The 5cm PaK 38 anti-tank gun was developed by Rheinmetall-Borsig AG in 1938 as the successor to the 37mm PaK 36. Entering service in December 1940, one of its first duties was to attack Soviet tanks when Operation Barbarossa kicked off in June 1941. Indeed, at that time the 5cm L/60 gun of the PaK 38 was one of the few weapons able to defeat the 45mm-thick sloped armor of the Soviet Union’s formidable T-34 tank. The development of a Panzergranate 40 projectile with a tungsten core further enhanced its anti-tank properties. Weighing 830kg, the gun had a height of just 1.05m. A well-trained crew of five could achieve a rate of fire of 13 rounds per minute.Based on Dragon’s original release of this weapon system, the Premium Edition model has received a comprehensive upgrade to make it more appealing than ever. One of the major modifications is the inclusion of the third wheel that was hitched to the split-trail spades to allow easier manhandling. This newly tooled wheel is designed to widen modelers’ diorama horizons, as it permits the gun to be displayed in either a travel or combat mode. In addition, this Premium Edition kit also has a set of four crewmen with brand new arms and hands to operate the gun and hold scale ammo rounds. The crew also benefits from upgraded Gen2 weapons and equipment. This is a versatile and accurately rendered kit of an important anti-tank gun that served right through to the end of World War II, and it offers modelers endless possibilities.