Model Armour

Pz.Kpfw.38(t) Stowage Bin - Type 1

Manufacturer: ET Model

Scale: 1/35

Material: Photo-etch

Serial Number: EA35-071

Price:  £2.41 

Introduction

ET Model from China has a rapidly expanding catalogue of photo-etched and detail sets for a wide variety of kits in varying scales, together with a very prolific release schedule. ET model produce general detail sets for the Dragon and Tristar Pz.Kpfw.38(t) kits, but this stowage bin for the fender of the vehicle is one of two types seen on period photographs and is supplied as a separate item.

Contents

It's a small set, consisting of just two small photo-etched brass frets and an instruction slip. Soldering skills, whilst not absolutely essential, would prove beneficial with this one, especially if you are thinking of depicting it as bashed up a little!

The larger of the two frets supplied consists of parts to make two stowage boxes, each of the same basic design, but slightly different sizes. Whilst the smaller one holds a selection of tools which may be place in or around the boxes. There's even a pair of spectacles included!

Each stowage box is a large irregularly shaped rectangular, so take car to begin folding the initial parts used for construction in the correct way. They're simply constructed, but made slightly more complicated by the addition of hinges etc. The basic shape is composed of one part, folded to make the front, sides and narrow strip across the top of each box to accept the hinged lid. There is no back or bottom supplied, as the fender and superstructure of the vehicle act as these. Each box has a lie composed of one piece folded to shape, along which a rim is fixed, and then one box has two, the other three working hinges fitted. The hinges require you to supply a short length of suitable material of 0.3mm diameter in order to make them workable....again, soldering skills should prove useful. In addition to the working hinges supplied, each of the boxes are supplied with padlock hasps and tiny photo-etched padlocks. These look a little 'flat' being photo-etched, but it's nice to see them in the set.

Conclusion

These are a really useful addition to the range, and really open up lot's of diorama possibilities if you're modelling one of these kits. Even if you're not planning on a diorama, they're still nice to use, enabling you to model specific vehicles that the kit doesn't allow. Recommended.

My thanks to ET MODEL for the review sample.