Eduard 1/35th Jagdpanzer 38 Hetzer Mid Production
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Introduction
The Hetzer is simple and clean in appearance; a light, compact, potent
German anti-tank panzer. So when the opportunity to review this version
of the Hetzer arose, I jumped. I find the Hetzer one of the most intriguing
German tanks of World War II, rivaling my interest in Panthers and JagdPanthers.
History
The Hetzer has its origin in Col. Gen Heinz Guderian’s demand
in 1943 for a single light tank destroyer to replace the myriad of Marders
and Nashorn as well as various towed anti-tank artillery provided up to
that point. It was intended to give infantry divisions a limited mobile
anti-tank capability. The new tank destroyer, built by BMM in Prague and
by Skoda in Pilsen, was based on the highly successful chassis of the
Czech-developed Panzerkampfwagen 38(t). It was better armored, carried
a rather potent main gun, mechanically reliable and, being small, easily
concealed. As with any vehicle, the Hetzer underwent a transformation
based on feedback from the troops who used it and the need to simplify
its production. In its approximate one year of production, 2454 tanks
were built and fielded. Production was planned to ramp up to about 1000
units per month but was stopped when the BMM and then the Skoda production
plans were put out of action by Allied bombing in March and April 1945.
Of interest and intrigue is the Jagdpanzer 38’s well-accepted
name Hetzer. Its origin is not clear. Skoda confused the Jagdpanzer 38
with another project, the E-10, in some documentation and the first units
were identified as such until the issue was cleared up. Another story
involves a memo from Col Gen Guderian to Adolph Hitler claiming that the
tank had been named the Hetzer by the troops. The source of the Hetzer
designation remains unknown to this day.
The Kit
Eduard’s offering represents a mid-production version of the Hetzer.
It retains the horizontal muffler on the rear deck and the twelve-hole
idler wheels typical of the early model. It also carries the late model
characteristics of the double arm observation telescope, the split commander’s
hatch, a wider mantlet for the main gun, road wheels riveted vice bolted,
and gratings over air intakes. Many of the other improvements would not
be visible in a model but are well described at PzFahrer's
Guide to the Hetzer.
The latest of Eduard’s trilogy of Hetzers comes in a large, strong
and colorful box. The box has a picture of the Hetzer on the front as
well as detailed photos of an assembled but unpainted Hetzer on the side.
The seemingly oversized box contains 355 plastic parts on 14 tan sprues
in 3 plastic-wrapped bundles, 130 metal parts on 2 metal frets, a turned
aluminum barrel, a length of string for the tow cables, a set of Eduard
paint masks for the wheels, decals and a colorful instruction booklet.
The instruction booklet is 24 pages long. The steps are not numbered
yet each page constitutes a significant assembly. The assembly is well
laid out. Each begins from individual pieces and is shown in computer
generated 3-D drawings, oriented to show the location of all pieces when
assembled. Assemblies similar on both sides are shown in successive pages
to show locations. The instructions also include a brief history of the
Hetzer’s origin and production.
The decals are well detailed and include, while only readable under
magnification, instructions and stowage notices. The decals, coupled with
detailed paint schemas well laid out on two page spreads in the back of
the instruction, represent three units employing the Hetzer at the end
of the war. The units represented are the Heeres-Panzer Jaeger Abteilung
714 of the 1. Fallschirmajager Divizion in Arnhem, 1944, the Panzer-Grenadier
Divizion Feldherrenhalle 1 on the Czech-Austrian border in 1945 and the
2nd Division of the Russian Liberation Army in Prague, 1945.
The pieces are well defined with an absolute minimal flash. None of
the pieces were damaged or broken off. While the plastic is very well
detailed, the 130 pieces of photoetch allow the replacement of over 25%
of the plastic pieces and provide many options for items such as tool
boxes, instrument panels and tool straps. Those very few sinkholes that
do exist are on the back of pieces – none are visible when assembled.
The mantlet has a modicum of texture as cast iron would have. The tracks
consist of single long assemblies for the top and bottom of the tracks
and smaller units as well as single tracks to complete the curved assemblies.
Eduard builds the Hetzer in a different manner than most armored fighting
vehicles I have seen. Rather than start with the suspension and tracks,
Eduard starts with the interior. The lower hull interior is assembled
first from rear to front. The highlight of the interior is a highly detailed
and complete Praga AE 160k engine compartment. The lower fighting compartment
is nicely detailed with 9 rounds in stowage, radios and a variety of boxes
and vents. The upper hull interior is the next assembly. It also has substantial
detail to include an additional 10 rounds in stowage as well as assorted
boxes and view ports but to a lesser degree than the lower hull. With
the hull interior complete, the Pak 39 L48 main gun assembly is constructed.
Overall, the interior is beautifully done with exquisite detail. It appears
to be an immense amount of work to build, paint and appropriately weather
only to close it up once the upper and lower assemblies are joined. At
this point, if the rear engine hatches are installed closed, all the wonderful
work and detail that is the interior would be lost. For this reason, it
is imperative the modeler take a close look at the assembly instructions
and decide how they intend to finish the model. If the hatches are to
be closed and the Hetzer used in a fighting diorama, it may not be worth
the time, other than for personal satisfaction, to complete all the interior
work. To put all the effort into the interior then hide it would be a
crime. This was the only significant decision I saw that could affect
the build.
With the hull complete, the multitude of pieces that one nominally
finds attached to the exterior of the hull, tools, tow cables, fittings,
etc., are attached. At this point, Eduard moves to the suspension and
the tracks. If the model does have a flaw, it would be the tracks. With
all the detail included for the hull and interior, the tracks are rather
disappointing. They consist of two long section (top and bottom of the
road wheels) and assorted small sections to create the forward and back
sections. Individual tracks would have been better and even one piece
detailed vinyl track would be an improvement. With the tracks on, final
assembly of the Hetzer consists of attaching the fenders and side-skirts.
Recommendation
This is the first Eduard kit that I have had the opportunity to review
and, now, to build. I have to say that it lives up to the quality I have
read many modelers rave about. The only issues I have were those detailed
above: the limited view of the interior once complete and the tracks.
In spite of those challenges, I do look forward to building this kit.
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank Eduard, Matt
Bittner and Internet Modeler for the opportunity to review this kit.
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