Tamiya 35248 WWII German Marder III Tank Destroyer 1/35 Scale Plastic Model Kit

Description

Tamiya ventured into the modeling business in 1948, with a scale wooden ship model kit. Since then, Tamiya has been striving to offer merchandise that can truly be called ‘First in Quality Around the World.’ Now Tamiya is offering more than 300 different products, both in the fields of precision static models and high performance radio control vehicles. These products are not only sold in Japan but also exported in vast quantities to the United States, Europe, South East Asia, and to many other parts of the world. The standard of excellence achieved by Tamiya is regarded as among the very finest in the world of model hobbies. In the summer of 1941, Germany’s invasion of Russia was unfolding favorably for the Wehrmacht. However, German authorities began to notice the inferiority of their tanks and anti-tank weaponry to those of the Soviet army, such as the T34. To cope with this disparity they decided to: improve the Pz. Kpfw. III and Pz. Kpfw. IV tanks; develop new tanks; and increase production of the 7. 5 cm anti-tank cannon. Finally, as an interim solution, it was decided to improved captured Russian 7. 62cm anti-tank cannons and deploy them for Wehrmacht use. These fearsome cannons could penetrate 83mm armor plating at a range of 1000m, but after improvement, could penetrate up to 122mm, and were renamed 7. 62cm Pak 36(r) gun. Until the new tanks were ready for deployment, 7. 62cm Pak 36(r) guns were to be mounted on the chassis of obsolete Pz. Kpfw. II and Pz. Kpfw. 38(t) tanks for the creation of a stopgap tank hunter. The 38(t) tanks were based on the LtVz. 38 tank, which was developed for use by the Czech company CKD (later BMM) for the Czech army in 1938. In 1939, with the annexation of Czechoslovakia, this tank went into production for the Wehrmacht. The base this Czech-made tank was combined with the Soviet 7. 62cm Pak 36(r) gun, resulting in the creation the Wehrmacht’s fearsome tank hunter, the Marder III Sd. Kfz. 139. The turret base of the Pk. Kpfw. 38(t) was removed and a 16mm steel plate was attached in its place. The Soviet 7. 62cm Pak 36(r) gun was mounted on that plate, 11mm armor plating installed to the front and sides, and massive stirrups immobilized the gun. Kit features: each detail of this fascinating fighting machine has been accurately reproduced for total modeling satisfaction; all the details of the fighting compartment (main gun plate, gun supports, ammunition rack, etc.) have been precisely recreated; protective armor and sighting equipment moves with raising and lowering of main gun; crew seats and large clamp for main gun can be modeled in the fighting or moving positions; two crew figures are included in set; and five kinds of battlefield markings are included. This finely detailed plastic model kit requires assembly and painting.