Model Forum / General / Models / July 2007

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale '39-'45 Series Kit No.
6290; Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. G w/Interior - Smart Kit; 681 parts (319
parts in grey stryene, 240 "Magic Track" links, 113 etched brass, 9
clear styrene); estimated price US $40-45

Advantages: DML's "Smart Kit" line continues with this offering;
interior is a nice addition to a good kit; appears easier to assemble
than competing kit

Disadvantages: fighting and control compartment interior will be very
hard to see

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: for all THNP series fans and German modelers

    DML continues to "do battle" with the very well done Tristar kits by
offering a "Smart Kit" version of the Praga-built Pzkw. 38(t) Ausf. G
with the added bonus of a full interior.

    The DML version is a "Smart Kit" with most of the details molded into
the parts using "slide molding techniques" rather than the use of
built-up styrene or etched brass parts, and in comparison with the
Tristar kit (without interior) it does have more parts to it (568
stryene and 113 brass versus 492 styrene and 51brass) but it should be
kept in mind that Tristar has advertised an interior for their kit as
well.

    The kit follows on the heels of DML's Marder III "Smart Kit" and
borrows most of the "below the fenders" sprues from that kit. The new
one provides 97 new parts that provide the turret race and upper hull,
turret decking, turret, interior and engine parts. Most of the
interior parts (e.g. transmission, drive line, control compartment
details, etc.) already came with the Marder III kit as they were
exposed so the turret interior and engine are about the only major
items which needed to be added to the original kit.

    The kit provides the correct drive wheels with the excellent
suspension as well as different springs for the bogie assemblies.
Assembly follows the earlier kit and is pretty straightforward.
However, the back plate (part B40) is one piece so the access cover
cannot be shown open or removed, as in performing maintenance on the
engine.

    One area in which DML was "dinged" on the Marder III kit was the
fenders. I have to say that having sat down with a number of photos of
the TNHP tanks and a straightedge most of them seem to have come out
of the factory with dead straight fenders. But once in service,
whether it is crew use or track slap or something else, the front of
the fenders from the center of the vehicle onward appear to take on a
slight bend upward from the rear section. It took me a good ten
minutes with this kit as I had to take out the fenders and check them
but they appear to have a one or two degree up angle molded into them
(and are specifically flagged as from DML Kit No. 6396, so would bet
more kits will be forthcoming). However, the mounting flanges for the
fenders on the sides of the hull are arrow straight so no idea how
this will work on the model.

    Tracks are the DML "Magic Track" links, which are identical so do not
have to be "handed" as with other kits. These even have casting data
molded into them, but in my case it took a 10x jeweler's loupe to
confirm it!

    The interior is pretty much complete as near as can be seen, but the
warning needs to be given that due to the small hatches (commander's
and radio operator's) it will be very difficult to see the details
even with an "IPMS Death Ray" (penlight). The engine compartment is
much more accessible as the hatches may be opened up on the deck
cover. However, again DML doesn't bother to indicate that you have
optional choices in the directions, a disconcerting flaw that I have
encountered more and more frequently. Many modelers will realize this
going in, but it is not fun to have to put parts together in one step
and then not install them until five or six steps later and then
realize you have just sealed up all the details you worked on in
between. DML should do more to clear this up and emphasize in their
directions where and when you have to make choices.

    The details are very nicely done and should be given foreground
attention. Both of the machine guns have belts of ammo provided for
them and are better done than the ones in the Tristar kit, albeit
neither kit seems to have the angled handles seen on preserved guns.

    The kit offers six different finishing options backed up with a
colorful set of Cartograf decals. The options include: 6/Pz.Rgt. 25,
Eastern Front 1941 (grey); 4./Pz.Rgt. 404, 22nd Panzer Division,
Russia 1942 (grey); Unidentified unit. Bohemia 1945 (tricolor mottled
pattern); Pz.Rgt. 21, 20th Panzer Division, Russia 1942 (grey); 30th
Armor Regiment, 1st Field Armored Division, Hungarian Army, Hungary
1942; Slovakian LT-38, Slovak National Uprising, 1944 (sand with
Slovak badges).

    Overall this is a well-done kit, and the main factor still comes down
to the preference of the builder as to whether he wants this kit,
which is easier to assemble, or its competitor; both are very nicely
done and it is up to the modeler for his preferences, but the interior
of this kit permits more detailing for about the same initial cost.
With the lack of visibility of the forward two-thirds of the tank and
the engine access being the best feature if used well, it also tends
to lend itself to "MIG" style depiction of the vehicle as "destroyed"
which does at least show off all of those details.

    Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell