Takom 1/35 scale Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer early production (full interior) plastic model kit review

The Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank-hunter was built on the bones of the Czech ČKD LT vz. 38, also known as Panzer 38(t). Armed with a powerful, high velocity, 75mm PaK 39 L/48 main gun, which could penetrate the armor of most enemy tanks at the time. Its low height and heavily sloped armor afforded a fair amount of protection for the four-man crew and was ideal for ambush tactics. However, the lack of internal space left the crew with little room for comfort.

The Hetzer holds a spot in many modelers' hearts, and Takom offers many variants to build, including this new 1/35 scale Jagdpanzer 38 (t) Hetzer early production full-interior plastic model kit.

Construction starts with the transmission and brake assembly and includes attaching it to the lower haul plate. With the amount of detail in such a small space, I treated the interior like an aircraft model and broke it down into subassemblies to make painting easier.

The interior includes the engine compartment with a detailed engine and fuel and cooling system. One possible inaccuracy in Step 19 is that two additional radios are attached to the side ledge of the fighting compartment (parts K75-K78). I included them per the instructions, but these radios should only be on the command version of the tank with an additional large star antenna on the outside of the hull. The radio and engine details are crisp and have sharp features like bolt heads and radio knobs. You can elevate the detail further by adding cables and wires, depending on how you want to display the model. With the upper hull attached, the hatches are relatively small, and not much of the interior will be visible.

The running gear and suspension built up quickly and with little trouble; single-piece road wheels and link-and-length tracks made for quick construction. For the roof panel, you have two options that allow for more ways to display the interior. The kit includes a clear roof piece and a grey plastic part. All the hatches for both the engine and fighting compartments can be posed open or closed.

The amount of interior details and subassemblies will add to your build time, but in the end, the more time you spend on those small parts, the better the final product will be. The kit has excellent detail while also leaving modelers with open areas to add extra touches and improve the model without much fuss. I happily suggest this kit to any advanced modeler looking for the best representation of the Hetzer. If you are less experienced or looking for a quicker build, the no-interior version of the kit would be a great choice.