First to Fight – 106 – Sd.Kfz 138/1 “GRILLE” AUSF.H

Description:

Unassembled plastic model kit in 1/72 scale of a German WWII self propelled artillery Sd.Kfz 138/1 “GRILLE”, also known as 15 cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen 38(t), as you can suppose build by joining a Czech Panzer 38(t) tank chassis and a 15 cm sIG 33 infantry gun.

First to Fight produced before both the Pz 38(t) and the sIG 33 but molds need to be re-done to accommodate parts for a “GRILLE” AUSF.H and the only sprue you will find reused are the tracks from the Pz 38(t) and the lower chassis part. Part by Part, you will recognize many parts of the sIG 33 kit but the sprue is different which means a new mold.

Taking a more detailed look at the parts you can find a mix of detail and simplifications aimed for a quick built, which will delight beginners or wargarmers, but will not satisfy skilled and advanced modelers. The most noticeable are the single track parts with wheels, which are a pain to paint later but very quick to build. Other simplifications of the build process include molded pioneer parts on hull or a spare tracks segment molded in the lower front hull part, a common feature used by crews to increase protection in a very vulnerable area. In the other side, and bit surprisingly, the kit includes a quite decent amount of inner detail for the casemate, including some ammunition rounds and other stowage items for a total of six-seven parts to detail this area plus some detail tooled in the inner side of the casemate parts. In total around 45 parts compose the kit, exactly in the middle of a quick built and a detailed kit.

Instructions sheet is included in the pamphlet attached to the model, which also include bits of history of the WWII, about the model or the subject of the model and details also the paint schemes and decals position. Both the color scheme and decals position are not well detailed in particular and for one of the paint schemas you just get a side view. About the decals they doesn’t look a quality print, but we’ll see. The colors specification includes both Vallejo and HATAKA references.

The decals include three named Ausf.H Grille, “Feuer-Leufel” (Italy, probably 1943), “Wilde Sau” (Unknow) and “Höllen Zauber” (also Italy), and also include divisional symbols for the 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf, but as mentioned above only two color schemes are detailed in the pamphlet. curiously all these markings are also included in the 1/35 Grille Ausf.H Star Decals sheet, which maybe will give you some more insight about where to place them. Peddinghaus-Decals produces a couple of sheets for the topic, Peddinghaus-Decals 1:72 2535 Grille Sd. Kfz 138/1 markings and Peddinghaus-Decals 1/72 4251 Sd. Kfz 138/1 ” Grille ” Italy 1944 but on their web site there is no visual reference to place the decals. JOHN MILLER excellent built in 1/35 scale published at ModelPaintSolutions.com is one of the best inspirations you will find for the topic, The Dragon Models Sd.Kfz. 1381 Geschutzwagen 38 H fur s. JG.331.

The GRILLE AUSF.H has not been too well covered in 1/72 scale. To mention on injected plastic, you just will find and old Attack Hobby Kits model or the wrongly named UM – 345 – SdKfz.138/1 Bison, while other variants like the Ausf. M has more options to chose, including a nice Revell kit or UM or another Attack kit, who also produced the ammunitions carrier.

The Grille Ausf.H was the first variant of the Grille, built over the reliable Panzer 38(t) Ausf.H Chassis, following a common design seen many times on German WWII derived vehicles, the chassis and lower hull of the Panzer 38(t) receive a modified upper hull and an open superstructure where the gun (15cm  schweres Infanteriegeschütz 33) is housed in a frontal position. Around 200 units were produced during 1943, before the Grille Ausf.K (commonly referred as Ausf.M because was based in the Marder III Ausf M self propelled anti-tank gun, using a specifically redesigned Panzer 38 chassis) started production in December 1943.

An interesting reference of real pictures can be found at World War II photos and at Tank Archives.

In conclusion this is a nice model, suitable for beginners and intermediate modelers, advanced modelers will probably find more fun with the UM or Attack kits. Our only criticism is while having a 11 pages leaflet attached to the model, the color schemes and decals positions instructions are bit scarce.