HaT 1/72, "German PaK 36"
Manufacturer: HaT
Scale: 1/72
Set Code: 8149
Year: 2008
No. of Figures: 16
No. of Poses: 4
Additional Items: 4 PaK35/36Guns and 4 Stielgranate 41
Aspect: Small
Material: Soft Plastic
Colour: Green
Flash Level: Intermediate
Glue-ability: Good (Super Glue Gel)
Convert-ability: Difficult
Optimal Period: 1941-1945
Addressed in principal to wargamers, HaT's PaK35/36 is extremely easy to be put together, being composed by only eight parts to whose muzzle may be glued or not the Stielgranate 41. Superglue will work fine on this green rubberized soft plastic common to all guns of the series as well as to bicycle and mounted sets released by the same company. The necessary parts of the gun come on the same sprue with the figures, each set incorporating four similar spures. The front artwork shows the gun and on the back the customer will find not only the assembly instruction guide, but also drawings of the four poses encountered inside.
While all the rest of crews of HaT's series proposing WWII German guns are dressed in the same way, the present set distinguishes through featuring more diversity in terms of cloths. Here we get a crew suitable for Afrika Korps, the best clue in this regard representing the short pants worn by two gunners. Based on the attire, the crew might be divided in two groups formed by a couple of figures, one dressed in tropical field blouses and regular trousers and the other group wearing shirts, short pants and specific socks. All of them have their heads covered by tropical caps and shoe ankle boots. Likewise, another difference registered between this crew and the rest consists in the complete lack of equipment, ammunition pouches or pistol holster for gun commander, except two belts worn by the soldiers in shirts, no WWII German gear is seen. Due to similarities between M36 tunics and tropical field blouses issued for DAK, the two crewmen dressed in this way should be used without hesitation on any front, of course starting from 1943 according to their tropical caps that can pass really easy as M43 caps. Not the same situation records for the other two gunners with short pants, if these are not put to work at a bridge in water or something like that, then they cannot be deployed on other front than Africa except converting the short pants into regular trousers. Either those wearing shirts or tunics are appropriate for being used not only by gunners, but also as maintenance soldiers.
Exactly like the rest of HaT's 1/72 German guns crews, this one interacts with the weapon quite nasty and the projectile held by a soldier looks huge for the 3.7 cm calibre of PaK35/36, almost no difference being made between this projectile and the other delivered for a PaK40 or for 7.62cm PaK 36(r). All figures are crouched and taking into account the lack of pistol holster or binoculars, the role of gun commander might be played at least by two figures, either the soldier in shirt pointing to something with the right hand or the one with M36 tunic holding nothing being appropriate for such a task.
Uniforms appear as a little better done thanks to noticeable buttons and shoulder boards, but still not eye-catching at all. However, the rolled sleeves of the soldiers in shirts enhance the poor anatomy, with arms as thick as legs. The ugly faces are highlighted by the caps, the helmets doing a superior job in hiding undesired things. Furthermore, the flatness of figures is even increased here due to the stances decided by the sculptor to depict the troopers. Enclosed in the small part of 1/72 scale, they fit well with their mates from the other HaT sets with guns as well as with Armourfast's Mortar and MG teams, Pegasus Hobbies Waffen SS Set 2 or MAC Distribution's PaK 36 and PaK38 sets. The lack of excess of plastic is welcome, but flash, although low, will give headaches to someone who decides to remove it. This soft plastic is predisposed to produce fluffs that need eradication over and over again. In addition, paint will take a longer time to dry, but is satisfactory accepted by the material while superglue is greatly welcome. The figures are based and without them some of will keep the balance. If a modeller wishes to upgrade this crew, then he should consider Preiser or Dragon weapons and gear, superglue gel making a good bond between these parts and the bodies.
Perhaps within HaT's Pak36 box we get some of the most unattractive figures of the series, but also an interesting item, the Stielgranate 41, that with some modifications and thinning manoeuvres might be useful for diorama builders in connection with a PaK35/36 produced by other manufacturers. Of course, who wants getting and assembling four PaK35/36 in few minutes, and does not care too much about size or details, will find in the just reviewed set his choice.
Historical Accuracy: 7
Anatomy: 5
Poses Quality: 6
Details Quality: 6
Mould Quality: 7
Sculpture: 6
Recommendation/Utility: 7
TOTAL: 6
E-mail to Henk Timmerman / HenkofHolland