It was just recently that Dragon announced the this great looking vehicle, Dragon has now updated the information for this release.



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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

I will get this one for sure, I don't think Tristar released the "S" version.

Thanks, Kevin, these CAD shots look very interesting. But I don't see a substantial difference with earlier Ausfuehrungen other than the trailer.

Was this version part of a fuel supply convoy?

I mean, most combat vehicles don't carry fuel like that with them so I can only guess it's to protect it?









~ Jeff

Nice to see this model in styrene now for an Asuf. A and between Dragon and Tristar every version of the 38(t) gun tanks would be done. Though why is it in German markings? I have always been led to believe that all the Ausf. S were given to the Slovak Republic.

"mit fuel drum trailer"?

seems a little odd to be mixing German and English... but i am sure the kit is lovely

@Vance:

Yeah, I'm with you! That one bewitched me, too, as I commented over on Track--Link... [quote]"So... "Ausf S" - from the box-art, looks like it is the G kit, to me - though I am sure that Mr.D will include 3 special parts to make this the "s" version, which was an export model modified to meet Swedish detail requests.

What's more fun is the kit naming... come on, Mr.D! Which is it to be - English or German? "mit Fuel Drum Trailer"? Not "mit Betriebstoff-anhanger" or something like? That, or "with fuel drum trailer"?

The pictured "new" trailer does look pretty much like some which appear in photos, and I'll maybe buy one of these mostly because of that.. Of course, IF the D has actually done those detail mods for the Swedish tank... "[quote]

I remain unsure exactly what really makes this new kit an "s", anyway! IF it did not have that trailer, I'm not sure that I could tell anyone why it wasn't just the "G" re-boxed.

@Jeff:

Dragon having done now a second tank kit (first being that Pz IV E Tauche, I believe?) with a towed fuel trailer connected to the tank engine, we may be getting a little more used to this scene! While it looks perhaps a little odd and maybe risky (also maybe like daring the enemy troopies to stay and try for the bulls-eye...) to us in our modern-day "wisdom", German tanks pulling trailers with gasoline drums were not uncommon during the invasion of Russia in 1941 and '42. There are photos around of Pz. 38(t) pulling these single-drum trailers. The Germans faced an enormous logistical problem of its army advancing away from available supply rail-heads compounded by a lack of adequate supply trucks to keep up with the panzers. So, as we all know and love to model, those Germans heaped their tanks with jerry-cans and drums and pulled supply trailers.

Remember that Patton's 3rd famously ran out of gasoline as it rushed across Europe later in that war! Thus giving rise to that legendery "Red Ball Express"...

Was that trailer actually dangerous? Maybe not as much as some might think.

Actually, a full drum of fuel is essentially inert! This is why we do carry gas-cans on vehicles and why those famous Russian T-34 with those strap-ons were (and still are) actually used. IF and when they get punctured, the gas runs out, while air gets in. Now the gas is available on the ground to the oxygen and becomes more dangerous... and the nearly-empty, vapor-filled can or drum becomes much more an incendiary device. So a drum on a quick-release outside the tank (Russians) or on a towed trailer (Germans) is actually less of a hazard then many think it might be. It's when it is nearly empty that it really becomes dangerous!

Interestingly, the Germans in WWII stopped using zimmerit because of a few reports that it could catch fire on a tank and thus pose a danger to the vehicle and crew... And likewise, they stopped mounting those smoke-grenade sets on tank turrets in 1943 owing to a small number supposedly having been set of by enemy fire or shrapnel... so one would have to conclude that the Germans were rather sensitive to risk of fire and accidental smoke-blinding of tank-crews. Yet they towed gas-trailers and carried cans almost everywhere a guy could put one... which must suggest that those practices were actually not notably risky by troop-reports and experience! Spin forward to today and... hmmmm. We see that many militaries still carry jerry-cans of gas, and all sorts of AFV sport smoke grenade launchers...

Cheers!

Bob

The S version was supposed to be a batch of tanks to be exported to Sweden. But in 1940 the Germans ordered them to be delivered to the Wehrmacht.

And these tanks were exported to Slovak Free State and served in southern Russia in 41 and 42.

Don't know if they were in German service or not.
Is there any photo references ? Frenchy maybe has something, he always does...

Hi guys,

The S version was indeed intended for Sweden, but beware this model does not include the Swedish details, for example:

The Swedish turret was not sloped at the rear, from what I can make out from the CAD images this turret is still sloped.

The Swedish 38(t), i.e. Strv. m/41, had a second hatch over the driver's position as well.

Round and not tear-drop shaped holes in the idler wheel.

Two periscopes on the turret roof.

Commander's hatch opened up at a different angle.

and more..

This Ausf S is probably the "German version" of the Ausf S, and does not represent the Swedish vehicle in any way.

The Swedish Strv. m/41 was produced under license in Sweden by Scania Vabis, in two versions: SI and SII. The SII had an extended hull to incorporate a larger (Scania) engine.

Interesting project for those who are interested, but you can basically use any 38(t) for the Swedish convserion(s). :-)