In Box Review of Italeri 1/35th Scale
German Sd.Kfz. 139 PzJager Marder III
Kit no. 6210
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2006
Available from Kit Linx for $32.79 or at one place in Japan.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2006
Available from Kit Linx for $32.79 or at one place in Japan.
HISTORY:
This self-propelled anti-tank vehicle was built by the Germans in 1942 in order to face dangerous new Russian tanks and to equip their own anti-tank units with a mobile vehicle . It had the same body as the German Pz.38 (t).
The turret was substituted by a fixed superstructure which incorporated a 75mm Pak 40 gun. Motor and interior equipment remained unchanged and therefore the vehicle was very high, while the gunners were in a rather exposed position.
From 1943 to 1944, there were a total of 975 units built. It was widely used in Tunisia, Russia and Italy. It remained in service with Panzerjaeger Abt, in the infantry, Panzer grenadier and armored divisions until the end of 1944.
The German word Marder means "Marten" in English.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Tank destroyer
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1942–1945
Used by: Nazi Germany
Wars: World War II
Designed: 1942
Manufacturer: BMM (ČKD)
Produced: 1942–1944
No. built: 1,736 produced and converted, Sd. Kfz. 139: 344 produced, Sd.Kfz. 138, Ausf. H: 275 produced, 175 converted, Sd.Kfz. 138, Ausf. M: 942 produced
Mass: 10,670 kg (23,523 lbs.)
Length: 4.65 m (15 ft. 3 in)
Width: 2.35 m (7 ft. 9 in)
Height: 2.48 m (8 ft. 2 in)
Crew: 4
Armor: 10–50 mm
Main armament: 7.62 cm Pak 36(r) or 7.5 cm Pak 40
Secondary armament: 7.92 mm MG 37(t), MG 34 or MG 42
Engine: Praga Typ TNHPS/II water-cooled, 6-cylinder gasoline, 7.75 l, 125-150 PS (123-148 hp, 92-110 kW)
Power/weight: 14.1 PS (10.3 kW) / tonne
Suspension: leaf spring
Ground clearance: 40 cm (1 ft. 4 in)
Operational range: 190–210 km
Maximum speed: 35–42 km/h
This self-propelled anti-tank vehicle was built by the Germans in 1942 in order to face dangerous new Russian tanks and to equip their own anti-tank units with a mobile vehicle . It had the same body as the German Pz.38 (t).
The turret was substituted by a fixed superstructure which incorporated a 75mm Pak 40 gun. Motor and interior equipment remained unchanged and therefore the vehicle was very high, while the gunners were in a rather exposed position.
From 1943 to 1944, there were a total of 975 units built. It was widely used in Tunisia, Russia and Italy. It remained in service with Panzerjaeger Abt, in the infantry, Panzer grenadier and armored divisions until the end of 1944.
The German word Marder means "Marten" in English.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Tank destroyer
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1942–1945
Used by: Nazi Germany
Wars: World War II
Designed: 1942
Manufacturer: BMM (ČKD)
Produced: 1942–1944
No. built: 1,736 produced and converted, Sd. Kfz. 139: 344 produced, Sd.Kfz. 138, Ausf. H: 275 produced, 175 converted, Sd.Kfz. 138, Ausf. M: 942 produced
Mass: 10,670 kg (23,523 lbs.)
Length: 4.65 m (15 ft. 3 in)
Width: 2.35 m (7 ft. 9 in)
Height: 2.48 m (8 ft. 2 in)
Crew: 4
Armor: 10–50 mm
Main armament: 7.62 cm Pak 36(r) or 7.5 cm Pak 40
Secondary armament: 7.92 mm MG 37(t), MG 34 or MG 42
Engine: Praga Typ TNHPS/II water-cooled, 6-cylinder gasoline, 7.75 l, 125-150 PS (123-148 hp, 92-110 kW)
Power/weight: 14.1 PS (10.3 kW) / tonne
Suspension: leaf spring
Ground clearance: 40 cm (1 ft. 4 in)
Operational range: 190–210 km
Maximum speed: 35–42 km/h
THE KIT:
Italeri is an old prolific model company based in Italy. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a blousy shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box is 2” too long and 2” too wide.
The box art shows a Marder III parked next to a large tree on a river bank. It is in a camouflage of a base of sand with dark-green and red-brown large spots. No markings are shown on it.
One side panel of the box has Italeri street and web addresses in Italy provided. This is followed by six 1-paragraph histories of the Marder III in various languages, including English, each labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
Italeri is an old prolific model company based in Italy. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a blousy shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box is 2” too long and 2” too wide.
The box art shows a Marder III parked next to a large tree on a river bank. It is in a camouflage of a base of sand with dark-green and red-brown large spots. No markings are shown on it.
One side panel of the box has Italeri street and web addresses in Italy provided. This is followed by six 1-paragraph histories of the Marder III in various languages, including English, each labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
The other side panel begins with a repeat of the street and web address for Italeri, followed by information about the kit: This kit contains an unassembled plastic kit. Cement and paint are needed to finish the model as shown are not included. Multilingual instruction sheet with drawing and decal sheet are included. Suitable for children age 10 and over. In multiple languages, including English.
Copyright of the kit is 2006, followed by a suggested paint color listing of Model Master brand of hobby paints and 2 color photos of a Marder III somewhere in a museum, showing the interior.
Copyright of the kit is 2006, followed by a suggested paint color listing of Model Master brand of hobby paints and 2 color photos of a Marder III somewhere in a museum, showing the interior.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 3 pale-gray trees, vinyl rubber band type tracks and the decal sheet. Nothing is cello bagged.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7” x 9” page format.
Page 1 has 1 paragraph histories of the Marder III in the 6 languages, including English, over ATTENTIONS about the kit in 11 languages, including English.
Page 2 has the parts trees illustrations and a repeat of the suggested paints by Model Master.
Page 3 through to the top of page 6 gives a grand total of 8 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 6 gives decal application instructions in 9 languages, including English, over a painting and marking guide showing a side and front- view of a Marder III in the box art scheme.
Page 7 continues with the markings of this Marder III, showing its top and front. It has a white nick-name “Paula” followed by the German cross on its sides and 5 white victory rings around its gun barrel. It has a white double pennant insignia on the left side of the front shield and a white arrow on the right shield. I looked it up and the arrow is the 23rd Panzer Div. mark.
This is how it appeared in France in 1944.
At the bottom of page 7 there is another 4-view of a Marder III. It is overall sand with the German cross on its sides. It has a white tactical marking for a self-propelled anti-tank gun, over a white unit insignia of a trident. This I found out be for the 2nd Panzer Div. It too has the 5 white victory rings around its gun barrel and is how it looked in Russia in 1942.
Page 8 has IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS KIT in 20 languages, including English, over a service coupon.
Trees are alphabetized.
Pale-gray letter A tree holds: the hull tub, fenders, engine compartment roof, machine gun, tools, jack, muffler etc. (47 parts)
The kit holds 3 pale-gray trees, vinyl rubber band type tracks and the decal sheet. Nothing is cello bagged.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7” x 9” page format.
Page 1 has 1 paragraph histories of the Marder III in the 6 languages, including English, over ATTENTIONS about the kit in 11 languages, including English.
Page 2 has the parts trees illustrations and a repeat of the suggested paints by Model Master.
Page 3 through to the top of page 6 gives a grand total of 8 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 6 gives decal application instructions in 9 languages, including English, over a painting and marking guide showing a side and front- view of a Marder III in the box art scheme.
Page 7 continues with the markings of this Marder III, showing its top and front. It has a white nick-name “Paula” followed by the German cross on its sides and 5 white victory rings around its gun barrel. It has a white double pennant insignia on the left side of the front shield and a white arrow on the right shield. I looked it up and the arrow is the 23rd Panzer Div. mark.
This is how it appeared in France in 1944.
At the bottom of page 7 there is another 4-view of a Marder III. It is overall sand with the German cross on its sides. It has a white tactical marking for a self-propelled anti-tank gun, over a white unit insignia of a trident. This I found out be for the 2nd Panzer Div. It too has the 5 white victory rings around its gun barrel and is how it looked in Russia in 1942.
Page 8 has IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS KIT in 20 languages, including English, over a service coupon.
Trees are alphabetized.
Pale-gray letter A tree holds: the hull tub, fenders, engine compartment roof, machine gun, tools, jack, muffler etc. (47 parts)
Pale-gray letter B tree holds: leaf springs, idler wheels, road wheels, drive sprockets, return rollers, bogies etc. (78 parts)
Pale-gray letter C tree holds: the main gun parts, figures (divided into separate full bodies, heads and arms), ammo and shields etc. (61 parts)
Letter D is the dark-gray vinyl tracks. There are 2 long runs and 5 short spare sections.
The decal sheet completes the kit.
Great detail inside and out. Highly recommended.