1:72 Sd.Kfz 131 Marder II Equipment

The real subject

The Marder II, with the ordnance designation Sd.Kfz.131, was a German tank destroyer of the Second World War. It was created by mounting a tall open superstructure with a 7.5 cm anti-tank gun on the chassis of the Panzer II tank. The crew stood in it almost in the open, so the vehicles carried their load, tarpaulins and personal kit hung all over the superstructure and on the fenders. It is exactly these small details that make the difference between a finished kit and a vehicle that looks as if it has come from the field.

What the set is for

The set adds loaded equipment and stowage to the model. What exactly the package contains and where the individual pieces belong is given in the manufacturer's instructions or in the period photograph you are building the vehicle from. In 1:72 scale these are very small parts, so it pays to work over a mat with a raised edge and to keep fine-tipped tweezers at hand. A part of this size that drops on the floor is practically impossible to find.

How to work with it

• the parts are not polystyrene, so glue for plastic models has no effect on them; use cyanoacrylate glue
• cut the surplus material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and carefully sand the remainder down
• wash and degrease the parts before painting, otherwise the paint will not hold well
• test the arrangement dry first, because once it has set there is no moving it

Terms of supply

This is an accessory for a kit. The vehicle model, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.