7.5 cm L.46 Panzerabwehrkanone PaK 40 Anti-Tank Gun of the Wehrmacht

Airfix 1:76 Scale Artillery Review

Wargamers using the Airfix Opel Blitz truck in the troops transport or cargo role may want to consider a different towing vehicle for the PaK 40. Many British Universal Carriers were captured during the 1940 campaign in France, and they were subsequently used by the Wehrmacht. It would be entirely feasible to use Kettenschlepper Bren tractors in certain Panzerjäger units. The rear storage box of this vehicle has been removed to make room for four ammo boxes scrounged from the Hasegawa Field Camp Set. The vehicle interior still shows the original British Army dark green camouflage colour. The outside has been repainted with a two-colour Wehrmacht pattern.

Contents

• 7.5 cm L.46 PaK 40
• Four Gunners
• Opel Blitz Type 3.6-6700 A Truck
• Driver

Evaluation

• Excellent choice of subject. Airfix released this kit a long time ago, and it is still an import model.
• Scale model, loaded with detail. Hinges, rivet heads, panel lines, working parts of the elevating and breach mechanism are nicely sculpted.
• Very easy to build, only 14 parts. The gun, cradle, shield, sights and elevating screws account for only 7 parts, these are the items required for a Marder II tank destroyer vehicle conversion.
• The muzzle brake can be drilled open very easily.
• The PaK 40 is a partially working model, the barrel can be raised or lowered, and aimed to either side. The gun trails swing into the towing position, and the coupling on the Opel Blitz is secure enough for a drive across the living room carpet.
• The kit includes four gunners, enough to crew the PaK 40, and provide spare gunners for other models which are not as lavishly crewed as this one.
• Compatible with Fujimi, Matchbox, Nitto, and VAC-U-CAST.
• The Opel Blitz truck included in this kit is the standard workhorse of the Wehrmacht, it served as a cargo truck, and troop transport. The Airfix kit of the Opel Blitz is popular, and collectors will accumulate many more PaK 40 than they actually need in a wargame. One alternate use for spare PaK 40 guns is to convert them to self-propelled mountings.

• The original had a laminated shield consisting of two armour plates riveted together, but the model has a solid shield. The problem can be corrected by engraving a thin line in the top edge of the shield.

The Airfix kit of the PaK 40 offers excellent value for money, it includes the gun and crew in addition to an Opel Blitz truck for towing. The PaK 40 is an effective anti-tank weapon often seen in simulation games, and this kit provides all the necessary pieces to raise an anti-tank section.

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– Published: 22.02.1997 – Updated: 18.06.2008
© 1997-2012 by IDL Software GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany. All rights reserved.