In Box Review of Italaerei 1/35th Scale
German Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) Tank
Kit no. 212
By Ray Mehlberger
Out of production
Copyright 1980
Available as kit no. 6489, Copyright 2011, from Kit Linx for $41.59 or Sprue Bros for $46.49 or 3 places over-seas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Out of production
Copyright 1980
Available as kit no. 6489, Copyright 2011, from Kit Linx for $41.59 or Sprue Bros for $46.49 or 3 places over-seas on the web.
HISTORY:
The Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) tank was first manufactured in Czechoslovakia in 1938 on behalf of the Czechoslovak Army and was named TNHP-S.
It was also delivered to Swiss, Swedish and Peruvian armies.
After the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the German forces, this tank - highly appreciated for it's up-to-date design - was adopted by the German Army because the output of German factories was not enough to meet the increasing requirements of the war.
It was called Panzerkampfwagen 38(t), and over 1,100 pieces were manufactured until 1942. It was used by several German armoured divisions in France (particularly by the 7th and 8th Panzer Divisions) first, and then on the Russian front, namely in the Kursk battle in the summer of 1942.
Its construction by screw coupling made it different from German-made tanks. This tank included, among others, a special feature, namely th rolling train that comprised four large diameter wheels on each side.
The armament included a 37 mm, 40 caliber gun mounted on the revolving turret and capable of firing 90 shots, and two machine guns (one mounted coaxially to the main gun and the other in the front part of the hull.
The tank was equipped with a Praga EPA 25 hp engine. Maximum speed on the road was 43 km/h and 15 km/h cross country. The crew was comprised of 4 men.
Weight: 9.7 tons, Length: 4.60 m, Width: 2.15 m, height: 2.37 m.
The Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) tank was first manufactured in Czechoslovakia in 1938 on behalf of the Czechoslovak Army and was named TNHP-S.
It was also delivered to Swiss, Swedish and Peruvian armies.
After the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the German forces, this tank - highly appreciated for it's up-to-date design - was adopted by the German Army because the output of German factories was not enough to meet the increasing requirements of the war.
It was called Panzerkampfwagen 38(t), and over 1,100 pieces were manufactured until 1942. It was used by several German armoured divisions in France (particularly by the 7th and 8th Panzer Divisions) first, and then on the Russian front, namely in the Kursk battle in the summer of 1942.
Its construction by screw coupling made it different from German-made tanks. This tank included, among others, a special feature, namely th rolling train that comprised four large diameter wheels on each side.
The armament included a 37 mm, 40 caliber gun mounted on the revolving turret and capable of firing 90 shots, and two machine guns (one mounted coaxially to the main gun and the other in the front part of the hull.
The tank was equipped with a Praga EPA 25 hp engine. Maximum speed on the road was 43 km/h and 15 km/h cross country. The crew was comprised of 4 men.
Weight: 9.7 tons, Length: 4.60 m, Width: 2.15 m, height: 2.37 m.
THE KIT:
Italaerei (now shortened to Italeri in later years), is an old prolific model company based in Italy.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) posed against an all-white background, similar to how Tamiya brand also does the majority of their box arts.
The tank is overall Panzer-grey with a white outlined large number 514 on the sides of the turret and a white skeletal German cross on the sides of the hull and a white letter "Y" with a vertical small bar to its right on the right side of the nose (this insignia is for the 8th Panzer Div.).
One side panel has 4 color box-arts of other 1/35th scale AFV kits that Italeri manufactures: a German Marder III self-propelled gun, a M13/40 Italian tank, a German Hetzer tank destroyer and a M40/18 Italian self-propelled gun.
No kit numbers are provided for these 4 kits.
Italaerei (now shortened to Italeri in later years), is an old prolific model company based in Italy.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) posed against an all-white background, similar to how Tamiya brand also does the majority of their box arts.
The tank is overall Panzer-grey with a white outlined large number 514 on the sides of the turret and a white skeletal German cross on the sides of the hull and a white letter "Y" with a vertical small bar to its right on the right side of the nose (this insignia is for the 8th Panzer Div.).
One side panel has 4 color box-arts of other 1/35th scale AFV kits that Italeri manufactures: a German Marder III self-propelled gun, a M13/40 Italian tank, a German Hetzer tank destroyer and a M40/18 Italian self-propelled gun.
No kit numbers are provided for these 4 kits.
The other side panel has a small color repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the tank in Italian and English.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 3 olive-drab parts tree in a sealed clear cello bag, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet that is accordion folded into 8 pages in 7" x 12" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme, over the tank's history in Italian, English and French.
Page 2 begins with general instructions in 4 languages, including English, over the parts trees illustrations.
Page 3 to the top of page 5 gives a grand total of 5 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 5 has 2 black and white photos showing each side of the model made up in the box art scheme.
Page 6 & 7 is the painting and decal application instructions, showing 3 schemes. Two schemes are 4-views and the 3rd scheme is a 3-view.
The first scheme is German and overall Panzer grey.
The second scheme is also German in a base of Panzer grey with white bands.
The third scheme is Czech in overall dark-yellow, with Czech flag on the sides of the turret.
The German schemes can have a choice of 2 turret numbers, either 635 or 514 in white and a choice of 6 different division markings.
Page 8 shows the markings over a list of what they represent in 4 languages, including English, over figure painting and marking instructions and the history of the tank this time in German.
Trees are not alphabetized. However, they are illustrated in the instructions and do have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees.
The 1st olive-drab tree holds: the hull tub, roof sections, fenders, 2 road wheels (spares?), jack, shovel, pick etc. (48 parts).
This kit holds 3 olive-drab parts tree in a sealed clear cello bag, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet that is accordion folded into 8 pages in 7" x 12" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme, over the tank's history in Italian, English and French.
Page 2 begins with general instructions in 4 languages, including English, over the parts trees illustrations.
Page 3 to the top of page 5 gives a grand total of 5 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 5 has 2 black and white photos showing each side of the model made up in the box art scheme.
Page 6 & 7 is the painting and decal application instructions, showing 3 schemes. Two schemes are 4-views and the 3rd scheme is a 3-view.
The first scheme is German and overall Panzer grey.
The second scheme is also German in a base of Panzer grey with white bands.
The third scheme is Czech in overall dark-yellow, with Czech flag on the sides of the turret.
The German schemes can have a choice of 2 turret numbers, either 635 or 514 in white and a choice of 6 different division markings.
Page 8 shows the markings over a list of what they represent in 4 languages, including English, over figure painting and marking instructions and the history of the tank this time in German.
Trees are not alphabetized. However, they are illustrated in the instructions and do have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees.
The 1st olive-drab tree holds: the hull tub, roof sections, fenders, 2 road wheels (spares?), jack, shovel, pick etc. (48 parts).
Two parts are X'd out in the parts trees illustrations as being excess and not needed to complete the model.
The 2nd olive-drab tree holds: leaf springs, road wheels, return rollers, drive wheels, idler wheels etc. (76 parts)
The 3rd olive-drab tree holds: the turret parts, tow cable, commander figure (divided into full body, head and arms) (29 parts)
Next are the vinyl tracks. They are one piece and include spare link sections (7 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kit contents.
Nice external detail, but no interior details.
Highly recommended.