray of Testors Dullcoat and once again set aside to dry I then dry brushed certain areas of the tank with the various appropriate colors needed i.e.: Rust, Silver and one or two Brown shades to show wear and tear on items such as the Gun, Floors and Inside Walls as well as several points on the outside of the Vehicle. I then gave an overall wash Sepia from Windsor & Newton Oils. This toned down the brightness of the base color and finally picked out certain details, inside and out, with a thinned Black Oil, again from W&N. When all was dry I again covered the vehicle with a spray of Testors Dullcoat and set it aside again to cure. Overall outlook This is a must have for those who would like to expand their collections of the Panzer 38t's and their variants. It builds very well with little or no problems. For those super detailers out there, there is a multitude of after market items that could be added, including a crew. The kit provides a great base to start from. This kit was graciously donated to me by Dragon Models USA for this review via IPMS/USA. Nice work from the people at Cyber-Hobby Highly recommended, Happy Modeling Resources; Allied-Axis #13 - Ampersand publishing German 15cm sIG33 Bison and Grille by Gary Edmundson - Osprey Modelling Marder Self-Propelled Gun by Sam Dwyer - Osprey Modelling

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