1:35 SD.KFZ.131 Panzerjäg.II f.PAK 40/2 Carson 776423 500776423

Dragon is proud of its newest plastic-kit version of a WWII German tank destroyer – a Marder II Mid-Production vehicle. Early in the war there was an urgent need for self-propelled anti-tank platforms, especially when the Wehrmacht was confronted by well-armored enemy vehicles such as the T-34 and KV-I during the invasion of Russia. Many hybrid designs were converted from obsolete tank chassis. The Marder II was a case in point, as it was based on a Panzer II chassis. The Mid-Production version of the Marder II (Sd.Kfz.131) was armed with 7.5cm PaK 40. Some 576 Marder IIs were produced from June 1942 till June 1943, and they fought primarily on the Eastern Front.

Dragon’s new 1/35 scale kit is a superb rendition of a Mid-Production variant, and it perfectly complements the Marder II released earlier. The fighting-compartment interior has been rearranged to reflect this production period, as has the on-vehicle tool arrangement. Brand new toolings for this kit include the left and right sides of the fighting compartment armor. The fine box-top illustration depicts iconic markings from an actual vehicle, and these are reproduced by Cartofgraf as high-quality decals. To suit this same specific vehicle, Dragon has produced a brand new wooden case that sits on the right-hand fender. Far more effective than a towed anti-tank gun, this Marder II is a fine exponent of Dragon’s engineering expertise!