Dragon 1/35 5cm PaK 38 auf Pz.Kpfw.II 6721-01

This 5cm Pak 38 armed SP based on the Pz II chassis was an attempt to create an anti-tank gun, one which was only produced in small numbers, as it was improved on with the more numerous 75mm Pak 40 armed Marder II, in essentially the same style superstructure. With kits of the 75mm armed Marer II already available, Dragon have now turned to this more unusual variant.

It looks very similar to the 75mm armed Marder II, but this has a slightly different superstructure to it, which is new for this kit, along with the 5cm Pak 38 anti-tank gun. While it has the original curved shield, it does also have additional armour panels welded to it to provide some protection against shell and small arms fire from getting past the gun shield, and into the crew compartment. On the rear engine deck are a large stowage box, along with a large bin for the stowage of the standard ammunition boxes for the gun, and of which there are 4 also included in the kit.

For quite a small AFV, there is plenty of detail inside the fighting compartment, including the driver's position, radio operator, transmission and fire walls. The one thing not included is the engine for the engine compartment. With the open top fighting compartment there is plenty to be seen inside so all these detail fittings are well worthwhile. The gun is the Pak 38 previously done by Dragon, so you will also have the wheeled carriage parts left over for adding to your spares box, along with other spare parts which arise from Dragon utilizing sprues from other of their Pz II kits to create this new one. There are some etch brass parts

For finishing, there are three colour options suggested, though no markings to go with them beyond the standard German crosses. One is an overall Panzer Grey machine from an unidentified unit in 1940, while another has winter white camouflage over Panzer Grey from another unidentified unit in 1941. The final one suggested is overall dunkelgelb, in 1943. Lots of detail in the kit and it will come alive if you have some suitable crew figures to add to it.