DR6294:
Aufklaerungspanzer 38(t) mit 2cm Kw.K. 38
1/35 injection plastic kit with multimedia accessories and decals
The Sd.Kfz 140/1 was introduced to provide the German Army with a fully
tracked reconnaissance vehicle (Aufklarungspanzer) to fill the gap created
when production of the Luchs was ended. The Sd.Kfz 140/1 was built combining
the proven chassis of the Panzer 38(t) series and the open topped Haengelafette
six-sided turret, which was already used on the Sdkfz 234/1 armored car
and 250/9 half-track.
Francev
and Kliment state that the prototypes for the Sd.Kfz. 140/1, also known
as the Aufklarungspanzer 38(t), were built using chassis from battle-damaged
tanks while new chassis from the 38(t) Ausf. M series, possibly using
some armor plates intended for repairing battle damaged Panzer 38(t),
were used for the main production run in 1944. The Aufklarungspanzer
chassis was equipped with the more powerful Hetzer engine and had several
other modifications such as an extended exhaust pipe relative to the
Pz 38(t).
CONTENTS
This is Dragon’s first release of the Sd.Kfz 140/1, and also Dragon’s
first release in what hopefully promises to be a new series of kits
on the 38(t) chassis. This model is from Dragon’s new Smart Kit series
and features extensive use of refined molding techniques, such as slide
molding, to produce crisp detailed parts. An impressive kit can be built
out of the box by most modelers, while it also provides a solid basis
for super detailing.
The model has approximately 320 parts for the turret and hull plus another
200 for the Magic Tracks. Parts include some photo etch, pre-bent anti-grenade
mesh screens, and clear plastic for the periscopes. The gatefold instructions
have 21 steps of line drawings.
LOWER HULL & SUSPENSION
The newly tooled hull is based on a crisp and detailed one-piece tub,
which has separate parts for the rear idler mount, return roller mounts,
front lower glacis and rear plates. These plates are well detailed with
the rear plate having a separate access hatch and separate parts for
the tow hooks, exhaust port blanking cover, and several other fittings.
The front plate is equally detailed with the spare track rack and fine
bolt head detail.
The crisply tooled suspension can be assembled with some articulation
to allow for positioning on a diorama base either with the kit’s own
tracks (while the glue dries) or with aftermarket workable tracks. The
newly tooled road wheels have the bolt head detail on both the outer
and inner faces, while other bolt heads are on the return roller mounts
and suspension frames.
The tracks are new tooling and feature open guide horns and minute casting
numbers on each link. The pre-cut Magic Tracks come loose and can be
assembled by clicking them together and applying glue when each track
is finished. These links have the smallest injection marks that I have
seen on any Magic Track and for 99% of modeler could be happily used
without requiring clean up. I found the link clicked together with a
positive alignment, which held firm during normal handling. These tracks
are a strong benefit of this kit, and are considerably better than those
in earlier versions of the 38(t) series that I have built.
UPPER HULL & INTERIOR
The crisply tooled upper hull is based around two parts; the slide molded
fighting compartment shell and the engine deck. The engine deck has
separate hatches for access to the engine bay should you wish to add
an engine (aftermarket Hetzer engines exist) and photo etch is used
for the mesh screen over the air intake vent with its separate shutter
and wing nut. PE is also used for the mesh over the vents on the underside
of the engine deck hatches, a feature that has even been overlooked
in aftermarket PE sets. The front glacis plate has separate transmission
inspection cover, and fine bolt heads are prominently featured throughout
the upper hull.
The fighting compartment interior includes the suspended floor of the
fighting compartment, transmission and rear firewall. Other features
are the driver’s and radio operator’s seats, visors (can be open or
closed and have clear plastic blocks), dashboard, and the 20mm ammunition
canisters and radios that were fitted below the turret. Overall the
kit provides all the interior detail that would be visible through the
Haengelafette and some extra as a bonus.
The side fenders have a lip (fold) on the outer edge, and separate fender
support brackets. This kit includes an alignment guide on the outer
edge of sprue B (shown in step 13), which allows modelers the option
of bending the fenders to have an upward bend near the front. There
are no predrilled holes on the fenders, so take care when fitting the
tools and other fittings. The tools come with separate PE clamps and
the toolbox with its perforations is also PE with separate 3 part latches.
An alternative plastic toolbox is offered. The other hull fittings are
sharply defined and include the exhaust pipe, multipart jack, Notek
lamps with PE detail, and a second stowage box.
An injection plastic sternantenne (crow’s foot command aerial) is attached
to the side of the superstructure.
HAENGELAFETTE TURRET
The open topped turret Haengelafette (suspended mount) turret was armed
with a 20mm cannon and one MG. It has considerable detail with crisp
parts and visible pin marks, and is from the Sd.Kfz 234/1 armoured car
kit.
Features of this turret include:
* Highly detailed fittings such as the radio and its mounting frame,
the traverse hand-wheels, crew seats, and spent shell catcher.
* Optional photo etch for the cannon’s small shield, lids on the metal
boxes on the rear of the turret and some other small detail.
* New pre-shaped mesh anti-grenade screens with injection plastic fittings.
* Lower turret ring which features the traverse teeth.
* Impressive detail for the feeder and breech of the KwK38 cannon.
* The KwK 38 can be elevated up or down and the feeder cover may be
modeled open or closed.
* Slide molded co-axial MG 42.
While the Haengelafette includes its own radio, the instructions suggest
that you leave off the turret aerial mounted, however you could consider
inserting spare part g3 into hole on the top of the protruding bracket
on part H11. Factory photos show an aerial base fitted, while photos
of the Aufklaerungspanzer 38(t) in the first decal option do not have
this aerial (i.e. the turret is as the instruction’s suggest you build
it).
DECALS
The instruction sheet has three view profiles of two vehicles, both
with markings limited to Balkan Crosses, as was typical of the Aufklaerungspanzer
38(t), and are from unidentified units. The first vehicle is in the
three colour scheme of a yellow base with green and brown camouflage
and the other is in overall dark yellow. The markings are on a sharply
registered Cartograph decal sheets.
RECOMMENDATION
Dragon’s new Aufklaerungspanzer 38(t) is a crisply detailed model of
this interesting late war reconnaissance vehicle, which should be enjoyable
to construct. The new Magic Tracks and 38(t) hull are both impressive
and overall this kit shows the potential for Dragon’s Smart Kit format
to offer kits that are impressive out of the box. Highly recommended.
USEFUL
REFERENCE
"Marder
III and Grille" by V. Francev and C. Kliment has a good section
on the SdKfz 140/1.
-
Neville Lord
|
