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Armor Kit Reviews from 2002 |
December 7, 2002
Kit Review: DML 1/35 Scale 39-45 Series No. 6165; Sd.Kfz. 164 Hornisse
(Nashorn, Early Variant) 10th Anniversary Special Edition Kit;
551 parts (549 parts in light grey styrene, 2 88mm rounds from turned brass).
Price not given but most likely $33-39.
Advantages: Retooled kit fixes most of the problems of the 9-year-old kit; very
nice and very petite details; parts line up!
Disadvantages: Kit must overcome the reputation of its forbearer.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all German and SP AT gun fans.
F I R S T L O O K
When we started the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society back in July 1993,
we were all new to the game of in-depth reviews and presenting them in a useful
format for modelers. Many of us who were the founders and "old hands"
pitched in to get the ball rolling by contributing reviews of new kits or
other kits that had been around a while and not covered. Just before we went to
press with the first issue of the BORESIGHT I did a review of the DML Nashorn
kit (39-45 Series No. 6001, the first one in this series) back in late 1992
and totally missed the mark. Since I do not build German subjects by choice, I
simply looked in the box at all the parts and gave it a good review.
Needless to say, those modelers who DO build German armor were quick to take me
to task for not putting the kit together, as I would have found out it was
awful. Parts did not fit or line up, it was nearly impossible to get the tracks
on, the fenders were too short for the hull, the gun sat too high, and many of
the details were totally wrong. DML was likewise caught off guard by the bad
review (in that period they did find that one of their draughtsmen was not
doing a good job and summarily fired him, replacing him with better researchers
and competent draughtsmen.) When they released their Hummel kit (No. 6004) they
corrected many of the hull problems with the Nashorn kit, but it was still
considered to be a bear to assemble correctly and get all the parts to fit
right.
Ten years on, DML has completely retooled the original kit, replacing much of
it with new or vastly corrected parts and details. They also have produced
enough kits to "mix-and-match" sprues to provide later, more accurate
parts. The two single-link track sprues are for the Pzkw. III/Pzkw. IV kits
released over the years, and the main running gear comes from the Jagdpanzer IV
kit. Two sprues of correct Gw. III/IV hull drive wheels and idlers complete the
running gear.
The lower hull is still one piece, but whereas before the upper hull was a
single molding this kit comes with FIVE parts fenders, glacis, center mount
for the gun, and rear lower hull floor. Other details are similarly changed
from the original kit, and the parts are also finer in detail and size. Even
the external U-shaped tie-downs are included in nearly scale thickness styrene.
The two brass 8.8 cm rounds are a bonus, and very nicely done.
There remain some dicey bits to assembly, most notably the tracks and the
fenders. The tracks are a very tight fit under the front fenders, and this is
one of those models where you will have to assemble the lower hull completely
prior to working on the upper hull. It is not very easy to get the tracks
installed once the fenders are in place, as they fit closely and do not leave
any room to slide the upper track run into place. Even the use of a set of
Fruilmodel tracks will be a gamble due to the close fit.
Markings are included for two vehicles, one from sch. Heerespanzerjaeger
Abteilung 525 and one from Abteilung 560. Both are in the multicolor camouflage
schemes popular with modelers, and the full color instruction sheet shows them
to good advantage.
Overall, this is not your "father's" Nashorn and is a much better and
better thought out kit than the first one 164 WWII kits ago.
Thanks once again to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
AMPS
Kit Review: DML 1/35 Scale 39-45 Series No. 6156;
Panzer Riders (Lorraine 1944) 10th Anniversary Special Edition.
128 parts in grey styrene.
Price estimated at $8-10.
Advantages: Same old DML high quality figures now have a new generic
sprue with four extra heads; new artwork and box style.
Disadvantages: Some parts may be too heavy or thick for many modelers (see
text).
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all WWII German fans.
F I R S T L O O K
Dragon Models Limited DML to those of us in the US is now celebrating its
10th anniversary of its "39-45 Series" by releasing some new kits
and retooling 12 of its early efforts for re-release. This is one of the new
kits, and it is a quantum change from the regular figure set.
First off, it is now offered in a normal lid-and-tray box rather than the
normal wraparound one-piece effort. The box comes with four sprues inside it
plus color painting and assembly instructions and a very nice page to the
special DML commemorative calendar with artwork by Ron Volstad.
The figures themselves are of the now industry leading standard DML type six
parts each consisting of arms, legs, torso and head and all of their
accouterments. New in this kit is a new "generic" sprue of 55 parts
with four extra heads, extra helmets and weapons. The latter are now molded
with slings and carrying straps as part of the weapon; these are a bit on the
thick side, but should be able to be thinned down to acceptable thickness by
most modelers. Very small accessory parts are also included, such as open
lapels and items like push-to-light German torches (flashlights).
The figures themselves are very casually posed and while they can be used in a
ground or diorama setting are specifically designed and shown as riding on the
back of a Panther. They look the part and match many of the recently published
photos of German panzergrenadiers during the Normandy and other summer 1944
campaigns.
Overall, this is another great set from DML and should go well with the new
Panther Ausf. A (Late) kit from DML, the one many modelers have been waiting
for. (Personally I wish they were Americans, British, or Russian, but I only
build them, not have to sell them!)
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review set.
AMPS
November 24, 2002
Kit Review: Italeri 1/35 Scale Kit No. 6392; DUKW Amphibious Truck; 139 parts
(133 in olive drab styrene, 6 in clear styrene);
Price $25-35 depending on source.
Advantages: First styrene kit of this vehicle in this scale; answers
many modelers' "Top Ten" requests; cleanly done and relatively accurate.
Disadvantages: "Base Model" has no accessories or optional fittings;
some simplification to achieve a kittable model.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: To all US and Allied softskin vehicle modelers, as
well as automotive modelers wanting something completely different.
F I R S T L O O K
There is a basic disconnect between modelers and model companies;
what the modelers may want does not necessarily seem to be saleable by the
companies, and thus they will not spend the time and effort and especially
money in bringing a long-desired subject into reality. In some cases, as
with the clearly popular T-55 and Centurion, the reasons for this reluctance
seem to be rather obscure, as these will be long time sellers and good for
years to come. With other vehicles, such as strange German "paper" vehicles
that never saw the light of day, they are seen as a good idea due to the
popularity of German subjects. The reality of the middle position is often
seen on websites and in magazines where modelers complain about the lack
of the former, and model companies and hobby shops wind up dumping the latter
at a loss.
One vehicle which has been on many of the "Top Ten Wants" lists
for years is a 1/35 scale model of the GMC DUKW amphibious cargo truck from
WWII. None of the major companies thought it would be a big seller, and thus
for years it was ignored as a "loser" effort by their design and marketing
departments. Now, after six years of rumors that Tamiya would do one to follow
on the heels of their excellent CCKW truck kit, Italeri has released a kit
of this "want" to see how the demand will really react.
First off, let me start by saying that Italeri takes a lot of abuse
by the "knowing few" in that many of their kits are simplified and not as
detailed as those from other companies. In some cases, such as the AM General
M939 line of medium US cargo trucks, I have to agree, as they could easily
have done a better job of it without glaring errors like a wooden cargo floor
and "half" tanks on the underside details. On the other hand, Italeri also
appears to be the only company right now reading the "Top Ten Wants" lists
and trying to answer the mail. Hence, they have come out with kits like the
M109A6 Paladin, SWS German halftracks, the LVT-4 and LVT(A)-1, and now the
DUKW. Nobody else has bothered, so even if the kits are not up to the standards
of the "knowing few," they got us as modelers someplace where we were not
before.
But the kits themselves need to be evaluated on their own merits,
not the standards of the "knowing few." The kit that Italeri has produced
is a clean, neat model of the DUKW and captures the look of the prototypes
very nicely. The moldings are clean, and in my example not marred by sinkholes,
which was always a minor problem with many past Italeri kits. This is a relatively
big model, but there was no warpage in any of the four main hull sections
top, bottom and sides. Details such as rivets and weld beads are understated,
which is better in a model than the usual ham-handed approach taken in years
past by most companies.
The details match up with the later production versions of the
DUKW with the "swept back" windshield and side windows which appear to have
been standardized in most vehicles built after 1943. The original vehicle
used a standard CCKW type windshield which was bolted upright. The unidirectional
"mud" pattern wheels and tires are not bad, but the wheels are standard two-piece
affairs which leaves them with "squared" shoulders rather than the more common
rounded profile as offered in the Tamiya CCKW kit. Curiously, the kit shows
the wave breaker (part 52A) in the erected position, whereas most shots of
this version of the DUKW show it with the wave breaker not used or folded
down when in the water. Italeri also provides more controls and interior
bits than they have with some past kits.
On the negative side, there are some things which appear to have
been glossed over. The grating for engine ventilation behind the crew compartment
(part 15A) is somewhat coarse, but then again, it is down on the floor of
a bulkheaded compartment and not that visible. The cargo bed plates on the
original appear to be (at least from the ones I have seen, so there may be
other versions) made from plywood; while the kit does not attempt to show
wood grain, all things considered this may not be a negative feature. I have
found that for the most part it's better to replicated plywood in 1/35 scale
with a flatter coat of paint than any of the surrounding "steel" elements
and drybrushing with a tannish shade to make it look like wood with the paint
wearing off.
The one truly disappointing thing with the kit is that what you
get is similar to the Tamiya CCKW kit the "FOB Detroit" version without
a single optional part to use on it. In the case of the DUKW, this is not
a good idea. Most prominent of the missing parts are the four wheel well
skirts which were common on the later production models. Even the early models
soon show the use of at least the front skirts on the vehicle. While they
can be made up from sheet and strip styrene, it would have been better if
at a minimum Italeri had included them with the kit.
Also missing is any option to install a ring mount for a .50 caliber
AA machine gun. While photographs show that not many DUKWs actually carried
them, the kit gives the modeler no choice in the matter. The mount bases
are provided in the kit, so that if the modeler purchases the Tamiya CCKW
add-on kit with the ring mount and gun he can install them on this kit with
little trouble.
Lastly items missing include top bows (seen far more often than
the canvas top, as the DUKW was used most extensively as a ship-to-shore
delivery service with cargo being craned or netted into its cargo bay) and
a canvas top. Considering the relatively unsuccessful ability of most manufacturers
to produce a realistic canvas tarp in styrene, this is not in and of itself
an error. No figures are included, nor is any cargo provided to fill the
cargo bay. This almost immediately calls for the recommendation to modelers
to pick up the Tamiya CCKW accessory kits #35229, U.S. Vehicle Accessories,
a set of various jerry cans, boxes, tarps, crates and barrels plus folding
buckets to fill up the cargo bay, and #35231, US Cargo and Accessories for
2 ½ Ton Trucks, with the M49 series hip ring and .50 caliber M2HB. That adds
$17 to the price of the kit, however. Used with the DUKW, both will go a
long way at making a much better ETO DUKW. (German jerry cans obviously don't
work for the Pacific!)
Decals are provided for three rather generic vehicles which is
a shame as there are a good number of clear photos of some much better schemes
and more colorful markings. (My personal favorite is one named "Beaufighter"
from the Operation DRAGOON landings in August 1944.) Also, so many of these
vehicles remain in use today on the part of tourism in many cities and attractions,
and a post-war one in use by a city fire department or tourism bureau would
make for some amazing finishes.
This kit has been much wanted and I personally give Italeri my
compliments for having the courage to produce it. Many wholesalers have stated
that they doubt the kit will sell (so far comments from Europe tend to disagree,
as it tends to sell out quickly in shops) so we can hope that they are wrong.
But while most reviews on this kit are similar to this one, only surprised
about the lack of optional parts, I have seen one review which boggles the
mind.
I spent six years as a "first line supervisor" of US Army tactical
vehicles. That means you are the guy responsible for making sure that the
vehicles are complete and stay running. To that end, there are a number of
forms that must be filled out most common are the DA2404, or "gig sheet"
which lists what is wrong or missing with the specific vehicle by serial
number, the DA2406 or "deadline report" that covers which ones are not mission
capable, and the DA2407, or parts order for missing components. The review,
posted on the internet, goes on for about four pages of missing/poorly done
elements on this kit, and is more mincing and picayune than any DA2404 I
ever saw turned in during 21 years in the US Army.
I don't know what the reviewer was trying to accomplish a listing
of the "massive" flaws in the kit, a helpful guide to adding details, or
merely trying to inflate his own ego at being "smarter" than poor Italeri.
While he cited a number of references most of which I also have and consulted
this sort of review is curious, as it does not help anyone. Most modelers,
encountering a review of this nature, would tend to think the model is a
piece of junk; far from it, what is provided is neatly done and relatively
accurate. A company, seeing this sort of neo-screed, would probably be insulted
(especially if sales go south) and not be inclined to produce any more kits
just because modelers "want" them.
I am still convinced that a good review tells modelers (and companies)
what is right with their product, what is wrong with it, who would enjoy
it, and how much work it will take to make it into a good replica. Diatribes
like that help no one.
AMPS
Kit Review: Eastern Express 1/35 Scale Kit No. 35171; Swimming Tank PT-76B;
347 parts in various shades of gray and white styrene.
Price $26-32
Advantages: First 1/35 scale kit of this vehicle in styrene; nicely
executed with smart breaks in parts; modularity means more kits using this
chassis will follow.
Disadvantages: some sink hole problems; no interior detail on any hatches or hull components.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all Soviet and Warsaw Pact fans.
F I R S T L O O K
One of the most unique vehicle families ever created during the
postwar Soviet armor binge was a truly amphibious light tank for reconnaissance
and seaborne heavy firepower for landing teams. The Soviets had been working
on such tanks since the mid 1930s, but their efforts - the T-37, T-38, T-30
and T-40 - were only nominally amphibious, and in order to make them so the
armor protection they had was close to nil.
The Leningrad Kirov factory turned its attention to this arena,
which was a bit of a surprise as their expertise was primarily in the area
of heavy tanks. The result, which appeared in the late 1940s, was accepted
for service as the PT-76 amphibious light tank and produced in quantity.
The main innovation in this tank was that instead of a cumbersome and vulnerable
system of propellers and rudders at the rear of the hull the new vehicle
used water jets with internal vanes and controls for steering. Intakes were
located on the bottom of the hull and two jets - one on each side - could
propel the tank through the water at up to 10.2 kph.
The unique qualities that endowed the PT-76 were based on a reversal
of its functional design. Whereas the prewar amphibious tanks were tanks
that could float and swim, the PT-76 was an amphibian which could also provide
the firepower of a tank. Early models had a long and intricate muzzle brake
to permit the D-56 76mm gun to be fired while the vehicle was afloat; later,
in 1959 some other changes were made, including a new equally efficient muzzle
brake that replaced the original model and also a two-axis stabilizer added
to assist in firing while afloat.
The PT-76A (early model) and B (late model) were widely sold and
used by all of the member nations of the Warsaw Pact, plus the middle eastern
nations, Israel (captured ones), China, Korea and Vietnam. But the PT-76
was designed for Soviet thinking - it was not a real tank per se, and when
used as one it was easily destroyed by conventional tanks or antitank means,
such as at Ben Het and Lai Khe in South Vietnam. The tanks remained in service
with the USSR to the end, and due to their somewhat ambiguous classification,
were eventually considered "Armored vehicles with heavy armament" for accounting
by the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty.
This has always been a popular model with many modellers, but unfortunately
the only kit ever produced in large scale was the 1/32 Ideal model which
came out in 1958. This kit was toy-like and suffered from a bulged hull to
take its motorized accessories. Several resin kits were released over the
years, but all too often they were based on the old ITC (or its Ringo re-pop)
kit with no changes. The kit was re-released by Glencoe with some clean-up
in the early 1990s, but was unimproved.
Eastern Express has now produced what appears to be the first of
a series of kits - most likely the BTR-50 or OT-62 series APCs, "Mars" and
"Luna" rockets (FROG series), and the ASU-85 which is now shown on the box
side adverts. This is wisely the most widely known and used version, the
PT-76B, as it has the widest appeal. The kit is typical of many of the other
Eastern Express kits, but has some nice touches.
First of all, the hull comes in three parts and a separate engine
deck. The bow plate is a single piece, and the belly pan with attached fenders
has full detail to include the intake tunnels for the water jets. Separate
grid type grilles are provided for those apertures. Road wheel arms are separate,
and the wheels have separate back details for the correct bulbous shapes
to the wheels. (The wheels do appear a bit thin on examination but should
do well when installed.)
Tracks are provided as separate links - 220 in all. This will most
likely be the kit's least popular feature, but as the original used "dead"
tracks with no rollers on most versions of the hull design it is the best
way to get an accurate representation of the track.
The hull details are cleanly molded and appear relatively accurate
at first glance. The turret comes with an accurate individual cupola for
the commander, but there is no detail on the inside of the hatch so it will
make leaving it open a matter of building an interior. Also, there is no
interior detail whatsoever (having been in a PT-76B, there isn't much in
there to start with, as it only has a crew of three and is basically a boat
with tracks and a turret). The rear vents are separate parts, as is the exhaust
grille. The entire engine deck is a separate part, apparently permitting
the earlier one from the A to be added at a later point. Two standard 95
liter external tanks are also included.
The tow cable is a "roll your own" affair - they provide the heads,
you provide the cable. (Many modelers use scale cable or picture wire anyway,
so this isn't such a major problem.) The only complete cop-out is the lack
of any hint of headlight guards which are quite intricate structures made
of steel rod. Only the main spots to fasten the rods are provided, and no
hint is given of how to make them.
Considering the number of users, the painting instructions only
show one version! The decal sheet is a bit better, providing markings for
five different Soviet vehicles (one Guards, two Naval Infantry, and two others,
one which has what appears to be 1968 "Operation Dunay" markings for the
Czech invasion. But no directions are given for their use or application.
Overall, this appears to be a nice kit and one which should be among
the more popular Eastern Express efforts.
AMPS
October 6, 2002
Kit Review: SKIF 1/35 Scale Kit No. 223;
BMD-1P;
350 parts (150 in light olive green styrene, 192 in black styrene, and 8 in etched
brass);
Price $26.95.
Advantages: First kit of this vehicle in styrene; partial interior
included with model; etched brass provided for smart choice
parts.
Disadvantages: no reference points on suspension arms (see text);
single link tracks will really annoy some modelers.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all Soviet and Russian Army fans and a few third world modelers.
F I R S T L O O K
The BMD-1 is one of the truly innovative weapons systems that came out of the Soviet
Union, and still stands out as one of the most fascinating concepts they ever
managed to get into production.
The Soviet Airborne Forces, or VDV, were
created in the 1930s and considered an elite force even then. But when they
entered into combat in WWII, in places such as the disastrous drop at Vyazma,
they found themselves at the mercy of heavily armed and armored opponents.
Attempts to provide them with "flying" tanks T-60 tanks with wings and engines
or ones that could be airdropped with the paratroopers came to naught.
Postwar, the Soviets did develop the diminutive ASU-57 with a powerful 57mm
antitank gun, but it had no armor protection of which to speak. The later ASU-85
gave them more punch, but was much larger at around 16 metric tons. They also
were poorly suited to do anything in regard to transport of troops.
Three years after the new armored infantry-fighting vehicle BMP appeared
and went into service, a new design was created by the designers at the
Volgograd Tractor Factory as Object 915. This was a lightweight vehicle that
used the complete weapons system and turret from the BMP on a specially designed
chassis that could be rigged for airdrop. To enhance its mobility, the new
chassis had an adjustable pneumatic suspension that could be set to provide from
100 to 450 mm of ground clearance (the former was for hiding the vehicle or
rigging it for air drop, the latter was the maximum setting for crossing rough
terrain.) The new machine used a 240 HP diesel engine and weighed only 7.6
metric tons.
This vehicle fit the concepts of Soviet VDV theoretician
and commanding general Vasiliy F. Margelov, who knew that airborne forces
dropped deep in the enemy's rear area needed a combat vehicle to do their job of
raiding and destroying lines of communication up right. He worked out the design
of the Kentavr (centaur) system for airdrops, which used parachutes with rocket
braking to drop heavy vehicles safely. To ensure that this worked right,
Margelov wanted the crew gunner and driver-mechanic to drop inside the
vehicle to prove that it worked. He used two cosmonaut seats rigged inside the
vehicle, and to prove to the Soviet Army it worked, had one of his favorite
commanders and his own son (by then a VDV officer as well) drop in the first
manned test. It worked, and the Soviets were off to the races with the new
vehicle, dubbed BMD-1 (D for "desant", a word used for troops that leave a
vehicle or aircraft to assault an objective.)
The BMD-1 served from 1968 when it entered production until 1985, when it
was upgraded across the board into the BMD-1P. The P differed from the first production
models in adding new radio equipment, new sights and replacing the over-the-barrel 9M14
Malyutka ATGM (AT-3 SAGGER) with a new mount for the 9M111 Fagot or 9M113 Konkurs (AT-4 SPIGOT
or AT-5 SPANDREL).
In 1985 there was also a new model, the BMD-2,
introduced with a 30mm 2A42 cannon similar to that in the BMP-2. But the turret
was tiny and this system does not seem to be as popular or widespread as the
BMD-1/1P. A new vehicle created in the late 1980s, the BMD-3, was accepted as a
replacement but so far few have been purchased by the Russian Army. The BMD-1/1P
fought in Afghanistan and Chechnya with the Soviet Union and Russia, and in
Kuwait with the Iraqi Army.
Some of us were debating the fact that
SKIF is an erratic company, as it comes out with kits that show great promise
and then follows them up with extremely poor kits. Their MT-LB and SA-13 were
not bad, and then they produced a thoroughly dreadful T-55A kit. When this kit
was announced, we wondered which SKIF, Dr. Jekyl or Mr. Hyde, would be its
authors.
Happily, it appears that Jekyl was on duty the day they did
this kit, and it is a really nice little gem. It provides all of the basics any
modeler would want, and a few bits more, and should not be a major problem to
build.
The model provides a good representation of a late-model BMD-1
with the perforated wheels and the AT-4/AT-5 launcher on the right rear of the
turret. It comes with a basic turret basket with a seat for the gunner and seats
inside the vehicle for the driver-mechanic and five other crewmembers. However,
that is all that is provided, so the modeler is on his own for any sort of
details or equipment. The muzzles of the two light machine guns are provided for
the bow, but no weapons themselves inside. The turret likewise has no
spare missile tubes (4-5 are normal) nor any ammunition containers for the
machine gun; likewise, the autoloader for the 2A28 "Grom" cannon is not
provided.
Externally, the sides of the model are molded in one piece
from the bottom of the hull to the top of the hull, including the sponson
floors. Fit appears to be reasonably good. The hatches are all provided as
separate parts, so that the partial interior is visible, but there is no
detailing on the inside of any of them. The model comes with eight
sections of etched brass, but it is used where it makes the best sense: two
non-skid plates on the rear of the hull, the two sectional wave breaker plates
on the bow, two engine radiator exhaust vents, and two headlight guards. The
vents are surprisingly not etched all the way through, but these areas on the
original vehicle are hard to see into so this does not seem to be a problem
overall.
The suspension will probably annoy many modelers as the
suspension arms (parts 58E and 59E) have only a tiny surface for alignment (i.e.
the "D" shaped pin most of us are familiar with). This will make getting the
arms aligned properly somewhat difficult, as they are supposed to cement flat
side down onto the hull floor. It does make it a bit easier for the modeler who
wants to show the vehicle "squatting" down to the 100mm clearance height, but
those who want it up at 450mm will have some problems. I suggest making a small
rack out of 0.040" styrene with the sides set at either about 2.5mm (0.100") or
12.5mm (0.5") high and another 0.040" plate 56mm wide between them, setting the
model's hull on them, and attaching the suspension arms with the wheels attached
so you can get them all level. (The numbers do not have to match these, they are
just the range limits. The suspension is infinitely variable between those two
limits.)
Likewise, anyone who saw the large number of two-color parts
probably figured out by now it has single link tracks. For those who bemoan the
lack of vinyl, considering the low quality of the SKIF vinyl tracks up to now,
don't. This is the best choice they could have made, and while the links are
small and "fiddly" they do look right and should fit correctly. Note: if you
build a "squatter" you will have a lot of slop and droop in the tracks; they are
automatically tensioned as the vehicle rises up on its suspension.
Decals are included for three different machines, and the model also
includes the essential Guards insignia (most Soviet VDV divisions were "Guards"
units, and only special purpose units or brigades were usually not given this
title) and "flying parachute" insignia of the VDV. Two three-color schemes and a
solid Soviet Army Green one are included; markings are called out by number on
the color sheets.
Overall, this is one of the "Good" SKIF kits and
should really look good with a set of DML VDV troopers with their blue berets
(recently re-released).
AMPS
October 5,
2002
Kit Review: SP Designs 1/35 Scale Kit No. 003;
BTR-80KShM (1V118 Kapustnik-B) Conversion for Italeri/Dragon BTR-80 Kit;
17 parts (14 in light tan resin, 2 in white metal, and one length of copper
wire);
Price $18.
Advantages: First kit for this conversion
available;
Parts provided for the initial production model of the vehicle
Disadvantages: This vehicle has not entered production yet!
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation: For artillerymen and all modern Russian vehicle fans.
F I R S T L O O K
The Soviets were the second nation in the world to field automated artillery
fire control systems (AAFCS) and did so in the mid 1970s with the 1V12 "Mashina" (Machine) system
based on the MT-LBU command vehicle chassis. The heart of this system was the
APK data system, but it had a number of drawbacks. It was later upgraded with
the "Fal'set" (Falsetto) APPK system into the "Mashina-M" system in the 1980s. A
wheeled system based on GAZ-66 and Ural-4320 trucks was also offered later for
multiple rocket launcher systems and towed artillery.
However, they did not get around to automating all of their systems by the time that the Soviet Union
collapsed in1991. One of the systems they were going to field was the
"Kapustnik-B" which used a new-wheeled armored command vehicle, based on the
BTR-80KShM chassis and Ural-4320 trucks. These were to be compatible with the
automated fire control systems for the 2S19 "Msta-S", the "Uragan" and "Smerch"
heavy MRLs, the 2S9 "Nona-S" and 2S23 "Nona-SVK," and other towed weapons. All
used standard computers and data modems so that they would provide a high degree
of flexibility.
"Kapustnik-B" (cabbage field) is based on the "Kushetka"
armored command vehicle version of the BTR-80, which has no armament and a
raised roof to accommodate a crew of 5 or 6 for artillery fire control and
target designation missions. It carries multiple radio sets, Baget-41 laptop
computers, modems, and is also fitted with laser range finders, laser target
designation equipment, and thermal vision devices, based on customer needs.
Alas, with the collapse of the Soviet military budget and the military
industrial complex (VPK in Russian) none of these projects received funding.
"Kapustnik-B" was been accepted for service as the new AAFCS of choice in 1993
but the Russians haven't bought many yet. It is also offered for foreign sales
with any of the above mentioned artillery systems.
Nevertheless, SP Designs,
a new Ukrainian resin manufacturer, now has a kit available to convert the DML
BTR-80 kit in any of its offered versions be it from Italeri, Dragon or Revell
into the "Kapustnik-B" vehicle. The parts are cleanly molded and appear to use
some of the more modern (and less toxic) Western resins rather than the nastier
and oilier eastern European ones.
The kit consists of a drop-over shell with
the main changes to the hull and the enlarged personnel compartment formed in
one piece. To fit this to the BTR-80 hull, rather than cut the hull in sections
as most western kits, SP Designs has the modeler cut off details on the basic
hull, fill in the driver's hatch with a resin plug, cut off part of the fenders,
and attach the top to the hull piggyback fashion. The parts appear to fit
reasonably well, but the turret (Part 2) has a bullet splashguard on the hull
roof that is too small and will have to be removed and replaced.
Most of the conversion is pretty straightforward, which is good as the directions are hard
to read as to what to cut and what to keep. However, there are two new lower
center sponson boxes (Parts 6) to replace the kit parts (C10 and C11) with a
major problem: the new larger access doors for the "Kapustnik-B" split in the
middle of the parts, which is going to make getting a good fit and removing the
seams a royal headache (think of the old AMT aircraft kits that split the fit
for the wings in the middle of the elevators and ailerons and you have an idea
of how dumb a choice for splitting the parts this really is.) Mark 1 eyeball
checks show that you may well have to simply sand off the upper section of the
doors and rebuild the lower sponsons from sheet to get them to look right and
fit correctly.
Overall this is a neat kit and a nice idea, but hopefully SP
Designs will think a bit more on design in the future to make it easier for the
modeler to get a nice result without a lot of rework.
AMPS
Kit Review: Eastern
Express 1/35 Scale Kit No. 35111;
Tank BT-7 Mod. 1937 Early Version;
196 parts in grey styrene;
Price $22 to $29.
Advantages: Nice, new from the ground up kit of this vehicle;
Very petite detailing on the major parts;
Includes standard production "short pitch" tracks.
Disadvantages: Some shortcuts and errors;
"Magic" floating front wheels will frustrate many modelers.
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation: For all "Between the Wars" and early WWII Soviet modelers.
Of all of the nations who were struck by the forward thinking of J. Walter Christie in 1930 when he burst
on the scene with his fast tank chassis, none were quicker to embrace his
efforts than the Soviet Union. Striving to create an "instant" tank industry,
their representatives went abroad and bought two tank chassis and the rights to
build them in Russia. The two chassis (unofficially dubbed "BT-1" for
Bystrokhodniy Tank or "fast tank") were used to create the BT-2 fast
wheel-and-track tank in 1931.
Even before that tank came off the production
line, a replacement, later to become the BT-5 in 1933, was on the drawing board,
and by 1932 a follow-on to that tank, the future BT-7, entered the design phase.
Based on the experience with the fast tanks, the BT-7's design evolved and was
more sophisticated than the first two.
The BT-7 had a slightly wider hull
and some ballistic improvements to the bow and driver-mechanic's hatch area. It
was also extensively welded and used new production techniques. The main
external difference was a new hull rear, which was designed to increase the
amount of onboard fuel carried, and the rear-mounted muffler was then moved into
the rear of the radiator exhaust grille area, with twin pipes exiting the raised
grille cover. It switched to a new short-pitch track that was better for moving
at high speed across country, and also to the more powerful M-17 aircraft
engine. The latter caused problems early on, as it had far more torque than the
predecessor M-5 (copy of the US Liberty engine) and tore up drivelines with
great regularity.
The first model to see service was the BT-7 Model 1935,
which came in line, commander's and artillery (BT-7A) variants, the latter with
a short 76mm howitzer. The tanks remained in production from 1935 until
1941 with the last few rolling off the lines as the first production T-34 tanks
began to come off as well. BT-7 tanks fought in a number of conflicts, such as
Khasan Lake in 1938 and the Kalkhin-Gol River in1939 against the Japanese,
against the Finns in 1939-40, and against the Poles in 1939. One of the most
widely produced prewar tanks, when the Germans struck in June 1941 over 4,500 of
them were still in service with the RKKA. Many were awaiting repairs or
servicing, and were easily captured or destroyed by the advancing Germans.
Those, which did work, put up a stiff resistance, and their 45mm cannon proved
capable of knocking out any German tank in service in the summer of 1941. Some
tanks remained in service throughout the war, and took place in the final
offensives against the Japanese in August 1945. This was a major combat vehicle,
and one that contributed heavily to the defense of the USSR in the first six
months of the war. Some remained in action in Leningrad for the course of the
entire 900 days, and it was a fast and relatively capable vehicle.
This is the second major kit of this vehicle from Eastern Express, and is nearly
identical to their earlier Model 1935 with the exception of the turret. This kit
comes with the later sloped armor turret (called "conical" turret by the
Russians; the earlier one is the "cylindrical" turret).
It is a very nicely done turret; there is a rumor out that it is under scale,
but comparing it with the latest set of plans found in the Armada Military Museum series "The BT
Tanks" by Pavlov, Zheltov and Pavlov, it is dead on the money in shape and size.
Alas, the exception again is the 45mm gun barrel, part N9, which remains
uncorrected; the second "step" back from the muzzle is 2.5mm too short at its
rear end, towards the mantelet.
Detail is very petite for an Eastern European kit, and the rivet details
are very well done indeed. Since this is a "flat kit" all parts are essentially
flat other than the turret sides and the bow unlike the one-piece bodied armor cars,
all rivets are in place and you don't have to add any to the basic kit. The fenders have
raised ejection pin marks on the bottom sides, but are reasonably thin and the marks are easily
removed.
EE wisely included "link and length" tracks, something other
manufacturers should think about more often. Tracks are thin and petite with
strengthening ribs molded in place, and look to be dead on the money. (Note to
"heavy track" fans: these were very thin and light, as they were designed for
high speed over open country and the vehicle was expected to run on wheels on
the highway.)
The only major complaint most modelers will have is that the
rear grille cover (part D24) is molded solid, and that no vanes for the radiator
efflux are included in the kit. The exhaust pipes (parts B10) have the curved
section coming up from the muffler (parts B9) but fit flush with the hull roof
(through the grille one could see where they curved down to the header pipes, as
the tank had no muffler). The tank has the later large air cleaner (part D33)
which would indicate this tank may have been built in early 1937.
One
problem I found with the building of the earlier Model 1935 and that this
model will share is that of "magic" front road wheels. They attach to the
front suspension arms by the retainer cap (part B33) but there is not enough of
a tang to hold them in place; I punched out some 0.040" disks from styrene and
used those to hold the wheels in place after letting them set up in place. This
isn't very difficult to fix, but it is annoying.
Also once again, Eastern
Express provides a nice sheet of decals, but no clues as to where to use them or
color schemes! I think decals are for five vehicles, but without the paint
schemes that is only a guess. One is Finnish, but Eastern Express cleverly got
past the Council of Europe ban on swastikas by making them in two seemingly
disjointed halves that can be connected on the sides of the turret to form the
Finnish version. The others are a number 722 with red stars (probably Soviet
Protective Green overall), number 52 with red stars (ditto), one named "SOLDAT"
(soldier), and various circle and square tactical markings. It's kind of
bizarre that EE would make a kit this nice and then slough it off without any
marking instructions!
I recommend replacing the kit tracks with a set of
Fruilmodel ones as they are flexible, and getting track to fit on these
paired-link Soviet tanks is a pain as there is a Murphy's Law corollary that you
will always come up with an odd number of links. The Fruil tracks can be tedious
to assemble, but it beats having to wiggle and cut track links to fit after
getting the model nearly complete.
Overall this is again a good kit of an
important tank, and Eastern Express gave it a good effort which can be made into
an outstanding model with a bit of work.
AMPS
Kit Review: LF Models
1/35 Scale Kit No. 35007;
Soviet Small Amphibious Tank T-37A Early Version;
293 parts in grey styrene: price around $20.
Advantages: First kit of this vehicle in this scale;
Very nicely done and very good details.
Disadvantages: Single link tracks may make modelers howl due to petite size.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all light armor fans and Soviet tank aficionados.
F I R S T L O O K
Just today, I commented to Bill Miley when looking at a gorgeous new kit
of the Pzkw. I Ausf. A. Too bad the same company wasn't going to do a model of the T-37,
the only Soviet era light tank still not available as a plastic kit. Less than an hour
later, while combing the stacks in the Avenel Hobby Shop in New Jersey, lo and behold what
should I find but a plastic kit of the T-37A. While there are a couple of T-38
kits out there from Techmod, Cooperativa, AER and others (I think it's two sets
of molds that make the rounds in Eastern Europe) this is a totally new kit. The
parent company is the old SDS/FORT, which has now been picked up for marketing
by Eastern Express, so they may release this kit under their brand name.
The Soviets came up with a need for light, amphibious reconnaissance tanks in the
early 1930s, and the T-37 was the first one that met all their requirements and
entered series production. This tank was designed by N. N. Kozyrev at the
"Oridzhonikidze" Factory No. 37 near Moscow in the early 1930s as a two-man
scout tank that could swim without preparation and provide high speed and
maneuverability. It was accepted for service in 1933, but the T-37 was never
produced. It was replaced instead by the improved T-37A. This tank essentially
differed from the T-37 in having a domed turret roof to provide more room for
the commander, a new stern, more armor protection, and kapok-filled floats on
the tops of the fenders to increase buoyancy reserve. 1,909 of these tanks were
produced between 1933-1936 at Factory No. 37 and the Gor'kiy Automotive Factory
GAZ . The later T-38 was an improved T-37A with the driver and engine
positions reversed, so the turret moved to the left side of the hull.
The LF Models kit is a very nicely done kit of this tank, and has many very nice and
petite details that are hard to see at first due to the heavy, "garage" quality
sprues. No part of this kit or sprue is more than 105mm long, so it appears to
have been a homemade design that the company produced and marketed.
There are some innovative ideas included with this kit. One of them is the choice of
solid spring units or two sectional ends, to which the modeler must add his own
springs. (They appear to have planned on including them, but none came in the
kit.)
Wheels and other details are fairly well done, and the hull looks good
even though there are some seven major parts to it. Some modeling skills are
required from time to time, as some parts are not fully formed or drilled out,
but the directions do explain where to drill and what to do (in Russian, alas,
but the pictures are pretty straightforward.)
The model comes with 192 track links that are quite small and will probably
frustrate the most hardcore modeler. Test fitting shows they fit beautifully to the
wheels but I recommend fitting the tracks before cementing the fender floats (unnumbered,
but obvious) to the sides of the hull.
The model can be built as either a T-37A or T-37A-RT with radio antenna. While
the directions show it cut into two sections and cemented to the floats separately, this
is wrong. The antenna is one single piece that raps around in front of the turret and
driver-mechanic's position. The part in the kit (B13) is correct as molded. It goes on
as shown with the bends rising at the rear of the fenders.
Decals are the generic between the
wars ones and provide for five different color sets for
platoon/company/battalion markings. One set of Finnish swastikas and three
German crosses are also included.
Overall, this little beast was a very pleasant surprise, and fills in a gap on
my shelf. Note that you can now get all of the major Soviet WWII era light tanks as
kits: T-37A, T-38, T-30, T-40, T-60, and T-70. (T-26 and T-50 are "escort" tanks, not
light tanks; BT-2, BT-5 and BT-7 are "fast" tanks.)
AMPS
Kit Review: DML 1/35
Scale 39-45 Series No. 6158;
German Infantry, HG Division (Anzio 1944);
96 parts in grey styrene;
Price about $8.
Advantages: Nice, new system of attaching coattails as used on US
Bastogne set now used for German figures, great detail.
Disadvantages: Figures wearing smocks over overcoats may find limited use with
modelers.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all German figure or diorama modelers showing colder weather.
The Herman Goering Division always enjoyed better
equipment and kit than it probably deserved, thanks mostly to its "godfather" in
Berlin. But its troops did see some hard combat in Italy, and as such did earn a
grudging respect from both sides.
DML's latest figure set, which will
probably go well with the later production Elefant as a made-to-order Italy
diorama, are very similar to the recent US 101st Airborne Bastogne set in that
three of the figures are wearing full overcoats. To get the skirting effect
right, DML has molded the lower half of the overcoat in four parts, which are
notched and tabbed to fit together around the waist of the figure. This creates
a full skirt effect and gives it a hollow feeling, as well as ensuring that the
modeler doesn't get "cheese block" figures with heavy sinkholes in the plastic.
It's a great idea, and DML should be complimented for getting plastic figures
that can rival resin in this area of detailing.
Less useful, perhaps, is the
fact that three of the figures, including two with overcoats, are also wearing
camouflage smocks. This tends to limit the usefulness of the figures as this
combination was not a common approach to winter or camouflage.
Weapons are provided by "mix and match" method, with sprues from kits numbers 6002, 6070,
and 6105 included. These provide an MG 42 and accouterments, two MP40, two Kar
98, one MP44, and one auto loading rifle, plus a Panzerfaust.
Overall, this is another nice kit from DML and maintains their standard as the leader in this
area.
AMPS
Product Review:
Panzershop 1/35 Accessories No. PS35A319;
Decals OSN (UN, IFOR, KFOR, SFOR);
Price $4.00.
Advantages: Good for all modern vehicles serving in the Former
Republic of Yugoslavia.
Disadvantages: No directions.
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation: for all modelers doing modern equipment that has
served with the UN peacekeeping forces in FRY.
This is the second item from the relatively new
company Panzershop, and many modelers will find it very useful for building any
of the wide variety of vehicles that have served in the FRY (Croatia,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo). My guess is that there are enough markings included
to do up from two to four vehicles for each period or ten to twenty on the
entire sheet.
The set provides both general UN decals in black for the white
paint schemes used for direct UN operations, as well as the two Bosnian missions
(IFOR and then SFOR), and the Kosovo mission as well. All are nicely printed in
black and white and quite thin waterslide transfers, so should cause no
problems.
There are also a number of arrowhead tactical markings for which I
have to admit I am at a loss; this is where a set of instructions that described
how they were to be used, and on what vehicles, would have been very helpful.
(In point of fact, I would have rated them as Highly Recommended with that one
addition).
These decals are available from Chesapeake Model Designs, PO Box
393, Monkton, MD 21111.
Thanks to Bill Miley of CMD for the review sample.
AMPS
Kit Review: PST 1/72 Scale Model Kit No. 72045;
T-54/54A Medium Tank;
183 parts (124 in green styrene, 59 in black styrene);
Price $9.98.
Advantages: Decent kit of this vehicle, provides several options for
different models and users.
Disadvantages: some minor shape and detail problems.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: To all modern armor and Warsaw Pact fans.
F I R S T L O O K
As most of my friends and readers of my reviews know, I have a real hard
edge when it comes to the lack of decent T-54 and T-55 models on the market.
There are none in 1/35 scale, and until now (with the release of this kit and some others from other
manufacturers in 1/72) none in small scale either.
PST is a manufacturer out of Belarus who has acquired a good reputation for
its now reasonably large line of WWII Soviet armored vehicles and trucks. They are
now branching out into postwar vehicles, and a T-54/54A and T-55 are among their first releases.
This kit is a typical Eastern European style kit, but it is amazing to see
this many parts and this level of endeavor in this scale. It comes with "link
and length" tracks and the early "spider" cast wheels with lightening holes. The
design is not a complete one, but PST has cleverly arranged things so the
details are visible where they should be and missing where unimportant or
difficult; case in point are the drivers, which only have teeth where they are
visible between the track runs and not under the links. This does leave only a
dot where the hole for the tooth should be, however.
The design of the kit is modular. The model comes with two different turrets
for an early T-54 Model 1951 without the night sight and a later model of the T-54A with the sight.
Alas, since the kit is designed to build only the Model 1951 no searchlight set
is included. Two engine decks are provided, as well as three different engine
access hatches, two mantelets, and two gun barrels (one with bore evacuator, one
without.)
Details are a bit fuzzy in some areas (such as the "D" plates on
the turret roof) and the turret design itself is a bit too triangular it
should have "cheek" bulges that are not present. The wheel pattern is correct
trailing links on axles 1-4 and leading link on axle 5, so at least this kit was
not cloned from the ESCI 1/35 scale kit. (Fuel tanks are also the same size!)
The DShK is a bit sketchy but is at least identifiable for what it is (compare
with the ancient Airfix IS-3 kit, for example). External fittings cover a pair
of 200-liter fuel tanks, two tow cables (which are provided as cable heads; the
directions suggest using thread in this scale) and an unditching log.
While it has its problems, thus far this is the best T-54/T-55 available in any scale.
Markings are provided for six vehicles two Polish and four Russian but only
three units as sequential sets are included for two tanks in each unit covered.
Overall, this is a reasonable kit for a good price and can be made into a
nice and attractive model of the most widely built tank series in history over
130,000 T-54, T-55 and Type 59 variants have been built and fought all over the
planet.
AMPS
Kit Review: AFV Club 1/35 Scale Kit No. AF 35041;
M41A3 Light Tank "Walker Bulldog";
310 parts (294 in light olive styrene, 12 black vinyl, 2 glueable black tracks, 1 turned aluminum
barrel, 1 section of nylon string);
Retail price $39.98.
Advantages: State of the moldmaker's art kit has many nice and novel
touches, pre-opened engine bays beg for a resin engine, another manufacture goes
over to cementable single-section tracks.
Disadvantages: Higher than usual price for relatively small kit.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all Cold War and US/RVN Armor fans.
F I R S T L O O K
Arguably one of the most popular kits in Tamiya's
lineup for many years has been the M41 US light tank. A neat and attractive
vehicle, this little tank was used by many nations during the Cold War thanks to
the Military Assistance Program (MAP) as well as in the Vietnam war as part of
RVN armored cavalry squadrons. Fast, easily maintained and operated, and with a
good 76mm gun for its size, the actual tank was a very popular machine and
remains in service with some nations today in rebuilt and modified forms.
But while the Tamiya kit was at least reasonably accurate in size and shape, it
suffered from very poor detailing (there are no side details on the kit
whatsoever) and first-generation vinyl (one-sided) tracks, plus a de rigeur
motorization pack fit inside the hull. Fixing one up was not undoable but
required a great deal of work and effort. It was also a "generic" M41 and came
with none of the detail features that separated the various models of the tank
from each other.
(The differences between M41 versions had to do more with
where things went on the outside than on internal changes, which were not as
obvious. The M41 had full side skirts and squared off fenders, tools stowed on
the glacis, track links on the turret sides, and no APU exhaust; late M41A1
tanks appeared as found in the kit with the exception that the APU muffler was
next to the tool stowage on the front right fender; M41A2 and M41A3 tanks were
like the kit. Difference was M41/M41A1 had carburetor-fed engines, M41A2/M41A3
were same tanks with fuel injection.)
AFV Club has just released this
gorgeous kit of the little fellow and with all due respect to Tamiya, it's time
to retire the other one. Even though the Tamiya kit only costs 1/3 of this one,
by the time you get a set of brass, new gun barrel, after-market tracks, tools,
a .50 caliber machine gun and such, you are probably now up around $80 so this
kit which needs none of those items is half the price and still better
done.
I will state up front that if you do not like dealing with very small
parts then this is not going to be your cup of tea. There is very little that
AFV Club have left off of this kit, and most of the "bits" are separate. It is
only the second kit I have seen next to the Italeri M47 to provide all of the
bin locking handles as separate parts, for an example. All prismatic viewers are
separate, as are the tools and hinges. The .50 caliber M2HB is one of the nicest
in this scale, and as a bonus the kit also comes with a 7.62mm M60 that is just
as well done. The entire engine bay area is open; while there are ejection pin
marks on the inside of the covers, they also provided the grille work so that it
will not cause headaches to leave them off or open them up. (Alas, no framing is
provided and all of the grilles are interconnected, so you're on your own
there.)
One of the nicest touches previously reviewed is the moldmaker's
decision to mold the outside wheel rims as separate parts, therefore creating
the "dished" effect of the actual vehicle. This is the first model that I have
ever seen that done on, even though many other US vehicles like the M551
Sheridan and all M41-based derivatives did as well.
Decals are included for
six vehicles one US vehicle from 3/4 CAV, 25th Infantry Division (and which do
not look right - they read 25R B-36 which is more Korean War era than nearing
Vietnam), two RVN ones from unidentified units, and three ROC Marine Corps
tanks.
A gunshield from the M88 is included for one of the RVN tanks but
this particular vehicle was also fitted with an AN/VSS-1 searchlight from an
M48A3, and the photo of it is on page 258 of the Hunnicutt "Sheridan" book.
Overall this is a great kit, and one that really needs little in the way of
add-ons other than the engine bay and figures to be a really great model.
AMPS
Kit Review: Trumpeter 1/35 Scale Kit No. 00316;
Russian Heavy Tank IS-3M;
245 parts (224 in light olive drab styrene, 18 clear vinyl parts, 2 vinyl tracks,
1 length of nylon thread);
Price $19.95.
Advantages: First CORRECT kit of this version of this tank, nicely done, fixes some
problems from Tamiya kit.
Disadvantages: some shortcuts on detailing, thin tracks.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For any Soviet armor fan or Six-Day War modeler.
F I R S T L O O K
Trumpeter is doing better with many of its kits,
and this one is a kit that is better in many ways than the only other competitor
on the market, Tamiya's IS-3 kit from 1996.
Tamiya did a rather lukewarm job
on their kit it was based on the survivor in a Polish Museum of the first 52
or so pre-production tanks, and was thus missing all of the operational
equipment needed for a "real" IS-3. After-market people immediately set to work
with "correction" sets including brass and in a couple of cases an entire new
upper hull for the IS-3M.
Alas, most of this was based on the vehicle at
APG. This vehicle was one of the Egyptian IS-3M tanks captured in 1967 by the
Israelis, converted to a static pillbox, retaken by the Egyptian Army in 1973
(when the Israelis apparently jammed the gun in battery to prevent its further
use) and re-retaken by the Israelis. It was sent to APG as is, where a spare
T-62 engine deck was welded onto the rear of the hull to cover the hole the IDF
cut in the engine compartment to use for ammunition stowage. All of the kits
used this as their model for an "IS-3M" with a "T-54 engine and transmission"
fitted to it.
TRUE the IS-3M did use a T-54's V-54 engine of 520 HP.
FALSE the T-54's transmission, radiator and other kit will not fit in an
IS-3 engine bay, so they never looked like our marked-up friend.
The actual IS-3M was a combination of several rebuilding projects with new electrics,
fender skirts, an additional side stowage bin (making 4 per side), an R-113
radio set, a pair of DShKM machine guns vice DSshK types, IR headlights, and new
road wheels with better bearings. They also carried smoke pots on the rear of
the hull.
For the record, this kit is a ground-up static kit and as a result
was NOT designed to take a motorization pack. While the Tamiya kit may have
provided inspiration, this is not the same model with new parts but a unique and
separate kit.
The kit reflects the actual IS-3M and comes with most of the
changes listed above. The wheels have the correct 10-bolt grease caps of the
T-10 type bearing wheels, but appear to be a bit under scale and are not sharply
defined as the 5-bolt caps on the Tamiya kit. It does have sponson floors not
found in the Tamiya IS-3 (or many other of their kits either), reasonably good
weld bead details, but a somewhat overdone roughcast finish on the turret.
Casting numbers also are not the same as the Tamiya kit; it is quite possible
that one of the handful of IS-3/IS-3M tanks purchased by China was used for the
pilot for this kit, and it is more in line with the actual service vehicles than
the Tamiya one.
The tracks are competently done but appear thin, however on
comparison with the Tamiya tracks the only major difference is that one can be
fitted together with plastic cement (Tamiya) and one cannot (Trumpeter). The two
tracks appear nearly identical except that the Trumpeter ones do not have
depression detail on their outside edges of the inside face and are two links
longer than the Tamiya ones. Oddly, the Tamiya track is a later model track seen
on some IS-3M tanks and the Trumpeter track is the IS-2 based one found on many
early IS-3s. Go figure.
Markings are included for the popular (well, with
modelers anyway!) Egyptian IS-3M with the black eagle turret marking and a
rather plain Soviet Guards tank.
Overall, this is a very nice kit and one
that is more to the modelers' wants and desires. The reasonable price ($20 for a
kit this good in this day and age is a STEAL!) should make it very popular, and
shows Trumpeter can play with the "big boys" when it concentrates its
efforts.
AMPS
August 27,
2002
Kit Review: Trumpeter 1/48 Scale Kit No. 02806 - Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis Fagot-B;
135 parts (126 in light grey styrene, 9 in clear styrene);
Price $29.98.
Advantages: Very well done kit of this famous aircraft; design of kit
makes dioramas a snap; very well detailed kit.
Disadvantages: Follows on heels of Tamiya kit; modelers may not be willing
to pay more for Trumpeter kit.
F I R S T L O O K
I know, I know "I do armor, not airplanes." But over
the last 12 years I have become personally fascinated with the Korean Air War
and as such have gotten into picking up 1/48 scale models of the aircraft that
fought in that conflict.
I had picked up the Tamiya
kit some time ago, but when I opened the box of this one today at Nostalgic
Plastic it was a "must-have" situation.
Trumpeter has been getting better
and better with their aircraft, and I was curious since reviews of their 1/32
scale MiG-15 noted it was just a pantographed version of the Tamiya kit. This
one appears to be bases somewhat on the Tamiya kit. However, it also appears to
be an "in your face" attempt to beat Tamiya in every area.
It's a
state-of-the-art kit with recessed panel lines and separate control surfaces
(albeit the rudder sections are connected by a rod about 0.025" in diameter via
an old-fashioned "Lindbergesque" hinge; however, it doesn't appear to be out of
scale).
Two styles of wing fences are included - (a solid one and a "notched" one)
- and are separate parts. There are a few ejector pin marks inside the landing gear
bay and gun bay hatch, but they appear to be fixable.
The nose section consists of a cannon bay with
three separate cannons with magazines, an avionics bay, and an 11-piece cockpit
assembly with a clear acetate instrument panel and three-piece ejector seat. The
canopy includes the bulletproof glass bulkhead behind the pilot as a separate
part.
While the model separates in the same manner as the Tamiya one for the
engine bay, the Trumpeter engine takes some 40 parts to assemble.
There is a separate speed brake bay at the rear of the fuselage and the brakes may be
displayed open or closed.
Markings are included for two aircraft: a camouflaged Soviet one and PLAAF #2249,
reportedly the aircraft used by Chinese ace Wang Hai during the Korean air war.
I translated the Armada book on the MiG-15 by Arsen'yev and Krylov (which Armada
hasn't bothered to print in English yet) and it does a very good job of representing a
MiG-15bis with the 0.8 square meter "Korean" air brakes.
Gee, a few more kits like this could make me switch back to the loyal opposition...
AMPS
Kit Review: Trumpeter 1/35 Scale Kit No. 00316;
Russian Heavy Tank IS-3M;
245 parts (224 in light olive drab styrene, 18 clear vinyl parts, 2 vinyl tracks, 1 length of nylon
thread);
Price $19.95.
Advantages: First CORRECT kit of this version of this tank, nicely done, fixes some problems from
Tamiya kit.
Disadvantages: some shortcuts on detailing, thin tracks.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For any Soviet armor fan or Six-Day War modeler.
F I R S T L O O K
Trumpeter is doing better with many of its kits,
and this one is a kit that is better in many ways than the only other competitor
on the market, Tamiya's IS-3 kit from 1996.
Tamiya did a rather lukewarm job
on their kit it was based on the survivor in a Polish Museum of the first 52
or so pre-production tanks, and was thus missing all of the operational
equipment needed for a "real" IS-3. After-market people immediately set to work
with "correction" sets including brass and in a couple of cases an entire new
upper hull for the IS-3M.
Alas, most of this was based on the vehicle at APG.
This vehicle was one of the Egyptian IS-3M tanks captured in 1967 by the
Israelis, converted to a static pillbox, retaken by the Egyptian Army in 1973
(when the Israelis apparently jammed the gun in battery to prevent its further
use) and re-retaken by the Israelis. It was sent to APG as is, where a spare
T-62 engine deck was welded onto the rear of the hull to cover the hole the IDF
cut in the engine compartment to use for ammunition stowage. All of the kits
used this as their model for an "IS-3M" with a "T-54 engine and transmission"
fitted to it.
TRUE the IS-3M did use a T-54's V-54 engine of 520
HP.
FALSE the T-54's transmission, radiator and other kit will not fit in
an IS-3 engine bay, so they never looked like our marked-up friend.
The actual IS-3M was a combination of several rebuilding projects with new
electrics, fender skirts, an additional side stowage bin (making 4 per side), an
R-113 radio set, a pair of DShKM machine guns vice DSshK types, IR headlights,
and new road wheels with better bearings. They also carried smoke pots on the
rear of the hull.
For the record, this kit is a ground-up static kit and as a
result was NOT designed to take a motorization pack. While the Tamiya kit may
have provided inspiration, this is not the same model with new parts but a
unique and separate kit.
The kit reflects the actual IS-3M and comes with
most of the changes listed above. The wheels have the correct 10-bolt grease
caps of the T-10 type bearing wheels, but appear to be a bit underscale and are
not sharply defined as the 5-bolt caps on the Tamiya kit. It does have sponson
floors not found in the Tamiya IS-3 (or many other of their kits either),
reasonably good weld bead details, but a somewhat overdone roughcast finish on
the turret. Casting numbers also are not the same as the Tamiya kit; it is quite
possible that one of the handful of IS-3/IS-3M tanks purchased by China was used
for the pilot for this kit, and it is more in line with the actual service
vehicles than the Tamiya one.
The tracks are competently done but appear
thin, however on comparison with the Tamiya tracks the only major difference is
that one can be fitted together with plastic cement (Tamiya) and one cannot
(Trumpeter). The two tracks appear nearly identical except that the Trumpeter
ones do not have depression detail on their outside edges of the inside face and
are two links longer than the Tamiya ones. Oddly, the Tamiya track is a later
model track seen on some IS-3M tanks and the Trumpeter track is the IS-2 based
one found on many early IS-3s. Go figure.
Markings are included for the
popular (well, with modelers anyway!) Egyptian IS-3M with the black eagle turret
marking and a rather plain Soviet Guards tank.
Overall, this is a very nice kit and one that is more to the modelers'
wants and desires. The reasonable price ($20 for a kit this good in this day and age is a STEAL!)
should make it very popular, and shows Trumpeter can play with the "big boys" when it
concentrates its efforts.
AMPS
Kit Review: AFV Club
1/35 Scale Kit No. AF 35041; M41A3 Light Tank "Walker
Bulldog";
310 parts (294 in light olive styrene, 12 black vinyl, 2 glueable black tracks, 1 turned aluminum
barrel, 1 section of nylon string);
>Retail Price $39.98.
Advantages: State of the moldmaker's art kit has many nice and novel
touches, pre-opened engine bays beg for a resin engine, another manufacture goes
over to cementable single-section tracks.
Disadvantages: Higher than usual price for relatively small kit.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all Cold War and US/RVN Armor fans.
F I R S T L O O K
Arguably one of the most popular kits in Tamiya's lineup for many years has been
the M41 US light tank. A neat and attractive vehicle, this little tank was used by many
nations during the Cold War thanks to the Military Assistance Program (MAP) as well as in the
Vietnam war as part of RVN armored cavalry squadrons. Fast, easily maintained
and operated, and with a good 76mm gun for its size, the actual tank was a very
popular machine and remains in service with some nations today in rebuilt and
modified forms.
But while the Tamiya kit was at least reasonably accurate in
size and shape, it suffered from very poor detailing (there are no side details
on the kit whatsoever) and first-generation vinyl (one-sided) tracks, plus a de
rigeur motorization pack fit inside the hull. Fixing one up was not undoable but
required a great deal of work and effort. It was also a "generic" M41 and came
with none of the detail features that separated the various models of the tank
from each other.
(The differences between M41 versions had to do more with
where things went on the outside than on internal changes, which were not as
obvious. The M41 had full side skirts and squared off fenders, tools stowed on
the glacis, track links on the turret sides, and no APU exhaust; late M41A1
tanks appeared as found in the kit with the exception that the APU muffler was
next to the tool stowage on the front right fender; M41A2 and M41A3 tanks were
like the kit. Difference was M41/M41A1 had carburetor-fed engines, M41A2/M41A3
were same tanks with fuel injection).
AFV Club has just released this
gorgeous kit of the little fellow and with all due respect to Tamiya, it's time
to retire the other one. Even though the Tamiya kit only costs 1/3 of this one,
by the time you get a set of brass, new gun barrel, after-market tracks, tools,
a .50 caliber machine gun and such, you are probably now up around $80 so this
kit which needs none of those items is half the price and still better
done.
I will state up front that if you do not like dealing with very small
parts then this is not going to be your cup of tea. There is very little that
AFV Club have left off of this kit, and most of the "bits" are separate. It is
only the second kit I have seen next to the Italeri M47 to provide the entire
bin locking handles as separate parts, for an example. All prismatic viewers are
separate, as are the tools and hinges. The .50 caliber M2HB is one of the nicest
in this scale, and as a bonus the kit also comes with a 7.62mm M60 that is just
as well done. The entire engine bay area is open; while there are ejection pin
marks on the inside of the covers, they also provided the grille work so that it
will not cause headaches to leave them off or open them up. (Alas, no framing is
provided and all of the grilles are interconnected, so you're on your own
there).
One of the nicest touches previously reviewed is the moldmaker's
decision to mold the outside wheel rims as separate parts, therefore creating
the "dished" effect of the actual vehicle. This is the first model that I have
ever seen that done on, even though many other US vehicles like the M551
Sheridan and all M41-based derivatives did as well.
Decals are included for
six vehicles one US vehicle from 3/4 CAV, 25th Infantry Division (and which do
not look right - they read 25R B-36 which is more Korean War era than nearing
Vietnam), two RVN ones from unidentified units, and three ROC Marine Corps
tanks.
A gunshield from the M88 is included for one of the RVN tanks but
this particular vehicle was also fitted with an AN/VSS-1 searchlight from an
M48A3, and the photo of it is on page 258 of the Hunnicutt "Sheridan"
book.
Overall this is a great kit, and one that really needs little in the
way of add-ons other than the engine bay and figures to be a really great model.
AMPS
Kit Review: PST 1/72
Scale Model Kit No. 72045; T-54/54A Medium Tank;
183 parts (124 in green styrene, 59 in black styrene);
Price $9.98.
Advantages: Decent kit of this vehicle, that provides several options
for different models and users.
Disadvantages: some minor shape and detail problems.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: To all modern armor and Warsaw Pact fans.
F I R S T L O O K
As most of my friends and readers of my reviews know, I have a real hard
edge when it comes to the lack of decent T-54 and T-55 models on the market. There are none in 1/35
scale, and until now (with the release of this kit and some others from other
manufacturers in 1/72) none in small scale either.
PST is a manufacturer out
of Belarus who has acquired a good reputation for its now reasonably large line
of WWII Soviet armored vehicles and trucks. They are now branching out into
postwar vehicles, and a T-54/54A and T-55 are among their first
releases.
This kit is a typical Eastern European style kit, but it is amazing
to see this many parts and this level of endeavor in this scale. It comes with
"link and length" tracks and the early "spider" cast wheels with lightening
holes. The design is not a complete one, but PST has cleverly arranged things so
the details are visible where they should be and missing where unimportant or
difficult; case in point are the drivers, which only have teeth where they are
visible between the track runs and not under the links. This does leave only a
dot where the hole for the tooth should be, however.
The design of the kit is
modular. The model comes with two different turrets for an early T-54 Model 1951
without the night sight and a later model of the T-54A with the sight. Alas,
since the kit is designed to build only the Model 1951 no searchlight set is
included. Two engine decks are provided, as well as three different engine
access hatches, two mantelets, and two gun barrels (one with bore evacuator, one
without).
Details are a bit fuzzy in some areas (such as the "D" plates on
the turret roof) and the turret design itself is a bit too triangular it
should have "cheek" bulges that are not present. The wheel pattern is correct
trailing links on axles 1-4 and leading link on axle 5, so at least this kit was
not cloned from the ESCI 1/35 scale kit. (Fuel tanks are also the same size!)
The DShK is a bit sketchy but is at least identifiable for what it is (compare
with the ancient Airfix IS-3 kit, for example). External fittings cover a pair
of 200-liter fuel tanks, two tow cables (which are provided as cable heads; the
directions suggest using thread in this scale) and an unditching log.
While
it has its problems, thus far this is the best T-54/T-55 available in any scale.
Markings are provided for six vehicles two Polish and four Russian but only
three units as sequential sets are included for two tanks in each unit
covered.
Overall, this is a reasonable kit for a good price and can be made
into a nice and attractive model of the most widely built tank series in history
over 130,000 T-54, T-55 and Type 59 variants have been built and fought all
over the planet.
AMPS
August 13, 2002
AMPS
Cookie Sewell
AMPS
Kit Review: Trumpeter
1/35 Scale Kit No. 02301;
Chinese BJ212A with
105mm Type 75 Recoilless Rifle;
235 parts (191 in light
olive styrene, 28 in light grey styrene, 10 in clear styrene, 5 in black vinyl,
1 steel axle);
Price: $19-26.
Advantages: Truly unique subject, nicely done and very complete; shows that
Trumpeter can do a good job on kits of their own design.
Disadvantages: Lack of references makes comparison with any existing sources
difficult; figures are pretty bland and not up to current world standards.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For anyone wanting to do a truly different subject.
For some time now
Trumpeter has stated that they will be doing totally new kits from the ground
up to prove they are competitive with other companies. While I have heard one
comment that this kit was based on a resin kit, the amount of detail and
complexity of this little model (the vehicle is only about 105mm long in scale)
are amazing and it bodes well for the future.
The BJ-212 was a Chinese answer to a light tactical vehicle requirement and
while it appears to have borrowed from the US made Jeep vehicle, Japanese
Toyota Land Cruisers, and the old Soviet GAZ-69, it is a completely unique
little field car in its own right. The basic vehicle is the BJ-212, a four-door
4/5 seat field car, and the A model is a two-door pickup truck variant. When
modified to carry the 105mm RR as in this kit, a new back end is fitted that
permits loading/unloading of the weapon off the rear of the vehicle.
Trumpeter's kit provides the modified BJ-212A, the Type 75 105mm RR, and three
crew figures with kit. The model comes with a complete engine and interior for
the crew cab, as well as working steering and rolling vinyl tired wheels. All
are nicely done, albeit they have cheated somewhat in having a pre-flattened
spare tire so it will fit behind the "shotgun" seat without having to
bulge out the side of the body! This is not noticeable once it is installed.
Surprisingly, the quality of the moldings and color of the plastic is quite
reminiscent of recent Skybow offerings of the US M38A1 and WC-51 families. All
lights are clear and separate to aid in painting. Also, most of the small
details are provided as separate parts; if you do not like the "fiddly
bits" with Skybow or AFV Club kits, you will not like this one either.
Some are odd, as the recommendation in step 8 to add two 3mm sections of sprue
to the windshield as "antennas" when it is obvious from placement and
directions that they are lock pins to hold the windshield erect in march order.
The Type 75 appears to be a Chinese copy of the M40 106mm RR used by the US for
many years, and is very similar to the one found in the new Academy M151 kit
(physically, not part for part!) This gun is also the same overall length
(97.3mm) as an M40. It comes with six rounds, five ready and one casing of a
fired one. Vent detail is present on the casings as well. The Chinese version
does not have a "spotter" gun mounted in it, however.
The figures are not great, but are a first for Trumpeter. The uniforms and
animation are a bit stiff and overstated, but their real letdown are the faces.
If the heads were replaced with some of the DML ChiCom figures from their
Korean War series, the figures should be acceptable. They consist of the
driver, the gunner, and the loader. Chinese uniform insignia are called out on
the painting sheet, but no ranks are given; if they are similar to Soviet ones,
they would be a private driver, corporal loader, and senior sergeant gunner.
The model comes with two sets of markings, a straight military green vehicle
and an Airborne (Strike) version. Based on what limited OB data I have, these
are assigned to the infantry and airborne units for high-mobility firepower and
antitank duties.
Overall this an appealing little kit, and quite a change of pace for most armor
modelers.
AMPS
Kit Review: Lee Models
1/35 Scale Kit No. 00309;
USSR T-54 Main Battle
Tank;
219 parts (189 in tan styrene, 14 black vinyl caps, 2 vinyl track sections,
3 copper battery pickups, 2 screws, 1 tube of cement, 1 motor, 1 length of braided
wire, 1 motor case, 4 gear sets with axles, 1 pre-assembled switch);
Price between $10-25.
Advantages: none.
Disadvantages: Answers the unasked question, "Does the World need a
motorized copy of an Esci T-55?"
Rating: Not Recommended.
Recommendation: None.
It's rare in this day and age
to come across a kit with no redeeming social value whatsoever, but this one
certainly lives down to that standard. This is a Chinese copy of the Esci T-55
kit not the best place to start that goes one further and adds a
do-it-yourself motorization kit to the fray.
First of all, this model in no way represents any sort of T-54. The kit is a
blatant copy of the Esci T-55 kit and includes all of its errors intact,
including the different length external fuel tanks and reversed rear road wheel
arm. The turret only differs in that they have attempted to put T-54/Type 59
details on it to hide its T-55 origins a stick-on ventilator on the right
side of the "D" plates and the early round loader's cupola hatch.
At least Trumpeter puts the gearboxes together and in many cases even provides
them pre-installed and wired, but not here. If you REALLY want a "carpet
crawler" you have to put the entire thing together and install it
yourself, and the directions are not clear on what gears go where, so if you do
want to carry that out, you're on your own.
Overall, however, unless doing this to please a small child this kit is a total
write-off. (I picked it up only because Charlie Pace and I were curious about
it and he had one for sale).
AMPS
Kit Review: Tamiya 1/35
Scale Military Miniatures Series No. 35254;
M26 Pershing US Medium Tank (T26E3);
322 parts (270 in olive styrene, 2 glueable vinyl tracks, 36 black vinyl,
10 metal screws and nuts, 4 steel springs);
Price $32-48.
Advantages: Tamiya quality for a new American tank kit;
floating suspension a novel idea.
Disadvantages: Choice of T81 tracks limits its flexibility;
Will go head to head with extant high-quality DML kit;
Needs track change for most of the other Pershings outside of "Zebra Mission"
and early USMC versions.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: For all US Armor and Korean War fans.
I am always happy to see
Tamiya turn its legendary quality to something other than German WWII tanks,
and was pleased to see them do a Pershing. While it appears this was an
offshoot of their 1/16 scale program, it still has resulted in a very nice kit
with some novelties.
When I was young, Renwal came out with a series of several then-new US Army
vehicles that sported "working" suspensions. But these had a spring
on every axle, and required a lot of effort for a 10-year-old to get them to
flex their muscles, and also would not stay in any useful position. (If
dropped, they would bounce like a low rider, though...)
Tamiya has now provided a much smoother and updated version of that idea with
this model. The method they used was as follows. The front and rear road wheel
arm on each side are sprung, which holds them down on the ground and keeps the
tracks in tension. The center four are simply held in place with caps similar
to the keepers used inside the road wheels, so they flop and flex. As the model
is either placed over an object or "pushed over" one in kiddy style,
the central road wheels follow the shape of the object and flex the suspension.
The tracks remain a bit loose to permit this, but overall the idea seems to
work. The bottom of the hull also comes with two 3mm nuts fixed inside it so
that the model may be screwed down to a base in a diorama to show that flexing,
which means that the modeler doesn't have to "drill and fill" to get
the same results. Note that the suspension takes the first eight steps of
construction to complete.
Some parts show more thought than in the past. While the model comes with an
injected tow cable (part H13) they provide the ends loose (parts A28) so
swapping it for wire is much easier. Most of the rest of the componentry is
provided as separate to permit easy conversion to other or later models of the
tank.
Some odd things do show up, however. Pershings had very large and obvious
casting marks, part numbers and serials, and all are missing from the turret
and mantelet. Tamiya should take a lesson from Academy and provide the numbers
and marks on the edges of the sprue runners so that they can be removed with a
razor blade and cemented in place.
Also, Tamiya chose to provide the T81 24-inch single-pin cast track. I will say
that they did do their research in that the three vehicles they provide decals
for did use the T81 track two in the ETO from 1945 and one from the USMC in
Korea but it limits the model to very few units and users. The later T80E1
tracks would possibly have been a better choice, as they would also have made
it easy for Tamiya to make the M26A1 and M46/M46A1 versions of the tank. (They
are also the most hated of the DML track sets, as they require separate links
with separate guide teeth and few modelers want to mess with that much detail.
DML's T81 tracks on their T26E3 kit, however, are one of their easiest sets to
assemble and use).
Overall this is a very well done kit, but one which puzzles me. I keep hoping
as do many others the Big T would do up a T-54/T-55 or Centurion which they
could then change and ride to Doomsday as a good seller. This is a nice kit,
but considering DML has had its excellent kits out there for several years now
(and re-released them to coincide with the release of this kit) it may not sell
as well as hoped.
AMPS
AMPS
AMPS
Kit Review: Academy 1/35 scale Kit No. 1399;
M3 Stuart "Honey";
703 parts (276
tan styrene, 424 steel colored styrene, 2 steel colored vinyl, 1 nylon string);
Price $22.50-28.00.
Advantages:
Totally new kit;
Offers vinyl or 3-piece single-link
track;
Literally a "drop fit" over Ordnance blueprints!
Disadvantages: Kit shows a turret basket where none
existed (M3A1 fittings);
Some odd shortcuts.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for all US and Allied armor fans, especially
British North African armour.
A number of us graying types can remember the days when the
Monday Night Football crew consisted of Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, and Howard
Cosell. Although it got to be a trite conclusion, after a game had turned into a
blowout (which Cosell had been telling the audience for 30 minutes or so)
Meredith would crank up an off-key rendition of "Turn out the lights, the
party's over..."
Such is the case
for Tamiya's quarter-century-old M3, M5A1, and M8 kits, as with the release of
this first of a string of new kits covering US light tanks that is the case for
those shopworn old friends. This is a gorgeous new kit that corrects every one
of the major flaws that the Tamiya kits had, and even throws in a complete
interior. There are very few glitches on this kit of consequence, which is truly
a rare event.
To begin with, the
kit literally drops over the Ordnance Museum 1/35 scale set of blueprints for
the M3 Light Tank (alas, no longer available) and has a SCALE turret! (Tamiya's
M3 turret was between 10 and 15% under scale, based on source.) While this kit
only comes with the welded octagonal turret, a second kit is coming behind this
one for the M3A1 with the "flat top" horseshoe turret and some other changes.
The hull also has the correct
curvatures under the lip of the bow, and (surprise!) sponson floors under the
sponsons. Length and shape issues have been resolved as well. While the rear air
intake vent is solid (no nylon screen is included) it is easy to fix, and since
it is a separate part there is also some wiggle room to put an engine in view.
(Based on the Academy M12 and the M10 series, I would be willing to bet Korean
resin manufacturers got test shots of the kits and will have the engines and
corrected interior bits out quite soon).
The kit comes with the modified armament for the M3,
consisting of the bow, coaxial, and AA .30 caliber machine guns, and the M6 37mm
cannon. This gun is slightly longer than the earlier M5, which was still quite
common in most M3 variants, but those who wish to externally modify the gun
should have no problems. It will be tough to fit the model with an aluminum
barrel, however, as the gun is presented in full and mounts to the turret race
and not to a set of model-type swivels inside the turret. No "wing" guns are
provided. One curious thing is that while Academy has made the parts of the
commander's cupola separate, there is no detailing on the inside of the view
ports, which will be quite visible when the turret flap is open. The same goes
for the driver's lower entrance hatch flap. (I expect Eduard will have a brass
set out for this and for the various bits that keep the driver's and gunner's
flaps open as well.)
The kit
comes with a gorgeous interior, but alas, it is for the M3A1 version with the
turret basket. Apparently Academy's researchers did not tell them this fact,
even though it was stated in both the excellent R. P. Hunnicutt book and the
more affordable Osprey/New Vanguard one by Steve Zaloga. The basic floor and
seats are fine, but the ammunition stowage is all wrong for the straight 3 and
will have to be redone (there are several rectangular bins which were
optimistically expected to function as a floor for the crew). The turret
interior is also quite different.
The model comes with a choice of either CORRECT vinyl tracks
(e.g. the teeth join the links together, not fit at the end of each link as with
the Tamiya M3 Stuart and M3 Lee/Grant kits) or three-piece styrene links,
jointed in the same manner as AFV Club and RHPS kits (note that the pins are
shorter and you may need cement to get them to stay on.) One nice touch: the kit
provides 138 track pads but sufficient end connectors for 144, so there are 12
extra connectors for those of us getting fat of fingers in our old age.
The model also provides a choice,
more applicable to the apparently coming M5 series of tanks, of wheels. (I'm not
omniscient, the sprues are marked "M3/M5" so it's sort of simplified...) Two
different drive wheels (solid disk or sculpted), two idlers (open welded spoke
or spoke with pie-shaped fillets in them for late-war tanks) and spoke or
pressed steel road wheels. The wheels have a thicker tread that more
approximates the actual vehicles, and is superior to the skinny Tamiya ones. The
bogies have the same parts breakdown as Tamiya spring rider, spring set, bogie
sides, top, and track guide but all are much nicer and closer to the right
size and shape, although the track guides are a bit on the thick side. The
idlers are much better done, and have a separate cap for the HVSS spring inside
the front of the mount.
While
the model comes with the odds and ends needed for a British vehicle, such as 2
gallon "flimsies" and some of the external bits such as the smoke mortars with
SMLE action and the map reading mounts for the commander's hatch, surprisingly
the kit only comes with a US SCR-510 type radio and not a No. 19 Wireless set.
The now-standard "D" sprue is included, so Sherman and other US armor fans get
the bennies of another nicely done .50 caliber for the spares box.
Four different markings options are
provided: two for the 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars, one US tank from the
80th Armored Regiment (Training), and one Japanese tank captured in the
Philippines. Other British markings are also included for troop and tank
variations, but only two serials (no "Tent Hat" either...) However, I may be
wrong but it appears that only one set of fender markings is included; I do not
know if it should have two but this has been a problem with Academy sheets in
the past. It does provide two different sets of quick-identification stripes, at
least.
Overall, this kit is yet
another wake-up call for the Big T. They will either have to get their act
together and start correcting older kits to stay competitive, or decide to give
up on US armored vehicles and duke it out with DML for the German armor market.
Academy has cut sufficient molds to give them fair warning that they will be
going after the US Light and Medium tank markets, but Tamiya for whatever
reason has instead opted to compete with DML in the US WWII Heavy tank arena
(T26E3 vs. T26E3). While there are modelers who will ignore kits just because
"they're not Tamiya" (and in the case of this one and its coming sisters, they'd
be complete idiots for doing so) I wonder if they will sell in sufficient
volume. Tamiya just can't keep re-releasing the same kits from 25 years ago and
expect them to sell when there is a superior kit from a more aggressive
competitor on the block.
AMPS
June 16, 2002
Kit Review: Trumpeter 1/35 Scale Kit
No. 00313;
T-55 Model 1958 with BTU-55 (static model);
352 parts (326 in light olive styrene, 18 in light olive
vinyl, 3 in clear styrene, 2 in steel colored vinyl, 1 nylon string, 1 copper
wire, and 1 sheet of nylon screening);
Price $19.95.
Advantages: CAN be built into a T-55 Model 1958, T-55 Model
1970, upgraded T-55, or Type 59/Type 69 with work;
All
parts for both the early and late T-55s (cupolas, DShK) in the box;
BTU nice kit on its own; finally made of styrene and not ABS
plastic.
Disadvantages: Hull proportions are wrong;
Turret needs correction; and tracks need replacement.
Rating: Recommended with Reservations.
Recommendation: for all T-55 or Type 69 Fans.
F I R S T L O O K
I have apparently gone on record as having an "attitude"
about Trumpeter and their kits. That's not true, as I have only given them
honest reviews when the kits have been unbuildable (made from ABS or similar
plastic) or clearly pirated from other manufacturers' kits.
I built their Type 69-II (or rather
attempted to build it) in October 2000. It was nearly impossible to assemble as
the kit was molded from a dark ABS type plastic that even the kit's own cement
would not adhere to. But it was a unique kit, and suffered from many of the same
failings as the rest of the first group of Trumpeter releases: bad proportions,
poor assembly components, and obsolete design.
They recently reported they are stopping these practices as
they wish to be a serious model company. I salute them for that, if it comes to
pass and they stop the practice of copying styrene or resin kits and concentrate
on achieving world standards.
In
the case of this model, I must state up front this T-55 kit is uniquely theirs,
and is now made from styrene. Those are two great things in its favor.
Trumpeter has reworked and cleaned
up their molds from their earlier Type 59/69/79/80 kits and now is molding them
in a light olive styrene similar to the Tamiya T-72M1 and IS-3 kits. This is a
good step forward, for modelers that can assemble your kits tend to buy other
products from the same company, and can also swap their parts with other models.
Assembly is therefore modular and the kits use "mix and match" sprues of the
same sort as Tamiya and DML now do. This kit uses a "standard" A, B, and D sprue
set with a specific T-55 turret (E), 100mm D-10T2S gun (H), T-55 add-on parts
(J1 and J2), and the BTU-55 assembly (K). The result is that the model comes
with two sets of hatches and two DShK machine guns (one of which was missing a
barrel in this kit, but that is moot if the Model 1958 is built which does not
have the loader's AA gun mount).
All of the T-55 and Type 69 light parts are also included.
Unfortunately the lights are the correct size for the Type 69 and undersized for
the T-55, and as only one set is included, you will have to scrounge some from
an ESCI T-55 or Tamiya T-62A kit. The engine deck is that from the T-54 or Type
59 and as such is incorrect for a T-55 (the accessory access door to the air
cleaner on the right side is rectangular, and it should be more of a uneven
quadrilateral shape with the longest side facing the right side of the hull.)
The turret mirrors the turrets
from the Lindberg and ESCI T-55 kits in that it is equilateral and has the gun
on the centerline. While the shape and height are not too bad, this is an error
as the gun needs to be moved about 2.5mm to the right (and yes, it IS noticeable
in the finished model.) The reason is that without this shift there is no room
for the gunner on the left side of the turret, and the gunner's sight appears in
the wrong place on the turret. This is a reasonably easy fix, as one can cut a
strip off the right side and fix it to the left. The mantelet attachment strips
(parts B95 and B96) are separate, so you will have the right details to reattach
when done.
The wheels and
driveline are infuriating. The wheels are the most accurate of any T-55 wheels
in a kit but have odd bars on the tire tread surface that have to be removed.
They also fasten with the obsolete external poly cap system Tamiya junked years
ago for hidden internal caps. The ones for this kit are different than the ones
included with the Type 69-II kit I built some time back, but are still slightly
undersized.
Most of the details
are not too bad. The fuel tanks are at least all the same size (!) and at least
close to the original design. A separate set of bins are included for the T-55
which hopefully fit better than the Type 69-II set, which actually prevented the
turret from being attached or swiveled.
I have two sets of super-accurate T-55 plans, one from noted
US modeler and researcher Karl Rosenlof and one from Russian modeler and
researcher Vladimir Levkovich. I used them to compare the three better known
T-55 kits to the original. (Note: I ignored the SKIF T-55 kit, as it is so bad
as to not be worth the effort. It may have an accurate hull but the rest of the
kit is so poor that it needs to be replaced, and ergo is of little value to
anyone except SKIF's backers).
T-55 Model - 1958 Actual 1/35 Lindberg ESCI Trumpeter T-55
T-55 Type 69/T-55
Length overall
9000 mm 257.1 259.0 259.0 263.0.
Length (hull only) 6040
mm 172.6 172.6 174.0 177.00.
Width (fenders) 3270 mm
93.4 95.2 93.4 95.2.
Height (turret crest) 2350 mm 67.1
66.5 63.0 69.1.
Ground clearance 425 mm 12.1 13.0 14.0
12.1.
Hull depth 1010mm 28.9 29.2 29.2 32.5.
Alas, as can be seen, Trumpeter
modified the hull to fit in a power pack and as a result the hull is too long
and too thick. This throws the rest of the kit out of whack and makes it look
thick and chunky when completed. It appears that the 4.4 mm length problem is
all at the rear of the hull, as it is the reason that the length is off. The 3.6
mm height problem is split evenly between above and below the fenders. These are
very tough problems to fix, and most modelers will either ignore them or find
another way. (Swapping bits between the ESCI T-55 and the Trumpeter one may be
the way to go, as the ESCI hull SHAPE is more accurate whereas the Trumpeter
hull DETAILS are more accurate. But either way, that's a lot of work).
The BTU blade, on the other hand,
makes a nice model and consists of 58 parts by itself. It comes with a separate
moldboard and backing frame, and also has all of the mounts and pistons for
operation. The transport cables (parts K-36 and K-37) are the only weak parts to
it as they are molded in one piece from styrene. The only drawback is that there
is no other "good" T-55 out there to mount it on!
Decals are included for one Finnish vehicle, Ps 261-2. Side
numbers are provided but would seem to be a non-starter with only one
registration number set.
Overall, this is a better kit than the Type 69-II. While it
does have nice touches, in its own right it is just as poor as its Lindberg and
ESCI predecessors. (It is better than the SKIF kit, but that did not take much
to accomplish.) It CAN be made into a T-55 but it will take a lot of work and
extra kits to get the job done. Even if you decide to build it as is, the tracks
are very thin and lack depth, and will have to be replaced with an after-market
set.
AMPS
April 25, 2002
Kit Review: Tamiya 1/35 Scale
Military Miniature Series No. 35251;
M4A3 105mm Sherman;
385 parts (379 in olive drab styrene, 4 black vinyl
caps, 2 steel colored glueable vinyl tracks);
Price
$26-40.
Advantages: Nice upgrades for an older kit;
Disadvantages: Still has some drawbacks from original kit.
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation: For all Sherman fans.
Better late than never, I picked
this kit up at AMPS 2002. Compared to the other warmed-over versions of the
Sherman, I have to say that this time Tamiya has made a concerted effort to give
the modeler his money's worth on the upgrade.
The original Tamiya Sherman kit came out in 1981, and while
a great model for its time, had a number of disappointments. First, off, it came
with a "hollow" hull and no sponsons, something its running mate, the
five-year-old Italeri M4A1 kit, had done from the beginning. Second, it used the
"cast" (a misnomer actually welded pressed steel) solid road wheels and
idlers, but lacking detail on the back. Its T54 with extender tracks were one
link too long, presumably to make them easier to install. Finally, some people
had questions of its turret, being a late model "high-bustle" turret without the
loader's hatch. It came with one full and one half figure, but alas, they were
the 5'2" "dwarves" of the period.
In 1988, Tamiya re-released the kit, albeit this time with a
new turret and add-on bits to turn it into an M4A3E2 "Jumbo." The price went up
nearly 250% (from around $16 from MRC Tamiya at the time) to $40 but none of the
original flaws in the kit were fixed, and this kit added new ones, such as a
poorly shaped turret.
In the mid
1990s, they did finally release a major revision to the kit an early model M4
with a new hull, new turret and new crew figures. But it still had the same
suspension the very late model one with "upswept" roller mounts no sponsons
and some hull details that were not quite accurate. This kit added T48 rubber
chevron tracks, but they were still about one link too long.
In 2001, Tamiya finally released
this kit and its stable mate, an M4A3 75mm with a late model turret that was
correct. Taking cues from Academy and DML, both of which had been running rings
around Tamiya with variants of standard kits (DML having no less than 10 Sherman
variants on the market, and Academy having begun a new series of M3 and M4 based
vehicles) Tamiya proved it could do at least as well.
When I was a kid, one of the Mattel
commercials on TV had a jingle that ran, "Mix and match/It's fun to do/What Ken
and Barbie wear/Is up to you!" DML and Academy have used that with "pick a
sprue" kit provisioning for some time, and now Tamiya has picked up on that as
well.
This kit includes the
upper and lower hull, A and B sprues from the old M4A3 kit of 1981, but adds to
it two D sprues from the M4 Early kit, a new G sprue with the turret assembly,
and W, two X, Y, and Z sprues loaded with figures and accessories. This kit does
not hurt for figures counting the original figures (which are included) the
kit comes with six full and three half figures, five full standing figures being
brand new and state of the art. It also comes with a good deal of "kit" to stow
on the engine deck and luggage rack, including .30 caliber ammo cans, boxes,
jerry cans, and spare tank parts.
The new turret is very well done, includes both hatches as
separate parts, and is of the correct design and shape. The five new figures are
much taller than the older efforts, and copy the DML style layout of separate
heads with necks, bodies in sections, and separate lower arms.
Unfortunately, Tamiya still provides
the same hull without sponsons and the same pressed steel road wheels without
backs. Even Italeri provides those in their M4A2 USMC kit, so it is surprising
that with all of the other nice touches to this kit that Tamiya did not see fit
to fix those problems. Their tools are still better than Italeri's, at least.
A nice new sheet of markings is
included for three vehicles, but only two are full and complete (one appears to
have been a machine being delivered, as it has no bumper codes).
Overall this is a nice kit, and as
it is now past its first run and showing up at cheaper prices, a bargain if you
can find one for under $30.
Cookie Sewell
AMPS
Kit Review: Tamiya 1/35 Scale
Military Miniatures Series No. 35142;
KV-1B Russian Tank
Model 1940 Applique Armor;
153 parts (135 in dark olive
drab styrene, 16 in black vinyl, 2 in silver vinyl);
Price $26-34.
Advantages: Crisp
moldings, best model currently of this vehicle.
Disadvantages: Same poor tracks from 1972, with the addition
of about six parts kit could have provided great possibilities.
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation:
For all Soviet WWII fans.
I
take a long time to get around to some kits, and had ignored KV tank kits for
years, as I wasn't really impressed with the 1972 Tamiya kit. It did have the
advantage of being pretty much on the money as regards scale, as the hull of the
KV was big enough to swallow up a standard Tamiya power pack and batteries. But
the tracks were poor only detailed on one side and with all of the
motorization compromises the kit left something to be desired.
In 1988 Tamiya tried to upgrade some
of their older kits, producing five kits with only minor changes. All five the
upgraded Chi-Ha, the T-34-85, the M4A3E2 "Jumbo", the KV-1B, and the M60A3
were kits from 1972 to 1981 vintage and all had one or two new sprues added to
change the model to another variant. None of the original kit flaws, however,
was fixed, so they were really quite mixed 1988 state-of-the-art new turret
and bits with 1972 lower hull and details. Not a particularly good mix in the
case of the Sherman or T-34, but at least this kit had the benefit of a
reasonably good hull.
The kit
COULD have been very, very useful, but alas Tamiya left out some bits that would
have permitted that to happen. The turret is a Model 1940 turret with the
conical base and flat sides, and comes with the later production F-32 gun. But
instead of two backs to the turret, Tamiya only provides one that has to be used
with the appliquι armor. They also only provide a appliquι armor upper glacis.
This is a shame, for had they provided a flat back to the turret and separate
details for the upper glacis, as well as the inverted mantelet for the L-11 gun,
any standard Model 1940 production tank could have been modeled from this kit
(L-11 and F-32 gun barrels are virtually the same length 32 calibers or about
96 inches).
The kit also comes
with nearly useless bits from the KV-1 Model 1941 kit cylindrical spare fuel
tanks, whereas the originals used four "flimsy" type cans, usually mounted on
the right fender.
This kit does
build into a reasonable KV-1 s Ehkranami (with appliquι) tank; KV-1B is a German
designation given for the second observed model of the KV-1 tank. (The original
kit was called a KV-1C by the Germans). Four sets of markings are provided, two
of which are inscriptions and were used for a field demonstration of the new s
Ehkranami tanks in the Leningrad Military District before the "900 Days" began.
Overall, it is at least better
than the sorry Don Association kit, but it could have been much better. This kit
HAS to have the pitiful tracks replaced, and that is a shame.
AMPS
Kit Review: Italeri Kit 1/35 Scale
Kit No. 6389;
US Marines M4 Sherman;
289 parts (286 in olive drab styrene, 2 vinyl tracks, 1
piece of nylon mesh);
Price $20-32.
Advantages: includes two new sprues of parts including a
spare engine deck and all of the wading trunking for an M4A2 or M4A3 Sherman.
Disadvantages: Not quite what it seems (see text);
ejection pin marks all over the inside of the tracks;
"Working suspension" is obsolete and should be replaced/new
molds.
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation: For all USMC and Sherman fans.
Another kit that has been out for a
few months that I just picked up is the long-awaited USMC Sherman. Several years
ago, Italeri goofed by declaring they had produced an "M4A2 Jumbo" which turned
out to be an early production M4A3 76mm Wet Stowage tank when one opened the
box. This tank is the same way, for while it declares itself to be an M4 on the
box art in reality it is their M4A3 Wet Stowage hull with the turret from
Italeri's M4A3 with T34 Calliope launcher, the T54E2 tracks from the Calliope
kit, and two completely new sprues of parts.
Italeri shows on the T34 kit sprue that unlike AFV Club and
Tamiya, they DO understand the pressed steel wheels for the M4 series tanks have
a front AND a back side. Given that the Italeri welded ("spoke") wheels are not
too bad, the modeler now has a choice of parts and both are usable. The
"working" suspension, alas, is still with us, and as such the modeler must be
careful on either cementing it in fixed positions or watching out for "rocking
horse" syndrome if the tracks are too tight.
The oddest thing about this kit is that it includes an M4A2
engine deck (which was a tank also used by the USMC) but only has sketchy
information as to what to do with it. They show the deck being cut out of the A3
hull (which in the new mold of this hull is now scored to make it easy) and the
new deck cementing in. What they DON'T show is how to correct the rear plate
from the 22 degree angle of the A3 to the 12 degree angle of the A2, deepening
it, and exchanging the rear of the hull for an A2 rear with twin muffler
assemblies (see the Academy/AFV Club M10 kits or a Tamiya M3 Lee kit for what it
should look like). If some care is used, and the A3 exhaust deflector is
installed, it may be possible to cover over this with the wading trunks.
The wading trunks are a nice bit of
work, and while they need a bit of TLC are really well thought through. Italeri
left provisions for only the mounts to be installed, as in the way many tanks
looked after coming ashore and dumping the stack portions. For this purpose,
sufficient nylon mesh screen is included to cut four sections of screening two
for the stacks, and two more for the bases. An engine deck base for both the A2
and A3 is included.
The tank
that comes with the kit is both a nice touch and a mistake. The tank (parts
118-121E) is apparently a USMC fuel container converted to a water tank and
welded to the engine deck of M4A2 tanks. BUT the kit builds into a tank from 2nd
Tank Battalion, and according to the photos in Steve Zaloga's "Tank Battles of
the Pacific War" only 4th Tank Battalion used them like this. The one shot of
the tank in this kit "Nitemare II" from 2nd Tanks shows it with their welded
on extra track links, the wading stacks dropped and no container. (As is all too
common with Italeri, they don't identify the unit of the vehicle they modeled.)
At least Italeri does give you all of the extra T54E2 track links shown in the
photo.
Overall this is actually
not a bad kit, and the worst spots I see to it are the "rocking horse"
suspension and the splitting of the gun barrel in the horizontal plane.
AMPS
Kit Review: SKIF 1/35 Scale Accessory
Kits.
No. N-502, Mine Sweeper KMT-6 (for T-55. T-62,
T-64, T-72, T-80, T-84);
48 parts in green styrene;
retail price $7.
No. N-503, Ammunition Supply of
Artillery Shells Caliber 122mm, 16 boxes;
96 parts in
green styrene;
Retail price $5.
Advantages: great items for completing kits; new mine plow
very well done.
Disadvantages: shell set comes without
decals for stencils or shell markings, which are not available
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation:
For all Soviet equipment fans.
SKIF is one of those companies I pull for, as they are
working on kits no other manufacturer has bother with and which are unlikely to
come out from any other source. They do some good work (the D-30 howitzer is
great) and also some duds (the T-55 is not worth building) but in between they
find some pretty reasonable items that can be made into nice models.
Now they have released the next two
accessory kits (N-501 was the number retroactively applied to their T-64 track
set). Both of them have the same level of molding, and at least SKIF has left us
with raised injection pin marks this time that are much easier to remove.
The track width mine plow - somewhat
incorrectly designated as a KMT by the Soviets, as KMT expands to "Katkoviy
Minniy Tral" or "roller mine clearing trawl" is a real jewel, and will really
look good on most modern Soviet type tanks. It has twin blades with three plows
on each, the bar to knock down and detonate trip-rod mines, but lacks the
retrofitted EMT electromagnetic mine detonators later fitted to these devices.
If carefully assembled, the plows raise and lower, and can be posed in any
position. The plow is a drop-fit (once you shave off the "keepers") on any kit
that the original model company thought to fit with mine clearing mounts.
The 122mm rounds will go with any
122mm weapon, and right now that covers Zvezda's M-30 and SKIF's D-30 and 2S1
"Gvozdika". While it announces itself in Russian as a "Boyekomplekt" or basic
load, a basic load for those weapons is actually 80 rounds, but this is a good
start, and will more than fill up a truck or diorama. Most of the assembly will
consist of cleaning off ejection pin marks and drilling out the shell casings
for either installing the projos or using as discards. Soviet 122mm field guns
and howitzers used two-part cased rounds rather than bagged charges, but most
rounds were assembled on the ground prior to loading or storing in ammo racks in
the 2S1.
Sadly, these rounds are
loaded with all kinds of markings and stencils, as are the crates, but SKIF did
not provide us with a decal sheet covering the info, and that is a real shame.
Most of these should be marked at least with a stencil for "OF-462" which is the
normal Soviet era HE-FRAG round, as represented in the kit.
Overall, however, these are welcome
additions and should find their way into many kits and dioramas.
AMPS
Kit Review: Eastern Express 1/35
Scale Kit No. 35154;
Army Fuel Truck BZ-ZiS-5V Model
1942;
121 parts (107 in green styrene, 7 in black
styrene, 6 in clear styrene, 1 white vinyl hose);
Price
$26.
Advantages: First kit of this vehicle in this
scale; neat, crisp moldings;
Clean assembly.
Disadvantages: Uses the FORT/SDS chassis as a basis,
retaining its errors.
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation: for softskin fans or diorama artists on the
eastern front.
The Soviets
were much more cognizant of the same things the American Army was in WWII,
namely, the logistics needed to keep a large army going in the field. As a
result, they spent a lot of time on logistics and supporting infrastructure that
was not reflected by their German opponents. These included a large number of
refueling vehicles to support both their ground and air forces.
The simplest way to do that, of
course, is to create fuel trucks that can go to the vehicles and refuel them in
situ rather than have central dumps to which the combat vehicles must return.
The result was the creation of a number of gasoline tankers -
"Benzozapravshchik" in Russian capable of carrying up to 5,000 liters of fuel
to the front and pumping it out into the waiting combat vehicles.
Eastern Express has now released a
1/35-scale model of a typical Soviet field BZ tanker from the war, based on the
mass-produced ZiS-5V wartime 2 metric ton cargo truck. This vehicle carried
3,000 liters of liquids and had two manual pumps, one on each side of the main
cistern, for off-loading the liquids.
This kit is based on the old FORT/SDS ZiS-5V chassis, which
is both good and bad. The good part is that the FORT kit is a snap to build, is
a nice sharp clean molding with few really badly placed ejector pin marks, and
looks nice when done. The bad part is that is has a number of errors and is a
"simplified" kit, missing bits like a Pittman arm and having the exhaust on the
wrong side of the chassis.
This
version comes with a new body sprue with a very nicely done cistern and pumps.
However, while the directions indicate in both English and Russian the original
came with two 6 or 8 meter long hoses, the model comes with one 20 cm section of
vinyl hose, which equals only 7 meters in scale. This will need replacement.
What information I can find on this
one says it was a typically Soviet design. The pumps are mounted on the side of
the cistern, but it takes an intake hose lowered into the filler well on the top
to get the fuel out of the cistern, and another hose connected to the bottom of
the pump to get the fuel to the vehicle or aircraft. The directions hint at
that, but don't show it, and the hose section sure isn't long enough to make it
work.
At the end of the day, it
is a nice, attractive subject, and hopefully somebody can have fun combining a
DML T-34-85, this vehicle, and the Tamiya Tank Crew and Tank Riders sets to make
some nice dioramas and vignettes.
Cookie Sewell
AMPS
Kit Review: Verlinden 1/35 Scale
Machine Gun Sets.
Kit No. 371,
.30 caliber Machine Gun (2 pieces);
26 parts (8 parts in
tan resin and 18 in copper colored etched brass);
Price
$9.00.
Kit No. 1729, VP Super Value Caliber .50 Machine
Guns (4 complete + 5 spare ammo boxes);
49 parts in tan
resin; Price $10.
Kit No. 1735, VP Super Value Caliber
.30 Machine Guns (4 complete + 5 spare ammo boxes);
9
parts in tan resin;
Price $10.
Advantages: all new "Super Value" sets are all resin;
castings are logical and relatively easy to assemble; look good once painted and
installed.
Disadvantages: new .30 caliber guns use .50
caliber mounts and not the much more common "rocker" mounts (which were provided
with the original set).
Rating: Recommended (.30
calibers) Highly Recommended (.50 calibers).
Most people are aware that Verlinden in Belgium and VLS
Productions in Saint Louis have been separate entities for some time. I decided
to compare the originals to the newest products from VLS and managed to find
these set at AMPS 2002.
The
original Verlinden .30 caliber set provided two guns with all of their
accouterments in one package. Most of the mounts were brass and had to be bent
and formed to shape, and the guns installed with careful drilling and wire.
Still, the mounts were relatively accurate and not as fussy as the Royal Models
ones.
The new ones are a snap to
assemble, being all resin. But for some odd reason the guns are mounted on .50
caliber cradles and not the more common .30 caliber ones. I am at a loss where
they can be used, but the box art shows them installed on an LVT-4 in place of a
.50 caliber.
The .50s are very
nice, and each gun consists of 9 parts (two spare hand grips are included per
gun, which is good for the clumsier of us like me). The cradles are beautifully
cast, but the mounts are simplified and seem to lack the conspicuous balancing
spring housing on the right side. Still, for $2.50 a shot I am happy to add the
spring or adapt a kit mount to take the gun.
Overall, this "Super Value" offer is a deal, and should help
sales out.
AMPS
Kit Review: ICM 1/35 Scale Kit No.
35281;
Soviet-Afghan War, 1979-1988 Soviet Tank Crew;
>33 parts in white plastic;
Price $7.50.
Advantages: Modern
Soviet and Russian figures useful in any setting to the present time; nice,
relaxed poses; use of "DML System" makes for nice, clean figure painting and
assembly.
Disadvantages: No weapons, not designed to fit
inside vehicles; one SPETsNAZ type soldier may seem out of place.
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for anyone doing modern Soviet or
Russian/Commonwealth of Independent States vehicles.
DML set the standard for modern
plastic figure sets over 10 years ago, and many other companies now use their
well thought out figure breakdowns in producing scale figures for armored
vehicles and dioramas. ICM is no different, and this nice new set uses the
familiar DML style breakdown to permit the modeler to both get a good clean
assembly and to get a good clean paint job on the figures' faces.
This set provides four figures and
five heads for a "Break" type of setting. Two figures are in relaxed poses, one
squatting and one sitting, and another one wearing the field uniform is standing
in an off hand pose. The fourth figure appears to be inspecting the vehicle.
The odd duck is the off hand figure,
who appears to be more of a SPETsNAZ soldier in the field uniform. He comes with
two different heads one with the old-fashioned Soviet "pilotka" side cap and
one with the more modern soft cap and the newer style field uniform. If he is
left with the soft cap, he can also be painted up for most modern Russian
soldiers in their new four-color camouflage uniform, lacking only references for
patches and a blood type badge over the left breast pocket. Oddly, the most
popular hat in Afghanistan was the "panamanka" floppy hat, and he does not come
with that one.
ICM is getting
very good at their figure sets, and like many other companies today seem to get
better with each one released.
AMPS
Product Review: Archer Fine Transfers
1/35 Scale sets:
No. AR35145, US 6th AD M4A3E8 (68th
Armor Battalion, one vehicle); Price $4.95.
No. AR35146,
US 6th AD M4A3E8 (15th Armor Battalion, one vehicle); Price $8.95.
No. AR35147, US 6th AD M4 (105) (69th Armor Battalion, one
vehicle); Price $4.95.
No. AR35149, Miscellaneous US
Medic Markings (supplements AR35002 or can be used alone); Price $8.95.
No. AR35168, Canadians in Korea (Common Vehicle Markings);
Price $14.95.
No. AR35170, Canadians in Korea (Canadian
Sherman Names); Price $5.95.
No. FG35042A, German SS
Uniform Patches (for 40+ Figures);Price $24.95.
No.
FG35043A, German SS Shoulder Boards (for 46 Figures); Price $16.95.
No. FG35044, German Helmet Insignias (for over 100 Figures);
Price $15.95.
Advantages: Absolutely spot on
registration markings;
German cuff titles need a good
magnifying glass to read but are all there; colors are well done and beautifully
presented.
Disadvantages: May seem pricey to first-time
buyers (see text).
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Recommendation: for any 1/35 scale modeler who wants to "get
it right." I always like the AMPS show in the spring, as I sadly only get to see
Woody Vondracek once or twice a year and love to see what he has been working on
over the last twelve months. This year, Woody brought four full tables of
materials to AMPS 2002 and, as would seem improbable, the new items are even
better than last year's items.
The German items had been raved about for some time, and in
point of fact earned Archer Fine Transfers an AMPS Gold Medal for Best New
Modeling Product for 2001, as awarded by the people attending AMPS 2002. For
those with either five thumbs or eyesight like mine that is uncomfortably moving
into the 50s, these items are a Godsend.
Sheet 35042A covers the accouterments that go with SS field
and dress uniforms, and are absolutely amazing. The cuff titles take a good
strong magnifying glass to read, but are clearly and neatly done when you get
them in focus. Cuff titles are included for 1st SS Panzer (Liebstandart Adolph
Hitler), 2nd SS Panzer (Das Reich), 3rd SS Panzer (Totenkopf), 5th SS Panzer
(Wiking), and the "Deutschland", "Germania" and "Der Fuhrer" units. Tabs and
patches cover all ranks up to SS-Standartenfuehrer (full Colonel).
Sheet 35043A covers shoulder boards
and are in black with white trim. All ranks are covered up to
SS-Standartenfuehrer.
Sheet
35044 covers the two helmet decals worn by all German troops and provides the
tricolor flash, swastika, SS runes, Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe eagles. All research
was provided by Roddy MacDougal.
Sheet 35145, 146, and 147 each cover one tank from each
battalion of the 6th Armored Division in WWII. 145 covers a tank named "A Paper
Doll" with a turtle logo, 146 one named "Army Mule", and 147 "Rat
Poison/Kentucky", a howitzer tank. All are researched by Scott Smith, who has
been studying the history of the 6th.
Sheet 35149 covers the markings and other stencils used by
US WWII medical and hospital units, and can be used separately or in conjunction
with sheer AR35002, which provides markings for US ambulances, particularly the
Peerless Max/Italeri Dodge WC-54 kit. There are more signs on this one that can
really be used to punch up a field aid station diorama or vignette.
Lastly, Sheets 35168 and 35170 cover
Canadian Armor (Armour) units in Korea. Most of them seem pretty much focused on
Lord Strathcona's Horse, which was essentially a Canadian manned Sherman medium
tank battalion. Sheet 168 covers the bumper flashes, unit codes, and turret
geometric markings, and Sheet 170 provides names for 13 different Shermans from
A, B, and C Companies as well as "White 41" bumper codes. All sheets were
researched by well-known Canadian modeler Don Dingwall.
With the continual flow of new items
from Woody and Archer Fine Transfers, it's a great time to be an armor
modeler!
Thanks once again to Woody for the review
samples.
AMPS
Maquette 1/35 Scale Kit No. 34034;
Russian 152mm Field Howitzer D-1;
128 parts (115 in light green styrene, 9 in tan resin, 4 in
white metal);
Price $24-32.
Advantages: First kit of this famous gun in 1/35 scale;
Resin conversion appears well done and nicely fitted to the
carriage.
Disadvantages: No ammunition included; barrel
is excessively tapered behind the muzzle brake.
Rating:
Recommended.
Recommendation: for all fans of the Soviet
" God of War."
I am always a
bit leery of Maquette kits, as some of them have been absolutely dreadful and
others are simply reboxes of other manufacturers' kits, notably Zvezda, with odd
resin parts thrown in. This kit is essentially one of the latter, but appears
far better done than past efforts and worth the look.
When the Soviets needed a handy
heavy howitzer during WWII, the solution was to mate a new barrel designed by F.
F. Petrov to the then standard M-30 122mm Model 1938 howitzer carriage. The new
howitzer passed its tests, and was fielded as the D-1 152mm Model 1943 howitzer.
It remained in Soviet service up into the 1970s, and in other countries much
later. The howitzer can still fire all Soviet and Russian ammunition less the
"Krasnopol'" guided artillery projectile and nuclear rounds.
In this kit, a Zvezda 122mm M-30 kit
is combined with a new resin barrel, muzzle brake, and cradle, white metal
furniture, and the result is a reasonably good approximation of a D-1. Alas, the
kit still comes with the stock 122mm rounds, so you will have to police up
ammunition elsewhere.
The kit's
biggest problem will be mating the muzzle brake with the barrel. It will take
some filing and sanding (never much fun with eastern European resins) to get a
good fit. The barrel tip has been tapered, and as such will have to be necked
down and the inside of the muzzle brake filed out to get it to fit together
smoothly.
Overall, this is much better than past limited
run Maquette kits, such as the ZIS-2 57mm AT gun.
AMPS
April 18, 2002
Kit Review: Don Association 1/35
Scale Kit (no number);
Soviet Heavy Tank 2nd World War
Period KV-1 1939/1940;
331 parts (112 in brown styrene,
218 in grey styrene, 1 section of nylon wire);
Price between $12-20, based on source.
Advantages: provides parts to build an early model KV-1
tank; has working tracks.
Disadvantages: very crude
details;
Coarse and old-fashioned moldings; will not
build into a Model 1940 as is.
Rating: Recommended with
Reservations
Recommendation: for all "Klim" fans
F I R S T L O O K
In regard to WWII Soviet tanks, the only major service
versions we currently can't model "out of the box" are the early models of the
major WWII tanks the T-34 Models 1940 and 1941, and the KV-1 Model 1940. A new
manufacturer, Don Association (which lists itself as a joint British-Ukrainian
venture on the box) has now released a new kit of the Model 1939 and Model 1940
KV-1 tanks.
There is some error
in this. The first KV-1 built was the only Model 1939 and it was sent to the
Mannerheim Line for testing, which it did not complete prior to the end of
December 1939. That tank was quite a bit different in details from the later
tanks that were produced in 1940.
The first KV tank (it only got the designation KV-1 when the
152mm KV-2 was accepted for production) had extra fuel panniers which ran the
entire length of its fenders, as well as a 500 HP V-2 diesel engine and a
"small" turret with a coaxial 76mm L-11 cannon and 45mm Model 1938 tank gun, as
well as a DT machine gun in the mantelet, one in the rear of the turret, and one
in the bow gunner's position.
The "U" or validation series prototypes did not see the
light of day until February 1940, with a mixture of "small" turret KV tanks
armed with just the 76mm gun and "big" turret tanks armed with the 152mm M-10
howitzer. A total of eight tanks saw service in Finland, but no combat; they
were used for testing their weapons against overrun Finnish obstacles and
engineering works.
While the
"small" turret tanks were ordered into production in June 1940 as the KV-1, the
"large" turret was unsuccessful and sent back to be redesigned. It became the
KV-2 with the familiar boxy turret most people associate with the tank.
The Model 1940 production tanks used
square panniers for fuel reserves on the fenders (up to four per side was
normal) and were armed with the 32-caliber long L-11 76mm gun. This gun had a
recoil mechanism which was mounted above the gun barrel, and as such had a very
pronounced "boar's head" type mantelet. It was not until late 1940 that the tank
switched to the 76.2mm F-32 of the same length but with the recoil
mechanism under the barrel. The ZIS-5 was the normal gun for the late Model 1940
or Model 1941 KV-1, as it had a much longer barrel still of 40.5 calibers.
The Don Association kit is
somewhat of a mixed bag, and is not for the "shake the box" modeler. Most of its
dimensions appear close, but is a nearly totally "flat" kit with retrograde
modeling conventions like suspension arms molded onto the sides of the hull.
Moldings overall are crude, and lack a lot of the details most of us have come
to expect. The two-color moldings are also reminiscent of Matchbox kits, not a
good sign. However, this kit WILL build up into a KV-1 but it will take time.
It offers a turret that it
claims will build as either a Model 1939 or 1940. It will NOT build into a Model
1939 at all, and will also not build into an early Model 1940 as it does not
have the "boar's head" mantelet. If you want that, you will have to scrounge the
basic "hump" from an ICM T-28 or T-35 kit. The kit does provide the short (F-32)
or long (ZIS-5) barrel for the 76, but both are not much more than two-part
tubes with smooth sides and a big seam. The mantelet is most accurate for the
short F-32 gun, so you are still pretty limited and should only opt for the late
Model 1940. As for a barrel, call for Jordi Rubio or another after-market barrel
manufacturer.
It has the
overlapping lip (which appears to be riveted with massive rivets 17 of them
in the few photos I can find of the hull without the appliquι armor) at the
front of the hull which appears (photos are hard to see this detail in) to be
normal for early KV tanks But it also comes with the later appliquι armor for
the upper glacis and turret race, which appear way too thick, and no L-shaped
appliquι nor the plate which goes on below it.
Wheels are very heavily done and of the incorrect pattern
for early KV tanks, and to be honest they look more like they came off the old
Aurora JS-3 kit. Drivers and idlers are also poorly done.
The track links are a bit crude but
as compared to the rest of the kit amazing moldings. They have 0.020" (0.5mm)
holes through the hinges, and the instructions indicate that you are to use 25mm
sections of the nylon wire to make them work. Personally I don't think that
works as the wire is about 0.008" (0.2mm) in diameter and not likely to fit
right. I would use some suitable microrod with heat-forged pinheads and cement
them to the ends to make a working hinge.
Overall the rest of the details are incredibly crude, and as
a result this kit is going to require a kitbash with a Tamiya KV-1B or KV-2 kit
to be more or less accurate. That's a bit more than most modelers want to go,
but there's no other way to get this kit up to modern levels of detail.
Markings are included for five KV-1
tanks, three of which appear to be Model 1940s and two Model 1941s. The
Mannerheim line markings are bogus, as the tanks were the U series prototypes
that the kit will not build.
Don
Associates also offer a KV-2 kit for the same price. Not only that, they share
the same box (flip it over and it is the KV-2 box; this has to be a pain for
retailers as it has two items sharing the same box and customers are not likely
to be amused if they get the wrong one!) It is designed to be "green" and
recycled, and packing must have been "Green" approved as it quite flimsy.
Eastern Front Hobbies packed my kit well, but it "flexed" in shipment, sucking
plastic worms into the box and ejecting track links (yes, all 168 links come in
a little bag, not on trees!) into the worms, making unpacking a merry chase for
parts and getting rid of the worms!
Thanks to Bob Lessels of Eastern Front Hobbies for the
review sample.
AMPS
March 28, 2002 Kit Review: Maquette 1/35 Scale Kit No. 35024; T-34 V-2
Engine & Transmission Set;
24 parts in light grey
styrene;
Price $6.98
Advantages: Injection molded styrene kit, will fit in a
multitude of models.
Disadvantages: Will need a lot of
TLC as parts are very basic.
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation: To all Soviet era modelers who want either
an engine in a model or a centerpiece for a maintenance diorama.
If anyone looks at the IPMS/USA
shows over the last few years, you would notice that some very interesting items
have been entered and in one case won the Best of Show award. These are
components of aircraft, cars, ships or armor, and are becoming more and more
popular. The winner a few years ago was Curtiss aircraft engines from the 1910s
and 1920s in 1/48th scale and were absolutely gorgeous.
Armor modelers don't usually get
into that, even though there are a growing number of models of engines out there
that could have the same techniques applied to them. It would be interesting to
see a set of famous tank engines of the world, such as the Rolls Royce Meteor,
the US Liberty engine, the Ford GAA, the German Maybachs, and arguably the most
famous one of all, the Soviet V-2 diesel.
In July 1931, the Soviets began work at the "Komintern"
Khar'kov Steam Locomotive Factory to build a high-speed diesel suitable for use
in tanks, and capable of producing 400 BHP. It was to be a water-cooled 4-stroke
type with 12 cylinders in a V configuration. The first model of the new engine,
derived from the AD-1 aviation diesel engine and dubbed BD-2 (for "bystrokhodniy
diesel'" or high-speed diesel) was ready for testing on 28 April 1933. But it
suffered from frequent breakdowns, and engine lifespans in testing were no more
than 10-15 hours. Constant changes and redesign were the word of the day.
In November 1933, a BD-2 was
installed in place of the M-5 gasoline engine in a BT-5 light tank for testing.
The "Father" of the engine, I. Ya. Trashutin even went to the US to garner some
knowledge on improving the engine. More development took place, and in mid-1937
the engine was finally ready for series production as the V-2 tank diesel
engine, much more reliable and now producing 500 HP. But due to the "Chistka"
great purge, it was not until January 1939 that the engine was finally ready for
production. The Khar'kov factory was split into two sections at that time
Khar'kov Steam Locomotive Factory No. 183 and Khar'kov Engine Factory No. 75,
whose sole function was to make diesel engines.
The engine found its way into a number of tanks the BT-7M,
T-34, T-34-85, KV-1, IS-2, and IS-3 in nearly identical configurations. The KV
engines were "tweaked" to 600 HP, but this was too much for the technology of
the times and they suffered frequent breakdowns. The later, more evolved ones in
the IS could reliably produce 520 HP.
The V-2 served as the basis of most of the follow-ons of the
late Soviet era and even today survives in highly modified form as the V-46 and
V-84 series engines in T-72 and T-90 tanks. Counting all of the other variants
produced, there are more than 300,000 armored vehicles that have been produced
running a V-2 or one of its offspring.
Maquette is now offering their version of this famous
engine. The kit includes the basic V-2 engine with all major components, and
includes the flywheel, gearbox, final drives, and engine mounts.
I have not yet figured out the
relationship among RPM, Mirage, and Maquette, but all three of them use the same
molds and sprues in different packaging. This particular item came out a few
years back as a special release item for the RPM/Mirage T-34-85 "Rudy" tank kit,
and was the only sprue not included in the original kit. It is a drop-in for
that model (the hull floor has the fittings for the mounts built in).
The model suffers from a few stray
sink marks on it but they are easily dealt with. It is only the basic block,
alas, and does not include any of the piping or wiring shown on the box top.
Unlike the RPM version, it does at least include instructions for assembly. This
art is from one of the service manuals and can be used to detail the little
beast up quite nicely.
As it
comes, it can be used in the T-34 or T-34-85 tank, the BT-7M (providing you
rebuild the back of the hull to fit it and narrow the final drives a bit), and
with some work on the transmission, the KV-1 and IS-2/IS-3. The flywheel
combines a fan with the actual flywheel and main clutch plate, so some modelers
may want to try and thin out the fan blades as well; they are quite thick and
could prove hard to deal with in this area.
This way of marketing accessories makes sense to me. It
provides an extra-cost accessory that drops into a model and at the same time
doesn't impinge on modelers who will keep the engine bay closed up. Tamiya and
AFV Club should consider this, as their marketing of some recent kits is a bit
shallow in this area (to with, the GMC CCKW: the truck is one kit for $39.95,
the cargo load is another for an additional $12, and the machine gun and cab
structure is an additional $9; the latter should have been part of the kit, not
an option. The same with the M10 series kits from AFV Club.)
AMPS
Kit Review: Legend Productions 1/35
Scale set No. LF1037;
Cal .50 HMG Set (2 Each);
26 parts (20 in light tan resin, 6 in etched brass);
Price $8.95.
Advantages: Nice, crisp
castings; combine some details on the casting, making assembly easier.
Disadvantages: No mounts included; resin barrels warp as it
all too common.
Rating: Recommended.
Recommendation: For anyone needing a good "Ma Deuce".
Lately there has been a plethora
of new M2HB machine guns released in resin and brass, and this one appears to be
the "mid level" choice between the Verlinden ones and the Royal Models one.
The kit provides for two .50s, each
with separate barrel and loading door, a brass ammo carrier and "butterfly"
spade grip, and two boxes of ammunition one sealed, and one open with a belt
of about 25-30 rounds to fit into the feed chute.
Unlike the Verlinden ones (I have not seen them in person,
only in adds) which appear to be all resin, this kit uses a mixed medium. But
unlike the overly complex and obnoxious Royal Models kit, this one has the mount
cast integral with the receiver. It does suffer, as do all small resin weapons
of this type, from heat-susceptible barrels that tend to warp in the box and
need careful straightening.
Overall, the guns do look
pretty good and while a bit fiddly will result in a near "drop in" upgrade for
some of the older weapons on Tamiya and Academy kits.
AMPS
March 25, 2002
Kit Review: AFV Club 1/35 Scale Kit
No. 35045;
M41 Light Tank Wheels and Suspension;
106 parts (102 in light olive styrene and 4 in olive resin);
Price $17.98.
Advantages: Very
nicely done set includes parts to fix Tamiya's M41 (and M42 as well).
Disadvantages: Where was this level of detail on the M10
suspension?
Rating: Highly Recommended.
Rating: an essential item to fix or upgrade any Tamiya M41
kit, and also applicable to the M42 Duster as well.
Many manufacturers are slowly coming
to the understanding that releasing some sprues from kits is advantageous, as
they upgrade other manufacturers' kit and also bring in more money from the same
molds. Everyone wins in those deals, as modelers can upgrade older kits without
buying a complete kit and trashing it and two companies (or more) make money on
the deal.
AFV Club has been one
of the better ones at this, as they have released their track sets separately
from kits that allow modelers to put a decent set of "shoes" on obsolete Tamiya
and Academy kits. This set, part of their forthcoming M41-based series of kits
(which includes Hobby Fan resin kits such as the M52 105mm SP Howitzer) is a
very nice set and will upgrade the Tamiya M41 kit in a flash. AFV Club slyly
includes the adapter plugs and mounts in resin to cover the parts on the Tamiya
hull that need to be replaced.
This kit is the first one to include idlers with the slots
in them and the rims on the insides of the road wheels. The road wheels consist
of three parts a back section with detail, a front disk and the front rim.
They look right when assembled and are quite nice. The kit since it is
designed to fit on a new-from-the-ground-up kit includes return rollers,
mounts, road wheel arms, shocks, and drivers. The drivers include the mud
cleanout slots as well, due to clever molding.
Replacement is not a drop in. The modeler has to do a lot of
cutting and trimming getting the old molded-on bits off the Tamiya hull so they
can replace them with the AFV Club ones. The idler mounts have to be replaced as
well, but the driver mounts simply cement over the slots for motorization axles
in the Tamiya hull. These parts will also fit on the M42 hull, but it will take
some care and experimentation to get them to fit as the driveline is essentially
reversed from the M41's layout.
The most puzzling thing about this suspension is why is
this so good and well done when the one on the M10 series of kits was skimped on
and glossed over? (Backs on the wheels and styrene springs, as an option would
have made it a top-choice Sherman upgrade for everyone else's kits!)
AMPS
February 10, 2002
Kit Review: Italeri 1/35 Scale
Kit No. 6384, LVT- (A)1Alligator;
149 parts - (145 in
light olive drab styrene, 4 vinyl).
Price $28.00.
Advantages: First kit in styrene of
this vehicle; reasonably well done moldings cover the basic shapes, and the
overall impression is correct.
Disadvantages: Some shortcuts taken with smaller parts,
stiff tracks not popular with many modelers.
Rating:
Recommended.
Recommendation: for all Pacific War US
armor fans.
Italeri love
em or hate em deserves credit for at least trying to come up with kits that
have been ignored by other model companies. AMTRAC and AMTANK vehicles sat high
on many modelers want lists for years with only the sorry Nitto/Blue Tank/fill
in the blank kit of an LVT-(A)5 for sale in 1/35 scale, and the slightly better
but woefully smaller Adams/SNAP/Lifelike LVT-(A)5 in 1/40 scale. Italeri came
out with a 1/35 LVT-4 and immediately got hit with a hail of criticism, mostly
over soft details, stiff tracks, and the fact they used a post-war Italian
vehicle for their prototype which had a totally different interior layout from
US WWII models.
What people
tended to miss as is all too usual with modelers in this day and age of
instant gratification is that someone HAD listened and done up a reasonably
decent kit for under $30 US. A certain Japanese company most certainly would
have done better, to be sure; but their kit undoubtedly would have gone for $55
or so, but that is a moot point, as they have never done one.
Undeterred, Italeri has now released
the early AMTANK, the LVT- (A) 1. This kit shares the inside hull details and
running gear with the first release, but then has two new sprues with a new
upper hull/fender section, new rear end, new casemate, twin MG tubs, and the
turret based on the M5 design less the radio bustle. Based on the kit design
layout - (an LVT- (A) 4 with the M8 75mm HMC turret has already been announced
for 2002) - it is likely that Italeri also plans to do the early model LVT-2 and
complete the series.
Individually, this is one of the better recent Italeri kits,
and has very nice weld beads on the angled parts of the casemate and other
components. A grid work floor is included for the rear tub machine gunners, but
it is somewhat spoiled as Italeri has one-piece .30 machine guns with mounts and
no ammo boxes. The main turret comes with separate hatches and a fairly well
done 37mm gun and .30 coax for the turret interior; however, no seats or basket
are provided. Provision is made to either make the vehicle as an early model or
add the bow gun as needed.
Decals are provided for two different vehicles, but are very
Spartan and most modelers will want to investigate other color options. The
directions state to paint the vehicle olive drab, but many photos of US Army
vehicles painted gray are available and this would be a more striking scheme.
Check with Steve Zalogas books from Concord and Osprey on US amphibians or Jim
Meskos US AMTRACKS in Action from Squadron/Signal for good references to
colors and markings.
However,
overall this kit is not bad, and a few bits from the parts box and some sweat
equity will yield a nice model for less than a third the price of a resin one.
Cookie Sewell
AMPS