Firstly a big thanks to Tyler for the series on Muskets and Tomahawks, it was a big help as I went through surgery and gives all of us a chance to read well constructed articles that don’t ramble on like mine tend too, about one of the most colourful and fun periods to game in.  I do wounder if Tyler would like to do a series on Bolt Action at some point, as Tyler dips his toe in to 28mm WW2.  I am back now and we are off to a running start, while recovering I had a chance to catch up on some new and old projects.  So here is the first.

Rubicon Models released their Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer, well I had to have one, not only because it is a cool model, but because I really wanted to do a force for Bolt Action with Hetzers in it.

As soon as I got my hands on one I had to review the kit, and here are, my Rubicon Models Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer Review.

The Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer was originally requested In March 1943, Col. Gen. Heinz Guderian. He was after a stop to the band-aid light tank destroyer solutions that had been employed up until then. Those solutions were the Marders selection of vehicles and the towed Pak40.  The Panzer 38(t) chassis was selected, it was cheap to make easy to maintain, made a great base for so many different German AVF’s.

• Grille Ausf. H/K/M – 15cm s.IG. (Sd. Kfz. 138/1),
• Munitionspanzer 38(t) (Sf) Ausf K/M (Sd. Kfz. 138) – ammunition carrier,
• Schutzenpanzerwagen 38(t) Ausf M – armored personnel carrier (planned),
• Marder III (Sd. Kfz. 139) – 76.2mm Pak 36 (russian) gun,
• Marder III Ausf. H/K/M (Sd. Kfz. 138) 75mm Pak 40 gun,
• Befehlswagen 38(t) – command tank,
• Munitionsschlepper 38(t) – ammo carrier,
• Panzerjäger 38(t) / Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer,
• PzKpfw 38(t) nA – fast/light reconnaissance tank,
• Morsertrager 38(t) Ausf M – mortar/ammunition carrier (prototype),
• Flakpanzer 38(t) Gepard – (Sd. Kfz. 140),
• Bergepanzer 38(t) – light recovery vehicle,
• Leichter Raupenschlepper Praga T-3 – light tractor / troop carrier,
• Schwerer Raupenschlepper Praga T-9 – heavy tractor / troop carrier,
• Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) – (Sd. Kfz. 140/1) reconnaissance vehicle,
• Flammpanzer 38(t).

Overall the  Jagdpanzer Hetzer was better armoured than the Marder range, had a modified gun from the StuG that could deal with all medium allied vehicles, heavy tanks was the job for the jagdpanther and jagdtiger.

Out of the Box, the Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer frames are really very nice, three frames, one decal sheet, and one instructions.

Production quality is what we have come to expect from Rubicon Models, this kit can do Hetzer, Early, Mid and Late production as well as Flamehetzer.  Keep in mind that it was only around 6 months between production periods.  So to have all available is quite handy means you can tailor your model very quickly to suit your force.

Hetzer Build

There is a moment when preparing to put together any kit I have where I look at the instructions and think “this is going to take a while” it happens every time I get out a 1/35th scale kit and it happened here as well, I was thinking that it was going to take a while. well I was very wrong.  Starting from the bottom up, I got into the kit, The tracks are once piece and have an insert that joins to the axle points, and leaf springs that joins to the lower hull.

It is that easy to assemble the lower hull, I was through it in no time.

Now we add the upper Hull and the Tracks.

I did leave some extra bits on the side of the hull from the sprue but they clean up very quickly. I assembled the whole model just after clipping it off the sprue, it is that easy.

Now the tanks is basically finished I am thinking about how to paint my Mid production Hetzer.

Finally a scale comparison with the JFTM Tiger 1e.

Verdict

The Rubicon Models Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer kit is awesome, so easy to put together, it really only took about 30 minutes to knock this one out, that is really fast, even though there looks to be lots of parts. The kit is well thought out and well designed.  I can’t say how much I enjoyed getting this kit out after my op and doing some modeling.

My Hetzer being a Mid production Hetzer has to be painted for Autumn ’44, it is just screaming at me to do some nice infantry in oakleaf to go with it. So the next time we see this Hetzer it will be getting some paint done, but that is some time off.  I can see my self also getting something a little bigger to back this guy up, I have plans now to make them happen.

On the Painting Desk

What is next on the desk, I am off in to the American War of Independence and more specifically, Muskets and Tomahawks.  I might also do a quick review on some 28mm Napolionic mini’s I was lucky enough to get.  Think I think I head down the Soviet Rabbit hole, I have three T34-85’s and whole load of infantry I need to paint up, So that is where I am at.