In Box Review of Tamiya 1/35th Scale
German Tank Destroyer Marder III
Sd.Kfz.139 7.62cm Pak 36 (r) auf Gw.38t
Kit no. 35248-2500
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2001
Available at Hobby Linc for $38.40 or at Squadron for $40.00 or at Kit Linx for $40.79 or at Mega Hobby for $43.39 or at Sprue Brothers for $43.49 and at 3 locations overseas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2001
Available at Hobby Linc for $38.40 or at Squadron for $40.00 or at Kit Linx for $40.79 or at Mega Hobby for $43.39 or at Sprue Brothers for $43.49 and at 3 locations overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
Marder III was the name for a series of World War II German tank destroyers. They mounted either the modified ex-Soviet 76.2 mm F-22 Model 1936 divisional field gun, or the German 7.5 cm PaK 40, in an open-topped fighting compartment on top of the chassis of the Czechoslovakian Panzer 38(t). They offered little protection to the crew, but added significant firepower compared to contemporary German tanks.
They were in production from 1942 to 1944, and served on all fronts until the end of the war, along with the similar Marder II. The German word Marder means "marten" in English.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Tank destroyer
Place of origin: Nazi Germany, German-occupied Czechoslovakia
In service: 1942–1945
Used by: Nazi Germany
Wars: World War II
Designed: 1942
Manufacturer: BMM (ČKD)
Produced: 1942–1944
No. built: 1736 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 (23,520 lb)
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 of 125–150 PS (123–148 hp; 92–110 kW)
Power/weight: 14.1 PS (10.4 kW) / tonne
Suspension: leaf spring
Ground clearance: 40 cm (1 ft 4 in)
Operational range: 190–210 km (120–130 mi)
Maximum speed: 35–42 km/h (22–26 mph)
Marder III was the name for a series of World War II German tank destroyers. They mounted either the modified ex-Soviet 76.2 mm F-22 Model 1936 divisional field gun, or the German 7.5 cm PaK 40, in an open-topped fighting compartment on top of the chassis of the Czechoslovakian Panzer 38(t). They offered little protection to the crew, but added significant firepower compared to contemporary German tanks.
They were in production from 1942 to 1944, and served on all fronts until the end of the war, along with the similar Marder II. The German word Marder means "marten" in English.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Tank destroyer
Place of origin: Nazi Germany, German-occupied Czechoslovakia
In service: 1942–1945
Used by: Nazi Germany
Wars: World War II
Designed: 1942
Manufacturer: BMM (ČKD)
Produced: 1942–1944
No. built: 1736 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 (23,520 lb)
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 of 125–150 PS (123–148 hp; 92–110 kW)
Power/weight: 14.1 PS (10.4 kW) / tonne
Suspension: leaf spring
Ground clearance: 40 cm (1 ft 4 in)
Operational range: 190–210 km (120–130 mi)
Maximum speed: 35–42 km/h (22–26 mph)
THE KIT:
Tamiya is an old prolific plastic model manufacturer based in Shizuoka City, Japan.
They make all manner of plastic 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 a Marder III, posed against one of Tamiya’s SIGNATURE all-white backgrounds, that they use for the majority of their box arts.
The tank destroyer is overall Panzer-grey, that has a coating of winter white-wash that is mostly worn off. It has a red 35, outlined in white, on the sides of the turret and a small black and white German cross on the sides of the hull.
One side panel of the box shows a color side-view illustration of a Marder III that is overall Panzer-grey, with a skeletal white German cross on the sides of its hull.
It was with the 7th Pz. Div, 42nd Pz. Jag. Bttn. Russia 1942.
This is followed with a paragraph in Japanese and a color illustration showing the inside of the fighting compartment of a Marder III, with 2 man crew manning the gun. They are dressed in field-grey uniforms and cloth side caps. This tank is camouflaged in a base of earth-yellow with green bands.
Copyright of the kit is given as 2001 and kit was made in Japan.
Tamiya is an old prolific plastic model manufacturer based in Shizuoka City, Japan.
They make all manner of plastic 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 a Marder III, posed against one of Tamiya’s SIGNATURE all-white backgrounds, that they use for the majority of their box arts.
The tank destroyer is overall Panzer-grey, that has a coating of winter white-wash that is mostly worn off. It has a red 35, outlined in white, on the sides of the turret and a small black and white German cross on the sides of the hull.
One side panel of the box shows a color side-view illustration of a Marder III that is overall Panzer-grey, with a skeletal white German cross on the sides of its hull.
It was with the 7th Pz. Div, 42nd Pz. Jag. Bttn. Russia 1942.
This is followed with a paragraph in Japanese and a color illustration showing the inside of the fighting compartment of a Marder III, with 2 man crew manning the gun. They are dressed in field-grey uniforms and cloth side caps. This tank is camouflaged in a base of earth-yellow with green bands.
Copyright of the kit is given as 2001 and kit was made in Japan.
The other side panel of the box shows a color 3-view of a Marder III that is in a camouflage of earth-yellow with dark-green and red-brown bands. It has the word “Heider” in black, outlined in white on the sides of the hull, followed by a black and white German cross. The cross is repeated on the left side of the rear.
It was with the same unit as the Marder III shown on the other side panel.
It was with the same unit as the Marder III shown on the other side panel.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 5 tan parts trees, black vinyl tracks and the decal sheet in 2 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a staple-bound booklet of 16 pages in 6 ¾” x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the kit made up with the crew figures in the turret in the box art scheme, over one paragraph histories of the tank in 8 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions, over suggested tools to use, a paint color listing of Tamiya paints and PRECAUTIONS in 6 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to the top of page 12, gives a grand total of 29 assembly steps.
The 29 th step is the assembly and painting of the 2 crewmen.
The bottom of page 12 gives the painting instructions in 5 languages, including English.
Page 13 has a black and white repeat of the cover art at the top, over instructions of how to achieve a realistic finish, in multiple languages, including English.
These instructions continue over to the top of page 14.
At the bottom of page 14 is a painting and marking guide. There is a 3-view illustration of the Marder III that has “Heider” on its sides (already described above).
Page 15 is another painting and marking guide. It shows three 2-views of Marder III’s.
The first one is the box art scheme (already described above).
It was with the 19th Pz. Div. 19th Tank Destroyer Bttn. Russia, winter 1942.
The second one is in a base of sand-yellow with grey spot camouflage. It has a white III 2 on the sides of the turret and a skeletal white German cross on the sides of the hull.
It was with the 15th Pz. Div. 33rd Tank Destroyer Bttn. North Africa 1942.
The third one is overall Panzer-grey, with a tiny white dot over 1514 on the forward end of the sides of the hull and skeletal white German cross in the middle of the sides of the hull.
It was with th 7th Pz. Div. 42nd Tank Destroyer Bttn. Russian 1942.
Page 16 is another painting and marking guide. It shows one 3-view of Marder III that is overall Panzer-grey. It has a white skeletal outlined German cross and no. 23 on its sides, white tactical insignias on its nose and rear.
It was with the 2nd Tank Destroyer Bttn. Russia, Autumn 1942.
The bottom of the page has decal application instructions in multiple languages, including English.
Part trees are alphabetized. However, there are no part trees illustrations in the instructions. Bad move Tamiya!!
There are 2 identical tan letter A trees. They hold: drive sprockets, road wheels, spare track lengths, seats, ammo rounds, leaf springs etc. (41 parts ea.)
The kit holds 5 tan parts trees, black vinyl tracks and the decal sheet in 2 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a staple-bound booklet of 16 pages in 6 ¾” x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the kit made up with the crew figures in the turret in the box art scheme, over one paragraph histories of the tank in 8 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions, over suggested tools to use, a paint color listing of Tamiya paints and PRECAUTIONS in 6 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to the top of page 12, gives a grand total of 29 assembly steps.
The 29 th step is the assembly and painting of the 2 crewmen.
The bottom of page 12 gives the painting instructions in 5 languages, including English.
Page 13 has a black and white repeat of the cover art at the top, over instructions of how to achieve a realistic finish, in multiple languages, including English.
These instructions continue over to the top of page 14.
At the bottom of page 14 is a painting and marking guide. There is a 3-view illustration of the Marder III that has “Heider” on its sides (already described above).
Page 15 is another painting and marking guide. It shows three 2-views of Marder III’s.
The first one is the box art scheme (already described above).
It was with the 19th Pz. Div. 19th Tank Destroyer Bttn. Russia, winter 1942.
The second one is in a base of sand-yellow with grey spot camouflage. It has a white III 2 on the sides of the turret and a skeletal white German cross on the sides of the hull.
It was with the 15th Pz. Div. 33rd Tank Destroyer Bttn. North Africa 1942.
The third one is overall Panzer-grey, with a tiny white dot over 1514 on the forward end of the sides of the hull and skeletal white German cross in the middle of the sides of the hull.
It was with th 7th Pz. Div. 42nd Tank Destroyer Bttn. Russian 1942.
Page 16 is another painting and marking guide. It shows one 3-view of Marder III that is overall Panzer-grey. It has a white skeletal outlined German cross and no. 23 on its sides, white tactical insignias on its nose and rear.
It was with the 2nd Tank Destroyer Bttn. Russia, Autumn 1942.
The bottom of the page has decal application instructions in multiple languages, including English.
Part trees are alphabetized. However, there are no part trees illustrations in the instructions. Bad move Tamiya!!
There are 2 identical tan letter A trees. They hold: drive sprockets, road wheels, spare track lengths, seats, ammo rounds, leaf springs etc. (41 parts ea.)
Tan letter B tree holds the hull parts and fenders (21 parts)
Tan letter C tree holds: the two crewmen (divided into separate heads, torsos, lower body halves and arms) shovel, machine-gun, tools, turret basket etc. (100 parts)
Tan letter D tree holds the parts of the main gun and it’s shield etc. (39 parts)
There are 2 lengths of black vinyl tracks next.
The decal sheet completes the kits contents.
The detail is very good.
Recommended.
Recommended.