Kit, Tristar 35030, German 7.5cm PaK40 Fgst.Pz.Kpfw. Marder III Ausf.H

MRC/ TRISTAR


35030, German 7.5cm PaK40 Fgst.Pz.Kpfw. Marder III Ausf.H. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 742 styrene parts (including 228 individual-link tracks and eight clear parts), one photo-etched brass fret, eight water-slide decal marking schemes and 10 pages of instructions in 15 steps.

Introduction.

The Marder III Ausf.H has been represented in 1/35th-scale by several manufacturers over the years. Italeri had a decent but fundamentally flawed rendition back in the early 1970s; recently DML released a new “Smart Kit” of this vehicle. Tristar of Hong Kong announced their intention to kit this vehicle based on their excellent Pz.Kpfw.38(t) kits, in a cooperative venture with Taiwan’s AFV Club. Thus, we modelers now have a selection of kits to choose from. This is never a bad thing for our hobby, to be sure.


Tracks.

To begin with, these are really very well done. The individual links click together and then remain flexible to a certain degree; but they will come apart easily if handled to any degree. They have no visible ejector-pin marks whatsoever. What the kits designers have done is make the ejector pins the same shape as the surface they are to “punch”. The links attach to the sprue gates at two parallel points; using a fresh blade “guillotine” style will, with care, remove them leaving little or no clean up. Then simply click them together; after installing them, I strongly urge that they be fixed with cement to keep them there.


Suspension System.

The suspension system is engineered much like all others seen on Pz.Kpfw.38(t)-based chassis that we modelers have become familiar with. This means that the bogie spring units can articulate with careful use of the glue. The road-wheels have separate tire rims, separate hub caps (with detailed internal hub) and are completely detailed on their rear faces with bearing bolts and rim bolts. The return rollers also feature separate rubber rims (as well as separate mounts). This feature, if properly anticipated by the modeler, will ease the painting of the rubber tire as they can be done separately and then added later after the main color of the vehicle is applied. The drive sprockets are the type with eight holes around the rim while the idler wheels are the proper style; both feature separate hub caps, while the axle for the idler is separate and can be adjusted to provide proper track sag. Don’t glue it in place until you are satisfied with the track’s appearance.


Hull.

Because of the type of detail that must be present (lots of bolts and rivets), the hull is broken down into separate belly, side, rear and front sections. Many of these parts have been revised compared to the standard Pz.Kpfw.38(t) kit’s items. Tristar’s designers have forgone the less-desirable angled butt-join seen on their Pz.Kpfw.IV kits, and have, instead, used squared-off channels. These can easily be cleaned and “trued” on a flat sanding surface; afterwards, mine went together like fine watch parts. The fenders (which have the subtle kink built in to them) are then attached in a very positive means by having several holes to plug in to as well as a raised rib. The rear plate also fit perfectly; it has separate small details including the round access plate that if left off, will reveal the tiny holes that it was bolted on to. The fenders carry all of the tools, the vehicle jack and block, PaK40 bore swab staffs, tool box, spare track links, and the unique perforated ice cleat stowage box. Etched brass parts provide partial clasp detail for the tools, straps to secure some items, strips to secure the spare track links, and brackets for the vehicle jack. No tow cable parts are provided, although the mounts and straps seen on the hull rear plate are provided.


Superstructure.

The glacis features a separate transmission access hatch lid, while the superstructure front plate features moving MG37(t) with a slide-molded pre-opened bore and interior detail. The driver’s rough site is provided as is a Notek black-out driving head-lamp. The two view-ports have separate lids and have clear parts to represent their internal glass blocks; the same goes for the driver’s starboard side view-port. The new roof plate, as well as the new front plate, are both optimized to take the PaK40’s external travel lock. The latter can be built in one of two configurations (travel or combat) using separate parts; it also has working hinges.


Further back there are separate access hatch lids for the engine compartment (that include etched brass screens for their undersides), which get fitted to a separate engine deck plate. The part that these hatch lids are attached to is all-new and includes separate items for the PaK40’s rear travel lock. The other items characteristic of this vehicle are the perforated platform parts on each side of the engine deck and the open frame at the rear of the deck. These are all delicately-rendered and certainly look the part; etched brass supports finish off these assemblies. A separate grill for the engine deck is provided; it has been molded in such a way as to have he correct angles inside the ribs. The grill is topped by an etched brass screen of the proper configuration, which also includes the sliding cover used for cold-weather starts. Behind this goes the exhaust muffler, also a product of a slide mold.


Casemate.

The casemate consists of a total of seven main parts and several smaller detail parts for the structure alone. All have crisp strips and bolt patterns where necessary. The edges of the parts are commendably thin where necessary and there are no ejector pin marks on any surface. There are separate flaps for the periscope heads that protrude from the top of the casemate, a multi-part radio antenna base and an etched brass and styrene stowage rack. Tiny etched brass tie-downs are provided to be inserted into the already opened holes spaced along the outer casemate side walls; these allowed the fitting of a foul weather cover for the open hull/gun compartment. Other items such as braces and a flap for the PaK40 gun sight are also separate parts.


The inner sides of the casemate are also detailed with ammunition racks, a partially-filled flare pistol ammunition box (with separate lid), an intercom box, accessories for the PaK40, and periscope heads on their etched brass mounts. The ‘scope heads are clear parts for an extra detail touch. Missing is the flare pistol itself as well as the usual crewman’s MP40, its ammunition containers and stowage rack.


Armament.

The PaK40 included in this box represents a joint effort by Tristar and AFV Club, since this consists of one sprue from the latter manufacturer’s towed gun kit, along with a sprue that contains complete ammunition rounds, expended cartridge cases (the openings will need to be drilled out for the proper appearance), metal storage tubes and three wooden crates. There are display options including: a standard muzzle brake or a two-part canvas travel cover for it. The gun can recoil as well as traverse and elevate. A new curved inner shield is provided, as is a new multi-part assembly that depicts the small metal cover that was seen on the part of the gun cradle that protrudes past the gun shield. The aluminum gun tube seen in the AFV Club kit has been replaced by a styrene part on one of the new Tristar sprues, but if the modeler has the towed gun kit, it can be swapped out, if desired.


Interior.

Since this is essentially an open-topped AFV, there is considerable interior detail provided. For the hull, this includes a very nice (and rather complex) slide-molded transmission (including controls, drive shaft and cover, all detailed with etched brass assemblies), instrument panel, and bulkhead/engine compartment firewall (again with etched brass detail parts). The driver’s seat is included as is a second seat for a radio operator (there was no radio operator in the hull of a standard vehicle). There are racks for ten rounds seen opposite the driver’s station and two sets of racks for eight rounds each against the rear bulkhead; there are no racks for either side of the gun mount (one rack of three rounds each) as shown in reference 2. Every cell in the ammunition racks has a separate, specially tailored front part of a PaK40 round to fill it. The parts numbers indicate that three types are given, but there appears to be only two types actually in the box; I presume the difference is to provide proper fit for the various cells. New internal braces and cruciform mount parts are given for the PaK40, as are various panels and fittings. Finally, the two rectangular seat pads for the gun crew are provided; these are nicely textured and come complete with stud and wrinkle detail. There is no ammunition stowage provided for the MG37(t), nor are the crew’s stowed gas masks included.


Molding, Fit and Engineering.

While molding and fit was indeed excellent overall, there are some places where some improvement is needed, mostly in the area of engineering. In some instances, due to the “inconvenient” placement of the pips that connect a part to the sprue, problems arose. In each case the removal of the part resulted in it being distorted or broken. The moral is: remove these parts with care. No sink marks were present and any ejector pins that were present would not normally be visible unless the items were shown opened-up. This applies to the two engine deck access hatch lids as well as the transmission access hatch lid. There was a minute bit of flash present on some of the ammunition stowage tubes, but that was of no real concern.


Accuracy.

The main parts match the drawings in reference 2 in an extremely precise fashion, so there is no cause for concern in that regard. It is in the area of some of the internal details where I have questions. Most concern ammunition storage and the radio fit; the remainder deal with omissions. These include:

• The number and location of the ammunition racks for the main gun.
• The type and location of the original Fu.“d” or the later Fu.5 radio and intercom sets.
• The location of the standard antenna for the original Fu.“d” or the later Fu.5 radio set.
• The configuration and location of the additional Fu.8 radio set as fitted to command vehicles.
• The number and location of the ammunition boxes for the MG37(t).
• The location of other internal stowage items such as the flare pistol, MP40 and its ammo, and the crew’s gas mask containers.
• There is no rod antenna provided, and the rubber base for same appears to be under-sized.


It should be noted that photos in the cited references show different configurations on the different vehicles, so I am not surprised that there is some confusion on the part of Tristar’s consultants and designers. For instance, reference 2 states that the radio set was located “above drive shaft cover”. If so, how did the operator (who commanded the vehicle and acted as the gunner) access it from his position during combat, especially with the ten rounds of ammunition stowed next to it, as well as (supposedly) a seat? Reference 5, page 80 top, shows the mount for an Fu.5 radio on the right side of the superstructure. This photo also shows an antenna mount on the outer edge of the superstructure on that same side. Reference 2, page 7/148 also shows this antenna mount. But most photos show the mount as given in the kit for what I presume is the Fu.”d” radio set. Since as I just mentioned, the commander was also the gunner AND the radio operator, one would presume the radio itself would be on that side; reference 5 shows mounts for a radio set on that side as well.


Confused? So am I…


Instructions.

These are well-rendered as conventional line-drawings but are extremely busy; there are many sub-steps. Colors are keyed to Tamiya and Gunze paints.


Decals and Markings Information.

Water-slide decals by Cartograf of Italy are provided for eight different Marder IIIs. The designs are crisply-printed with excellent registration and color saturation. The carrier film is thin, glossy and cut close to the edges of the individual designs. Most are from specific units, as follows:

• “Löwe”, 26.Panzer-Grenadier-Division, Italy 1944 *.
• Pz.Jäg.Abt.171, 17.Infanterie-Division, Italy 1943 (#1) *.
• Pz.Jäg.Abt.171, 17.Infanterie-Division, Italy 1943 (#2) *.
• Black/white 233, 2.Kp./Pz.Jäg.Abt.39, 21.Panzer-Division, Tunisia 1943.
• “Paula”, Pz.Jäg.Abt.128, 23.Panzer-Division, Ostfront 1944 *.
• White 28, Pz.Jäg.Abt. Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler, Kharkov 1942/43 *.
• Unknown unit, Soviet Union 1944.
• Black/white 1214, un-listed training unit.

In addition, a set of Tac numbers (black/white 322) is provided, as is a pair of white single-digit numbers (1), but no information regarding them is provided in the instructions. “Löwe” actually belongs to Pz.Jäg.Abt.171, of the 17.Infanterie-Division, while 322 is also a valid scheme. The remaining vehicles marked with an asterisk (*) have been confirmed by photos in the cited references. 21.Panzer-Division was indeed issued these vehicles very late during the Tunisian Campaign; intended for “Tropen” (tropical) service, it should probably be finished in the two-tone scheme in use at the time and not the specified “Panzer Yellow” as given in the instructions.

Conclusion.

Despite the glitches noted, this is truly an outstanding offering. Fans of German Panzerjäer and Pz.Kpfw.38(t) variations will certainly want this one for their collection. Other modelers, who may simply want to build a state-of-the-art replica just for the pleasure of it, will also enjoy this offering.


Highly recommended.


Frank V. “Curly Stooge” De Sisto


References consulted for this review included, but were not limited to:


1. “Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Revised Edition”, by P. Chamberlain, H. Doyle & T. Jentz.
2. “Panzerjäger”, Panzer Tracts No.7-2, by T. Jentz & H. Doyle.
3. “Praga, LT vz.38 Pz.Kpfw.38(t)”, MBI Publications, by C. Kliment & V. Francev.
4. “Marder III & Grille”, MBI Publications, by C. Kliment & V. Francev.
5. “Marder III Panzerjäger 38(t) für 7.5cm PaK40/3 (Sd.Kfz.138) Part 2: Ausfürung H & 7.5cm PaK40 mot. Zug”, Nuts & Bolts Vol.18, by V. Andorfer, M. Block & J. Nelson.
6. “Pz.Kpfw.38(t)”, Squadron in Action 19, by C. Kliment and H. Doyle.
7. “Czechoslovak Armoured Fighting Vehicles 1918-1945”, Bellona, by H. Doyle & C. Kliment.
8. “Czechoslovak Armored Fighting Vehicles 1918-1948”, Schiffer Publications, by V. Francev & C. Kliment.
9. “Pz.Kpfw.38(t)”, Squadron Armor In Action No.19, H. Doyle & C. Kliment.
10. “Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) & 35(t), AFV Profile No.22, by J. Milsom.
11. “Panzekampfwagen 38(t)”, Panzer Tracts No.18, by T. Jentz & H. Doyle.
12. “Pz.Kpfw.38(t), Ausf.A-D in Detail”, Wings & Wheel Publications Special Museum Line No.38, by F. Koran & V. Francev.


Model Rectifier Corp. is the North American distributor of Tristar kits. For details see the Tristar web site at: www.tristarmodel.com. Available from retail and mail order shops.


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