Among their recent multi-media releases in 1/72 scale, the Ukrainian company UM has released the Panzer 38(t) mit 7,5cm KwK as a continuation of their 38(t)-based offerings. This vehicle is in fact not a misslabeled Panzer 38D, but another desing that UM actually represented rather accurately.
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| Box top |
Historical Background
The Czechoslovakian Panzer 38(t) served the German Wehrmacht well in the first years of the Second World War due it´s reliable and well thought-out nature. When the tank itself fell out of favour, hull and running gear where used for specialist vehicles as such as the Marder tank destroyers, Grille SPGs and in a further developed form on the Jagdpanzer 38(t) colloquially known as the "Hetzer".
In 1944 Krupp forwarded a proposal to keep the 38(t) platform relevant as a combat tank with armament comparable to the Panzerkampfwagen IV. The vehicle recieved a welded hull sporting 50mm of sloped front armour and 30mm on the sides. A simplified Panzer IV-turret without a commander´s cupola was fitted to it. Armament consisted of the 7,5cm KwK 40 L/48 tank gun or the 8cm PAW 600 recoilles anti-tank weapon firing hollow charges. Further lightening of the vehicle by reducing the armour down to 40mm and removing the turret basket were also discussed. In the end however, Krupp´s proposal did not gain any traction and thus remained a "Paper Panzer" (although one of the more realistic sort). It can also be referred to as the Panzer 38(t) Weiterentwicklung.
Depiction of the proposal as found in Spielberger´s Panzer 38(t) book [1]
The Kit Contents
The kit comes in a side-opening glossy blue box reinforced with carboard on the inside. On the back are advertisements for other UM kits as well as some photos of the fininshed model like it is displayed on the cover. Seeing a built model as a boxart is definetly an interesting option and shows the modeller what can be achieved with the kit.
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| Box back |
Inside the box are four plastic sprues, four individual resin parts, one photoetch fret, a small decal sheet and the instructions. Those are printed in blue and white and should be easy enough to follow. The only colour refernce present is the boxart, yet this is not too big of an issue, as this is a "Paper Panzer".
Two identical sprues A are common with all other 38(t)-kits and contain roadwheels (not to be used), suspension element and the tracks.
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| Sprue A |
Detail is ok on the link-and-lenght tracks, although the super-detailer might want to get some resin 340mm-type ones from OKB. On the leaf springs, details are a little soft, but will be hidden behind the roadwheels.
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| Sprue A in detail |
Sprue B contains the upper hull parts exclusive to this kit. The lower hull tub is also assembled from parts of this sprue.
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| Sprue B |
Panel lines are recessed on the engine deck, although it might profit from some handles and maybe hinge detail made from wire. As on the other sprues, noticeable flash is present and has to be cleaned up before assembly.
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| Sprue B in detail |
The biggest caveat of the kit is also found on the engine deck: While the reconstructions of both this model and even the 38D series show a sloped engine deck, the kit has it flat with the exhaust located on the back plate instead of the sloped top part. The deck does look different from the 38D-based vehicles which is correct considering this vehicle being developed from the standard Panzer 38(t) and/or Jagdpanzer 38(t).
The last plastic sprue "D" has four new roadwheels, fenders, the exhaust and the gun barrel. Again, flash is present, but the details look nice. Bolt detail on the roadwheels is plenty.
| Sprue D |
As with the other sprues, there are a lot of parts that will benefit your spares-box.
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| Sprue D in detail |
The resin parts consist of the turret, muzzle brake, gun mantlet and a part of the exhaust systems. They are cast from a yellow resin and do not show major imperfections in their casting. Detail on the simplified turret is sparse as one might expect. There is flash around the turret machinegun that needs to be removed carefully. It is a pitty that the muzzle is not hollow and has to be drilled out.
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| The resin bits |
Decals are made up from different Balkenkreuz-type markings and no tactical numbers or number plates. If you want some more markings, you have to resort to the spares box or aftermarket decals. The PE fret is rather stiff brass and contains side skirts, a few handles and other bits as such as a mesh for the engine deck. Nothing spectacular, but nice to have it included for those finer details.
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| Decals and photoetch parts |
Verdict
Overall, this kit is a good example for a short run-type kit. Detail is reasonable (just slightly "soft") and benefits from the included photoetch while definetly leaving room for improvements as such as flame cut marks and armour textures. Resin details are a nice touch, but could have been easily made from plastic in my opinion. Flash on the parts will definetly require a good amount of clean-up and some filling will be likely required as it is often the case on those type of kits.
The biggest selling point for this kit is however the subject selection and it is the only vehicle of it´s type in 1/72 plastic, although the missing slope on the engine deck isn´t really explainable to me, as it could have been avoided by simply using well accessible sources as such as Panzer-Tracts. I do feel like it has been modelled either after some internet-reconstruction or the Amusing Hobby 1/35 Panzer 38D.
Recommended for fans of "Paper Panzers" and usual subjects with some modelling experience.
+ Unusual subject
+ photoetch parts
+ nice roadwheels
+ overall accurate
+/- resin parts
+/- tracks and overall detail
- engine deck
- muzzle brake not hollowed
- flash
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
