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| KITS |
World War II (1939-1945) |
Sd.Kfz.138 Marder IIIM w/stadtgas |  |  |
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Sd.Kfz.138 Marder IIIM w/stadtgas
Ref. # 6468
Scale: 1/35
Manufacturer: Cyber Hobby
Price: Unknown
Material: Styrene, PE
Introduction
Cyber Hobby 'White box' kits are limited production kits that will not be re-issued. They usually consist of mainly existing Dragon sprues with the odd new tooling to make an unusual variant of a vehicle already within the Dragon range of kits. This kit depicts a Marder III Ausf.M initial production fitted with Stadtgas or town gas as a supplementary fuel source. As far as I can ascertain, if one was actually produced it seems to have only been used as a training vehicle.
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The kit
Inside the box there are nine large sprues of Dragon's light grey styrene, eight smaller ones and three transparent ones. In addition we're given a separate hull and Driver's block, wire tow rope, some pre-formed wires, a bag of individual Magic Tracks, two photo-etch frets and two decal sheets.
It should go without saying, that moulding is first class, i.e. no ejector pin marks to speak of, no flash, and pin-sharp moulding.
Inevitably, comparisons will be made between this and the Tamiya version without Stadtgas released a few years ago. Suffice to say, that moulding technology has moved light years ahead of even that production, and for that matter...so has what's included in the kit! It's another of those 'hard to get the lid back on' kind of kits!
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The Marder IIIM was an open topped fighting vehicle, and so inside the vehicle, as a consequence of it being included in the Dragon 38(t) based kits, we're given a full engine, and full driving compartment including transmission. The detail here is superb, and with only a few additions such as pipework etc. and a good paint job, it should look incredible! Of course, included in the kit is the option of having the engine deck either opened or closed.
The running gear is made up of individual components that allow the suspension bogies to function in a similar manner to the real thing, although good luck with getting it positioned over an obstacle in a diorama setting with the individual track links included! On the subject of those tracklinks...if you haven't yet built one of the 38(t) based kits from Dragon, each individual track link has a tiny casting number moulded in. You'll need an extremely powerful lens to se it, but take a close look at picture 26.
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Sprue M in the kit is a brand new sprue that holds the new parts specific to this variant. Parts such as the fighting compartment walls, new rear wall etc. The fighting compartment looks to be a miniature work of art. Incredibly detailed, with photo-etched parts to include on the ammunition racks too, the only parts missing being the retaining straps that would have been on the real thing. The ammunition racks are held on sprue E, another 'new' one, that also has the main gun shield, mount and other internal details for the fighting compartment.
Origin-wise, apart from those two sprues that are completely new, the rest of the kit sprues are from assorted kits released earlier by Dragon. For example, the running gear from the 38(t), as is the engine and driving compartment, transmission etc., ammunition boxes, crates and shells from their PaK40, along with the main gun itself of course. We are also given one of the 2nd Generation personal kit sprues containing flasks, canteens, helmets etc. These are a really great inclusion, and I'm gradually replacing all the old personal kit in my spares box with newer 2nd generation gear!
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Markings-wise in the kit, since it's presumably a vehicle that never saw action, or indeed, may not have existed off-paper, then we're only really offered one vehicle from a test run at the BMMM Factory during 1943, and only has one Balkancreuz on it! Included in the kit though is a small decal sheet including a number of small Balkancreuz as well as two 'Fahrschule' or 'Driving school' legends.
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Conclusion
I've really been looking forward to this kit since I first heard of it. The one from 'another' manufacturer is one of my all-time favourite kits. This one is even better. Highly recommended!
My Thanks to Cyber Hobby for the review sample
For full information on all Cyber Hobby products, please see their website,
Cyber Hobby
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| | Discuss this article, 1 of 15 messages, read more: |  Vinnie Branigan | |
| Posted: 02/05/08 12:04:14 14 | A look at a great new 'White Box' kit from Cyber Hobby! 
Vinnie |
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