Page 19

History

The summer and autumn of 1941 were pregnant with consequences for the German armoured warfare. The Russian tanks, like T-34/76 or KW-1, turned out to be a tough nut to crack for the bulk of the German armoured vehicles. The lightweight tanks PzKpfw II and the Czech PzKpfw 38(t)became completely useless in clashes with the better armoured and armed Russian tanks. Meanwhile, the captured Russian divisional guns UWS and F-22, a considerable amount ofwhichtheGermanslaytheirhandson, appearedto be the best at defeating Russian tanks.

During the first days of operation Barbarossa, on 20 Dec 1941, the German Army Weapons Agency ordered the Alkett factories (Altmarkische Kettenfabrik GmbH) in Berlin-Borsingwalde to prepare a project of using those divisional guns to construct an assault gun based on the weightlight tank PzKpfw II Ausf. D/E chassis. On 22 December BMM factories in Prague (ĆKD) received a similar order. Yet, in that case PzKpfw 38(t) chassis were to be used in conversion process. At the same time, the German Army possessed already modernized in the Rheinmetall-Borsig factories divisional guns F-22 - the German codę name: 7,62 cm Pak 36(r). The finał prototype of an assault gun based on the weightlight tank PzKpfw II Ausf. D/E chassis was assembled in the Alkett factories. Also, the company was in charge of ready-made weightlight tank PzKpfw II Ausf. D/E chassis conversion. From April 1942 to November 1943, 202 chassis were converted. They were marked as 7,62 cm Pak 36(r) auf Sfl II at first and 7,62 cm Pak 36(r) Fahrgestell auf PzKpfw II (Sfl) - SdKfz 132 "Marder” II later. They were used in combattill the IIWW end.

The model depicts the vehicle used by the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking, Poland, summer 1944.

Specification

Crew    4;

Length    5650 mm

Width    2300 mm

Height    2600 mm

Max. speed on road    55 km/h;

Max. speedoffroad    20 km/h;

Rangę on road    200 km;

Rangę off road    130 km;

Armourprotection    5-30 mm;

Superstructure Armour 14,5 mm;

TotalWeight    11500 kg;

Armament    7,62 cm PAK 36(r) L/54,8.

General remarks

Theassemblingof the model presented is difficult and reacquires a lot of patience. The most iabour-consuming units are the anti-tank gun Pak 36(r) and, as in every track vehicle, the running gear together with the tracks. The kit presents two ways of track assembling: either as a unit of links or as stripes. Prior to the construction, study the instructions and the pictures enclosed. The edges of the elements, especially those stiffen with a cardboard, will need retouching with the appropriate shade of watercolours. It is suggested to do the retouching before assembling the pieces into the model. Also, there are some elements one can enhance; yet, it is optional and these elements numbers are marked blue. The rule “Fit three times, glue once” should be a priority. Generally, the construction order matches the numeration order of particular pieces.

Marking

*    -stiffen with 0,2 card paper ** -stiffen with 0,5card paper *** - stiffen with 1 mm card paper W -cutout

P -rightside L -leftside

#    -roiltightly -cutthrough -chamfer

Assembling

1. Anti-tank gun

It is suggested to start with the anti-tank gun, as it is the most difficult element to make. The Assembling of particular units is illustrated in the pictures enclosed.

The barrel, the lock and the muzzle brake - pies 1 -4;

The cradle-pies 5-9;

Thecarriage-pict10-13and 15-17;

Thegunbase -pic 14;

Theshield-pic 18

Follow pic 12 to fix the gun to its base. Put aside the complete anti-tank gun and proceed to the next element.

2. Thebodv

Stiffen the elements marked ‘K’ with 1 mm card paper. Follow pic 19 to make the body framework. Additionally, all the body framework elements have their numbers and places of where to glue them marked on (e.g.K7A). As in every model, be extreme!y precise when cutting out and assembling the framework elements. Before gluing the framework over, glue pes 88 in. Now, glue the framework over with appropriately shaped pes 89, 89a, 90, 90aP, 90aL, 91. Make the rest of the framework and equipment elements following the pictures (No 20-27; 29 - 38; 43) and the templates enclosed. Use the wire to shape the elements following the templates.

3.    Chassis

This is also one of the morę difficult elements. Start the assembling with the drive wheel unit - to be fixed at the front of the vehicle body (psc 163 - 171; pic 39). Next, make the idler wheel unit (pes 172 - 180; pic 40) and the rollers (pes 181 -190; pic 41). Pic 28 illustrates the position of the idlers, rollers and sprockets in reference to one another.

4.    The tracks

There are two ways of assembling the tracks - either by connecting the single links (psc 191, 191 a, 191 b, 191c) or by making the tracks out of the stripes (pes 191 b, 191 c, 192, 192a) - pic 42 shows both of them. Connect the complete links with the element marked Wz XXVI11.

If you wish, seal the complete model with a elear varnish layer to protect it against the dust and wet.

Have a greattime and enjoy the result of yourwork-the Author andtheEditor.

Materials and tools needed:

0,2 / 0,5 /1 mm card paper; 0,4 / 0,5/ 0,7/ 1 mm wire; Sharp scissors; a boxcutter (a ‘snap-off blade’ utility knife); watercolours to do the retouching; polyvinyl acetate glue (e.g. "white glue" or "PVA")) to fix the smali elements.