In Box Review of Italaerei 1/35th Scale
Jagdpanzer 38(t) "Hetzer"
Kit no. 209
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
HISTORY:
On the Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer, the design was modern, even though the interior compartment intended for a crew of 4 was excessively small. Small and fast, with a solid structure and smooth lines, the Hetzer was made by the Germans in 1043 as a self-propelled anti-tank, developed on the enlarged chassis of the Pz.Kpfw. tank 38(t).
It was equipped with a 150 hp Prague engine with a maximum speed of 40 km/h and armed with a 75 mm Pak 39 gun with a length of 48 calibres, with 40 rounds and a MG34 machine gun with 600 rounds placed in the roof and which could be operated from inside the vehicle.
The Hetzer was manufactured until the end of the war and 1,577 were produced in all. It was first used on the Russian Front and later (in the Autumn of 1944) on the Western Front in the anti-tank units (Panzerjagerabteilung).
SPECIFICATIONS:
Weight: 16 tons
Length: 6.30 meters
Width: 2.60 meters
Height: 2.14 meters
On the Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer, the design was modern, even though the interior compartment intended for a crew of 4 was excessively small. Small and fast, with a solid structure and smooth lines, the Hetzer was made by the Germans in 1043 as a self-propelled anti-tank, developed on the enlarged chassis of the Pz.Kpfw. tank 38(t).
It was equipped with a 150 hp Prague engine with a maximum speed of 40 km/h and armed with a 75 mm Pak 39 gun with a length of 48 calibres, with 40 rounds and a MG34 machine gun with 600 rounds placed in the roof and which could be operated from inside the vehicle.
The Hetzer was manufactured until the end of the war and 1,577 were produced in all. It was first used on the Russian Front and later (in the Autumn of 1944) on the Western Front in the anti-tank units (Panzerjagerabteilung).
SPECIFICATIONS:
Weight: 16 tons
Length: 6.30 meters
Width: 2.60 meters
Height: 2.14 meters
THE KIT:
This kit came in a taped-shut tray and lid type box. The box is blousy with a letter L void around the contents.
This kit came in a taped-shut tray and lid type box. The box is blousy with a letter L void around the contents.
The box art is a winter scene of a Hetzer leading 3 other Hetzers down a road. There are columes of smoke way in the background. The lead Hetzer is in a wave pattern of tan, dark green and brown with white squiggles. Two crewmen are looking out of the top. Both wear Panzer-grey uniforms. One has a cloth cap with a bill on it and the other crewman wears a cloth side cap. The guy with the billed cap has a pair of headphones on.
One side panel has a one paragraph history of the Hetzer in Italian and English.
The other side panel repeats this in French and German.
One side panel has a one paragraph history of the Hetzer in Italian and English.
The other side panel repeats this in French and German.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 3 very-light tan parts trees and black vinyl treads in 2 sealed cello bags. The decal sheet and instructions complete the kit's contents.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7" x 12" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the model made up, followed by the history of the Hetzer in Italian, English, French and German.
Page 2 begins with BUILDING RECOMMEDATIONS in the 4 languages, followed by the parts trees illustrations.
Page 3 through 5 give a grand total of 6 assembly steps.
Pages 6 and 7 have two 4-views of 2 paint patterns, but no markings on these.
Page 8 begins with illustrations of the markings on the decal sheet, with a listing of what those markings are, followed by figure painting instructions and a black and white photo of the Hetzer's running gear.
The parts trees are not alphabetized. They are just numbered. This means that a therough search of each tree will have to be done to get the correct parts for each assembly. Bad move Italeri !
Italeri has dropped the old spelling of their name now and it has been shortened.
The 1st light-tan tree holds: the hull tub and roof parts (2 parts)
This kit contains 3 very-light tan parts trees and black vinyl treads in 2 sealed cello bags. The decal sheet and instructions complete the kit's contents.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7" x 12" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the model made up, followed by the history of the Hetzer in Italian, English, French and German.
Page 2 begins with BUILDING RECOMMEDATIONS in the 4 languages, followed by the parts trees illustrations.
Page 3 through 5 give a grand total of 6 assembly steps.
Pages 6 and 7 have two 4-views of 2 paint patterns, but no markings on these.
Page 8 begins with illustrations of the markings on the decal sheet, with a listing of what those markings are, followed by figure painting instructions and a black and white photo of the Hetzer's running gear.
The parts trees are not alphabetized. They are just numbered. This means that a therough search of each tree will have to be done to get the correct parts for each assembly. Bad move Italeri !
Italeri has dropped the old spelling of their name now and it has been shortened.
The 1st light-tan tree holds: the hull tub and roof parts (2 parts)
The 2nd light-tan tree holds: leaf springs, road wheels, drive sprockets, return rollers, idler wheels etc. (77 parts)
The 3rd light-tan tree holds: side-skirt sections, crewmen, main gun, rear hull wall, tools, machine gun, mantle, muffler, fenders etc. (72 parts)
The black vinyl treads are next. There are 2 long runs and 5 spare short runs. (7 parts) These are the old type that you have to hot-rivet the long runs into loops, not the newer glueable type.
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents.
There are no clear parts in the kit, nor any interior details. However, it is a nice kit externally.
Kit was courtesy of my wallet years ago. It first appeared in the 1960's. Tamiya and Bilek brands each do a Hetzer and they are available from overseas sources.