DML 1/35
7.5 cm Stu.Kan. auf Pz.Kpfw. 38(t)

I have to admit it that this particular kit stumped me as I could not find out anything on it from my normal references. Happily, since AMPS 2007 was going on I ran into Tom Jentz and asked him.

Tom indicated that as I suspected this was a "oner" and a single prototype was built in May 1942 to test variants of mounting 75mm and 76mm guns on the Praga Pzkw. 38(t) chassis. It lost out to the more popular and better designed Marder III with the 7.5 cm Pak 40 mounting, but apparently like all good German prototypes it saw service in Russia. Only three photos of this vehicle and no plans are known to exist. (It is one of Tom's "Panzer Tracts" books – one of the Volume 7 issues on Pzkw. 38(t)s.)

Following other "niche" or "boutique" kits, cyber-hobby.com has now released this effort using bits of two of the new smart kits – the Marder III Ausf. H and the StuG III Ausf. G Early. They use the main sprues from the Pzkw. 38(t) components in the Marder III, two sprues from the StuG III, and a new sprue of adapter components and the semi-enclosed casemate from the Stu.Kan. prototype.

Since so little information is really known about this vehicle, most of its internals would appear to be mostly reasonable speculation or extrapolation. However, as the "bits" chosen are new and well done, the results are probably not far off the mark if at all not totally accurate.

A new sprue of clear parts and a small sheet of etched brass, the latter being generically listed as "Pzkw. 38(t)" are also provided. Note that this kit comes with five different radio sets, so it nothing else it will certainly plus up parts boxes.

The kit uses the "Magic Track" from the first two Pzkw. 38(t) based kits, which is universal and therefore does not require special care to get the "left" and "right" sets in place.

There is apparently an error in the directions (not surprising) and as such a small 2 x 4 inch sheet with amplified instructions for the location of the radio set and a four-round ammo storage rack are provided separately.

One small sheet of very generic Cartograf decals is provided along with a color scheme for the "most popular" German unit – Unidentifed on the Eastern Front, 1945.

Overall the model is well done, but I am not sure of its actual appeal.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Sprue Layout

A 60 Pzkw. 38(t) wheels and suspension
B 70 Pzkw. 38(t) Ausf. G fenders and hull components
D 57 Pzkw. 38(t) interior and transmission components
E 1 Pzkw. 38(t) Hull
E 33 StuG III gun details and radio sets
F 16 StuG III gun details
J 4 clear styrene vision blocks
J 10 clear styrene vision blocks and periscopes
K 18 Pzkw. 38(t) OVM
M 24 Stu.Kan. upper works and casemate
Y 240 Magic Track
MA 47 Pkzk. 38(t) etched brass
RA 9 German standard radio set components