Hobby Master - 1/72 German Tank Destroyer Marder III

After some German units reported being close enough to Moscow they could see the Kremlin, the winter of 1941 – 1942 halted the German advance and the great Soviet winter offensive was able to push German forces back to the west where the Germans set up a defensive front in the area of Karmanowo. The 2nd Panzer Division fought many battles including at Klin, Karmanowo, Bjeloje and the Rzhev Salient where they suffered severe losses. The German forces managed to remain in the area throughout 1942 but they paid a heavy price.

Designed to meet a German need for an anti-tank weapon that was more powerful and more mobile than towed anti-tank guns like the Pak 36, the Marder III served from 1942 to 1945. This makeshift tank destroyer was based on obsolete German tanks and captured French vehicles, and was built on a Panzer 38(t) chassis. Armed with captured Soviet 76.2mm guns, early Marder IIIs had open tops and only weak armor on the front and sides. Later models employed 7.5cm PaK 40 anti-tank guns and provided marginally better protection for the crew, but by 1944 the Marder III was phased out of production in favor of fully armored vehicles.

Features:
- Scale 1:72
- Length: 2.5" Width: 1.25"
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Opening canopies, revealing detailed cockpit interiors.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear.
- Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Accurately detailed underside with concealed screwheads.