In Box Review of Tristar 1/35th Scale
Panzer 38(t) Full Interior Set
Series 032
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2007
Out of production
I paid $9.99 for this kit when it was marked down from $28.00 at the Hobby Horse store in Madison, WI, that was going out of business in March of 2011.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2007
Out of production
I paid $9.99 for this kit when it was marked down from $28.00 at the Hobby Horse store in Madison, WI, that was going out of business in March of 2011.
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 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 and 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 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), 100 km (62 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 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 and 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 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), 100 km (62 mi) (cross-country)
Maximum speed: 42 km/h, 26.1 mph (road), 15 km/h, 9.3 mph (off-road)
Tristar is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China.
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.
The box art shows a medium-grey line drawing that is a cutaway illustration of the insides of the 38(t) hull and turret, posed against a pale-grey background that has a large 38(t) on it.
The right side of the box shows 3 color box arts of other Tristar AFV model kits that they produce: Kit no. 020,the German Panzer Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. E/F, Kit no. 022, the German Panzer Kpfw. 3(t) Ausf. G Panzerbefehlswagen and Kit and Kit no. 026, the German Panzer Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. B Panzer-befehlswagen.
One side-panel of the box begins with a blue sticker with white text on it that is the street address for Model Rectifier Corp. in Edison, NJ, who was the U.S. distributor of Tristar kits at one time.
This is followed by the street address for Tristar’s offices in Japan and Hong Kong, China. Including their phone and FAX numbers, E-mail and web addresses. Kit was made in China.
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.
The box art shows a medium-grey line drawing that is a cutaway illustration of the insides of the 38(t) hull and turret, posed against a pale-grey background that has a large 38(t) on it.
The right side of the box shows 3 color box arts of other Tristar AFV model kits that they produce: Kit no. 020,the German Panzer Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. E/F, Kit no. 022, the German Panzer Kpfw. 3(t) Ausf. G Panzerbefehlswagen and Kit and Kit no. 026, the German Panzer Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. B Panzer-befehlswagen.
One side-panel of the box begins with a blue sticker with white text on it that is the street address for Model Rectifier Corp. in Edison, NJ, who was the U.S. distributor of Tristar kits at one time.
This is followed by the street address for Tristar’s offices in Japan and Hong Kong, China. Including their phone and FAX numbers, E-mail and web addresses. Kit was made in China.
The other side panel repeats the Hong Kong address etc. again. Followed by 2 more color box arts of AFV kits that Tristar manufactures: Kit no. 028, a German Panzer I Ausf. A Sd.Kfz. 101 and Kit no. 030. a German 7.5cm Pak 40 Fgst Pz.Kpfw. Marder III Ausf. H.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains 3 tan trees (2 of which are cojoined) and a brass PE fret in 2 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet folded in the center to create 4 pages in 6 ¾’ x 11 ¾” page format.
Page one begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over a paragraph in Chinese (that I suspect is the history of the Panzer 38(t)). PLEASE READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions in English and Chinese and repeats of all the Tristar street addresses etc. already mentioned on the side panels.
Page 2 begins with the parts trees-illustrations, over international assembly symbol explanations in Chinese and England.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 4 gives a grand total of 7 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 4 calls out only three colors to paint things: gloss silver, gun-metal or dark green, by either Gunzi Sangyo or Tamiya brands of hobby paints.
The trees are alphabetized.
Tan tree letter H holds: the transmission, seats and backrests, bulkhead, radio etc. (83 parts)
The kit contains 3 tan trees (2 of which are cojoined) and a brass PE fret in 2 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet folded in the center to create 4 pages in 6 ¾’ x 11 ¾” page format.
Page one begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over a paragraph in Chinese (that I suspect is the history of the Panzer 38(t)). PLEASE READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions in English and Chinese and repeats of all the Tristar street addresses etc. already mentioned on the side panels.
Page 2 begins with the parts trees-illustrations, over international assembly symbol explanations in Chinese and England.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 4 gives a grand total of 7 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 4 calls out only three colors to paint things: gloss silver, gun-metal or dark green, by either Gunzi Sangyo or Tamiya brands of hobby paints.
The trees are alphabetized.
Tan tree letter H holds: the transmission, seats and backrests, bulkhead, radio etc. (83 parts)
Tan tree letter I holds: ammo boxes and slanted parts that I find nowhere in the assembly steps. ODD!! This tree is co-joined to the letter J tree. (19 parts)
Tan tree letter J holds: the engine, floor sections, grill and its housing, drive shaft, exhaust parts, fire extinguisher etc. (39 parts)
Tan tree letter J holds: the engine, floor sections, grill and its housing, drive shaft, exhaust parts, fire extinguisher etc. (39 parts)
The steel PE fret holds: ammo racks, floor sections etc. (66 parts)
There are no clear parts, figures or decals included in the kit.
This kit will really dress up the inside of a 38(t). The only problem is that you’d have to leave the top loose to look inside the model.
This kit will really dress up the inside of a 38(t). The only problem is that you’d have to leave the top loose to look inside the model.
Highly recommended.