In Box Review of Dragon 1/35th Scale
Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) mit 2cm Kw.K 38
Smart Kit no. 6294
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2006
Available at one place overseas for 51.85 Euro ($60.00)
I won my kit at a hobby contest in Madison, Wi on April 21, 2007.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2006
Available at one place overseas for 51.85 Euro ($60.00)
I won my kit at a hobby contest in Madison, Wi on April 21, 2007.
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 Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) (designation Sd.Kfz.140/1) was a reconnaissance vehicle based on a 38(t) tank fitted with a "Hängelafette" turret (20 mm KwK 38 L/55 gun and a coaxial MG 42 - adapted from the Sd. Kfz. 222 armoured car); a support version armed with a 75 mm KwK 37 L/24 (and MG 42) gun mounted in the modified superstructure was also designed. Seventy Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) with a 20 mm gun were built in February and March 1944; just two Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) with a 75 mm gun were built in 1944.
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 designation for the tank in Germany was Sd. Kfz. 140.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Light tank
Place of origin: Czechoslovakia
In service: 1939–1945 (Nazi Germany)
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 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), 100 km (62 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 Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) (designation Sd.Kfz.140/1) was a reconnaissance vehicle based on a 38(t) tank fitted with a "Hängelafette" turret (20 mm KwK 38 L/55 gun and a coaxial MG 42 - adapted from the Sd. Kfz. 222 armoured car); a support version armed with a 75 mm KwK 37 L/24 (and MG 42) gun mounted in the modified superstructure was also designed. Seventy Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) with a 20 mm gun were built in February and March 1944; just two Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) with a 75 mm gun were built in 1944.
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 designation for the tank in Germany was Sd. Kfz. 140.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Light tank
Place of origin: Czechoslovakia
In service: 1939–1945 (Nazi Germany)
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 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), 100 km (62 mi) (cross-country)
Maximum speed: 42 km/h, 26.1 mph (road), 15 km/h, 9.3 mph (off-road)
THE KIT:
Dragon is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model 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 the the 38(t) parked by a wrecked building and a pile of rubble,
It is in a base of earth-yellow with wide bands of red-brown camouflage, with a German cross on the sides of its hull.
One side panel of the box shows 3 black and white illustrations of features of the kit: the hull tub, roof, radio, ammo storage box, firewall, transmission and driver controls.
Dragon is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model 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 the the 38(t) parked by a wrecked building and a pile of rubble,
It is in a base of earth-yellow with wide bands of red-brown camouflage, with a German cross on the sides of its hull.
One side panel of the box shows 3 black and white illustrations of features of the kit: the hull tub, roof, radio, ammo storage box, firewall, transmission and driver controls.
The other side panel shows a color illustration 3-view of the 38(t) in the cover art scheme and illustrations of the brass PE frets. It then says the kit is not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts.
It is for modelers aged 10 and over. In multiple languages, including English. Followed by a CAUTION in 6 languages, including English, that says to not use paint or cement near an open flame and to be in a well ventilated room when you use them. Copyright of the kit is 2006, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China, kit made in China and Dragon’s web address.
It is for modelers aged 10 and over. In multiple languages, including English. Followed by a CAUTION in 6 languages, including English, that says to not use paint or cement near an open flame and to be in a well ventilated room when you use them. Copyright of the kit is 2006, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China, kit made in China and Dragon’s web address.
The bottom of the box shows 22 more black and white illustrations of features of the kit: road wheels, idler wheels, drive sprockets, ammo box, bogies, leaf springs, doors, bolt detail, rear wall, front armor, PE anti-grenade screen, turret interior and exterior, Magic Trax treads.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 10 medium-grey parts trees, medium-grey hull tub and roof parts, clear tree, decal sheet and 2 brass PE frets in 10 sealed clear cello bags. The brass PE fret that is a 2-piece anti-grenade screen for the turret Is in a molded black plastic box.
There Is also a bag of individual Magic Trax tread links.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: road wheels, idler wheels, drive sprockets, bogies etc. (60 parts) A part is broken off the letter A tree. It is a floor panel with a waffle pattern on it.
This kit holds 10 medium-grey parts trees, medium-grey hull tub and roof parts, clear tree, decal sheet and 2 brass PE frets in 10 sealed clear cello bags. The brass PE fret that is a 2-piece anti-grenade screen for the turret Is in a molded black plastic box.
There Is also a bag of individual Magic Trax tread links.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: road wheels, idler wheels, drive sprockets, bogies etc. (60 parts) A part is broken off the letter A tree. It is a floor panel with a waffle pattern on it.
Medium-grey letter B tree holds: fenders, hull walls, exhaust, headlight, machine gun etc. (66 parts) 17 parts are excess and not needed to complete the kit.
There is no letter C tree.
There is no letter C tree.
Medium-grey letter D tree holds: bulkhead, seats, transmission parts etc. (57 parts) 20 parts are excess.
Medium-grey letter E is the hull tub part (1 part)
Lettering jumps to the medium-grey letter G tree. It holds a “Crow’s foot” type antenna (4 parts) 2 parts are excess.
Medium-grey letter H tree holds: turret parts, ammo cans, hatches etc. (43 parts)
There is no letter I tree.
There is no letter I tree.
There are 2 different trees marked as being letter J. Unfortunately, I have lost one of them over the years since I’ve had this kit.The medium-grey one holds the main gun etc. (8 parts) 1 part is excess. The other tree is clear and holds 4 windows (4 parts) 1 part is excess.
There are 2 different Medium-grey letter K trees. One holds tools. (12 parts) 2 parts are excess, the other one holds ammo drums etc. (18 parts) 9 are excess. I also managed to lose these trees also….boo hoo. Butter-fingers me! I tried to get these kits from Dragon with no response from them.
MA is a large PE fret, holding 18 parts for the air intake, stowage boxes, lids, handles, etc.
MB is a medium-sized PE fret for interior parts. (15 parts)
MC is the 2-part PE set of the anti-grenade screen in a molded black plastic tray with clear lid.
Letter Y is the Magic Trax tread links (60 parts)
There are no figures included in the kit.
The decal sheet completes the kit’s contents.
The decal sheet completes the kit’s contents.
With the parts missing that I lost, I doubt I will ever get this kit built…sigh.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.