In Box Review of Dragon 1/35th Scale
5cm PAK 38 w/Fallschirmjagers
Kit no. 6118
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1999
I paid $19.98 for this kit years ago.
It is available from Sprue Brothers for $25.49 or at Hobbylinc for $27.49 or at Mega Hobby for $31.46 or at Kit Linx for $25.59 or at 1001 Hobbies for $42.99 and at one location overseas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1999
I paid $19.98 for this kit years ago.
It is available from Sprue Brothers for $25.49 or at Hobbylinc for $27.49 or at Mega Hobby for $31.46 or at Kit Linx for $25.59 or at 1001 Hobbies for $42.99 and at one location overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
The 5 cm Pak 38 (L/60) (5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 38 (L/60)) was a German anti-tank gun of 50 mm calibre. It was developed in 1938 by Rheinmetall-Borsig AG as a successor to the 3.7 cm Pak 36, and was in turn followed by the 7.5 cm Pak 40. Note the unique curved gun-shield design which differs from most WWII anti-tank guns which have either one flat or two angled and one flat gun-shield plates for ease of manufacturing.
After the Spanish Civil War, the German authorities started to think that a new anti-tank gun would be needed, even though the 3.7 cm Pak 36 had proven to be very successful. They asked Rheinmetall-Borsig to produce a new and more capable AT-gun. They first designed the Pak 37 in 1935, but the German authorities did not approve it because of its low capabilities.
Rheinmetall-Borsig were forced to create a new gun under the designation Pak 38, which fitted a new and longer L/60 barrel and was approved for mass production in 1939.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Panzerabwehrkanone
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1940–1945
Used by: Nazi Germany, Italy, Finland, Romania, Bulgaria,First Slovak republic
Wars: World War II, Continuation War
Designed: 1937–1939
Manufacturer: Rheinmetall-Borsig
Unit cost: 10,600 ℛℳ
Produced: 1940–1943
No. built: 9,566
Mass: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb), 1,062 kg (2,341 lb) w/carriage
Length: 4.75 m (15.6 ft)
Barrel length: 300 cm (120 in) bore (60 calibres)
Width: 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Height: 1.05 m (3 ft 5 in)
Crew: 5
Shell: Fixed QF 50×420mm R, 5 cm Pzgr., 5 cm Pzgr. 39, 5 cm Pzgr. 40, 5 cm Pzgr. 40/1, 5 cm Sprgr. 38
Shell weight: 2.25 kg (4 lb 15 oz)
Caliber: 50 mm (2.0 in)
Action: Semi-automatic
Breech: Horizontal sliding-wedge
Recoil: Hydro-pneumatic
Carriage: Split-trail
Elevation: -8° to +27°
Traverse: 65°
Rate of fire: 13 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity: 550-1,130 m/s (1,804-3,707 ft/s)
Maximum firing range: 2,700 m (3,000 yd)
Feed system: Manual
Sights: Z.F. 3x8°
The 5 cm Pak 38 (L/60) (5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 38 (L/60)) was a German anti-tank gun of 50 mm calibre. It was developed in 1938 by Rheinmetall-Borsig AG as a successor to the 3.7 cm Pak 36, and was in turn followed by the 7.5 cm Pak 40. Note the unique curved gun-shield design which differs from most WWII anti-tank guns which have either one flat or two angled and one flat gun-shield plates for ease of manufacturing.
After the Spanish Civil War, the German authorities started to think that a new anti-tank gun would be needed, even though the 3.7 cm Pak 36 had proven to be very successful. They asked Rheinmetall-Borsig to produce a new and more capable AT-gun. They first designed the Pak 37 in 1935, but the German authorities did not approve it because of its low capabilities.
Rheinmetall-Borsig were forced to create a new gun under the designation Pak 38, which fitted a new and longer L/60 barrel and was approved for mass production in 1939.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Panzerabwehrkanone
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1940–1945
Used by: Nazi Germany, Italy, Finland, Romania, Bulgaria,First Slovak republic
Wars: World War II, Continuation War
Designed: 1937–1939
Manufacturer: Rheinmetall-Borsig
Unit cost: 10,600 ℛℳ
Produced: 1940–1943
No. built: 9,566
Mass: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb), 1,062 kg (2,341 lb) w/carriage
Length: 4.75 m (15.6 ft)
Barrel length: 300 cm (120 in) bore (60 calibres)
Width: 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Height: 1.05 m (3 ft 5 in)
Crew: 5
Shell: Fixed QF 50×420mm R, 5 cm Pzgr., 5 cm Pzgr. 39, 5 cm Pzgr. 40, 5 cm Pzgr. 40/1, 5 cm Sprgr. 38
Shell weight: 2.25 kg (4 lb 15 oz)
Caliber: 50 mm (2.0 in)
Action: Semi-automatic
Breech: Horizontal sliding-wedge
Recoil: Hydro-pneumatic
Carriage: Split-trail
Elevation: -8° to +27°
Traverse: 65°
Rate of fire: 13 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity: 550-1,130 m/s (1,804-3,707 ft/s)
Maximum firing range: 2,700 m (3,000 yd)
Feed system: Manual
Sights: Z.F. 3x8°
THE KIT:
Dragon (sometimes called DML) 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 comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a PAK 38 and its 5 man crew, in a yard behind a white house with a thatched roof that has snow on it. The yard is surrounded by wood fences and brush.
The Pak 38 is overall Panzer-grey.
The men all wear quilted white uniforms, with hoods and low black shoes. Three men wear bare steel helmets and 2 have their helmets painted white.
Reading left to right. The 1st man is kneeling on both knees and looking over the brush with a pair of binoculars.
The 2nd man to the right is operating the PAK 38. He is kneeling on both knees.
The 3rd man to the right is kneeling on both knees. He is holding ammo round in both hands. The round is brass with a black tip.
The 4th man to the right is kneeling on his left knee and is talking to the 5th man.
The 5th (and last) man on the right is also kneeling on his left knee and is holding an ammo round is his right hand on his right knee.
In the distance, on a snow-covered field, there is a burning Soviet T-34 tank.
One side-panel of the box shows 3 walk around type color photos of the model made up. Followed by the copyright for the kit as 1999, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China and kit was made there.
Dragon (sometimes called DML) 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 comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a PAK 38 and its 5 man crew, in a yard behind a white house with a thatched roof that has snow on it. The yard is surrounded by wood fences and brush.
The Pak 38 is overall Panzer-grey.
The men all wear quilted white uniforms, with hoods and low black shoes. Three men wear bare steel helmets and 2 have their helmets painted white.
Reading left to right. The 1st man is kneeling on both knees and looking over the brush with a pair of binoculars.
The 2nd man to the right is operating the PAK 38. He is kneeling on both knees.
The 3rd man to the right is kneeling on both knees. He is holding ammo round in both hands. The round is brass with a black tip.
The 4th man to the right is kneeling on his left knee and is talking to the 5th man.
The 5th (and last) man on the right is also kneeling on his left knee and is holding an ammo round is his right hand on his right knee.
In the distance, on a snow-covered field, there is a burning Soviet T-34 tank.
One side-panel of the box shows 3 walk around type color photos of the model made up. Followed by the copyright for the kit as 1999, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China and kit was made there.
The other side panel of the box shows 2 color box-arts of other figure kits that Dragon manufactures: Kit no.6120, U.S. Infantry, 2nd Armored Div., Normandy 1944 and Kit no. 6122, Approach to Stalingrad, Autumn 1942.
Followed by a CAUTION: When you use paint or glue do not be near an open flame and be in a well-ventilated room. For modelers aged 10 , in 6 languages, including English. The kit is not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts, in the six languages.
Followed by a CAUTION: When you use paint or glue do not be near an open flame and be in a well-ventilated room. For modelers aged 10 , in 6 languages, including English. The kit is not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts, in the six languages.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 3 medium-grey parts trees in 3 sealed clear cello bags and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7” x 10” page format.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a black and white repeat of the box art at the top. Over the parts-trees illustrations.
Page 2 begins with a CAUTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a paint listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of hobby paints. In 6 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 5 gives a grand total of 13 assembly steps for the PAK 38
Pages 6 and 7 gives step no. 14, which is for assembly and painting of the 5 crew figures and an ammo case. A front and rear view of each figure is given. The display case is shown totally disassembled.
The bottom of page 7 shows a black and white photo of the model made up on a display base.
Page 8 shows a color illustration 4-view profile of the PAK 38 in overall Panzer-grey.
The bottom of page 8 gives the copyright of the kit as 1999, over decal application instructions, in 7 languages, including English.
Only the largest medium-grey part tree is alphabetized as letter A.
It holds all the parts for the PAK 38. (54 parts)
This kit holds 3 medium-grey parts trees in 3 sealed clear cello bags and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7” x 10” page format.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a black and white repeat of the box art at the top. Over the parts-trees illustrations.
Page 2 begins with a CAUTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a paint listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of hobby paints. In 6 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 5 gives a grand total of 13 assembly steps for the PAK 38
Pages 6 and 7 gives step no. 14, which is for assembly and painting of the 5 crew figures and an ammo case. A front and rear view of each figure is given. The display case is shown totally disassembled.
The bottom of page 7 shows a black and white photo of the model made up on a display base.
Page 8 shows a color illustration 4-view profile of the PAK 38 in overall Panzer-grey.
The bottom of page 8 gives the copyright of the kit as 1999, over decal application instructions, in 7 languages, including English.
Only the largest medium-grey part tree is alphabetized as letter A.
It holds all the parts for the PAK 38. (54 parts)
The medium-sized medium-grey tree holds: the parts of 3 figures (divided into separate heads, torsos, arms and legs) also on this tree are 3 steel helmets, a pair of binoculars, an ammo case and ammo rounds etc. (31 parts)
The small-sized medium-grey tree holds: the parts of the other 2 figures. Divided the same as the first 3 figures. Also on this tree is 2 canteens, 2 steel helmets, 2 canvas sacks, 2 ammo pouches, 2 mess kits and a bayonet in a scabbard (23 parts)
There is no decal sheet included.
The detail is very good.
Recommended.
The detail is very good.
Recommended.