Reference number: L3526
Review by: Bill Curtis (April 2011)
Our thanks to The Airbrush Company for supplying the review sample – get this great kit here now at: www.airbrushes.com.
Initial Assessment
Great Wall Hobbies have now covered both versions of this particular Pak, as this one is the same barrel mounted on the Krupp carriage which is similar to the 88mm cruciform but strengthened. The main difference is that these particular guns raised the wheels, thus getting the weapon into action and removing it when the time came much faster than earlier guns. Being as this is a large weapon, the carriage is low to the ground with a more streamlined shield than the Rheinmetal version and had this gone into full production would have been a nasty surprise to allied tankers even at extreme ranges.
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On opening the box it seems a little empty, but fear not there are lots of parts on the six sprues, two pieces of brass tube and a small fret of brass parts. There is also an instruction booklet and a colour guide.
Accuracy
I have no scale plans of this weapon but from comparison of photographs it looks to be pretty on the mark.
Quality
This is another kit from Great Wall Hobby which is up to their high standard of moulding with very good detail. The kit contains a small etch fret and two pieces of brass tube and an interesting point is that it looks like the gun can be made to switch between towed and firing modes, though this will become more clear when the build is done.
Instructions
The instructions come in an A4 sized booklet of eleven pages of crisp exploded drawings which are clear and easy to follow. Page 1 gives a drawing of the gun as well as a parts breakdown of the various sprues. There is a colour guide for painting which comes as a separate sheet and is for a single PAK 44 in Dark Yellow with ref numbers for Hobby Colour, Tamiya and Vallejo.
Decals
There are no decals included in the kit.
Conclusions
Another very good kit of an unusual subject has been dealt with in Great Wall’s typical style of excellence.
I think one will need to study the booklet to familiarise oneself with the parts layout and the construction sequence but once this is done and time taken to assemble the multitude of parts a stunning model will be ready for painting.
All you will need to do is break it down to sub-assemblies and paint and weather to end up with a rare gun that can take pride of place in your collection.
Highly recommended.
Bill C.
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