Small Scale Military Headquarters

Any comments on 21st Century's Marder III---is the 1/32 version significantly better than the 1/48?

Most definitely the larger is better. The larger size enables the hatches to open, more movement with the main gun (traverse & elevation) and better detail in the fighting compartment. The 32x Marder III M is one of the most detailed pieces 21c made in that scale with the gun mechanisms, seats, radio equipment, and the stowed 75mm shells. The 1:48 version details those parts, but on account of the scale difference, the detail is less apparent.

TMANTHE GREAT:

Thanks for the info.
I never realized 21st made a 1/48 Marder until yesterday.
Among the 1/32 Marders, is one better in detail or more sought-after than the other?

Dragon, on the 32x Marders, it's hard to say which is more sought after. They can still be found for cheap, unlike some of the other 32x tanks... The early Marder III version came in two similar schemes (both more or less a molted gray over field yellow) with the S2 variant, "Hilda" likely being the rarer version. The Marder IIIM came in two versions as well with the first (hull #102) being more common than the second (hull #321, green on tan cammo). My personal favorite is the S1 Marder IIIM which has the same ID number and similar cammo to the Marder III that appeared in the film "Saving Private Ryan".

TMANTHEGREAT:

Thanks for the info. The S2 "Hildegarde" isn't in the SSHQ 1/32 photo database. I had never heard of it until a few days ago. I'll look around for the "102".

Is Marder #102 a real Marder?
If so, does anyone know any history about it (i.e. battles, etc.)?

I did a little bit of a google search and the 32x Marder III M may represent one that was in the 12th SS Panzer Division “Hitlerjungend” in the Normandy theater in June 1944. The camouflage is more-or-less correct for the Normandy theater, but the little bash on the side of the vehicle doesn’t quite look like the 12th SS Panzer’s unit insignia. I could be wrong about this (one can’t trust everything they find on the internet) but it’s the best I’ve got.

There was also a Marder IIIM replica in the film “Saving Private Ryan” with markings that closely resemble the 32x model, including the #102 on the side

TMANTHEGREAT:

Thanks for the info. I also noticed the 12th SS logo, although the model's version seems to a bit off. I was hoping it might be in the Utah Beach sector, but the 12th SS was in the British/Canadian sector after D-Day.