History

The Wehrmacht Pak 36 (Panzerabwehrkanone, or anti-tank gun 36) was developed and produced by Rheinmetall in 1936 as Germany's standard anti-tank gun (ATG). Firing a 3.7cm round it was a good weapon at the time, the United States Army borrowed from its design to create their 37mm M3 gun. The Panzerwaffe's Panzer III original main gun was a Pak 36 modified for tanks and known as the Kw.K. 36 L/45.

The Pak 36 eventually faced tanks with armor that it could not pierce at normal combat ranges, and dispirited German troops came to nickname it the "Door Knocker." A large, hollow finned charge grenade was developed to be fired from the Pak 36. Replaced by more powerful Paks by 1942, the Pak 36 soldiered on with second class units.

Review

Thirty-one light gray crisply molded parts build this model. The parts are numbered starting at 30. All are parts are located on a single sprue. It is enclosed in a re-sealable plastic pouch. I can find neither ejector marks nor sinkholes. All I found was a slight hint of flash upon an edge of the gun shield. The quality of the molding is impressive. The grab handles, sight, gun laying wheels, and shield supports are extraordinarily small. Great care will be required removing these delicate pieces from the sprue. Detail of the gun, cradle and shield are fine and sharp.
No decals are provided. Nor are there any ammunition canisters, ready or expended shells, nor crew figures.

Instructions and Painting

ICM printed the easy to follow directions on thin paper. One can see the printing on the other side. Yet, the illustrations for the six assembly steps are sharp. It is printed in both Russian and English. ICM only references Model Master paint. The four colors used are Black, Schwarzgrau (dark gray), Steel, and White. These are for the two camouflage schemes, the standard dark gray, and dark gray with winter whitewash.

Conclusion

This model will build into an impressive Pak 36. The fine detail may be a challenge and great care will be needed to not damage the small parts. The molding is impressive and may be at the verge of what can be achieved with injection molding! Lack of supplies and crew is disappointing however.