7,5cm PaK 97/38 w/ Crew ~ Premium Edition

Plastic model kit of a 7.5cm Pak 97/38

- Includes 5 figures
- Includes an additional Gen2 weapon/equipment set

1:35 scale

Unassembled and unpainted

Despite the enormous output of the German armaments industry, the demand for weapons throughout World War II was virtually insatiable. One solution was to utilize captured weaponry—precisely what the Wehrmacht did with the French "Canon de 75 modèle 1897" field gun. Hundreds of these Schneider-manufactured guns fell into Wehrmacht hands during the campaigns in Poland and France (1939–1940) and were adopted for German service as howitzers.

However, the appearance of heavily armored Soviet tanks in 1941 created an urgent need for anti-tank weapons. Until sufficient numbers of 7.5cm Pak 40 guns could be produced, an interim solution was adopted: the barrels of the French "Canon de 75 modèle 1897" were mounted onto the more modern carriage of the Pak 38. Fitted with a muzzle brake, the resulting weapon was designated the 7.5cm Pak 97/38. This hybrid weapon was suitable for anti-tank roles because it primarily fired shaped-charge (HEAT) rounds, the effectiveness of which did not depend on projectile velocity. More than 3,700 units of the Pak 97/38 were produced in 1942 and 1943, and it remained in service until the late stages of the war.

Dragon has released its own 1:35 scale version of this significant German anti-tank weapon. As a "Premium Edition" kit, this model offers numerous improvements over the previously released version of the gun. The gun itself features enhanced detailing, including a gun shield with scale-accurate thickness and movable trails. Another new addition is a full gun crew depicted in dynamic action poses. The set is rounded out by various accessories, such as realistic-looking aluminum shells and weapons and equipment from the "Gen2" series. This new kit is fully equipped to take on any type of enemy armor and serves as the perfect foundation for a diorama.