In 1935, Peru bought 24 LTL tanks (Czech name for the Panzer 38(t) ) and used them in their border war with Ecuador, in 1941. Pleased with the results, in 1942 Peru decided to buy more tanks (surreptitiously) from the Germans.
Going through the Spanish embassy, Peru and Germany came to an agreement: Peru would buy 20 slightly used Panzer 38(t) Ausf E/F removed from the front lines. Delivery would be made through neutral Spain, but due to the worsening war situation for the Germans, only 10 tanks were delivered by 1943.
The Panzer 38(t) and LTP tanks once again proved their worth in the combined border war against Columbia and Ecuador in 1944-45.
This tank is based on the surprisingly nice (and cheap) Trumpeter 1/35 Pzkpfz 38t Ausf E/F kit. There were no Peruvian 38(t)s, so I based some of the features on the LTP tank.
The Trumpeter kit comes with a well detailed turret interior/gun but no tank interior. I had many parts left over from the Tasca Panzer 38(t) interior, so I used those parts to give a hint of an interior:
The floor is a PE mesh screen.
The figure is from Miniart, with a hat and binoculars from a DML figure kit. The mudflaps on the front are seen on the Peruvian LTP.
The rear rack is from the otherwise unbuildable MS-01/T-18 tank from Eastern Express. The fuel tank is from Tamiya and the four jerry cans are leftovers from the Tamiya Semovente M40. I didn't feel like detailing them, so I threw a "tarp" made of thin wrapping tissue over the whole thing. The rope is thin wool/silk sock yarn that my wife gave me for "model parts".
The bags on the side are from Tamiya. Surprisingly, the Miniart figure (from a British tanker set) has convincing South American features. I used the Brian "Buzzbomb" Thewlis method of figure painting, although I didn't get as good a result as he does.
Unlike most Bronco kits, this Trumpeter kit has excellent fit and logical assembly, reasonable and appropriate PE use, great detailing and not too many parts. The tracks are mostly individual links, but they didn't take long to assemble.
Thanks for looking!
