In Box Review of Revell-Italaerei 1/35th Scale
Panzer 38(t) German Light Tank
Kit no. H-2102
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1976
Available in the later boxing, (Italeri only) kit no. 6461 at Hobby Terra for $38.90 or at 1001 Hobbies for $60.89 and at 3 locations overseas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1976
Available in the later boxing, (Italeri only) kit no. 6461 at Hobby Terra for $38.90 or at 1001 Hobbies for $60.89 and at 3 locations overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
When Hitler’s armies invaded Czechoslovakia in 1939, the gain to Germany in territory was not as important as the fact that the whole Czech arms industry, at that time among the most modern in the world, was “acquired” intact.
The company of Ceskomoravska Kolben Danek of Prague (CKD/Praga) was actively engaged in a brisk export business of TNHB 38 light tanks at that time and all undelivered units were immediately absorbed into German armor units as the Panzer 38(t). The (t) stood for tschechisch or Czech. Production of the Panzer 38(t) continued by CKD/Praga (renamed Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik AG by the Germans in 1940) until 1942. By which time over 1,100 units had been produced.
The importance of this light tank to the German Army was measured in the numbers used by them. In this period, 1940-1941, over one-fourth of the tanks used by Germany were Panzer 38(t)s.
They were very reliable and efficient tanks and compared very favorably with their opposite numbers in other armies. Their only drawback, besides being outclassed by the larger tanks then coming into service, was their riveted construction , which was inferior to the contemporary German welded type of construction.
These tanks were used in France and then in Russia, where they were quickly obsoleted by the thicker Russian armored vehicles, which rendered their 37mm cannon totally ineffective. These tanks enjoyed success as an export item. Examples being sold to and sometimes built under license by the Peruvian, Swiss, Swedish and other governments.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 4.6m (15’3”)
Width: 2.15m (7’)
Height: 2.37m (7’2”)
Weight: 9.7 tons (9.725 kg)
Armor: 25mm thick
Crew: Four
Armament: One 37mm L/40 cannon, two 7.92mm coaxially mounted ZB wz 137 machine guns,
Power: Praga EPA 125hp (7.7 liter) 6 cylinder gasoline engine.
Speed: 26.1 mph (42 kph)
Range: 230 km (143 miles)
Best Gradient: 29 degrees.
When Hitler’s armies invaded Czechoslovakia in 1939, the gain to Germany in territory was not as important as the fact that the whole Czech arms industry, at that time among the most modern in the world, was “acquired” intact.
The company of Ceskomoravska Kolben Danek of Prague (CKD/Praga) was actively engaged in a brisk export business of TNHB 38 light tanks at that time and all undelivered units were immediately absorbed into German armor units as the Panzer 38(t). The (t) stood for tschechisch or Czech. Production of the Panzer 38(t) continued by CKD/Praga (renamed Böhmisch-Mährische Maschinenfabrik AG by the Germans in 1940) until 1942. By which time over 1,100 units had been produced.
The importance of this light tank to the German Army was measured in the numbers used by them. In this period, 1940-1941, over one-fourth of the tanks used by Germany were Panzer 38(t)s.
They were very reliable and efficient tanks and compared very favorably with their opposite numbers in other armies. Their only drawback, besides being outclassed by the larger tanks then coming into service, was their riveted construction , which was inferior to the contemporary German welded type of construction.
These tanks were used in France and then in Russia, where they were quickly obsoleted by the thicker Russian armored vehicles, which rendered their 37mm cannon totally ineffective. These tanks enjoyed success as an export item. Examples being sold to and sometimes built under license by the Peruvian, Swiss, Swedish and other governments.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 4.6m (15’3”)
Width: 2.15m (7’)
Height: 2.37m (7’2”)
Weight: 9.7 tons (9.725 kg)
Armor: 25mm thick
Crew: Four
Armament: One 37mm L/40 cannon, two 7.92mm coaxially mounted ZB wz 137 machine guns,
Power: Praga EPA 125hp (7.7 liter) 6 cylinder gasoline engine.
Speed: 26.1 mph (42 kph)
Range: 230 km (143 miles)
Best Gradient: 29 degrees.
THE KIT:
Revell and Italaerei (now spelled Italeri) are both old prolific model companies. Both produce models of different subjects in the popular scales. For this kit they joined forces.
Revell is located in Venice, CA and Italeri is located in Italy.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art is a color photo of the Panzer 38(t) made up and posed sitting on a snow covered field. It is overall panzer-grey with white splotches smeared on it. It carries a red no. 635 outlined in white on the sides of the turret and a German black cross, also outlined in white, on the sides of the hull. The commander is standing in the upper turret hatch. He wears an all-black uniform.
One corner of the box art says that he is included in the kit. To the right of the box art photo there are 3 color photos of the tank made up in other schemes:
Overall panzer-grey, with red 514 outlined in white on the sides of the turret, black German cross outlined in white on the sides of the hull. This tank was with the 8th Panzer Division.
Overall dark green, with the Czech red, white and blue flag on the sides of the turret. With the Czech Army.
The box art scheme repeated. With the 7th Panzer Division.
One side panel of the box has the history of the Panzer 38(t) above the copyright of the kit of 1976 and Revell’s street address in Venice, Ca and printing was done there. Followed by a color photo of the tank commander, accurately produced tracks and the rotating turret. Kit is intended for advanced modelers 12 and older. To assemble this model you need plastic model cement and a list of colors needed.
Revell and Italaerei (now spelled Italeri) are both old prolific model companies. Both produce models of different subjects in the popular scales. For this kit they joined forces.
Revell is located in Venice, CA and Italeri is located in Italy.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art is a color photo of the Panzer 38(t) made up and posed sitting on a snow covered field. It is overall panzer-grey with white splotches smeared on it. It carries a red no. 635 outlined in white on the sides of the turret and a German black cross, also outlined in white, on the sides of the hull. The commander is standing in the upper turret hatch. He wears an all-black uniform.
One corner of the box art says that he is included in the kit. To the right of the box art photo there are 3 color photos of the tank made up in other schemes:
Overall panzer-grey, with red 514 outlined in white on the sides of the turret, black German cross outlined in white on the sides of the hull. This tank was with the 8th Panzer Division.
Overall dark green, with the Czech red, white and blue flag on the sides of the turret. With the Czech Army.
The box art scheme repeated. With the 7th Panzer Division.
One side panel of the box has the history of the Panzer 38(t) above the copyright of the kit of 1976 and Revell’s street address in Venice, Ca and printing was done there. Followed by a color photo of the tank commander, accurately produced tracks and the rotating turret. Kit is intended for advanced modelers 12 and older. To assemble this model you need plastic model cement and a list of colors needed.
The other side panel shows 5 color walk-around type photos of the painted and marked 38(t) in the box art scheme (already described above).
Features are called out: Elevating 27mm Skoda gun. Two 7.92mm machine guns elevate and traverse in coaxial mounts. Decals included for 6 German Panzer units (this is un-true, because I see only 2 on the decal sheet) or the Czech TNHB light tank unit. Highly detailed hull with engraved bolt rivets, plate and grill detail. Highly detailed suspension with quarter elliptic springs, bogies, sprockets and return rollers. Optional position hatch. Cable, pick, shovel, tool box, jack and spare track.
Features are called out: Elevating 27mm Skoda gun. Two 7.92mm machine guns elevate and traverse in coaxial mounts. Decals included for 6 German Panzer units (this is un-true, because I see only 2 on the decal sheet) or the Czech TNHB light tank unit. Highly detailed hull with engraved bolt rivets, plate and grill detail. Highly detailed suspension with quarter elliptic springs, bogies, sprockets and return rollers. Optional position hatch. Cable, pick, shovel, tool box, jack and spare track.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 3 medium-grey parts trees and medium-grey vinyl tracks and the decal sheet. Nothing is cello bagged.
The instructions consist of an unbound booklet of 8 pages in 8 ½” x 11” page format. Folded in half to fit the box.
Page one begins with the history and specifications of the Panzer 38(t). Over BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions, helpful modeling hints and a paint color listing.
Page 2 is the parts trees illustrations.
Page 3 through to page 7 gives a grand total of 6 assembly steps.
The 5th step, in addition to being assembly of the tank commander is also a painting guide for him.
Page 8 is a painting and marking- guide, that shows 4-views of the three schemes already described on the box art.
Trees are not alphabetized. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. This means careful study of the instructions to get the right parts for each assembly.
There is a coupon in the kit to mail to Revell to join the Master Modelers Club (now long defunct).
This kit contains 3 medium-grey parts trees and medium-grey vinyl tracks and the decal sheet. Nothing is cello bagged.
The instructions consist of an unbound booklet of 8 pages in 8 ½” x 11” page format. Folded in half to fit the box.
Page one begins with the history and specifications of the Panzer 38(t). Over BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions, helpful modeling hints and a paint color listing.
Page 2 is the parts trees illustrations.
Page 3 through to page 7 gives a grand total of 6 assembly steps.
The 5th step, in addition to being assembly of the tank commander is also a painting guide for him.
Page 8 is a painting and marking- guide, that shows 4-views of the three schemes already described on the box art.
Trees are not alphabetized. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. This means careful study of the instructions to get the right parts for each assembly.
There is a coupon in the kit to mail to Revell to join the Master Modelers Club (now long defunct).
The smallest of the 3 medium-grey tree holds: the turret parts, commander figure etc. (28 parts)
One large medium-grey tree holds: the hull tub, rear hull wall, engine deck roof, fenders, seats, floor, jack, shovel and pick etc. (40 parts) Two parts are labeled as being excess and not needed to complete the kit.
The second large medium-grey tree holds: wheels, leaf springs (76 parts) Over the years I’ve had this kit some of the parts on this tree broke off. So, I put them in an old pill capsule with a lid.
The one piece hull tub is next.
The medium-grey vinyl tree of tracks holds two long runs and 5 short ones. Nicely detailed inside and out.
Rivet detail on some parts is very nice.
Rivet detail on some parts is very nice.
The decal sheet completes the kit contents.
Recommended.