Advantages: another and totally different approach
to this vehicle; massive amount of etched brass comes with the kit; very clever way to
provide loaded ammo bins.
Disadvantages: fiddly tracks, not kind to sloppy or "That's Close" modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all WWII German fans and "Czech Tank" fans
The more of the Tristar kits I see the more impressed I am with their
engineering. This kit is surprisingly not a simple reuse of their excellent Pzkw. 38(t)
molds with an AFV Club Pak 40 slapped on it as was originally indicated; the kit only uses
two AFV Club sprues and only the running gear from the earlier kits intact. All other
sprues are new and dedicated to this kit.
While it has lagged behind the DML kit of the same subject – and that being
a "Smart Kit" with emphasis on minimizing extraneous or multimedia parts –
this kit has taken a different approach to the subject, a popular German SP antitank
conversion. As noted only two sprues – the cradle and associated components and the
7.5 cm ammunition selection for the Pak 40 – have come from AFV Club. The remainder
of the fittings, to include the base, barrel and other associated components, are all new
Tristar moldings.
While the components have all been redone, they do use the engineering and design
work from the outstanding Ausf. E/F and Ausf. G Pzkw. 38(t) kits. The suspension is
provided intact with the bogies and Tristar track sets.
This kit is different and Step 1 begins with the transmission, clutches and
ribbon brakes. The air flow shutters in the firewall may also be positioned either open or
closed. Step 2 is the belly and lower hull, which follows the gun tank kits. From here on
Steps 3-4 are for the new vehicle and cover all of its internal bits as well as hull
assembly. The road wheels and suspension follow in Step 5 and the fenders and details for
the upper hull in Step 6. Step 7 is the upper hull and engine deck.
Step 8 covers the jack and tool boxes as well as the rear of the hull. Tristar
finally fixed the problem with the optional track tension adjuster (E-34) or dust covers
(E-33) and no longer has the modeler trying to fit both at once! Step 9 is the exhaust
system and upper engine deck cover and fittings; unlike the etched "basket" in
the DML kit this one provides a styrene one (B-25) but since it was tubular steel this is
probably more accurate.
Step 10 covers the hull ammo racks. Tristar has provided commendably thinwalled
tubes for the ammo racks, and if you wish to load them also provides projectiles only with
tapered ends to load in the racks; I think back to the old Italeri kit that simply got
around this by having no tubes and very thin 7.5 cm rounds in order to get them to fit!
The gun base is also fitted in this step.
Step 11 is the gun barrel and cradle assembly (what the Russians call the
"elevating mass" components) and combines the new Tristar bits with the AFV Club
ones. Step 12 is the attachment of the gun to the hull and fitting of the gun shield. Step
13 covers the details for the inside of the casemate to include viewers and ready racks.
Step 14 is the assembly of the casemate and Step 15 covers the tracks. These can be
snapped together with care but are somewhat peevish and will still need to be cemented
together once in place. The last assembly covers the AFV Club ammunition (which is extra
for detailing) and the muzzle brake. Tristar provides two choices – open for use and
with a canvas travel cover in place. The latter is a very nice touch and looks that with
some Mr. Surfacer preparation and dry brushing it should look the part.
Note that Tristar kits are precision kits and do not react well to sloppy or
thoughtless assembly. They are vulnerable to Murphy's Law of "if anything can go
wrong it will go wrong" so they take more care than other manufacturers' kits. Also
this one is etched brass heavy and there are no options to using the etched brass
components provided with the kit. For example, the clutch and ribbon brake assembly
requires 15 etched brass parts and 6 styrene ones.
The model comes with a total of 8 finishing choices and options: Pz.Jg.Abt 1, 1st
SS LAH Division, Kharkov Winter 1942-43 (mottled); 29th Pz.Gren. Division, Italy Summer
1944 (tricolor); Pz.Jg.Abt. 171, 17st Infantry Division (tricolor); Pz.Jg.Abt. 171, 17st
Infantry Division Italy 1943
(streaks over Panzerbraun); Unknown unit, Northern USSR, Spring
1944 (streaks over Panzerbraun); 23rd Panzer Division, Eastern Front 1944
("Paula" in overall Panzerbraun); Trainer #1214 (two-color camouflage); and 2nd
Company, Pz.Jg.Abt. 39, 21st Panzer Division, Tunisia 1943
(two-color camouflage). A "targeted" decal sheet is provided.
Overall this is a nice kit and another approach to modeling the popular Marder
III.
Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.
Sprue layout
A 73 Pak 40 cradle and details (AFV Club A)
36 7.5 cm tubes, rounds and cases (AFV Club 35075)
A 28 Marder III hull and basic fittings
B 50 Marder III barrel, carriage, fittings
C 31 Marder III casemate and details
D 44 Tools and details
E 55x2 Wheels and suspension
F 54 Ammo stowage and projectile heads
G 8 clear styrene
H 72 Marder seats and interior details
T 73x3 track links
etch 136 etched brass
