Takom Flammpanzer 38(t)

Kit No. 2180 - First Look

This kit was released by Takom in late 2023 according to Scalemates.com.   The kit comes with new parts to provide the option to build the flammpanzer as seen here in this box art.  The history of this rare vehicle is provided in the instructions which I have included in the following photograph so there is no sense in laying out the history of this vehicle.  But, not very many of these were made at a time when production rates of any German armored units were struggling to meet demands.  

This kit comes in a box that is very compact for the contents of the kit.  There are a bunch of sprues with crisp parts.  The sprue trees are included...

In reviewing this kit, this latest effort by TAKOM is beautifully done.  The kit is a no-frills kit that comes with very limited PE parts and some clear vision blocks.  There is a clear roof that is included in the kit but that part is not used in the construction of this model.  I found that the parts were crisp and very detailed.  The fit was impeccable and very tight.  Constructing the tracks was very enjoyable being link and length style tracks.  There are knockout pin marks in the track road wheel channel but for the most part, you cannot see them and I did not worry about that.  The tracks do fit together well, the instructions call for the placements of the links and if you start with the top run of tracks first, getting the connection points for T1 and T2 (One for either side, once you get those two pieces joined, it makes wrapping the next 10 links around either the drive sprocket or the rear idler pretty easy and straight forward.)

The decal sheet that comes with the kit is very finely printed.  I think the decals will be very easy to apply.

There is no metal barrel with this kit.  Being a FLAMMPANZER, it's OK that one is not provided.  Planning was made for this special variant of the Hetzer and the kit goes together very nicely.  I cannot wait to get the construction of the kit started.  It's very possible that this kit will blow apart all my expectations.  I will follow that up with a full build review in a few weeks.

Painting instructions for this kit are very nicely detailed with color photos showing camo schemes for the following:

Kompanie 353, France, December 1944 (Vehicle number S14)

Kompanie 353, France, December 1944 (Vehicle number S11)

Kompanie 352, Germany, March 1945 (Vehicle number 13)

Kompanie 352, Germany, March 1945 (Vehicle number 11)

In my humble opinion, this kit is Highly Recommended for Beginner to Advanced builders, pending full build.

Thanks goes out to TAKOM for this review kit.

Reviewed by GLEN MARTIN

If you liked this review, consider joining AMPS. Your annual membership
includes six copies of AMPS's magazine, Boresight,
and helps to support our ongoing reviews.

Click here for more information about joining AMPS