Entering Italian army service in 1942, the Semovente M42 self-propelled gun mounted a the 75mm Obice da 75/18 mountain gun in a casemate atop the chassis of an M15/42 medium tank.
Italeri updated its nearly 50-year-old Semovente M40 kit with new parts to produce the last version of the vehicle.
Features include a partial interior, posable hatches, optional parts for different versions, a small photo-etched metal (PE) fret, and markings for one Italian and three German M42s. Not all the parts are used for this version, and my review kit had an extra set of tracks. No clear parts are provided for the lights.
New parts include a multipart hull (in place of the M40’s tub), fenders, some of the interior equipment, and stowage.
I painted the interior parts flat white and the seats flat black before adding them to the hull. The transmission was painted silver and installed with the drive shaft.
Before adding the wheels and suspension, I painted them and the lower hull. The vinyl tracks can be joined with super glue; I painted them with flat earth and dry-brushed silver.
Engine deck parts finished the hull. The engine hatches can be posed open if you wish to install an aftermarket engine. The transmission hatches are also posable and there is detail to see under them. Phots show the transmission hatches partway open to keep the interior cool while running.
I built the main gun, then painted it with the camouflage pattern; the muzzle brake was painted metallic gray.
After assembling the multipart casemate, I installed the cannon and set the it aside until the fenders were on. The superstructure didn’t fit at the back because the rear plate was hitting two pressure tank molded on the firewall. Sanding the tops of the tanks improved the fit.
I left off the mufflers and painted the vehicle with Italian army camouflage.
The decals proved trouble-free. Paint the license plate white as the decal is clear with the numbers on it.
I spent 27 hours building Italeri’s Semovente M42 and it’s great to have a model of this version. Fit problems make it a kit for modelers with some experience.