In Box Review of DML 1/35TH Scale
“Grille” Ausf. H, Sd.Kfz. 138/1 w/S.P. Gun Crew
Kit no. 9004
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1994
Out of production.
I paid $32.99 for this kit, back in the 90’s at a local hobby shop that went out of business.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1994
Out of production.
I paid $32.99 for this kit, back in the 90’s at a local hobby shop that went out of business.
HISTORY:
The 15 cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen 38(t), also known as Grille (German: "cricket") was a series of self-propelled artillery vehicles used by Nazi Germany during World War II. The Grille series was based on the Czech Panzer 38(t) tank chassis and used a 15 cm sIG 33 infantry gun.The original order for 200 units of the Grille, was to be based on the new 38(t) Ausf. M chassis that BMM (Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik) was developing, however delays caused production to start on the 38(t) Ausf. H chassis.
The first variant of the Grille was based on the Panzer 38(t) Ausf. H chassis, which had its engine in the rear. Instead of a turret the vehicle had a low-slung superstructure and fighting compartment. The 15 cm schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33 (heavy infantry gun) was mounted in the front of this armored compartment. Being built on a tank chassis, its hull armour was 50 mm (front) and its superstructure armour was 25 mm (front).
A total of 200 (including one prototype) were produced in the BMM (erstwhile ČKD Praga) factory in Prague from February to June 1943, further 10 were built in November 1943. The official designation was 15 cm Schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf. H (Sd.Kfz. 138/1).
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: self propelled artillery
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1943 - 1945
Wars: World War II
Produced: 1943 - 1944
No. built: 389
Variants: ammunition carrier
Mass: 11.5 tonnes
Length: 4.95 m (16 ft 3 in)
Width: 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)
Height: 2.47 m (8 ft 1 in)
Crew: 5
Armor: 10 mm - 15 mm
Main armament: 1× 15 cm sIG 33 with 15 rounds
Secondary armament: 1× 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 with 600 rounds
Engine: 1 x Praga AC, 6-cylinder petrol engine of 147 hp (110 kW)
Suspension: Leaf spring
Operational range: 190 km (120 mi)
Maximum speed: 35 km/h (22 mph)
The 15 cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen 38(t), also known as Grille (German: "cricket") was a series of self-propelled artillery vehicles used by Nazi Germany during World War II. The Grille series was based on the Czech Panzer 38(t) tank chassis and used a 15 cm sIG 33 infantry gun.The original order for 200 units of the Grille, was to be based on the new 38(t) Ausf. M chassis that BMM (Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik) was developing, however delays caused production to start on the 38(t) Ausf. H chassis.
The first variant of the Grille was based on the Panzer 38(t) Ausf. H chassis, which had its engine in the rear. Instead of a turret the vehicle had a low-slung superstructure and fighting compartment. The 15 cm schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33 (heavy infantry gun) was mounted in the front of this armored compartment. Being built on a tank chassis, its hull armour was 50 mm (front) and its superstructure armour was 25 mm (front).
A total of 200 (including one prototype) were produced in the BMM (erstwhile ČKD Praga) factory in Prague from February to June 1943, further 10 were built in November 1943. The official designation was 15 cm Schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf. H (Sd.Kfz. 138/1).
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: self propelled artillery
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1943 - 1945
Wars: World War II
Produced: 1943 - 1944
No. built: 389
Variants: ammunition carrier
Mass: 11.5 tonnes
Length: 4.95 m (16 ft 3 in)
Width: 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)
Height: 2.47 m (8 ft 1 in)
Crew: 5
Armor: 10 mm - 15 mm
Main armament: 1× 15 cm sIG 33 with 15 rounds
Secondary armament: 1× 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 with 600 rounds
Engine: 1 x Praga AC, 6-cylinder petrol engine of 147 hp (110 kW)
Suspension: Leaf spring
Operational range: 190 km (120 mi)
Maximum speed: 35 km/h (22 mph)
THE KIT:
DML (also called Dragon) is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer, based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a blousy shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box is 3 ½” too long.
The box art shows a color illustration of a group of 4 Grilles, parked in a snow-covered field surrounded by forest.
All of the vehicles are overall Panzer-grey, with heavy coatings of white-wash on them. An area on their sides was left Panzer-grey and a black and white German cross is on it.
There are crewmen all around the tanks. They all wear white parkas with hoods and white quilted trousers, bloused into high black jack-boots.
Next to the Grill in the foreground, is a crewman that is standing and has an ammo round on his right shoulder, that he is getting ready to hand to a second crewman that is standing on the rear of the Grille and already has a round in his hands. There are 4 rounds standing on the ground, behind the guy with one on his shoulder.
A crewman is behind the gun and holding a round in his hand. The 4th crewman is working the gun. All the men on this tank wear field-grey cloth caps with bills. The gunner is wearing headphones.
One side-panel of the box shows a color box art of a figure kit that DML makes: Kit no.6021, U.S. Rangers (Normandy 1944). Followed by the copyright of the kit as 1994, over Marco Polo Import Inc S street- address and FAX number, in City of Industry, CA. (they were the importer and distributor of DML kits, when this kit was released). Kit made in Hong Kong, China.
DML (also called Dragon) is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer, based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a blousy shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box is 3 ½” too long.
The box art shows a color illustration of a group of 4 Grilles, parked in a snow-covered field surrounded by forest.
All of the vehicles are overall Panzer-grey, with heavy coatings of white-wash on them. An area on their sides was left Panzer-grey and a black and white German cross is on it.
There are crewmen all around the tanks. They all wear white parkas with hoods and white quilted trousers, bloused into high black jack-boots.
Next to the Grill in the foreground, is a crewman that is standing and has an ammo round on his right shoulder, that he is getting ready to hand to a second crewman that is standing on the rear of the Grille and already has a round in his hands. There are 4 rounds standing on the ground, behind the guy with one on his shoulder.
A crewman is behind the gun and holding a round in his hand. The 4th crewman is working the gun. All the men on this tank wear field-grey cloth caps with bills. The gunner is wearing headphones.
One side-panel of the box shows a color box art of a figure kit that DML makes: Kit no.6021, U.S. Rangers (Normandy 1944). Followed by the copyright of the kit as 1994, over Marco Polo Import Inc S street- address and FAX number, in City of Industry, CA. (they were the importer and distributor of DML kits, when this kit was released). Kit made in Hong Kong, China.
The other side panel shows 3 color walk-around type photos of the model made up in the box art scheme. Followed by a repeat of the copyright date, address and FAX for Marco Polo.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 9 medium-grey parts trees, 1 tan one, 2 steel PE frets and the decal sheet in 4 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the parts trees illustrations. Some parts are shown blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of hobby paints. In 5 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2, through to the top of page 7 gives a grand total of 9 assembly steps. The 9th step is for assembly and painting the 4 crew figures.
The bottom of page 7 is a 3 view of the Grill in the box art scheme. Also illustrations of 2 sizes of ammo rounds.
Page 8 shows 3 walk-around type, black and white photos of the model made up. Down the right hand column of the page is the decal application instructions in 6 languages, the copyright date and Made in Hong Kong, China.
Only half of the parts trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: the side shields, floor etc. (52 parts)
The kit holds 9 medium-grey parts trees, 1 tan one, 2 steel PE frets and the decal sheet in 4 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the parts trees illustrations. Some parts are shown blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of hobby paints. In 5 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2, through to the top of page 7 gives a grand total of 9 assembly steps. The 9th step is for assembly and painting the 4 crew figures.
The bottom of page 7 is a 3 view of the Grill in the box art scheme. Also illustrations of 2 sizes of ammo rounds.
Page 8 shows 3 walk-around type, black and white photos of the model made up. Down the right hand column of the page is the decal application instructions in 6 languages, the copyright date and Made in Hong Kong, China.
Only half of the parts trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: the side shields, floor etc. (52 parts)
There are 4 identical medium-grey letter B trees they hold: individual track links and idler wheels.
Medium-grey letter C tree is co-joined to one of the letter B trees. It holds the transmission etc. (8 parts) 2 parts are excess.
Medium-grey letter C tree is co-joined to one of the letter B trees. It holds the transmission etc. (8 parts) 2 parts are excess.
Medium-grey letter D tree holds the main gun parts, ammo rounds etc. (43 parts) 8 parts are excess.
The 1st un-alphabetized medium-grey tree holds: the hull tub, front shield, fenders, drive wheels etc. (47 parts)
The 2nd un-alphabetized medium-grey tree holds: road wheels, leaf springs etc. (74 parts) 31 parts are excess
The tan tree is un-alphabetized. It holds the parts of the crew figures (divided into separate heads, torsos, arms and legs) also a jerry-can, ear phones, ammo rounds, 3 field caps with bills, a pistol in holster (38 parts) 5 parts are excess.
Steel PE fret MA holds panels etc. (11 parts)
Steel PE fret MB holds straps (7 parts) 5 parts are excess.
The decal sheet completes the kit contents.
The detail is very good.
Recommended.
Recommended.