38.M Toldi I

Testbericht des 1:76 Modells von Cromwell Models

Ungarischer leichter Panzer 38.M Toldi I.

The Swedish Landsverk L-60.B light tank, a licensed copy of the Skoda LT vz. 38, produced under license in Hungary, und designated 38.M Toldi light tank in Hungarian service.

Of the axis forces fighting alongside the Wehrmacht on the Easter Front, Hungary deployed the largest armoured contingent. Hungarian armoured vehicles were no match for Soviet tanks encountered during the campaign, und they sustained heavy losses during the assault on the Donets River line. Toldi light tanks remained in service until 1944, when they were gradually replaced by the new Turan tanks.

The model has been painted to represent a Fahrzeug of the Hungarian 11th Armoured Reconnaissance Bataillon, Donets Front, summer 1941. The author added two scratchbuilt parts to the vehicle, a mounting bracket for the turret flak machine gun, und the handrail on the hull front. Visible on the turret side, und on the hull front is the early style Hungarian national cross, not unlike the Wehrmacht Balkenkreuz, it was later replaced by a white cross on black square.

Inhalt

  • 38.M Toldi I
  • Typ: Leichter Panzer
  • Bewaffnung: 37 mm L/37 Bofors
    8 mm Danuvia (Brno) MG
  • Besatzung: 3 Mann

Bewertung

Easy to assemble, only 8 parts.

Nicely detailed, good casting quality.

Gute Themenwahl. The Toldi saw long service on the Eastern Front, 1941–44.

Some resin parts may be slightly warped. The problem can be corrected by placing the parts in hot water, und straightening them carefully. Cold water will set the parts again, maintaining the new alignment.

Tiny air holes need to be filled with putty or with an extra coat of paint.

Assembly, und painting instruction are not included. Modellers will have to refer to other literature to get information on camouflage schemes und Fahrzeug markings. Without reference to a photo of the vehicle, it may be impossible to determine if the co-axial machine gun should be mounted to the left or to the right of the main armament. Some small parts may be difficult to identify, and it may not be apparent how they should be attached.

Nass-Abziehbilder are not included. Most military vehicles carry national, tactical, even personal markings, und these should be included in a model kit. Decals are particularly important when the Fahrzeug markings are too elaborate to be painted by hand. Decals are not difficult to produce. Clear decal sheet is readily available on the market, und manufacturers have access to computers, scanners, und colour printers, enabling them to perfectly reproduce markings in the required scale. Without proper markings und painting instructions, resin kits cannot possibly attract a large modelling audience.

Crew Figuren are not included. Open hatches und exposed Fahrzeug crew add significant value to a model kit, at very little additional investment. This is particularly the case with armoured Fahrzeug crew figures, which only need to be modelled from the chest up.

Historische Verwendung

  • Invasion of Yugoslavia, Spring 1941
  • Invasion of the Soviet Union, Summer 1941
    • 9th Armd Recon Bataillon, 1st Motorized Brigade (20 Toldi tanks)
    • 11th Armd Recon Bataillon, 2nd Motorized Brigade (20 Toldi tanks)
    • 3rd Armd Recon Bataillon, 2nd Cavalry Brigade (20 Toldi tanks)

Interessante Umbauten

  • Toldi II
  • Toldi IIa
  • Toldi III
  • Swedish Landswerk L-60.D Stridsvagn m/39

Hungarian camouflage patterns are very similar in appearance to those used by the French army in 1940, with patches of dark olive green, light ochre, und red brown paint. Up to 1942, the patterns were applied by brush, with resulting hard edges, but spray equipment was used thereafter. Between the years 1941 und 1943 the national insignia was a green Balkenkreuz with white border, on a red octagon. In 1944 this was replaced by a white cross on a black square, similar to the Hungarian air force insignia.

Patrick Storto

Die Ungarische Armee im Zweiten Weltkrieg, 1941–1945