What variant of the panzer 38 (t) is the correct one for the bp-42 and bp-44 armored trains. I just finished building a panzertragerwagen from ironside and need a tank for it to make it complete. The box art shows a captured French tank which I’d be okay with doing as well. Could anyone point me in the right direction or panzer 38 variants or a good French tank that would fit?
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Hi Gregory
There was an interesting thread at Missing-Lynx Axis Forum about Somua S-35 being used on Panzerzug, specifically about the camouflage/colour scheme.
Panzerzug 26/27 Somua S35 camouflage?
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@jpwaller I’ll give that a read, i used to have an abstoswagen with a Somua 35 on it that i ended up trashing. Would love to rebuild it and do another train with one. I think they were used on more ad hoc trains then official bp42/44 ones.
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@jpwaller thank you for the link and attached pictures. I have an armored train book that i was also referencing but nothing can tell me what variant of the panzer 38 (t) was used. My assumption is it would have been all of them but specifically the E/F variant.
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I can’t seem to find anything in Panzer Tracts No.18 Pzkpfw. 38(t) about allocations to armoured trains either, but I would assume it would be whatever was available, right through to Ausf.G. like this one.(also the one in Akira-san’s image)
Apparently the hull MG was almost always blanked.
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@jpwaller that what it appears on most the pics ive seen, probably going to get Tamiya’s panzer 38 t then as it should be the right variant.
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Tamiya 35369 is Pzkpfw. 38(t) Ausf. E/F
Ausf.G options would be
Dragon 6290 Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. G (w/Interior)
HobbyBoss 80137 PzKpfw.38(t) Ausf.G
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@jpwaller thanks for the heads up almost got the wrong one
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No Tamiya E/F would also be fine, I have even seen an old Ausf.D used. As you suggested it seems like whatever variant was available was employed.
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Pz.Zug 32 with a Renault R-35
This train also carried a one-of-its-kind Lorraine 37L fitted with a Soviet 122mm howitzer
H.P.
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@jpwaller @Frenchy thank you for the additional pictures. The Lorraine would be fun to build next as well as a Renault. The tamiya kit looks good for the Pz 38 (t) and the added benefit that my rail cars will be for a bp-42/44 gives me some options.
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The Tamiya has the issue with the stowage boxes on the fenders which were unit-specific to 19./Pz.Div. (Panzer-Regiment 27). so you would need to modify those to suit your chosen vehicle.
Great page at Panzernet on the Panzer 38(t) versions.
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Hobby boss makes a 38t as well. The Dragon kit is very nice.
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@jpwaller i didn’t know that, maybe i will look at the other kits.
@Dan i haven’t seen the dragon one in years.
I do remember building a trumpeter one with there armored train railcar but that came as a whole kit. Wish they had it for sale on is own.
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@jpwaller that G variant looks intriguing, if i could get it at a good price i wouldnt mind it. Thank you for the kit recommendations !
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