This is a VERY thorough coverage of our model, and I would advise you to try and track one down before they are all gone. It was first released in 2001.
Later N&B releases on the Marder III were...
NUTS & BOLTS: Volume 17
"Marder III" Panzerjager 38(t) fur 7,5cm PaK 40/3 (Sd.Kfz. 138)
Part 1: Ausf. M
NUTS & BOLTS: Volume 18
"Marder III" Panzerjager 38(t) fur 7,5cm PaK 40/3 (Sd.Kfz. 138)
Part 2: Ausf. H
I don't have the above Nuts and Bolts, will have to buy them.
But a couple of others which may be of use
AFV Superdetail Detail Photo book. vol 4
Panzerjager 38(t) fur 7.62mm Pak36 ausf H, M. Marder III
this also icludes a page of photos of the 76.2mm gun on its Russian split tralier mount.
Panzer Tracks no7-2
Panzerjager 1941-43.(7.62 cm and 7.5cm guns)
cover all major PzJgr on PzII, 38(t).
In fact,depending on how its moulded, you could use use the chassis to convert to a 38(t) gun tank and use the 7.62mm gun and build the Russian AT mount.
if Ken Swenson offered a modified PzKpfw 38t conversion bsed on the Tamiya Marder III rather thn the Hetzer. It would be easy to do, and might actually involve his whole current kit IF the Tamiya upper body cannot be modified for the PzKpfw 38t tank. IF the Tamiya Marder III has an upper hull that has just the front and side walls, with the gun mount addition as a separate piece, Ken could supply just the hull roof plate and the turret. He could also at that point do other versions, such as the Aufklarerpanzer 38t recon tank with the Hanglafette 38 turret. Bring it on....
As well, Ken or Gasoline who also make a full 38(t), could add a new stepped front drivers plate for the early versions. For me that would be great as the stepped front plate is not a straight cut but a bent plate so I would find that difficult to build.
I know there were big variantions in the turret rivet pattern of each version. For this just sand them all off and replace with grandt line / Archers etc. The Panzer tracks book on the 38(t) is well worth it. I believe it to be one of their best books.
Then it opens up the invasion of France 1940 with its grey and brown panzers.
As regards 1/48 conversions. I am still suprised that very few German AFV conversion have been released. For example StuG III C/D, E/ F.
Pz IV ausf E or G. Sdkfz 253. Jagdpanther Early mantlet with one piece barrel. tiger I sepertae cast cupola for mid version. Simple quick and easy conversions and German which is still the biggest seller.
Also US and British ammo boxes in resin. Packed one type to a pack ie 3", 75mm, or for British 25 pdr boxes which seemed to be welded to everything.
I base these statements, from when i had my model shop. things like Verlinden ammo sets were bread and butter items and just sold and sold. When 1/35 resin conversion were popular again these are what sold.
I know Steve Faxon has done the Stugs, but they are solid hulls and not exactley the widley distributed like Haluer.
Thanks a lot for the kind words, but don't make a wrong "connection"
between me and MR Models. I'm glad that you do like the 1/48th scale
products from this range, but Matthias (the owner) is the sole guy
behind MR. I'm only a buddy of him (and I'm the guy who talked him
into doing 1/48th scale years ago... - I'm his personal "PEST").
But I'm successful as he agreed to make the full kit Valentines, I'm
asking him to do since more than 2 years by now:-)
More 1/48th scale items should be on sale soon. Actually the resin
parts for several items are ready, but he still waits for the metal
barrels made by a contractor. Maybe this will improve in the future
as he is looking for a new supplier.
it's the aftermarket stuff that will make the difference in the future. There are now about 70 new kits available for 1/48. One hopes that fairly soon, someone will release a kit, like the SdKfz 251, that is ripe for conversion kits from the resin/PE aftermarket. Every aftermarket kit sold means another basic kit gets sold as well, and that can only help our sales numbers and keep manufacturers' interest in 1/48. This is why I harp on the desireability of modelers buying even the simpler AM kits, to boost 1/48 sales and keep the scale healthy. We will soon have AM kits from ID for the Panther ausf D and A, which doubles the time frame for modeling the Panther in service, since the Panther G first appeared in front-line service in the mid-summer of 1944. Now, we can go back to mid-1943, and also do the early-mid Italian campaign and Normandy. Look at the Tamiya PzKpfw IV ausf J - easy to convert to everything back to the ausf F1, and more extensive AM kits could go back to the ausf C/D or even the A/B. The Pzpfw III is the same, and the StuG III. We live in hope....
could someone who knows more than I confirm that this Marder from Tamiya is the same as the one in british markings on page24 in the armour at war series book British armour in sicily by Dennis Oliver?
Cheers Andy won't be getting one of them then!
Our show was a great success lots of models lots of traders some pictures on britmodeler and more on our website soon!
See you at Telford, only six or so weeks to go
Tamiya did release a 1/35 Marder III M (7.5cm) as per the concord book in 1/35.
This Marder IIIM was released after the earlier Marder (ie same as the 1/48 kit). So hopefully they may release this version as well. But I should not speculate as I don't like to do that.
See you at the IPMS Nats.
I won't have anything finished but may bring along some current build ie M10 GMC.
the standard PzKpfw 38t tracks - even the altered Hetzer tracks in 1/48 looks pretty close. The pix of the Tamiya 1/48 model show the proper PzKpfw 38t tank tracks, so we're OK there. Who knows? Ken Swenson may even adapt his PzKpfw 38t conversion kit to use the Tamiya Marder III kit, now that it's coming out. Of course, you can sand down the extended width Hetzer tracks very easily to make the tank tracks, so you can still use the Hetzer kits for the Kengi conversion if you want to. Must say the Tamiya Marder III looks great, except for the inevitable mold plugs all over the place. The Blitz really has them in the rear bed walls, but those who built the GMC 6x6 won't be surprised.....
The Marder III and Hetzer used different track. Having said that the difference in 1/48 is not that great.
Tamiya in the Hetzer 1/48 kit provide the most common inside'3 web' design which is similar to the Pz 38(t) track. The main difference is the outer web part (the outside of the track sprocket teeth hole) of the track. This is a little bit longer (wider) on the Hetzer, and extends past the track pins heads.
On the Marder/Pz 38(t) is is not so long and DOES NOT extend past the track pin heads.
Below are links to the PMMS reviews of the Tamiya 1/35 kits, which have the correct track for each type.
I am not sure on the track guide teeth some photos show the Hetzer with what appears to be higher teeth whilst others do not.
The main thing is that the wheels on the Marder III/Pz 38 are different to that of the Hetzer. Tamiya produce the correct wheels/track in their 1/35 kits, so I hope they do the same in 1/48.
I think the Marder III is a good release, as it enable quite a few other AFV's to be built from it.
Andrew
Refs used MBI Model file / Pz tracks/ ModelArt/ Nuts & Bolts.
Osprey also publish a Marder book in their 'Building series. I do not have this so I can't comment on it.
