6464 Sd.kfz 138 Marder III Ausf M Initial Production
1/35 injection plastic kit with multimedia accessories and decals
The initial production Marder III M entered production in April 1943 and had a number of distinguishing features including the riveted hull, cast driver’s cupola and for some vehicles rear mudguards. Built on the proven chassis of the Panzer 38(t), the Marder III M was the final Marder series and had the engine relocated to the centre of the chassis (the M stands for Mitte which is German for middle). This change and the extended side armour, provided the crew with a protected rear fighting compartment. The open fighting compartment offers modelers considerable potential for adding interest and this kit has a thoroughly detailed fighting compartment and also a full engine bay.
OVERVIEW
This new Dragon kit depicts a typical 1943 production Marder III Ausf M as was widely used on the frontline and includes the option to build the Marder with the rear mudflaps, a features found on some initial production vehicles including some encountered by the British following D-Day. It is in the popular Smart Kit format and features a detailed engine block, Magic Tracks, clear plastic for the optics and a twisted wire tow cable. As expected it shares most of its parts with the Cyber-Hobby Marder III M with Stadtgas.
PHOTO ETCH
Photo etch parts include two new parts for the rear mudguards. These have embossed Xs on the sides, a cutout with a lip that appears to be a step on the rear and fold lines, which ensure they will be easy to use. If the mudguards are not fitted, the alternative is to fit the simple ladder style step that is also in PE. Other PE parts include the perforated tool box, rain guard above the radio, rifle racks, mesh shroud for the muffler, grills for the engine vents, brackets for the gas mask canisters and clamps and for the on vehicle equipment and MG42 small fittings such as the base for the Notek light and the battery cover, as well as the ammunition racks. The PE is well matched to the kit and helps create an impressive fighting compartment. The gatefold instructions have 6 pages of line drawings.
HULL & SUSPENSION
Thee main hull is a detailed one-piece tub, which has separate parts for the rear idler mount, return roller mounts, front lower glacis and rear plates, tow hooks, access hatch and several other fittings. The rivets are nicely rendered which is important as the use of rivets on the hull was a distinguishing feature of those Marder III M made through most of 1943. The rear hull has a new exhaust pipe with sharp detail and a perforated PE cover.
The upper hull has a separate transmission inspection cover and the driver’s access hatch, both of which can be modeled opened to reveal the driver’s seat and the detailed transmission. The side fenders have a lip (fold) on the outer edge, and separate support brackets. There are no predrilled holes on the fenders, so take care when fitting the tools etc.
Five large parts provide reproduce the armour plates surrounding the fighting compartment. The exterior and interior upper bolt heads and join strips are finely cast, and the tie-down cleats are cast in position. The armour plates have a thin profile, which tapers nicely on the upper edges.
The fighting compartment is thoroughly detailed and includes the anti-skid floor, MG42 with PE clamps, gas masks with PE brackets, periscopes, multipart radio with conduit and antenna, periscopes, and general stowage boxes. One of the ammunition racks has PE frame and straps.
The pre-cut Magic Tracks have open guide horns and minute casting numbers on each link and 99% of modelers should be happily using them without clean up.
ENGINE BAY
This kit has a comprehensive engine bay, which compares very favorably to photos and line drawings and offers plenty of potential for dioramas and super detailing. The engine block is multipart and has accurate small detail such as the gasket heads. Numerous other engine bay fittings such as the battery, air filter, radiator, fan with the numerous blades and belt reproduced crisply, filter and varying tubes are all included. For completeness all you really need to add is some wire for the electrical cables etc. Equally you could leave the bay closed and use the engine for another project.
PAK 40 ANTI-TANK GUN
On the Marder III M the Pak 40 has a new injection plastic curved shield (slide molded), which is unique to this Panzerjager. The Pak features a working breech, recoil guards for PaK40 that move with it, and a one piece plastic barrel tube with three options for the muzzle brake. The front gunlock can be built either in place for travel or down for combat. The Pak 40 is made from approximately 70 parts.
A plastic sprue has 8 rounds, 10 ammunition tubes, and 2 metal boxes, which can be used as you wish on the vehicle or a diorama.
DECALS
Two Cartograph decal sheets are included. The new sheet has markings for seven Marder III from combat units. Each of these Marders is profiled in colour on the side of the box and also on the instruction sheet. The Marders are two whitewashed guns with Balkan Crosses (one from Italy and the other the Eastern Front), a plain dark yellow gun in Italy with Balkan Crosses and the name Leopard, a yellow Marder in Italy with large green patches with a hand painted British roundel indicting that it had been captured, a yellow Marder with spray painted green patches from the Eastern Front, yellow Marder with green and brown bands from Hitlerjugend in Normandy and a yellow vehicle with green bands from the Eastern Front.
The other sheet contains marking for the shells and their cases, and spares left over for other projects.
RECOMMENDATION
Dragon’s Marder III M Initial Production provides an impressively featured 1943 production tank hunter as used by the frontline units. With its high level of detail and the inclusion of the engine bay, PE and Magic Tracks, it offers modelers considerable potential as to how it can be assembled and displayed. Definitely recommended.
USEFUL REFERENCE
"Marder III and Grille" by V. Francev and C. Kliment has a good section on the Marder III H.
- Neville Lord
