1:35 7,5 cm Gr.Patr.38 Hl/C Kw.K.40/Stu.K.40 L/43 and L/48

The real subject

The set captures a fixed round of 7.5 cm caliber with a shaped-charge projectile. It belonged to the Kw.K.40 gun and to its Stu.K.40 version for assault guns, in both of the barrel lengths given in the name, that is L/43 as well as L/48; the number after the letter L is the length of the barrel in multiples of the caliber. The Kw.K.40 was the main weapon of Panzer IV medium tanks from the F2 version, and the Stu.K.40 was carried by the StuG III and StuG IV assault guns.

How the shaped charge worked

The abbreviation Hl points to a shaped charge. That does not overcome armor by mass and velocity but by a concentrated stream of material formed in the explosion. The effect therefore stays essentially the same at close range and at long range, which was a fundamental advantage with the shorter barrels. The letter after the slash distinguishes the stages of development; Hl/C is later than Hl/B.

Building and painting tips

Cut the surplus material away with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the rest off; the thinnest and most vulnerable point is the tip of the projectile. Wash and degrease the parts before painting. On German ammunition the color coding of projectiles differed according to the type of filling and the period, so work from a period photograph or from the manufacturer's instructions; those are also a guide to the choice of glue, because that depends on the material of the parts.

Who it is for

It suits an open fighting compartment, ammunition bins in the cargo bed and a scene with ammunition being replenished, where several types of rounds stand side by side. Paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.