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Marder! Detailing Tamiya's SdKfz 139 Marder III

You're kidding, right?
I uttered those same words when this kit was announced at the 2001 Spielwarenmesse Nürnberg (Toy Fair). I never thought Tamiya would make a 38(t) based vehicle. Personally I was waiting for them to release a new M5 Stuart or DUKW kit. Yet when the kit arrived from Hobby Link Japan, I was astounded. I was presented with five beautiful tan sprues. The detail was gorgeous. I had to sit there and stare in awe at the parts for awhile before putting them away to start my research. Luckily I had some Achtung Panzer articles from the Japanese magazine Model Graphix. This was my primary source for information. I threw all my other projects to the floor and started in on this kit.

I compared the kit to the drawing in the Achtung Panzer articles and found very little missing. A few tie down loops, a bracket here and there, and covers for the shell storage. I'll get into these missing parts as I go along. What I also found astounding was that they included much of what was in the AP drawings. Correctly shaped scopes, hatches, hulls, running gear, bar cage, folding seats, and much more. Tamiya molded them a winner this time! What was disconcerting was the complete lack of an interior. Nothing nada zip zero. Oh well, Verlinden or Jaguar will come out with something soon, I'm sure.