| This is one of
the Hetzer variants that UM released a couple of years ago. As UM
provides the parts for all variants with every release, this not only
means the modeler can pick up any box and build the variant he/she
desires, but it also means that my previewing work is made very simple
as I can simply refer to Simon Barnes' preview
and Stephen Brezinski's
article on the subject.
The options given to the modeler would then be to build either an
early or a late gun tank, or to go for a flame-throwing tank. I am
not sure if the latter existed in early and late version, but modeling-wise
the kit would allow it. Comparing this kit against info in Nuts &
Bolts 49, it seems some scratchbuilding/modifications will be in order
to build the Flammpanzer:
- The wooden jack block on the fender
needs to be omitted. This feature was probably implemented for safety
reasons.
- A vent pipe needs to be added to
the right side of the hull.
- The Rundumfeuer gun needs to be
positioned more to the rear and an extra hatch needs to be added
to the hull roof, where the sighting mechanism was situated on the
gun tank.
- An extra exhaust needs to be added
for the 2-stroke engine that powered the flame-thrower.
Specific points I would like to add/iterate
about this kit and the rest of UM's Hetzer series are
- the error on the rear hull sides;
the place where the hull starts to narrow towards the rear should
be level with where the roof starts to slope down for the engine
deck; on the kit, however, it is set further back (details in Simon
Barnes' preview);
- the raised panel lines on the engine
deck (vide infra);
- the rim of the roadwheels is much
too thick and the back is plain, while it should be hollow;
- the tracks do not look quite right;
- hatches are shut;
- the gun mantlet might be a bit too
long and wide (not that you are supposed to use it in the Flammpanzer
we have here);
- the overall dimensions of the kit,
which are correct, unlike most other offerings on the market (untill
the arrival of the Vespid
kit).
Two marking options are suggested (which
are probably bogus, according to Tim Lau and my own research):
- Ardennes, December 1944
- Lake Balaton, March 1945
As usual, UM provides spare markings
without the slightest hint how to use them. This time they are a Czechoslovakian
flag, hull numbers, serial number and a data plaque.
 
 
Note:
it seems that recently (2012) UM has addressed the issue of the raised
panel lines:
Many thanks to Piotr Pyrczak for bringing this to our attention.
    
Scans of box and manual taken from Henk
of Holland website, used with permisison.
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