In Box Review of Tristar 1/35th Scale
German Panzer Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. G
Kit no. 35022
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2006
Available from an individual on the web in the USA for $30.00.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2006
Available from an individual on the web in the USA for $30.00.
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 (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 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug) designation for the tank in Germany was Sd. Kfz. 140.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Light tank
Place of origin: Czechoslovakia
In service: 1939–1945 (Nazi Germany), 1938–1970 (Peru)
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 (125.0 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), 160 km (99 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 (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 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug) designation for the tank in Germany was Sd. Kfz. 140.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Light tank
Place of origin: Czechoslovakia
In service: 1939–1945 (Nazi Germany), 1938–1970 (Peru)
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 (125.0 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), 160 km (99 mi) (cross-country)
Maximum speed: 42 km/h, 26.1 mph (road), 15 km/h, 9.3 mph (off-road)
THE KIT:
Tristar is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a color illustration of a Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. G coming down a hill in a sandy field. There are farm houses in the background.
The tank is overall sand-yellow with no markings shown.
The bottom of the box art says: Special thanks for Mr.Thomas Lentz. Project supervised by C.K. Pat.
Tristar is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a color illustration of a Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. G coming down a hill in a sandy field. There are farm houses in the background.
The tank is overall sand-yellow with no markings shown.
The bottom of the box art says: Special thanks for Mr.Thomas Lentz. Project supervised by C.K. Pat.
One side-panel of the box begins with the copyright of the kit as 2006, over Tristar’s street address in Hong Kong, China. Their FAX and telephone numbers and web address. Followed by the history of the tank and a color side-view illustration of the tank in overall sand-yellow, with red number 5, outlined in white on the sides of the turret and a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull.
The other side-panel of the box says: Ready to assemble precision model kit. Cement and paint not included. Modeling skills helpful if under 10 years of age. In Chinese and English.
Below that is Tristar’s street address for their office in Tokyo, Japan, the phone, FAX, E-mail and Web numbers.
Followed by 2 color box-arts of other armor kits that Tristar manufacturers: Kit no. 35020, a German Pzkw. 38(t) Ausf. E/F and kit no. 35021, a German Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. B. Kit made in China.
Below that is Tristar’s street address for their office in Tokyo, Japan, the phone, FAX, E-mail and Web numbers.
Followed by 2 color box-arts of other armor kits that Tristar manufacturers: Kit no. 35020, a German Pzkw. 38(t) Ausf. E/F and kit no. 35021, a German Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. B. Kit made in China.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 11 tan trees, a clear tree, 2 aluminum gun barrels, a decal sheet and an Eduard brand steel PE fret,
Only the gun barrels and PE fret are in cello bags.
Trees are alphabetized.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet, that accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 6 ¾” x 11” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the history of the Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) and PLEASE READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions, in English and Chinese and a repeat of Tristar’s addresses, that are on the side-panels of the box.
Page 2 is the parts-trees illustrations.
The top of page 3 shows international assembly symbol explanations, in English and Chinese.
The bottom of page 3 on through to page 8 gives a grand total of 9 assembly steps
Pages 9 and 10 are both painting and marking guides.
Page 9 shows three 4-views.
The 1st one is overall German-grey. It has a red R01, outlined in white on the sides of the turret, a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull. It has a large banister-type radio aerial mounted on it.
It is said to be a command vehicle, but no unit name is provided.
The 2nd one is also overall German-grey. It has a white 501 on the sides of the turret, a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull.
It was with the 1st Armoured Div., Esztergom, Hungary 1942.
The 3rd one is earth-yellow. It has a black skull and crossbones and a white number 62, outlined in black on the sides of the turret, followed by a large black letter X. The letter X appears also on the top of the engine deck and the nose of the tank.
It was with the 9th Company Armoured Brigade, Sofia 1944.
There are three more 4-views on page 10.
The 1st one is dark-green. It has a shield that is divided vertically into white, blue and red on the sides of the turret.
It belonged to Slovakia. No unit name is given.
The 2nd one is overall earth-yellow. It has a red number 5 outlined in white on the sides of the turret and a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull.
It was with the 21st Panzer Regiment, 20th Panzer Div., Russia 1943.
The 3rd one is overall German-grey. It has a red number 43 outlined in white on the sides of the turret and a skeletal white German cross on the sides of the hull.
It was with the 25th Panzer Regiment, 7th Panzer Div., Russia 1941.
The trees are alphabetized.
Tan letter A tree holds: top panels and hull sides etc. (8 parts)
This kit holds 11 tan trees, a clear tree, 2 aluminum gun barrels, a decal sheet and an Eduard brand steel PE fret,
Only the gun barrels and PE fret are in cello bags.
Trees are alphabetized.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet, that accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 6 ¾” x 11” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the history of the Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) and PLEASE READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions, in English and Chinese and a repeat of Tristar’s addresses, that are on the side-panels of the box.
Page 2 is the parts-trees illustrations.
The top of page 3 shows international assembly symbol explanations, in English and Chinese.
The bottom of page 3 on through to page 8 gives a grand total of 9 assembly steps
Pages 9 and 10 are both painting and marking guides.
Page 9 shows three 4-views.
The 1st one is overall German-grey. It has a red R01, outlined in white on the sides of the turret, a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull. It has a large banister-type radio aerial mounted on it.
It is said to be a command vehicle, but no unit name is provided.
The 2nd one is also overall German-grey. It has a white 501 on the sides of the turret, a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull.
It was with the 1st Armoured Div., Esztergom, Hungary 1942.
The 3rd one is earth-yellow. It has a black skull and crossbones and a white number 62, outlined in black on the sides of the turret, followed by a large black letter X. The letter X appears also on the top of the engine deck and the nose of the tank.
It was with the 9th Company Armoured Brigade, Sofia 1944.
There are three more 4-views on page 10.
The 1st one is dark-green. It has a shield that is divided vertically into white, blue and red on the sides of the turret.
It belonged to Slovakia. No unit name is given.
The 2nd one is overall earth-yellow. It has a red number 5 outlined in white on the sides of the turret and a black and white German cross on the sides of the hull.
It was with the 21st Panzer Regiment, 20th Panzer Div., Russia 1943.
The 3rd one is overall German-grey. It has a red number 43 outlined in white on the sides of the turret and a skeletal white German cross on the sides of the hull.
It was with the 25th Panzer Regiment, 7th Panzer Div., Russia 1941.
The trees are alphabetized.
Tan letter A tree holds: top panels and hull sides etc. (8 parts)
Tan letter B tree holds: the hull bottom and turret parts etc. (33 parts)
Tan letter C tree holds: alternate fenders, turret parts etc. (26 parts)
Tan letter D tree holds: tools, jack, tow hooks etc. (49 parts)
There are 2 identical tan letter E trees. They hold: road wheels, drive sprockets, idler wheels, leaf springs, machine gun etc. (58 parts ea.)
Tan letter F tree holds: fenders, storage boxes etc. (28 parts)
There is no letter G tree.
There is no letter G tree.
Tan letter H tree holds the banister-type radio aerial parts (6 parts)
Lettering jumps to the 3 identical tan letter T trees. They hold individual track links (108 links per tree)
The metal parts consist of a brass and steel photo etch set and a turned gun barrel
The decal sheet completes the kit contents.
There are no clear trees or figures included in the kit.
Only internal detail is inside the turret.
All detail is very good.
Recommended.
Only internal detail is inside the turret.
All detail is very good.
Recommended.