Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale =9139-=9145 Series Kit No. 643=
5; Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. S mit Fuel Drum Trailer - Smart Kit; 704 parts (405= in grey styrene, 216 =93Magic Track=94 links, 138 etched brass, 9 clear st= yrene, 1 length of twisted steel wire, 1 length of black string); pre-order= price US$49.95 via Dragon USA OnlineAdvantages: modifications added to replicate the Ausf. S model; fuel traile= r a nice touch; fairly complete interior provided to include engine
Disadvantages: fenders still the original design with =93straight=94 profil= e; fighting and control compartment interiors will be very hard to see
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all THNP series fans and German modelers
Sweden contracted with Praga for 90 TNHPS tanks as well as a production li= cense to build the machine in Sweden. But the Germans took over the tanks a= nd used them instead, dubbing them the Pzkw. 38(t) Ausf. S (for Sweden). Cl= oser to the Ausf. A/B/C than the E/F in production for Germany at the time,= it was little different externally than the later machines. But in order t= o cover the expanse of western Russia, many of the tanks towed a 200 liter = fuel drum during the early days of the campaign into the USSR.
DML has combined their E/F/G kits with some new bits and the fuel trailer = from the Tauchpanzer IV kit to create a replica of the early Russian campai= gn tanks.
The kit provides the correct drive wheels with the excellent suspension as= well as different springs for the bogie assemblies. Assembly follows earli= er kitS and is pretty straightforward. However, the back plate (part B40) r= emains a single piece without a removable access hatch so the access cover = cannot be shown open or removed as in performing maintenance on the engine.= Only one set of engine access hatches is now provided for the engine deck.
DML was =93dinged=94 on earlier kits for the fenders. I personally think t= he tanks were built with straight fenders but once in service, whether it i= s crew use or track slap or something else, the front of the fenders from t= he center of the vehicle onward appear to take on a slight bend upward from= the rear section. DML claims that the fenders now look the part but for th= e life of me I can=92t see it.
Tracks are still =93Magic Track=94 links, which are identical so do not ha= ve to be =93handed=94 as with other kits. But they are tiny and tedious to = assemble =96 perhaps DML will eventually offer DS tracks for these kits as = well.
The interior is pretty much complete as near as can be seen, but the warni= ng needs to be given that due to the small hatches (commander=92s and radio= operator=92s) it will be very difficult to see the details even with an = =93IPMS Death Ray=94 (penlight). As noted the engine compartment is much mo= re accessible as the hatches may be opened up on the deck cover. As this ki= t has fewer options DML=92s directions are not as problematic with this kit= as in past versions.=20
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 bett= er done than the ones in the Tristar kit, albeit neither kit seems to have = the angled handles seen on preserved guns.=20
Technical assistance is credited to Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.=20
The kit offers four different finishing options backed up with a set of Ca= rtograf decals. The options are: Unidentified Unit, Eastern Front, 1942 (gr= ey, yellow 9); Unidentified Unit, Eastern Front 1942 (grey, white crosses o= nly); 7th Panzer Division, Russia 1941 (grey, white 535); and Unidentified = Unit, Bohemia 1945 (sand with green and brown dots, black crosses).
Overall this is a nicely done kit but I am sure that once more there will = be carping once more over the fenders. =09 Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.=20
Cookie Sewell