Awesome review. The Takom hetzer is a tremendous value for the money. Level of detail of the parts is superb. I've purchased the early and mid variants. A huge bonus that interior components is included as is a metal barrel. I absolutely enjoy full interior builds. Takes the model to a different level. It's great kits are now including interiors. Year's ago for many kits, if one wanted to build the interior, expensive resin aftermarket components were the option. Such as what CMK produced. The only thing that I plan on doing with my build is using Fruil metal track links.
Hey Rick - thanks so much for joining in. Glad you are enjoying the kits so much! They are very good value for money aren't they! Good luck with you build.🍀
What a stunning and clear description of the kit. It looks like a challenge to build - I heard that a Blitz version is in the pipes, so probably I'll go for that. Looking forward to your build....it may just change my mind......cheers
Hey Matt - Glad you enjoyed it! You dont have to wait too long... this is an old video and the model has been completed! Check it out - ru-vid.com/group/PLP-tkoRa2K7Km7ccEuyCy8LJDpGj_zHnZ ALSO... Takom have released a line of these kits without the interior if you were looking for something a little more cost effective and a little easier to build. Appreciate you joining in the chat! thanks again :)
Hi Clayton, I am just starting to watch this review but wanted in the meantime to say thanks for all your input on The Modelling News over the years. It's a great resource that doesn't seem to have much scope for us to reply to it yet is always putting out news and great painting articles. I think it was your work on the Takom Panzer I a couple years back that got me started in this hobby. Cheers
You have no idea how happy that makes me. Thank you. 🙏 You have made my night! Love that screen name too by the way! I need you to ask me a modelling question so I can include it in my next ‘ask me questions video’ 😂😂 Thank you for your support. Truly appreciated
Hey Joe. Generally speaking their kits are very good. They can get a little tricky in parts but a little patience sees them build up beautifully. Thanks for connecting 🙏🍀
Inspiring overview! Looks like a smashing kit. I’m not really into armour, but sometime down the line I would like to build a full-interior model. That should be a lot of fun
This is great, I have also built up the 1/48 offering from Tamiya. I wish Takom did this as a 3-1 option so that we could make our decision on what parts/camo/etc to use "on the fly" - perhaps even being inspired by the kit and the parts themselves during the build process to make our decision as opposed to having to make that decision prior to purchasing (assuming one was only going to buy a single offering). Great review of course! Thank you. One day I suppose I will have to look at all the different things that separate these variants (or the different factories they were produced in) to figure out which of these three kits I'll add to the wish list. If you have that knowledge (and the time!) I'd love to see a video less on the "accuracy" or real history of the vehicle and more of a hobbyist's side-by-side "buyers guide" highlighting the breakdown of unique parts. The rear idler wheel is easy enough to spot on the different box arts- but the toolbox and exhaust for example, not so much. Take care.
Hello again my friend 😀 Yeah, agreed all versions in the one boxing would be so good, but I guess they are trying to sell as many kits as they can..hence the 3 boxings. 🤷🏻 Maybe down the track they’ll do a boxing like you suggest without the interior. That would be epic!
I just seen your page here on U tube. Like your detailed review. I too prefer 1/35 armor but i do aircraft, ships, and cars. Subscribed to you look forward in your adventure in modeling. Nick
Hi Clayton, thanks for nice review, cannot wait to see how you build this one. I am a bit sorry that Takom does not give much choices between different idlers, especially for late version...if you dig a bit into pictures, there is a lot of variations showing late hetzers with all the versions of idler wheels... 😵💫 but kit in general looks really great 👍
Hello! and thanks for your comment. The more I dig into the finer points of the Hetzer the more I am finding a few issues with the finer 'details'. As a model kit its beautiful...its going to come down to how accurate people want to go with these things. But yes... options with the idlers would have been a welcomed addition
Regarding the radios: Takom made some major mistakes here. 1. As "danreeed" already mentioned, the radios in the side sponson should not be present at all - only a Command vehicle would have that second radio set. But the kit doesn't have the necessary "star" antenna and its large base housing, so you can't build a Command version. 2. Suppose you decide to keep the radio and build a Command Hetzer, so you make appropriate decals and you build the antenna parts somehow? Then you will find that the radio you want to keep is faulty. Takom give you the UHF receiver of the Fu 8 (see 4:10) alongside the VHF transmitter from the Fu 7 (see 4:17). This is a nonsensical combination. I can't understand how Takom would make such a rookie mistake, because panzer radios are a hobby, and it's easy to find photos of these sets and hobbyists to answer questions.
Thanks for your input, and yeah, I’m getting a lot of info through on this issue! Quite an oversight huh! I’ll address it in the next video for sure. Thanks for your input
Great review Clayton. The Hetzer is a great subject for sure, but I would have deserted my post if I had to serve in one. I agree that building the interior of this kit would be interesting (may be above my skill level), but I really don’t see much point if you can’t display it. I see so many modellers build up a beautifully built and painted interior for their subject, only to cover it up so that nothing is seen when viewing the finished model, unless the subject has a large surface area fitted with a clear part. However in saying that, I really love the Takom kits, and I would probably spend the money on this kit and just not build the interior. Looking forward to your build videos for this one. Cheers for now mate!
Thanks Gary. Obviously I don’t know your skill level, but from the early stages of my experience I can’t imagine the construction would cause too many issue for most modellers. The challenge with the interior is the painting…so hopefully my upcoming build video will give you some ideas around executing that. Appreciate your support and would encourage you to give this a try if you are in the least bit interested by the subject
Wow! there are clearly visible layers on macro shot of a seat. Looks like master model was 3d printed. And current injection molding technology could show it
Yep. Good pick up. Interestingly as I’m painting it I’ve noticed the lines through the frontal armour plate. Very hard to detect under paint, but there none the less. Thanks for your comments 👌🏼💥
In order to keep the cost of parts down, a lot of common parts were used for all three types Hetzer, which resulted in a lot of mistakes, such as the side skirts😂
If Takom bring them out in their Blitz series without interior I would be keen, but I can't see the point in an interior tank, you won't see it unless you leave the upper hull off. But that's a personal thing I know.
I think it’s going to come down to the price point. The whole ‘blitz’ branding never made sense to me…the goodies and level of skill required to build the ‘blitz’ Stuh42 was any thing but ‘simplified’ That kit was amazing. If the retail price on this kit is reasonable then I’d suggest it may be worth just overlooking the interior. It’s just a beautiful model…let’s just hope it goes together well now 😁 Appreciate your comments 🙏
@@workbenchhobbies4316 I guess I would feel like I'd be cheating myself by not doing the interior if it is included in the kit, if that makes sense. I'm more of an aircraft modeller than armour though. But I am leaning towards doing more armour, maybe because of the different challenge/style, but also I think armour has a lot more new kits released than aircraft as well, or so it seems.
Great review. The way you present things really works for me style wise and I like the text summaries of the pros and cons as I think it helps with the different ways people take in formation and remind people of the key points. Must watch Ted again. 😂
You make a great point. People learn and retain information in different ways, so I’m glad you highlighted that. Justifies me investing the time including them 👌🏼
Yeah, the schurzen would have been nice in PE…but I’ll reserve judgement until after it’s painted and weathered. It looks ok at this stage. I know the aftermarket companies are all over this kit, so I’m sure they are available if you wanted to change. You could also do it in styrene sheet for a challenge. 🍀
Another small problem with the kit is that it gives the command radios, but no command radios antenna base and antenna. I'm not sure what goes in the radios place and if it carries a generator.
I think I’ll just be putting them in. Fact of the matter is they will be very difficult to see once the model is built. But thank you again for your input
@jamesmackenzie3262 To suggest I am trying to cover something up because I got a free kit is absurd and completely misguided...but thanks for your input anyway.
This little vehicle did not have a generator in its Command version (so it was prone to running down its batteries while using the 30 watt radio). You're correct to say that the "star" antenna, and its rather large base support, should be present on the outside if the radios themselves are on the inside. This is a large error - and it's not the first time Takom have got confused between normal Panzer and Command Panzer. In fact it seems to be a "blind spot" for Takom. When the Fu 8 radio is not present, i.e. in a standard Hetzer, I believe some equipment boxes are stored in its place in the left overhang. There are permanent trays for them. But I'm still researching this, I'm no big Hetzer expert.
I review all types of kits and subjects. I can't know, and have never proclaimed to know every detail about the subjects I review. If you have taken the time to watch my other videos / reviews you will clearly see I call out issues regardless of the manufacturer or whether the kit was supplied for review or not. I can only comment on what I am looking at in terms of a model / moulding to the extent of my knowledge at that time. Would I have called it out had I have known? Of course I would have! Like I said in the video, these interior kits are an opportunity to learn, and clearly that has taken place - so as far as I am concerned that is a personal win. I was a little disappointed by your comment because it was essentially questioning my integrity. Anyway, time to get this build moving! - Thanks for your comments.
Hi. Whilst this is the small booklet style each of the steps is presented pretty large on the pages. I don’t think it suffers in this case. Bigger prints for the schemes would have been nice though. Appreciate your comments.
Hi Robert. Does a small vignette count? 😎 EASY steps to create SIMPLE display BASES for your models - Suitable for every scale modeller. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jxqW-HWP6FA.html
