Reviews : Academy Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer Early Version

The Academy kit #13278 in 1/35th scale seems to be a good kit so far. Multiple sprues of soft yellowish orange polystyrene with a photo-etch for the muffler screen etc...and a string for the tow cable. The instruction booklet is folded multi page, but has a parts map of sprues. All sprues and parts are crisp and clean with minimal flash. The lower hull is a one piece injection molded part unlike the more expensive and overly complicated Hetzer offerings from Dagon or Trumpeter. I also love the link and length tracks. So far progress is going smoothly with no snags. Just pay careful attention to the order of placement and parts number for the suspension, sprockets and road wheels.

This is one of 3 Hetzer variants released by Academy depicting the early version of this vehicle. The level of detail on the molds is average and the piece count is low. The model includes link and length tracks which provide a good level detail without the painstaking time spent on assembling link by link tracks. The model also has 2 photo etch frets for the exhaust covers and also comes with 2 figures. I did not encounter any issues with the build, everything fit together well and the instructions are clear and easy to follow. I enjoyed putting this model together and I recommend it to modelers of all skill levels.

I have built over 60 WW 2 tanks and planes over the past 5 years with great results. Most kits were Tamiya. Parts and instructions were great. This is the first and last time I will buy a kit from Academy. Instructions are terrible. Parts are cast well but are problematic. For example, the tracks on the Hetzer are very small as this a tiny tank. The tracks require individual assembly and are impossible to glue together. Very frustrating! Never had a kit so poorly designed. Avoid Academy kits. Wasted my money. RB

Comes with no interior, but nicely molded with crisp panel lines. Like many other Academy models, inexpensive, and good for donor vehicles. Built one as a Hetzer, then another as a Bergahetzer, without roof and used a CMK interior kit, without gun parts. Turned out nicely.

This kit by Academy is a very nice kit, goes together well with no flash, and is highly detailed on the exterior. There is no interior detail, however it does come with two crew figures. Over all a nice kit which I recommend to modelers of any age.