In Box Review of Testor-Italeri 1/35th Scale
Pz.Kpfw. 38t Tank
Kit no. 807
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1980
Out of production.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1980
Out of production.
HISTORY:
The Panzerkampfwagen 38(t), originally known as the ČKD LT vz. 38, was a tank designed during the 1930s, which saw extensive service during World War II. Developed in Czechoslovakia by ČKD, the type was adopted by Nazi Germany following the annexation of Czechoslovakia. With the German Army and other Axis forces, the type saw service in the invasions of Poland, France and the USSR.
Production ended in 1942, when its main armament was deemed inadequate. In all, over 1,400 Pz. 38(t)s were manufactured. The chassis of the Pz. 38(t) continued to be produced for the Marder III (1942–1944) with some of its components used in the later Jagdpanzer 38 (1944–1945) tank destroyer and its derivative vehicles.
The (t) stands for tschechisch, the German word for Czech; the Czechoslovak military designation was LT vz. 38 (Lehký tank vzor 38, Light Tank model 38). Manufacturer's designations included TNH series, TNHPS, LTP and LTH. The special vehicle (Sonderkraftfahrzeug) designation for the tank in Germany was Sd. Kfz. 140.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Light tank
Place of origin: Czechoslovakia
In service: 1939–1945 (Nazi Germany), 1938–1970 (Peru)
Used by: Nazi Germany, Romania, Kingdom of Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovak Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Peru, Iran
Wars: World War II, Ecuadorian–Peruvian War, Internal conflict in Peru
Designer: ČKD
Manufacturer: ČKD
Produced: 1939–1942
No. built: 1,414 (for Germany)
Mass: 9.725–9.85 tonnes (9.571–9.694 long tons; 10.720–10.858 short tons)
Length: 4.61 m (15 ft 1 in)
Width: 2.14 m (7 ft 0 in)
Height: 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in) (overall)
Crew: 4
Armor: 8–30 mm (Ausf. A–D), 8–50 mm (Ausf. E–G)
Main armament: 37 mm KwK 38(t) L/47.8
Secondary armament: 2× 7.92 mm ZB-53 (MG 37(t)) machine guns
Engine: Praga Typ TNHPS/II water-cooled, 6-cylinder gasoline engine of 123.3 hp (125.0 PS; 91.9 kW)
Power/weight: 13.15 PS/tonne
Transmission: 5 + 1 Praga-Wilson Typ CV
Suspension: leaf spring
Ground clearance: 0.40 m
Fuel capacity: 220 litres (58 US gal)
Operational range: 250 km (160 mi) (road), 160 km (99 mi) (cross-country)
Maximum speed: 42 km/h, 26.1 mph (road), 15 km/h, 9.3 mph (off-road)
The Panzerkampfwagen 38(t), originally known as the ČKD LT vz. 38, was a tank designed during the 1930s, which saw extensive service during World War II. Developed in Czechoslovakia by ČKD, the type was adopted by Nazi Germany following the annexation of Czechoslovakia. With the German Army and other Axis forces, the type saw service in the invasions of Poland, France and the USSR.
Production ended in 1942, when its main armament was deemed inadequate. In all, over 1,400 Pz. 38(t)s were manufactured. The chassis of the Pz. 38(t) continued to be produced for the Marder III (1942–1944) with some of its components used in the later Jagdpanzer 38 (1944–1945) tank destroyer and its derivative vehicles.
The (t) stands for tschechisch, the German word for Czech; the Czechoslovak military designation was LT vz. 38 (Lehký tank vzor 38, Light Tank model 38). Manufacturer's designations included TNH series, TNHPS, LTP and LTH. The special vehicle (Sonderkraftfahrzeug) designation for the tank in Germany was Sd. Kfz. 140.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Light tank
Place of origin: Czechoslovakia
In service: 1939–1945 (Nazi Germany), 1938–1970 (Peru)
Used by: Nazi Germany, Romania, Kingdom of Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovak Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Peru, Iran
Wars: World War II, Ecuadorian–Peruvian War, Internal conflict in Peru
Designer: ČKD
Manufacturer: ČKD
Produced: 1939–1942
No. built: 1,414 (for Germany)
Mass: 9.725–9.85 tonnes (9.571–9.694 long tons; 10.720–10.858 short tons)
Length: 4.61 m (15 ft 1 in)
Width: 2.14 m (7 ft 0 in)
Height: 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in) (overall)
Crew: 4
Armor: 8–30 mm (Ausf. A–D), 8–50 mm (Ausf. E–G)
Main armament: 37 mm KwK 38(t) L/47.8
Secondary armament: 2× 7.92 mm ZB-53 (MG 37(t)) machine guns
Engine: Praga Typ TNHPS/II water-cooled, 6-cylinder gasoline engine of 123.3 hp (125.0 PS; 91.9 kW)
Power/weight: 13.15 PS/tonne
Transmission: 5 + 1 Praga-Wilson Typ CV
Suspension: leaf spring
Ground clearance: 0.40 m
Fuel capacity: 220 litres (58 US gal)
Operational range: 250 km (160 mi) (road), 160 km (99 mi) (cross-country)
Maximum speed: 42 km/h, 26.1 mph (road), 15 km/h, 9.3 mph (off-road)
THE KIT:
Italeri is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Italy. They manufacture all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
Testors is their U.S. distributor, based in Rockford, Illinois.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box, that has a slide-out cardboard tray that holds the kit’s parts.
The cover art is a color photo of the model made up and sitting on a work table with tools and paint.
It is overall Panzer-grey, with a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull. On the sides of the turret there is a yellow symbol of two vertical bars, with space between them, held together by short horizontal yellow bars at the top and bottom of them. This marking is NOT included on the kit’s decal sheet. So this scheme cannot be done. Bad move Italeri!
One side panel of the box has the history of the Pz.Kpfw. 38(t), followed by a small color side-view of the box art scheme.
Italeri is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Italy. They manufacture all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
Testors is their U.S. distributor, based in Rockford, Illinois.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box, that has a slide-out cardboard tray that holds the kit’s parts.
The cover art is a color photo of the model made up and sitting on a work table with tools and paint.
It is overall Panzer-grey, with a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull. On the sides of the turret there is a yellow symbol of two vertical bars, with space between them, held together by short horizontal yellow bars at the top and bottom of them. This marking is NOT included on the kit’s decal sheet. So this scheme cannot be done. Bad move Italeri!
One side panel of the box has the history of the Pz.Kpfw. 38(t), followed by a small color side-view of the box art scheme.
The other side panel lists Testors brand glue, bottle and spray paints, hobby knives etc. and a repeat of the side view.
The bottom of the box lists the kit’s features, over 8 color walk-around type photos of the kit made up in the cover art scheme. Parts were made in Italy . Copyright of the kit is 1980 and Italeri’s address in Italy is provided.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 3 dark-grey parts-trees, a black vinyl tree and the decal sheet in a single sealed clear cello bag.
The instructions consist of an unbound booklet of 8 pages in 8 ½” x 11” page format.
Page 1 has a black and white photo at the top of the model made up in the cover art scheme. Over the history and specifications of the tank, BEFORE STARTING, PREPARATION and PAINTING instructions.
Page 2 is the parts-trees illustrations.
Page 3 on to the top of page 6 gives a grand total of 5 assembly steps. With a lot of text in each step about how to do things.
Assembly of the crew figure and painting instructions for him are in step 4.
The bottom of page 6 has a 3-view of the tank in Panzer-grey. A choice of turret no. 635 or 514 can be used on it.
It was the 5th tank, 3rd Platoon, 6th Company, 8th Panzer Div.
The top of page 7 shows two more 2-views.
The first one is overall-white. You can use either of the turret numbers 635 or 514 on it.
It was the 4th Tank, 1st Platoon, 5th Company, 7th Panzer Div.
The second one is dark-green. It has the Czech flag on the sides of the turret.
It is preserved today in Czechoslovakia as a memorial. It was used in combat against the Germans during the Slovak National Uprising.
The bottom of the page shows the markings that are on the decal sheet.
The kit holds 3 dark-grey parts-trees, a black vinyl tree and the decal sheet in a single sealed clear cello bag.
The instructions consist of an unbound booklet of 8 pages in 8 ½” x 11” page format.
Page 1 has a black and white photo at the top of the model made up in the cover art scheme. Over the history and specifications of the tank, BEFORE STARTING, PREPARATION and PAINTING instructions.
Page 2 is the parts-trees illustrations.
Page 3 on to the top of page 6 gives a grand total of 5 assembly steps. With a lot of text in each step about how to do things.
Assembly of the crew figure and painting instructions for him are in step 4.
The bottom of page 6 has a 3-view of the tank in Panzer-grey. A choice of turret no. 635 or 514 can be used on it.
It was the 5th tank, 3rd Platoon, 6th Company, 8th Panzer Div.
The top of page 7 shows two more 2-views.
The first one is overall-white. You can use either of the turret numbers 635 or 514 on it.
It was the 4th Tank, 1st Platoon, 5th Company, 7th Panzer Div.
The second one is dark-green. It has the Czech flag on the sides of the turret.
It is preserved today in Czechoslovakia as a memorial. It was used in combat against the Germans during the Slovak National Uprising.
The bottom of the page shows the markings that are on the decal sheet.
Page 8 has long instructions for figure painting and weathering hints.
Trees are not alphabetized. Instead they are marked with symbols.
Tree marked with a square holds: turret parts, figure, tow cable, guns etc. (26 parts)
Trees are not alphabetized. Instead they are marked with symbols.
Tree marked with a square holds: turret parts, figure, tow cable, guns etc. (26 parts)
Tree marked with a star holds: the hull tub, top, fenders, seats, exhaust, walls etc. (40 parts)
Tree marked with a circle holds: road wheels, drive sprockets, idler wheels, return rollers, leaf springs etc. (76 parts)
The black vinyl tree is marked with a black dot. It holds two long runs and 5 short runs of tracks.
The decal sheet completes the kit contents.
The details, both external and internal, are great.
Only downer is the missing marks on the decal sheet that do the box art scheme. Strange that Italeri would not provide them.
Only downer is the missing marks on the decal sheet that do the box art scheme. Strange that Italeri would not provide them.
Recommended.