Cookie Sewell's Armory
Armor Kit Reviews from 2006


December 29, 2006
(Originally written on December 25, 2006)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6294; Aufklaerungspanzer 38(t) mit 2cm Kw.K. 38 Smart Kit; 630 parts (324 in grey styrene, 240 "Magic Track" links, 62 etched brass, 4 clear styrene); estimated price US $34-38
Advantages: clean, "state of the art" kit of this popular vehicle; portends a line of Praga TNHP tanks from DML
Disadvantages: no major ones noted
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German and Czech based vehicle fans
F I R S T L O O K

Recently Tristar began to release a new series of the popular Praga TNHP based tanks as used by the Germans, with a Pzkw. 38(t) Ausf. E/F and then an Ausf. G kit. Based on all other kits released by Tristar, DML was certain to rise to the occasion, and now the first of its kits based on the Praga chassis have shown up in the form of the Aufklaersungspanzer version used by the Germans late in WWII.

Basically this vehicle was little more than a "sports" version of the later model Ausf. G versions of the Pzkw. 38(t). The turret was removed and the upper works replaced with a casemate reminiscent of the late model T-26S1 but fitted with the complete 2 cm Haengelafette 38 turret used on the Sd.Kfz. 234/1 armored car and other late-war scout vehicles. There were two good reasons for this: one, to provide the vehicle with some antiaircraft capability due to increasing Allied air operations, and two, to give the crew the maximum possible chance to carry out visual reconnaissance while still providing nominal armored protection. (The old US Army rule was never to give recon forces anything big enough in the way of firepower to be able to counter tanks or they would forget their mission and pick a fight, but that's another story...)

50 of these vehicles were built in February-March 1944 and were to be issued in lieu of the Luchs, which was slow in coming.

DML has graciously decided to jump into the 38(t) market with this kit, which is good as it does not compete with the Tristar kits and therefore crowd the market. They have also made it one of their "Smart Kits" which still seem to confuse modelers. I must reiterate: the concept of the "Smart Kit" is to get a top quality, easy-to-assemble and accurate model of a specific vehicle that does NOT require massive amounts of after-market purchases to approach a more than acceptable level of accuracy. While this particular kit does have more brass than past "Smart Kit" efforts, I think that is based on what modelers like to see in brass as opposed to some of the more ridiculous efforts that require a master's degree in soldering to complete.

Most of the sprues in this kit are labeled "Ausf. G" so nobody should have any misperceptions as to what is coming behind it. You can pretty much bet all vehicles based on the Ausf. G chassis or related variants will come from DML over the next year or two (I already know many people who are hoping for a new 15 cm Bison or at least the various Marder III variants.)

The kit is typical of the new DML breed, with a "slide molded" lower hull pan and judicious use of those techniques for some of the other parts as well. Six new sprues in the kit cover the Ausf. G components plus the "Magic Tracks," and another three come directly from the DML Sd.Kfz. 234/1 kit (#6298) intact. The amount of "gating" on the 38(t) sprues will be obvious, as the D sprue (interior) and H sprue (upper hull details) show this right now.

The suspension is conventional but very well done, with details on both sides of the road wheels, drivers and idlers. Each suspension bogie consists of nine parts. Like Tristar, DML provides the choice of idler adjusters (parts D28) or covers (parts D29) for the kit, but unlike Tristar tells you it is an "either/or" proposition and not that one goes on top of the other.

The kit comes with the basis for an interior, and as such provides shafts, a transmission and a final drive unit with the kit. Seats are also provided. One of the more interesting bits in the kit is part A18, which is a "doormat" type non-skid rubber pad for the floor of the crew section.

The "Magic Tracks" are clean and only have a hint of ejection pin marks on the outer flanges of the track link face as well as the "pip" used to mold them in the center of the link face. There is a hoo-hah sheet about the wonders of "Smart Kits" that comes with it claiming the links have casting numbers on their outside flanges, but after a few minutes with a lighted 10x jeweler's loupe I did find them. No woof tickets for that one, they DID provide them!

The brass goes for the most part onto the engine deck and covers the various bin lids, grilles and covers which many modelers like to leave open to show their handiwork. The DML kits also make good use of their "slide molding" to create more compact details, e.g. the same detail Tristar achieves with three parts is done with but one.

A command antenna from the original command Panther kit is provided to give the modeler a pre-molded "crow's foot" antenna head.

Markings and directions for finishing are provided for two vehicles: unknown unit, Western Front 1942 (!) and unknown unit, Eastern Front 1942 (!). I think they may have meant 1945 and this is only a typo, as the research and input came from Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundsen and they wouldn't make a goof like that. Decals come as a small sheet from Cartograf.

Overall this is a good choice and as it is currently only presented in model form by a somewhat rough kit from Russia it should appeal to modelers who want to build and not wrestle with a kit.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.



Sprue layout:
A 60 (Ausf. G) wheels and suspension arms, rubber matting
B 67 (Ausf. G) fenders, upper hull, engine compartment
D 60 (Ausf. G) interior parts, radio
E 1 (Ausf. G) hull pan
H 43 (Ausf. G) casemate, glacis, ammo boxes
H 45 (Sd.Kfz. 234/1) turret and fittings
J 4 (Ausf. G) clear styrene
J 10 (Sd.Kfz. 234/1) Kw.K. 38 2cm gun
K 13 (Pzkw. 38(t)) OVM and pioneer tools
K 17 (Sd.Kfz. 234/1) ammo racks and magazines
Y 240 "Magic Track" links
WC 4 MG42
MA 41 etched brass
MB 19 etched brass
MC 2 pre-formed turret grilles
g 4 Antenna elements

(Originally written on December 21, 2006)

Kit Review: Armoured Brigade Models 1/35 Scale Update Set No. ABM012; Early M3 Lee Basic Update Set; 14 parts in grey resin; price US $17.00
Advantages: fixes the most egregious faults with the upper components of the Academy M3 Lee kit; provides for maximum use of the kit parts where applicable
Disadvantages: sources of supply for ABM kits have been erratic in the past
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for anyone with an Academy Lee kit who wants to correct the turret and upper hull components

Back during the AMPS 2000 International Show well-known Canadian modelers Sid Arnold and Dave Dean brought down their first samples of a new line of kits which were dubbed Armoured Brigade Models. These were focused on correcting the rather elderly and quite awful Tamiya M3 Grant and M3 Lee kits, and were either modularized for use by modelers to fix specific parts of the kit or combined into a complete kit of the M3 Lee which made its debut at AMPS 2001. Their one drawback was availability, for at both shows ABM could have sold far more items than they brought.

Fast forward six years, and the new Academy M3 Lee was released in May 2006. But while it corrected many of the massive failings of the 30 year old Tamiya kits, unfortunately it added some new ones of its own, primarily a bad suspension set and an exaggerated cast turret. ABM has now modified its older moldings, which were first rate when released, reorganized them, modified them to fit the Academy kit, and re-released them.

This is the turret set, which now provides 14 parts to fix the turret and cupola from the Academy kit. It provides a new, accurate turret shell with casting numbers and a nicely done mantelet in place, a new rotor with optional counterweight (not provided by Academy), a counterweight for the stabilized M2 (short barrel) 75mm gun, and two new rear stowage bins.

The directions are excellent, as they show where most of the kit's failings are found and also provide very good descriptions of how to correct them. Most of the first two pages cover how to fix the problems with rivets and the missing brackets and fasteners on the upper hull. Modelers will be happy as "before" and "after" photos are provided, so since the rivets and bolts used are in light colored plastic it is quite obvious as to what changed.

Assembly of the turret is integrated into the assembly instructions for the M3 kit itself, and photos show how the update kit's parts differ from the base kits's parts. Other than some very quick cleanup, little is different than just the kit assembly and it should be a snap for any modeler to carry out this update with few problems. Note that this set also includes correct size and shape stowage bins for the rear deck.

Overall, this fixes one of the most annoying problems in the kit and one many modelers are reluctant to do on their own.

Thanks to Sid Arnold of ABM for the review sample. For further info on distributors contact Sid at sidneya@sympatico.ca

Thanks to Sid Arnold of ABM for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

(Originally written on December 21, 2006)

Kit Review: Armoured Brigade Models 1/35 Scale Update Set No. ABM011; Early M3 Lee Delux Update Set; 130 parts in grey resin; price US $60.00
Advantages: fixes all of the most egregious faults with the Academy M3 Lee kit; includes both ABM's suspension and turret sets as well as many new parts; provides for maximum use of the kit parts where applicable
Disadvantages: sources of supply for ABM kits have been erratic in the past
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for anyone with an Academy Lee kit who wants to look "right"

Back during the AMPS 2000 International Show well-known Canadian modelers Sid Arnold and Dave Dean brought down their first samples of a new line of kits which were dubbed Armoured Brigade Models. These were focused on correcting the rather elderly and quite awful Tamiya M3 Grant and M3 Lee kits, and were either modularized for use by modelers to fix specific parts of the kit or combined into a complete kit of the M3 Lee which made its debut at AMPS 2001. Their one drawback was availability, for at both shows ABM could have sold far more items than they brought.

Fast forward six years, and the new Academy M3 Lee was released in May 2006. But while it corrected many of the massive failings of the 30 year old Tamiya kits, unfortunately it added some new ones of its own, primarily a bad suspension set and an exaggerated cast turret. ABM has now modified its older moldings, which were first rate when released, reorganized them, modified them to fit the Academy kit, and re-released them.

This is their "top of the line" set, which combines the 14 parts from the ABM012 turret update set and the 50 parts from their ABM013 suspension update set with 66 new parts to correct or upgrade many other parts of the kit.

The new parts in this set include a new upper glacis, a new rear plate with more accurate and optional air cleaner/exhaust fittings, an engine insert section and new grille section for the engine deck, a new firewall, and nearly completely new outer vehicle materials, pioneer tools, and lights.

The suspension set provides an integrated set of parts to fix the unfortunately erroneous Academy suspension. As many modelers now know, Steve Zaloga built the kit and found the main suspension mounts used the springs from the previous M4 kits and as a result wound up a bit more than 2mm too high, which caused the model to sit high and look wrong when completed. They also made some simplification errors and as such really hurt the finished product.

With this kit, ABM provides six new suspension brackets (dubbed "bridges" in the instructions, six new return rollers, two new drivers, and two very nicely done idlers with new mounts.

First off, the directions describe what has to come off the hull pan of the kit and provide photos of the parts to be removed and the new parts in situ on the modified hull pan.

The "bridges" come with new springs and a new lower spring mounting plate, but all of the remaining parts less the return roller come straight from the Academy kit. The directions give a very good description of how to simply modify Academy parts to fit on the new "bridges" and thus get the tank to sit at the correct height.

The only major cleanup in this kit are the return rollers, which come with a "flake" of resin for protection and should clean up in a couple of minutes with a sharp Xacto knife and a mouse-tail file.

The new drivers are very nicely detailed on both sides and are an upgrade from the workmanlike but pedestrian kit ones.

The idlers use an ingenious method of assembly with a center casting and two separate outer sections in order to provide the accurate rim to the wheel not found in any plastic kit.

This is the turret set, which now provides 14 parts to fix the turret and cupola from the Academy kit. It provides a new, accurate turret shell with casting numbers and a nicely done mantelet in place, a new rotor with optional counterweight (not provided by Academy), a counterweight for the stabilized M2 (short barrel) 75mm gun, and two new rear stowage bins.

The directions are excellent, as they show where most of the kit's failings are found and also provide very good descriptions of how to correct them. Most of the first two pages cover how to fix the problems with rivets and the missing brackets and fasteners on the upper hull. Modelers will be happy as "before" and "after" photos are provided, so since the rivets and bolts used are in light colored plastic it is quite obvious as to what changed.

Assembly of the turret is integrated into the assembly instructions for the M3 kit itself, and photos show how the update kit's parts differ from the base kits's parts. Other than some very quick cleanup, little is different than just the kit assembly and it should be a snap for any modeler to carry out this update with few problems. Note that this set also includes correct size and shape stowage bins for the rear deck.

The other new parts provide a new upper glacis and driver's viewer that fix some of the rivet issues on the glacis. The new rear plate provides both the early model "coffee can" mufflers or the later square air filters with "fishtails" protruding either below them. Both are provided in the kit.

While you can't see much inside the engine bay, ABM has provided the front of the engine in a nice little drop-in module for the bay and a new section of firewall with detailing right in front of it. Fuel shutoff valves are also included, but you will have to find grille material on your own.

The kit provides totally new tools, brackets and lights for the kit, as well as fire extinguisher brackets, a siren, starter crank, machine gun tripod, and tow cable. The only thing some modelers may want for is etched brass or single link tracks to finish off their model.

Overall, this fixes nearly all of the problems with this kit, and covers nearly all of the ones modelers do not want to do on their own. Modelers must note that this set is specifically designed for the Academy kit, and will not work very well on the ancient Tamiya kit.

Thanks to Sid Arnold of ABM for the review sample. For further info on distributors contact Sid at sidneya@sympatico.ca

Cookie Sewell

(Originally written on December 21, 2006)

Kit Review: Armoured Brigade Models 1/35 Scale Update Set No. ABM013; Academy M3 Lee Suspension Update Set; 50 parts in grey resin; price US $17.00
Advantages: fixes the most egregious faults with the suspension of the Academy M3 Lee kit; provides for maximum use of the kit parts where applicable
Disadvantages: sources of supply for ABM kits have been erratic in the past
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for anyone with an Academy Lee kit who wants to correct the suspension and get a "right" sit to the model.

Back during the AMPS 2000 International Show well-known Canadian modelers Sid Arnold and Dave Dean brought down their first samples of a new line of kits which were dubbed Armoured Brigade Models. These were focused on correcting the rather elderly and quite awful Tamiya M3 Grant and M3 Lee kits, and were either modularized for use by modelers to fix specific parts of the kit or combined into a complete kit of the M3 Lee which made its debut at AMPS 2001. Their one drawback was availability, for at both shows ABM could have sold far more items than they brought.

Fast forward six years, and the new Academy M3 Lee was released in May 2006. But while it corrected many of the massive failings of the 30 year old Tamiya kits, unfortunately it added some new ones of its own, primarily a bad suspension set and an exaggerated cast turret. ABM has now modified its older moldings, which were first rate when released, reorganized them, modified them to fit the Academy kit, and re-released them.

This is the suspension set, which provides an integrated set of parts to fix the unfortunately erroneous Academy suspension. As many modelers now know, Steve Zaloga built the kit and found the main suspension mounts used the springs from the previous M4 kits and as a result wound up a bit more than 2mm too high, which caused the model to sit high and look wrong when completed. They also made some simplification errors and as such really hurt the finished product.

With this kit, ABM provides six new suspension brackets (dubbed "bridges" in the instructions, six new return rollers, two new drivers, and two very nicely done idlers with new mounts.

First off, the directions describe what has to come off the hull pan of the kit and provide photos of the parts to be removed and the new parts in situ on the modified hull pan.

The "bridges" come with new springs and a new lower spring mounting plate, but all of the remaining parts less the return roller come straight from the Academy kit. The directions give a very good description of how to simply modify Academy parts to fit on the new "bridges" and thus get the tank to sit at the correct height.

The only major cleanup in this kit are the return rollers, which come with a "flake" of resin for protection and should clean up in a couple of minutes with a sharp Xacto knife and a mouse-tail file.

The new drivers are very nicely detailed on both sides and are an upgrade from the workmanlike but pedestrian kit ones.

The idlers use an ingenious method of assembly with a center casting and two separate outer sections in order to provide the accurate rim to the wheel not found in any plastic kit.

Overall, this fixes the most annoying problem in the kit and one many modelers cannot or will not do on their own. It can also be used to backdate an early M4 if Academy suspension parts are used to flush out the suspension bits.

Thanks to Sid Arnold of ABM for the review sample. For further info on distributors contact Sid at sidneya@sympatico.ca

Cookie Sewell

(Originally written on December 20, 2006)



Product Review: Archer Fine Transfer dry transfer markings sheets
AR74009, U.S. softskin "gas paint" stars, 1/72 scale; $7.95
AR49012, 9th Lancers 1st Armoured Division in North Africa, 1/48 scale; $9.95
AR49013, M10 Tank Destroyer, 1/48 scale; $10.95
AR49014, HJ Panther G #2, 1/48 scale; $5.50
AR49015, L.A.H. Panther Ausf. G, Ardennes 1944, 1/48 scale; $4.95
AR49016, USMC M4A2 Tarawa, 1/48 scale; $7.95
AR35222, M2 Halftracks in North Africa, 1/35 scale; $15.95
AR35224, M2/M3 Halftracks, yellow/white stars, 1/35 scale; $11.95
AR35225W, M2/M3 Halftracks, white stars, 1/35 scale; $6.95
AR35225Y, M2/M3 Halftracks, yellow stars, 1/35 scale; $6.95
AR35226, M2/M3 Halftrack registration codes, 1/35 scale; $10.95
AR35227, U.S. softskin "gas paint" stars, 1/35 scale; $11.95
Advantages: best dry and dry/wet transfers going; provide for a number of different variants of recently introduced 1/48 and 1/35 scale kits
Disadvantages: will require some basic research on the part of the modeler
Rating: See Text
Recommendation: for armor fans in the appropriate scales and subjects

The latest batch of dry transfers from Woody Vondracek is through and it is a bumper crop! These releases cover a wide variety of subjects and scales, and will be addressed individually.

Set AR49012 covers Sherman II tanks serving with the 9th Lancers of the British 1st Armored Division and provides sufficient markings for two vehicles. One is named "Hellzashoot'n" and the other is apparently unnamed. It comes with three serial numbers and also extra numbers for other vehicles as well, but the primary emphasis is on only two. Markings are in full color.

Set AR49013 covers US M10 3" GMCs in both the Mediterranean and Northwest Europe theaters, with one set of bumper numbers provided for vehicles with the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th Armies; I cannot tell if they should have two (front and rear) or not, but the sheet only provides one set. Generic directions come with the set but a bit of research is recommended. Still, the sheet provides more than enough markings to get one pretty close to right. Markings are in yellow and white with some black panels for one of the battalions that go under the counterweights at the rear of the turret.

Set 49014 covers three vehicles from the 12th SS Panzer Regiment of the Hitler Juengen Division. Markings are simple black and white and provide three tac numbers for one, three chassis numbers and some detail markings.

Set 49015 covers three vehicles from the 1st SS Panzer Regiment of Leibstandart Adolf Hitler. Again in black and white, they provide tac numbers, chassis numbers, and crosses along with detail markings.

Set 49016 is a reduced size version of the excellent M4A2 Tarawa sheet that was released to accompany the DML M4A2 kit of the same name, and again provides markings for six tanks: CHINA GAL, COMMANDO, CHEROKEE, CHICAGO, CECILIA, and CLIPPER. Markings are in blue drab, yellow, white and red, and are correct for the vehicles.

Set AR35222 is the first of the new sheets Archer is offering for the new DML M2/M2A1 halftrack kit, and also will work well on the upcoming M3/M3A1 kit. This sheet, in red, white and blue, provides the initial landing markings for US armored vehicles with white stars on blue surrounds and 48-star flags of differing sizes. Even if you don't plan to pick up a halftrack, this set is worth it for the flags alone.

AR35224 provides the mixed yellow ring/white star markings used for a time in the Mediterranean theater. Stars are provided in varying sizes and with both solid and "broken" rings, with normal locations given for each size.

Sets AR35225W and AR35225W are identical with each one covering both all yellow (early) and all white (later) Mediterranean area markings, basically for the halftracks but usable for other vehicles as well. Sufficient stars are provided for at least three vehicles.

Set AR35226 is a generic sheet of serial numbers for the M2/M3 series of halftracks, and while specific vehicles are used at some points they are essentially generic. Both early ("W" series) and late (USA 40XXXXX) ones are provided, and sufficient serials in both white and blue drab are provided to cover 18-22 vehicles including M2/M2A1, M3/M3A1, M4/M21, T19, T30 and M13 halftracks.

Set AR35227 and its companion, set AR74009, are the first presentation that I can think of for the "gas paint" markings used during D-Day. Fearing German defenders would use "every means at their disposal" to include chemical weapons, a chemical sensing paint was developed and put on the hoods or fronts of all vehicles used in the invasion force. To conceal the paint and its purpose from the Germans, it was placed next to the organic white stars on the vehicles and surrounded with a white ring. While the paint was not needed, it was later found to react to a number of other things and also tended to turn odd colors once it weathered. These sets provide for an early June level of color based on restored color photographs, and are reasonably close to the mustard/green color of the actual paint when new. Note that since it was applied over the organic stars, quite often the new rings would not fit on the vehicles, and were truncated. This is particularly true of M2/M3 series halftracks and M3A1 scout cars, so be prepared for the markings to "not quite" fit and the sides to be cut off.

All of the sheets are done to Archer's traditional fine standards, and researchers are credited where they provided info. As I was a contributor to sheets AR74009, AR35226 and AR35227, I pass on judgement; Robert Gregory did the 1st Armoured sheet, Roddy MacDougall the German sheets, and Norm Samuelson the remaining halftrack sheets.

Overall, these are well done and well timed, and should prove handy to modelers looking to get beyond the box decals.

Thanks to Woody Vondracek for the review samples.

Cookie Sewell

(Originally written on December 14, 2006)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit Number 6345; Gebirgsjaeger 1940-1941; 69 parts in grey styrene; price estimated at US $10.98
Advantages: uncommon subject given good treatment; nicely done 5 cm mortar
Disadvantages: some details skimped on
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for German figure modelers who want a change of pace

In 1986 I recall being down at the AFRC complex in Garmisch, Germany, and discovering that the Germans had the Gebirgsjaeger (literally mountain hunter) training school there next to the US facilities. The Germans took great pride in their mountain units, and even then kept much of the same uniform style (short pants with knee socks) and their famous "Edelweiss" badges.

DML's latest figure set is of their linear forebearers, namely four Gebirgsjaeger from 1940-1941. This is one of the conventional DML sets, not Gen2, but is still a nice set with good basic poses. All four figures come in combat uniforms with long pants but with "bergsteiflen" or mountain boots. Two figures are talking and observing, each wearing a different style of mountaineer's jacket and with one of them gesturing with his pipe. The other two make up a 5 cm infantry mortar team. Both of them have the special carrier harness for the mortar and ten rounds of ammunition on their backs.

These two are the more interesting, as they have to wear their kit differently from normal German infantry and thus are unique figures. They are more difficult to display, however, as one is leaning up against the side of a hill to emplace the mortar and his comrade is sprawled next to him to feed him the ammunition.

The figures are typical DML "non-Gen2" types with each one consisting of six basic parts – legs, arms, torso, and head. As a result there is no definition to the soles of their boots, which are actually quite rugged in appearance with good-sized tread. There is no slide molding used with this set, and only three single-piece Kar 98K rifles are provided for weaponry. Also, the 5 cm mortar rounds are molded in bas-relief in their case, which does not look very realistic. One does have an entrenching tool carrier less the tool itself, which also adds interest.

Overall, however, and with the usual excellent paintings by Ron Volstad they can be made into a nice group with more of a training aspect than some of the other sets.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

(Originally written on December 12, 2006)

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 63589; Sd.Kfz. 171 Panther A Late Production - Premium Edition; 865 parts (515 parts in grey styrene, 170 "Magic Track" links, 165 etched brass, 14 clear styrene, and 1 turned aluminum barrel); price estimated at US $41-45
Advantages: "Premium" treatment for a popular kit; "Magic Track" will be appreciated by most modelers; "mix and match" uses many parts from the new Ausf. G "Smart Kit"
Disadvantages: once again may overload market with another Panther kit, again with different versions with different levels of corrections and optional parts
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German modelers
F I R S T L O O K

I am really starting to get confused with the number of Panther and Tiger kits from DML which have hit the market, and as of now here is the "box score" of what I have seen come out in the last few years:
Kit No. 9041 PzBeobWg V Ausf. G Rel 5/1997 441 parts
Kit No. 9045 Ausf. G Night Fighting Rel 8/1997 481 parts
Kit No. 6244 Ausf. A 60th Anniversary of D-Day Rel 6/2004 485 parts
Kit No. 6268 Ausf. G "Smart Kit" Rel 7/2006 714 parts
Kit No. 6299 Ausf. D - Premium Edition Rel 7/2006 746 parts
Kit No. 6346 Ausf. D Stadt-Gas Rel 9/2006 809 parts
Kit No. 6358 Ausf. A - Premium Edition Rel 12/2006 865 parts

As can be seen, each kit increases the number of parts and complexity over its predecessors, as well as cost. They do cover three different base versions of which only the first two were reworked Gunze Sangyo kits. I also realize that due to a computer glitch a couple of years ago I am missing the initial Ausf. D and Ausf. A Early Production and Late Production kits, so that is at least ten.

But these do sell, and sell well, and therefore it's not surprising that DML continues with its "Premium" series of kits with this popular subject. In this kit, they follow the same formula: take a popular base kit, swap out older sprues and replace them with ones from later kits, add in technological updates, new brass and detail parts, tweak the older molds and add new decals and instructions.

This kit takes 209 parts from the previous Panther Ausf. A and later Ausf. D kits (per release dates, not actual vehicle service dates) and adds in 306 more from the later Ausf. G "Smart Kit" as well as some modified sprues from the earlier kits. They also include their "Magic Tracks" which are apparently (by afficionados) to be among DML's better sets, as they come with the correct open cast teeth on the track links.

The kit uses the hull pan from the Ausf. D kit and while it receives the new wheels from the Ausf. G "Smart Kit" alas cannot use the full-size torsion bars but instead the stub ones with road wheel arms from the D kit. The upper hull base and turret base are also from the D kit, but all of the external bits where possible are from the G.

The model does come with a new set of etched brass but uses some of the same items that came with the Ausf. D Premium. The travel lock – a chain affair – comes with two sets of five etched brass parts each for either open or closed, and there is both a turned aluminum barrel or a two-piece styrene one (an old-fashioned two-piece "Flex-i-File" special is also included on the parts trees.)

No zimmerit comes on the model, which since the As were most likely to have this coating applied is a shame. It does come with twelve etched nickel side skirt sections and the brass hangers for them, which was one ding many modelers placed against the G "Smart Kit" as it came without either metal or plastic skirting.

Among other items on this model of note are the close-in defensive weapons which can be made to swivel, clear periscopes, a seven-piece jack, combat headlights with a clear styrene insert, and a nicely done MG34 ball mount for the glacis.

The directions are the full color "photo" type which I have to admit I personally detest as very hard to see where the parts go, considering the parts are installed before the photos were taken. Also note that due to the "mix and match" sprues once again there are two B sprues and two E sprues, not related, and as such you have to pay attention to whether or not it is a capital or lower case letter.

A total of six finishing options are provided: 5th SS Panzer Division "Wiking," Poland 1944 (winter whitewash); 5th SS Panzer Division "Wiking", Poland 1944 (three color camouflage - brush painted); 5th SS Panzer Division "Wiking", Poland 1944 (three color camouflage - sprayed); Panzerregiment "Grossdeutschland", Eastern Front 1944 (three color "misted" sprayed camouflage); 26th Panzer Division, Italy 1944 (sand with red-brown bands); and 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf", Poland 1944 (three color camouflaged - sprayed.) A sheet of Cartograf decals is provided but is pretty generic, and right or wrong no SS divisional markings are included.

Overall this is a nice kit, and most fans will want one to "complete the record" if nothing else. But since they can do it in 1/72 scale, I do wish DML would do at least ONE Panther or Tiger I kit with the "zimmerit" molded in place!

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Sprue Layout and Source
A 26 Ausf. D/A upper hull
B 43 Ausf. D/A sponsons and hull side details
b 52 (Ausf G) turret details
C 1 lower hull
D 43x2 Ausf. D/A gun and details
E 33 Ausf. D/A mantelet and back plate
e 22x4 (Ausf G) spare track and wingnuts
F 11 (Ausf A) mantelet and cupola
G 24x4 (Ausf G) road wheels
H 1 (Ausf G) cupola
J 8 (Ausf G) bow and turret MG 34 parts
K 20 (generic tools)
L 14 Ausf. D/A clear styrene
M 30 (Ausf. A) mantelet and glacis
P 20x2 Ausf. D/A suspension arms
MA 165 etched brass
Magic 170 Magic Track links
MB 1 turned alumimum
MB 12 etched nickel

(Originally written on December 12, 2006)
Kit Review: SDV Model 1/87 Scale Military Series Kit No. 87 044; Stredni Tank T-54B (T-54B Medium Tank); 40 parts in olive green styrene; price in Czech Koruna Kr 240 or 10 Euros (US $11.42 from SDV direct) Advantages: clean model of a T-54 that looks the part Disadvantages: some tweaks and too common shared parts with a T-55 for total accuracy Rating: Recommended Recommendation: for all Soviet, Warsaw Pact and "Third World" armor fans in small scale as well as wargamers The T-54 had a long and busy development, starting with an improved version of the wartime T-44 medium tank in 1946 and finally ended up with the modified T-54B models in use by various Warsaw Pact countries in the late 1980s. The production version of the T-54 (Model 1951) underwent two major changes in its production life, once in 1956 when a bore evacuator and a single axis stabilizer were added to become the T-54A, and once in 1957 when the final production model from Soviet lines, the T-54B, was created with a two-axis stabilizer for the main gun. This tank was one of the first placed in production in Warsaw Pact factories in Poland; the T-54A was sold to China and entered production there as the Type 59 medium tank. SDV's kit is another of their family of T-54/T-55/T-62 kits, most of which use the same parts, and while simplifying their production it does cause some confusion and misses on the other end. This tank has the hull of a rebuilt Polish-made T-54B which is great (adds the "starfish" wheels vice the "spider" wheels of the early models) but then has a T-55 Model 1958 turret instead of a proper T-54 series turret. The main difference is the flush loader's hatch, and while the directions show a DShK machine gun being added, there is no ring mount for it on the hatch; also it comes with the T-54 Model 1951's D-10T gun vice the proper D-10T2S with bore evacuator. This is a shame, for the rest of the kit is very well done. It comes with the now-standard assembly mode used by SDV – hull pan, fenders and upper hull sides, and tracks with separate outer wheels forming the main assembly. The center upper hull, engine deck and radiator deck are next – here using a Soviet-style engine deck and the winterization capable Polish radiator deck. The turret is as noted clearly a T-55 type (albeit the box art shows the tank with an early model T-55A turret with the flat-topped radiation-shielded hatch) with an add-on ventilator. Directions are in both Czech and German, but are not an impediment to finishing the model. No painting and marking instructions are included other than basic painting instructions for the Czech light olive drab scheme or the Warsaw Pact grey-green colors. SDV includes their standard decal sheet from MPD with six number runs from 0-9, and markings for Soviet, Czech, Polish, East German, Finnish, Rumanian, West German (not used), Hungarian and one other country. (I suspect Bulgaria but am not sure.) Overall this is a handy wargame model but the small-scale modeler will have a bit of work to "tweak" it into a normal T-54B. Thanks to Jan Podubecky for the review sample. Cookie Sewell Sources: Stevens International, 706 N. White Horse Pike, P.O. Box 126, Magnolia, NY 08049; phone (856) 435-1555 fax (856) 627- 6274; e-mail: info@stevenshobby.com; Fidelis Models, PO Box 1021, Poway, CA 92074; e-mail fidelismodels@cox.net; Howard Hookham, 11 Belle Vue Terrace, Blackwood Hall, Luddendenfoot, Halifax HX2 6HG, Yorkshire, Great Britain; e-mail futureplanes2000@yahoo.com. Direct from SDV at their e-store: http://www.sdvmodel.cz The Czech Koruna converts to US dollars at a rate of Kr 21 = US $1.

(Originally written on December 12, 2006)
Kit Review: SDV Model 1/87 Scale Military Serie Kit No. 87 045; Stredni Tank s Obrannym Systemem Drozd T-55AD (T-55AD Medium Tank with "Drozd" Defensive System); 76 parts in olive green styrene; price in Czech Koruna Kr 240 or 10 Euros (US $11.42 from SDV)
Advantages: first kit of this specific vehicle in styrene; accurate for this particular vehicle
Disadvantages: many tiny parts to create an accurate replica
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: for all small-scale Soviet/Warsaw Pact fans and wargamers

The Soviets were one of the first nations to field antitank guided missiles on the battlefield, and fielded them in far greater numbers than most of the NATO countries. But after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war they suddenly realized they had created a two-edged sword (as had NATO, which then began to work much harder on fielding viable ATGMs) and as a result found themselves at a crossroads. Upgrading the armored protection on the tanks was difficult, as the upper level the Soviets wanted for most tanks was only 40 metric tons, and most other types of temporary standoff protection such as mesh or plates was too fragile for long-term combat.

The Soviets then went two different directions – "dynamic" protection or reactive armor, and "active" protection, which involved shooting down ATGMs or RPGs in flight. The result of the latter was the creation of the "Drozd" (Thrush) Active Protection System or APS, also known by its factory designator of 1030 M-01. The first prototype was fielded in 1977, and eventually 250 sets were made for T-55 and T-62 series tanks. (The directions, in Czech and German, note that due to the complexity and the high cost – approximately US $680,000 per tank – it was dropped as not cost effective.) The Russians do offer newer versions for the T-72 and T-80, however, but no sales appear to have been forthcoming.

The system consists of a power booster box on the back of the turret, millimeter wave radar on the front of the turret, and eight 107mm munitions mounted in four boxes on the sides of the turret, two pointing dead ahead and two angle off axis at about 5 degrees. Each contains two munitions.

The way the system works is generally via a tipoff from a laser warning receiver that the tank is being targeted. When the radar set identifies an incoming missile or projectile, it slews the turret towards the projectile and when it is within the acquisition range it fires one or two munitions. They fly out and detonate in the path of the missile about 7-20 meters in front of the tank, usually shredding the incoming missile in midair. The main drawback – you DON'T want to be an infantryman moving in front of the tank when that happens!

SDV has now produced a kit of a Czech-built T-55A with the "Drozd" system in place or as it was known by all of the Pact countries but Poland, the T-55AD (the Polish tank has a bustle cast into its turret and additional radio equipment, so is not related to "Drozd".

The model is formed from the basic components of their T-54/T-55/T-62 series, namely a hull pan, fenders and upper hull sides, tracks and outer wheels, with a Czech-built engine and radiator deck and a standard T-55A early model turret. To this are added the components of "Drozd" but the builder must note that the overhead sketch of the system in the directions does not correctly orient the muntions boxes. Two are on the sides and parallel to the direction of aim as noted, but the upper two are behind them and angled outboard at about 5 degrees, as shown in the photos and directions proper. Also note that on the actual vehicle the components are connected by cables in lightly armored runs along the top sides of the turret.

The tank also comes with the Soviet designed laser rangefinder over the main gun. While the directions show the DShK machine gun in place, this is an early T-55A turret and has the flush hatch and no ring, so it should be left off.

The kit comes with no basic finishing instructions other than basic painting instructions for the Czech light olive drab scheme or the Warsaw Pact grey-green colors. SDV includes their standard decal sheet from MPD with six number runs from 0-9, and markings for Soviet, Czech, Polish, East German, Finnish, Rumanian, West German (not used), Hungarian and one other country. (I suspect Bulgaria but am not sure.)

Overall this is one of the more interesting tanks produced in the 1970s and 1980s by the Soviets, and one which should be a fun build for small-scale modelers. Not sure how wargamers will react, as not sure how many miniatures rules take APS into consideration!

Thanks to Jan Podubecky for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Sources:

Stevens International, 706 N. White Horse Pike, P.O. Box 126, Magnolia, NY 08049; phone (856) 435-1555 fax (856) 627- 6274; e-mail: info@stevenshobby.com;

Fidelis Models, PO Box 1021, Poway, CA 92074; e-mail fidelismodels@cox.net;

Howard Hookham, 11 Belle Vue Terrace, Blackwood Hall, Luddendenfoot, Halifax HX2 6HG, Yorkshire, Great Britain; e-mail futureplanes2000@yahoo.com.

Direct from SDV at their e-store: http://www.sdvmodel.cz

The Czech Koruna converts to US dollars at a rate of Kr 21 = US $1.

(Originally written on December 12, 2006)
Kit Review: SDV Model 1/87 Scale Military Series Kit No. 87 042; Vyprostovaci Tank VT-55A (VT-55A Recovery Tank); 97 parts (95 in olive styrene, 1 in black styrene, 1 in clear orange styrene); price in Czech Koruna Kr 270 or 11 Euros (price US $12.86 from SDV)
Advantages: only kit of this vehicle in any scale that I know of; very nicely done and well detailed kit
Disadvantages: a large number of small and very busy parts to this kit
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: to all Warsaw Pact and Middle Eastern wargamers and small-scale modelers

The Soviets did many things right militarily, but many other things were based on expediency demands from the "Great Patriotic War" (WWII) and one of those was a dedicated tank recovery and repair vehicle. Many of their "recovery" vehicles were simply war weary tank chassis minus their turrets and equipped with many sturdy tow cables to pull broken-down or knocked-out tanks back to a collection and repair point. This lasted until the early 1980s when they finally fielded the BREhM-1, a T-72 based vehicle with a crane, spade and heavy winch to recover and repair vehicles with a single vehicle system.

The Czechs were much brighter than that, and as such when they began producing the T-55 tank they created a dedicated recovery and repair vehicle based on that chassis. The vehicle, dubbed the VT-55A, was the first handy system for use by Pact members and as such was sold to and used by most of the Pact members, as well as other countries to include Iraq. 1,820 of these vehicles were produced by the Czechs between 1969 and 1983.

The vehicle saw the turret replaced by a casemate for the crew of three as well as the addition of a spade for using its 75,000 pound pull winch, a 17,500 pound auxiliary winch, a crane with a lifting capacity of 1,500 kilograms, a storage rack for spare parts and equipment (normally complete engines or power packs) of 3,000 kilograms over the engine deck, and a BTU-55 bulldozer blade for clearing a path to a damaged vehicle.

SDV Model now offers this handy vehicle in 1/87 (HO) Scale, and it is a dandy little kit with all of the bits – the only thing it doesn't come with is a spare V-55 engine!

The kit uses SDV's modular construction for the kit – lower hull, fenders and upper hull sides, and tracks with inner wheels being the four main parts to the kit. To this are added the casemate, engine deck with sides and braces, crane assembly, spade assembly, and the BTU bulldozer blade assembly. Some parts are for the normal T-55 series kits and are redundant, but most are useable on this vehicle in new locations. Note that both Soviet-style and Czech-style engine access hatches are provided, but this vehicle can only use the Czech one (part 15). A "whoopie light" (orange rotating beacon) is also included for highway use.

If assembled with care the crane, bulldozer and spade may all be made operational.

The directions are in Czech and German, and while photos of an actual vehicle are provided due to several generations of xeroxing are hard to make out.

No specific finishing directions are provided, but general color callouts are given for the Czech light olive drab paint or Warsaw Pact grey-green, and if other nations are used (e.g. Iraq) one has to consider various shades of sand or sand-and-green paint. A generic "Warsaw Pact" sheet with six number runs from 0-9 and specific markings for Soviet (not used), Czech, Polish, East German, West German, Finnish, Rumanian, Hungarian and one other country are included.

Overall, this is a good little kit and will serve wargamers and scale modelers well.

Thanks to Jan Podubecky for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Sources:

Stevens International, 706 N. White Horse Pike, P.O. Box 126, Magnolia, NY 08049; phone (856) 435-1555 fax (856) 627- 6274; e-mail: info@stevenshobby.com;

Fidelis Models, PO Box 1021, Poway, CA 92074; e-mail fidelismodels@cox.net;

Howard Hookham, 11 Belle Vue Terrace, Blackwood Hall, Luddendenfoot, Halifax HX2 6HG, Yorkshire, Great Britain; e-mail futureplanes2000@yahoo.com.

Direct from SDV at their e-store: http://www.sdvmodel.cz

The Czech Koruna converts to US dollars at a rate of Kr 21 = US $1.

(Originally written on December 12, 2006)
Kit Review: SDV Model 1/87 Scale Military Series Kit No. 87 030; Stredni Tank T-62 Vzor 1962 (T-62 Medium Tank Model 1962); 54 parts in olive green styrene; price in Czech Koruna Kr 240 or 10 Euros (price US $11.42 from SDV)
Advantages: clean, all styrene kit of this vehicle; closer to scale than older US made plastic T-62 kits; will eventually cover other versions of the T-62
Disadvantages: some of the same problems as other T-62 kits carried over to this model; turret is wrong for a Model 1962
Rating: Recommended
The directions are in Czech and with some German, as is a small historical booklet about the use of the T-62 during the "Prague Summer" of 1968 and the Soviet invasion in August of that year. Photos of T-62s and Czech citizens are included in the booklet, but alas, as it is not in English it loses something in the translation!

By now many modelers know the story of the T-62: Marshal of the Soviet Union Chuykov blew his top when he heard that the British Centurion was going to mount a 105mm gun, thus larger than the 100mm one in the T-54 and T-55 tanks, and demanded that Soviet industry get a bigger gun out into the field at once. The solution from the Ural Railway Wagon Construction Factory at Nizhniy Tagil was to stretch a T-55 hull, modify the experimental 100mm D-54 gun to a 115mm smoothbore, and put the two items together with a new turret. The result, Object 166, was accepted for service as the T-62 tank at the end of 1961.

Later, during the production run of the T-62 tank, it was also produced in Czechoslovakia and North Korea. There are three basic versions; the Model 1962, with a smooth turret and no AA machine gun and a T-55 style engine deck and radiator installation; the Model 1967, with the same turret and a new engine and radiator deck; and the Model 1970, which added a ring mount and DshK machine gun for the loader. Just over 20,000 T-62 tanks were built between 1962 and 1989.

SDV has now created a new kit of the T-62, which is more accurate in terms of scale with the old Armortec/Petner Panzers/Boley kit. It is based, as was the real one, on the late model T-55 chassis produced by SDV and uses many of the parts from those kits.

The model assembles in the same way as the T-55s – hull pan, fenders and upper hull sides, tracks and separate outer wheels. To this are added a turret decking with bulged sides, an engine deck, and a radiator deck based on the specific model of tank. The rest of the parts are the usual details – lights, fuel and oil tanks, ZIP (spare parts) bins, and the like.

The turret has the same shape problems as all other plastic T-62 kits, namely a straight front edge with no roll-under as seen on actual cast T-62 turrets. Due to the thin moldings, this may be hard to correct but with some careful filing and painting the general shape can be modified to more accurately represent the T-62's turret.

However, the kit comes with the hatch for the Model 1970 and not the Model 1962. To accurately replicate the Model 1962 the hatch will have to be sanded off and a new hatch, slightly domed, scratchbuilt for it with front-mounted hinges.

Seven finishing options and a nice set of decals by MPD are provided with the kit: Soviet Army, Czech Invasion August 1968; Soviet occupying forces in Czechoslovakia, 1972; Egyptian Army, 1973; Syrian Army, Lebanon 1982; Iraqi Army, 1991; Northern Alliance, Afghanistan, 2001; and Soviet-built T-62 in Czech service, 1999. Markings for specific vehicles are included, with those of the Iraqis being recognizable as tank 33B, 3rd Regiment, 6th Armored Brigade, 3rd "Saladin" Armored Division, 1991. (Note that this tank will have to have a yellow bore evacuator with a white band in the center.) Also included are extra markings for East Germany.

Overall, while not quite spot on for a Model 1962, this kit is better in most respects to both the Armortec and even the 1/35 scale Tamiya kits, and is a good choice for wargamers and good start for small-scale modelers to make an accurate T-62.

Thanks to Jan Podubecky for the review sample.

Sources:

Stevens International, 706 N. White Horse Pike, P.O. Box 126, Magnolia, NY 08049; phone (856) 435-1555 fax (856) 627- 6274; e-mail: info@stevenshobby.com;

Fidelis Models, PO Box 1021, Poway, CA 92074; e-mail fidelismodels@cox.net;

Howard Hookham, 11 Belle Vue Terrace, Blackwood Hall, Luddendenfoot, Halifax HX2 6HG, Yorkshire, Great Britain; e-mail futureplanes2000@yahoo.com.

Direct from SDV at their e-store: http://www.sdvmodel.cz

The Czech Koruna converts to US dollars at a rate of Kr 21 = US $1.

(Originally written on December 12, 2006)
Kit Review: SDV Model 1/87 Scale Military Series Kit No. 87 048; Obrneny Transporter MT-LB s 85 mm Diviznim Kanonem D-44 (MT-LB Armored Transporter with 85mm D-44 Divisional Gun); 45 parts (40 in olive green styrene, 4 in black styrene, and 1 clear styrene); price in Czech Koruna Kr 320 or 13 Euros (US $15.23 from SDV)
Advantages: good pairing of two related items; better than the white metal offerings from other European manufacturers
Disadvantages: D-44 may be a bit fragile but is close to scale
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: to all Soviet/Russian and Warsaw Pact small-scalers

One of the older – and now out of production – warhorses which soldier on with the modern Russian Army is the MT-LB tracked armored personnel carrier. Now more than 30 years old, these vehicles have been rebuilt to provide acceptable (e.g. non OSCE or CFE Treaty limited equipment) to the Russians for use in the "near abroad" or in places such as the far north or Chechnya. They have also reintroduced (from deep war reserves) the 85mm D-44 field gun, as it is another treaty exempt item (CFE requires all guns and mortars over 100mm caliber to be declared.) The Russians issued both to their MVD Internal Troops units, who also used them in Chechnya. While the gun is quite elderly – being a field gun equivalent of the 85mm ZIS-53 guns used in WWII T-34-85 and IS-1 tanks, it is still capable of sufficient lethality against terrorists or rebels.

SDV is now offering a "twofer" with both kits in one box. This is a good idea, as it gives the MT-LB some "purpose" as well as provide a prime mover for the field gun. Both kits are packed separately in ziplock bags.

The MT-LB consists of 24 parts and comes with a clear windscreen as well as optional position armored flaps, so the model can be shown in march order. However, none of the hatches have options and the rear doors and roof hatches are also closed, so it will take a bit of work and ingenuity to fit an interior in the hull. The model comes with a separate outside ring to the drivers, which is fine as MT-LBs only had single road wheels and idlers.

The D-44 is very petite but will be somewhat flimsy if assembled per the directions; if the model is to be wargamed, I suggest beefing up the trails with either sprue or strip and also using a heated screwdriver tip to fix the trails in their mounts. Both the trails will operate and the gun will elevate if care is taken in assembly.

This kit comes with three different finishing options called out: Warsaw Pact grey-green, Soviet Army in Afghanistan 1988, or Iraqi Army, Kuwait 1991. The colors are called out in either Czech, English or German, but only one is matched to Humbrol colors – 173, which is "track color." A full decal sheet is included with six 0-9 sets of numbers, as well as markings for Finland, East Germany, West Germany, Poland, the CSSR, Rumania, Soviet and Soviet Guards, Hungary and one other.

Overall this is a handy kit with two items that mutually complement each other in one box, and should be a nice change of pace for small-scalers or wargamers.

Thanks to Jan Podubecky for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Sources:

Stevens International, 706 N. White Horse Pike, P.O. Box 126, Magnolia, NJ 08049; phone (856) 435-1555 fax (856) 627- 6274; e-mail: info@stevenshobby.com;

Fidelis Models, PO Box 1021, Poway, CA 92074; e-mail fidelismodels@cox.net;

Howard Hookham, 11 Belle Vue Terrace, Blackwood Hall, Luddendenfoot, Halifax HX2 6HG, Yorkshire, Great Britain; e-mail futureplanes2000@yahoo.com.

Direct from SDV at their e-store: http://www.sdvmodel.cz

The Czech Koruna converts to US dollars at a rate of Kr 21 = US $1.

(Originally written on December 12, 2006)
Kit Review: SDV Model 1/87 Scale Military Series Kit No. 87 051; SD-44 Divizni Kanon 85mm (SD-44 85mm Divisional Gun); 28 parts (17 in olive green styrene, 11in black styrene); price in Czech Koruna Kr 120 or 5 Euros (US $5.71 direct from SDV)
Advantages: only kit I know of covering this particular weapon in any scale
Disadvantages: trails may be somewhat fragile for wargaming purposes
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: for all Soviet era or Warsaw Pact small-scale modelers or wargamers

One of the problems with any gun large enough to do sufficient damage to an opponent is that it usually is not easily moveable by the gun's crew alone, and thus requires extra help. This may be either via a team of horses or mules, a wheeled tractor or a tracked prime mover. In some cases, this means the gun is out of action for a dangerously long time while it is closed up, prepared for travel, hooked up to the prime mover, and then moved to a new position.

One solution which the Soviets used in the early 1950s, primarily with consideration of airborne forces, is to simply attach a "clip-on" or built-in engine and drive train to the gun and move it by itself over short distances. One of their first successful efforts in this area was to power the D-44 85mm divisional gun and equip it with a monowheel drive unit that fastened to one of its trails.

This gave the crew, usually seen as VDV airborne forces, the ability to move the gun around on the battlefield over most normal tactical distances without needing a prime mover, and thus made the gun more applicable to air drop. This lasted until the advent of the BMD-1, which came with its own 73mm grenade launcher and did not need extra firepower. Top speed was 25 kph and 58 liters of fuel gave it a range of up to 220 kilometers. The gun was driven spades forward with the monowheel also providing steering.

The concept is now back in vogue again, through weapons like the South African G6 155mm gun, and other nations are once again considering this class of weapon.

SDV has taken their nice little D-44 kit and added a sprue of parts to it that provide the monowheel drive, engine and driver's seat for the self-propelled version. They also add an ammunition crate to the kit for the gun.

As noted in a previous review, the trails are fragile and wargamers may wish to reinforce them with sprue or strip. The heads of the trails should be fastened by flattening the pins with a heated screwdriver blade for security as well.

No detailed finishing instructions per se are included, and the two colors of paint recommended are based on SDV's own line of acrylic paints. The Czech version should be in an olive color paint whereas the NVA (East German) one would be in Warsaw Pact grey-green.

Overall this is a conversation piece if nothing else, and something different to add to a miniatures wargame!

Thanks to Jan Podubecky for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Sources:

Stevens International, 706 N. White Horse Pike, P.O. Box 126, Magnolia, NY 08049; phone (856) 435-1555 fax (856) 627- 6274; e-mail: info@stevenshobby.com;

Fidelis Models, PO Box 1021, Poway, CA 92074; e-mail fidelismodels@cox.net;

Howard Hookham, 11 Belle Vue Terrace, Blackwood Hall, Luddendenfoot, Halifax HX2 6HG, Yorkshire, Great Britain; e-mail futureplanes2000@yahoo.com.

Direct from SDV at their e-store: http://www.sdvmodel.cz

The Czech Koruna converts to US dollars at a rate of Kr 21 = US $1.


December 12, 2006
(Originally written on December 10, 2006)
Kit Review: SDV Model 1/87 Scale Military Series Kit No. 87 052; Tatra 813 4 x 4 Vojensky Tahac Navesu (Military Tractor for Trailer Haulage); 81 parts (39 in olive green styrene, 32 in black styrene, 10 clear styrene); price in Czech Koruna Kr 225 (equal to US $10.71 at the source)
Advantages: different tractor to use with both military or civilian cargo trailers, many options with this kit
Disadvantages: old-fashioned molds (normal for small run kits) may be hard to work with
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: for all modern small-scale softskin fans
Unlike many western truck manufacturers, many European companies come up with one good design for specific engine and transmission combinations, as well as wheel arrangements, and then offer them in whatever combinations the customer needs. This is common with companies such as Daimler Benz, MAN, KaMAZ, and Tatra, among many others. One of the best known of these families are the Tatra 813 series trucks, which come in 4 x 2, 4 x 4, 6 x 6 and 8 x 8 arrangements among many others.

This kit is SDV's offering of the dedicated military tractor for heavy semi-trailers, the Tatra 813 4 x 4 variant. These trucks are semi-rear area ones as it is hard to move a semi-trailer cross country, but permits moving heavy palletized or containerized cargoes close to the combat units; they are often seen towing heavy bulk fuel tankers as well.

SDV's kit is a "limited run" kit, so it is designed to be offered by a small manufacturer and in some cases the molding seem a bit crude. However, with care and careful cleanup, the kits build up into neat replicas of vehicles not offered by other manufacturers such as ROCO or Kibri. This kit uses some of the conventions that Kibri does, such as snap-on axles for the wheels, but provides a wide variety of nice bits such as individual headlights, driving lights and taillights – 8 in all.

Construction requires a number of subassemblies so care will need to be taken with cutting the parts from the sprues as well as assembly.

No markings or painting instructions are included, but as with many HO scale vehicles the model comes molded in the correct colors for each part so painting is not expected. Some logical finish points can add to its appearance or painting the parts the colors they come in on the sprues will help give them a more realistic finish.

The directions are in Czech and German, but some monkey-see-monkey-do "international" flags cover the basic points in the directions, and there are not a fistful of parts at stake here, so it should be sufficient to get a clean job of assembly.

Overall, this is a handy little beast for HO scalers and with a suitable trailer should be a nice addition to either an HO model railway or wargame army.

Thanks to Jan Podubecky for the review sample.

Sources for SDV kits:

Stevens International, 706 N. White Horse Pike, P.O. Box 126, Magnolia, NY 08049;
phone (856) 435-1555 fax (856) 627- 6274; e-mail: info@stevenshobby.com
Fidelis Models, PO Box 1021, Poway, CA 92074;
e-mail fidelismodels@cox.net
Howard Hookham, 11 Belle Vue Terrace, Blackwood Hall, Luddendenfoot, Halifax HX2 6HG, Yorkshire, Great Britain;
e-mail: futureplanes2000@yahoo.com
SDV Model website and e-store: http://www.sdvmodel.cz
Kit Review: SDV Models 1/87 Scale Civilian Line Kit No. 272/Military Line Kit No. 87 055; Podvalnik Transporta P-50 (P-50 Lowboy Transporter); 87 parts (64 parts in black styrene, 23 in grey plastic or olive green plastic); price in Czech Koruna Kr 235 (about US $11.19 at the source)
Advantages: popular world-wide lowboy carrier for many nations' armored vehicles; offered in both civilian and military options
Disadvantages: has to have a tractor which is a separate purchase
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all small scale armor modelers and HO railroaders looking for something completely different

With all of the nastiness of the Cold War, during late 1990 and early 1991 it came as something of a shock to see former Czech military transporters carrying American and British armor out into the deserts of Saudi Arabia during preparations for Operation Desert Storm/Operation Granby. Many of the heavy haulers were the Tatra 813 heavy truck (8 x 8) towing the P-50 50 metric ton lowboy trailer. Happily, the Czechs sort of lied about its actual capacity, which is 63 metric tons – about one metric ton more than the weight of one of its most common loads, the US Army's M1A1 Abrams tank.

The P-50 is a typical European style lowboy deck-style transport trailer designed to be pulled "suicide style" behind a standard truck, rather than carried by a saddle type tractor-trailer combination. It uses five axle sets, each with two stub axles and a total of 20 heavy truck wheels underneath them to carry the weight of the load. The normal tractor in Czech service was the Tatra 813 mentioned above, also called the "Kolos" (Colossus) for its sheer towing power.

SDV's two kits are nicely done and come with all of the accessories normally associated with this type of carrier. There are two working fold-down ramps at the rear and two auxiliary ramps carried on the front of the deck. Also, the deck has five access portals in it which can either be left open or sealed with hatch covers. The only part which most modelers may want to replace with sections of brass or styrene rod are the axles, which come on the wheel sprues.

The kit is about two generations behind a lot of more modern kits, but is very well done and with care and cleanup will build into a nice model. With a Tatra 813 (also available from SDV) you can create a Desert Shield/Desert Storm transporter for an M1A1 Abrams or other US vehicle, or use it as the Czech tank transporter with any Warsaw Pact equipment.

The directions are rough xeroxes but are more than suitable for building the kit, even though they are in either Czech or German. The only difference I could see was that it may be preferable to use a hot screwdriver/knife blade to permit the front axle set pinion to operate. Only a set of safety chevron stickers is included with the kit, but these types of vehicles rarely carried any other markings outside of a registration number/license plate at the rear.

Overall this is a very nicely done little kit and something completely out of the ordinary for both model railroaders and HO scale armor fans.

Thanks to Jan Podubecky for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Sources for SDV kits:

Stevens International, 706 N. White Horse Pike, P.O. Box 126, Magnolia, NJ 08049; phone (856) 435-1555 fax (856) 627- 6274; e-mail: info@stevenshobby.com

Fidelis Models, PO Box 1021, Poway, CA 92074; e-mail: fidelismodels@cox.net

Howard Hookham, 11 Belle Vue Terrace, Blackwood Hall, Luddendenfoot, Halifax HX2 6HG, Yorkshire, Great Britain; e-mail: futureplanes2000@yahoo.com

SDV Model website and e-store: http://www.sdvmodel.cz

Note: for direct purchase from SDV the Czech Koruna converts to US dollars at a rate of Kr 21 = US $1.
(Originally written on December 8, 2006)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6333; "Ambush!" Eastern Front 1944 - Gen2; 287 parts (271 in grey styrene, 16 etched brass); estimated retail price around US $13.98
Advantages: nice new figures of German troops in smocks and later war uniform accouterments
Disadvantages: figures do not seem to work well as a set but more like four individual figures
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all late war German fans

The latest in DML's marvelous "Gen2" series of deluxe figure sets are four German SS panzer grenadiers in the popular "ambush" scheme smocks worn over their regular uniforms. Each one comes in the now typical DML "Gen2" breakdown – two legs, two torso sections, two arms, hands, footgear, front and rear to the head, separate collar and four-part coat tails – plus other bits such as shoulder straps or belts as needed. One of the figures is an officer, and this time he comes with a two-piece peaked cap, which will make painting it and the sweatband trim very easy.

The set comes with the usual cornucopia of DML accessories, including two Panzerfaust 60 grenade launchers and their packing crate from previous kits, two sets of the WB weapons sprue with four MP40, two MP44 and two Gewehr 43 rifles, and bits of the WC sprues with grenades and pistols – one PP, one P.08 Luger, and one P.38 plus a pair of flare pistols (loaded and loading.)

But oddly these figures do not seem to be designed for use together as much as to be used as single figures. The officer is in a pose with his pistol raised as waiting for the moment to strike. One man with a bandaged head looks far more casual if a bit overarmed for the situation – a grenade in one hand and a Tellermine in the other. One helmeted figure is advancing with his hand raised as to stop traffic, and the fourth figure is holding a Panzerfaust at the ready.

At least the nice Ron Volstad artwork and directions for painting help sort things out a bit. Decals are also included for the Panzerfauste and their packing crate.

Overall, while as noted the figures appear a bit disjointed as a set they do work well as individual pieces, and most fans will be glad to pick them up.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Sprue layout

A 37 2 x figures
B 41 2 x figures
GA 64 (mess kits, canteens, entrenching tools, bayonets)
GB 56 (magazine pouches, holsters, bread bags)
GC 14 Grenades
GC 15 Pistols
WB 18x2 Gewehr 43, MP 44, 2 x MP40
WE 8 Panzerfauste
MA 16 etched brass
(Originally written on December 8, 2006)
Video Review: "Ghosts of the Third Reich Volume III: German Tracked and Semi-Tracked Vehicles" by Tankvideo.com (Richard Isner); DVD-R format, approximately 63 minutes in length; price US $20 directly from Tankvideo.com; http://www.tankvideo.com
Advantages: nicely done and edited (two cameras) video of restored German armored vehicles in action
Disadvantages: minimal coverage of non-German subjects (well, the title DID say German!)
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: For all German tank fans and especially modelers

I've known Rich Isner for a number of years now, both professionally and socially, and while Rich pleads guilty to being an SGF – "Slobbering German Freak" – I don't hold him to that for a number of reasons. First off, no SGF would be caught dead wearing a full German tanker's black wool uniform actually operating an armored vehicle in 95 F heat (Rich is the re-enactor Hetzer commander at the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles). Secondly, no SGF I know takes the time, care or consideration of his chosen subject to literally get down to the level of skinned knuckles and "sweat equity" in getting restored vehicles to operate. And third, nobody else I know takes the care to provide excellent digital video of restored vehicles of all sorts in action as Rich does.

This is the latest in a series of high-quality videos from Rich, and it covers the Bovington open day in the early fall of 2006. The Tank Museum is legendary for its collection of armored vehicles, and the Open Days are also a magnet for British restorers and re-enactors to show their stuff on the demonstration paddock at the Tank Museum. This video shows the action over the course of two days, and covers both the Tank Museum's vehicles as well as some very nicely done preserved armor.

First up is a privately preserved Sd.Kfz. 7 8 ton halftrack which is about 90% restored, only missing items such as its windshield and folding top. The restorer comments on the vehicle and what he has done to it – as it was a "basket case" the answer is quite a bit! – and his hope of finding a demilled 8.8 cm gun to tow behind it.

Second is a late model Pzkw. III with the long 5 cm gun and applique armor that belongs to the Tank Museum. I was impressed at the quiet but commanding growl this beastie makes during its run-pasts.

Two different Hetzers are next to perform, and from what I recall Rich saying one is real and the other is the more prosaic Swiss G.13 version. They are also quiet as well.

A pair of the light halftracks follow, the Sd.Kfz. 250 (alte) and an Sd.Kfz. 250 (neue). Both are put through their paces by their owners.

A privately restored Jagdpanther is next, and a beast it is! Modelers really need to concentrate on the tracks and wheels of this vehicle, as the loose fitting tracks do quite a bit of gyrating when the vehicle is running and act nothing like most modelers would expect them to.

Lastly, and somewhat sulkily and reluctantly, Bovington's Tiger I made its formal debut as a "runner" for the first time since the late 1940s (from what I was told its original engine was "sectioned" for engineering students and thus finding a new engine was a real problem.) It apparently barely rolled out of the shops on the first day, sounding very ragged, and went back for some TLC. On the second day, it was running in fine form around the paddock, and while it is obvious that there was a steady rain falling the crowd seemed delighted to see the big beast rolling along with a suitable growl.

The video does concentrate on the external bits of the vehicles, but it is the running which is fun to watch and the sounds as they roll by. Modelers will note that armored vehicles clatter more than one would expect but rarely squeal as they do in movies and TV.

Overall this should be a winner as I know many people want to see – and hear! – a running Tiger I.

Many thanks to Rich for the review copy of the video.

ookie Sewell
(Originally written on December 8, 2006)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6320; StuG III Ausf. G Early Production - Smart Kit; 697 parts (378 in grey styrene, 288 Magic Track links, 20 etched brass, 10 clear styrene, 1 length of twisted steel wire); price estimated at US $41-45
Advantages: Totally new ground-up kit of this very popular vehicle; nicely done interior bits will be appreciated; ready for easy(er) assembly or suitable for super-detailing
Disadvantages: "Boo birds" not in touch with the "Smart Kit" concept likely to complain about shortage of brass or multimedia parts
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: For all WWII German fans and a few diehard Finnish and Syrian modelers

Once modelers get past the big lumpy German tanks like the Tigers and Panthers, their next most popular vehicle is usually the Sturmgescheutz series of self-propelled guns, with the later models being the most popular. For a number of years, arguments and discussions have been carried out about whose kits are the best – Tamiya (old) or Tamiya (new), DML (ex-Gunze Sangyo) or DML (Dragon's own kits.) With this new (and surprise) kit, DML seems to be out to settle all bets in one go.

It's getting harder and harder to describe the kits, as DML's standard of engineering in their new "Smart Kit" series is hard to top. Each one is designed to be as accurate as DML can make it in regard to the prototype and at the same time make it much easier to assemble a highly detailed miniature of the original without resorting to a bunch of after-market detail kits. This is the latest in the series, and light years away from the Tamiya kit of 1972 (which was one of my favorites for many years as it provided so many options.)

This kit provides the "early production" – e.g. welded mantelet/recoil cover vice the later "Saukopf" mantelet – version of the Ausf. G.

The kit comes with many of the accouterments seen on kits like the DML Tiger I and Panther, starting with individual torsion bars and road wheel arms as well as all of the external details on the lower hull such as shocks and bump stops. Each idler wheel consists of five parts with twin brass inserts between the plastic castings. All wheels are detailed to the point of having the rubber tire manufacturer's data readable!

The brass is provided only for those bits where plastic cannot do the job, such as the aforementioned wheel rims and the air intake and exhaust grilles on the engine deck plus some non-slip gridding. I noted on the internet the last time the "Boo Birds" showed up to complain about the "Smart Kit" Panther Ausf. G that it didn't come with enough brass to suit them; these people apparently can't grasp the concept of a "Smart Kit" being one which does not NEED that amount of brass to look good. But I digress.

All fender details are separate and go on in subassemblies. In point of fact, most of this model consists of subassemblies, which is how it gets its tremendous level of details. This also shows in the sprues, as for example the "A" wheel sprue actually consists of seven sub-sprues, so future kits can be done by gating off or ungating other sections of the master sprue to meet the need of those kits. DML seems to be getting smarter in their old age, using this technique vice tossing in 5-10 other sprues from other kits to get one part from each one.

The kit comes with a high level of interior parts, including the gun, commander's cupola assembly, floor, and the radios and stowage racks for various bits on each side of the casemate.

Likewise the engine deck consists of several subassemblies combined to form the deck. Note that every hatch on this vehicle can be opened for display of the interior, but there is no engine or transmission provided.

Final assembly again has a number of different modules combined into one final assembly – lower hull, fenders, engine deck, interior, gun barrel, casemate, and tracks. Oddly enough, while the radios and antenna bases are supplied, no comment is made about the antennas for them!

Five different finishing options and a targeted Cartograf are provided: 2nd StuG Abt. 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich", Russia 1943; Pz.Gren.Div "Grossdeutschland" Eastern Front 1943; U/I unit, Eastern Front 1944; 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf",Ukraine 1944; and a token captured example, "Aleksandr Suvorov" of the 1288th SP Gun Regiment, Ukraine 1944. The latter two are in whitewash winter schemes.

Input on this kit was provided by Minoru Igarashi, Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.

Overall, this is another hit. (As a point of observation, our friends the "Boo Birds" complain that too many reviews appear to be "shilling" for the manufacturers; apparently these depraved souls haven't figured out yet that today is now the Silver Age – perhaps even Platinum, based on credits card rationale – of modeling and each manufacturer is trying to outdo the others with the quality and accuracy of their products. Unless one wants to go to moronic levels of review – e.g. "The third bolt on the transmission shows that it uses left hand threads vice right hand threads, so this kit is a disaster and should not be built by anyone with any real knowledge of an accurate model" – it's hard to give most new kits from the major manufacturers, and a good number of the smaller ones, a really bad review. But they'll try.)

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Sprue layout

A 61x2 Wheels and torsion bars (7 mini-sprues connected)
B 48 Road wheel arms and lower hull details
C 31 Casemate and fenders
D 28 Basic upper hull details
E 34 Interior and radio sets
F 16 Gun barrel and mantelet
G 15 OVM and light components
G 55 Fender and upper hull details
G 24 OVM and hull details
H 1 Lower hull pan
J 10 Clear styrene
K 144 Magic Track - Left
M 144 Magic Track - Right
Z 1 Twisted steel wire
WC 4 MG34
MA 20 Etched brass
(Originally written on November 30, 2006)
Kit Review: ICM 1/35 Scale Kit no. 35541; "May 1945"; 54 parts in grey styrene; retail price US $8.98
Advantages: very well done and casual Soviet figures will complement late production model tanks (e.g. IS-2 or T-34-85); comes with an accordion!
Disadvantages: comes with an accordion!
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Soviet "Great Patriotic War" Fans
Many times, it's hard when composing a diorama or vignette to get the casual look that makes the scene work. This isn't a problem if you are handy with modifying figures or scratchbuilding figures, but it's tough for many modelers to get the figures to look "right."
DML has thus far dominated in getting good figures to the market, and quite often eastern European ones tend to be stodgy, stumpy or just plain clumsy in appearance. Therefore this new kit from ICM was a major surprise, as these are some of the nicest figures that I've seen coming out of the former USSR.

Offered by ICM from Ukraine, the kit offers four very nicely sculpted figures after the great victory who are taking some time to relax. The kit comes with an officer, a female medical orderly ("medsestra"), a casualty with a freshly dressed wound, and another soldier seated in a chair with an accordion.

Yes, accordion! While many Americans are annoyed with this instrument and tend to denigrate it, it is very popular with Russians and probably ranks up with guitars and balalaikas for most popular folk instrument. (It should be noted that the most extreme reaction I ever saw in the US was a bumper sticker on a car that read, "Pro-Accordion – and I VOTE!")

The accordion player is seated in a very nicely done five-part chair that appears to be a side chair from a dining table in Berlin. He is very casual, with the four-piece instrument in his lap and his quilted jacket open and slung over his shoulders. His companion is standing with his left hand bandaged, still wearing his quilted jacket. Both come with kit bags and PPS submachine guns.

The officer is standing with his medals displayed and carrying what appears to be a map case. He is armed with a pistol and has his arm around the medical orderly. The medical orderly is wearing a skirt and also the officer's greatcoat is draped over her shoulders; she apparently has a cup of tea as well. A medical kit bag is provided and shown displayed at her feet.

While each figure consists of six basic parts – legs, torso, arms and head – there are small details that add to each one. That enhances some of the best molding that I have seen in a while, and as noted something not usually seen from the east. Each face has a great deal of personality in it and all are very clean with a minimum of mold partition lines.

Overall this is a great set of figures and complements many other sets from other companies. ICM is to be congratulated for doing a great job, and hopefully can continue at this level.

Note that ICM kits in the US are now distributed by Dragon Models USA.

Cookie Sewel
(Originally written on November 30 2006)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Kit No. 7311; M4A4 Sherman; 175 parts (122 in grey styrene, 51 etched brass, 2 DS plastic track runs) ; price estimated at US $13.98
Advantages: nice clean complete model of M4A4/Sherman V tank with some optional bits in the kit
Disadvantages: overdone brass sheet, some question on markings accuracy
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Commonwealth armour fans and "Shermaholics" in small scale
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Kit No. 7303; (Sherman) Firefly VC; 190 parts (134 in grey stryene, 54 etched brass, 2 tan DS plastic track runs); price estimated at US $13.98
Advantages: Nice, clean kit with new M4A4/Sherman V hull, tracks and turret; detail rivals 1/35 scale kits; provides the modeler with the ability to make the model as detailed as possible
Disadvantages: brass details are now bordering on the ridiculous in regard to size and usability
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Commonwealth armour fans and "Shermaholics" in small scale

As with many other  DML kits, they have now released a straight Sherman V kit (but under the odd release designation of M4A4) to complement their earlier Sherman VC Firefly kit. As can be expected, this model uses all but the turret sprue, brass and decals from that kit.

It should be noted that the US Army did use some M4A4 tanks, but the only ones used in combat were in conjunction with Nationalist Chinese forces in the CBI theater. The American use was primarily confined to the Desert Training Center at Indio, California, with tanks used there being rebuilt and sent overseas to Commonwealth forces. The book "Tanks are Mighty Fine Things" clearly shows color photos of M4A4s with the 7th Armored Division in training, as well as awaiting rebuilding before overseas shipment.

The kit basically combines the A, B and C sprues from the Firefly kit (details and mid-production VVSS suspension, with welded road wheels and "straight" return roller arms with pillow blocks) with 26 parts adapted from their M4A1 kit for the turret, as well as the two DS plastic British pattern steel chevron (T62 style) track runs.

The hull is beautifully done with "Slide Molding" providing the side details as well as the top and front/rear ones, including very petite weld bead details (less casting numbers!) and other niceties such as the fender/sand shield mountings. The turret likewise has been "Slide Molded" as has the gun barrel which has a hollow muzzle. Everywhere one looks are fine details such as bolts, screw heads, weld bead, etc.

All of the armored applique panels are included, three hull, one turret and true to its Firefly roots the patch over the bow gun port. Again, the trailer hitch was molded in the stowed position on the side of the rear doors, but unless you are planning on using an ammo trailer that is pretty minor. All of the crew hatches and the pistol port are separate parts and can be shown open or shut. There is no interior detail in the turret.

The transmission cover is the "bolted" three-section type with separate bolt flanges, which is normal for portraying this component, and has a choice of cast in or etched brass "ears" for the tow shackles. Other etched brass components include the taillight lenses, light guards, part of the tool brackets, and in the RP (right puny) department, the locking tabs and ears for the hatches. (These are maybe 0.5 x 1.0 mm.)

Surprisingly DML has not included the fenders/sand shields for this model of the Sherman, as they were more commonly used by Commonwealth tankers than Americans. Considering it would be a good idea to use etched brass for this, the omission is a bit odd. They do, unlike their 1/35 scale brethren, include the .50 caliber M2 heavy machine gun for the commander's cupola ring mount.

Painting instructions and markings via a nice Cartograf sheet cover four vehicles: RHQ 13th/18th Royal Hussars, Normandy 1944; 1st Chinese Provisional Tank Group, Burma 1945; 1st Motorized Artillery Regiment, Polish 1st Armoured Division, Falaise Gap 1944; and Free French Army, Marseille 1944. Oddly, sources indicate that the one British tank modeled may have been a Sherman III (M4A2) and not an Sherman V (M4A4), which is a major goof. All tanks appear to be in olive drab. At least there are no silly "captured" options with this kit!

Overall, other than the one error in markings this kit continues the string of "hits" for small scale armour modelers with a U!

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Sprue breakout
7311 M4A4
A 26 75mm early turret
B 33 machine gun and fine details
A 33 M4A4/Firefly details
C 30 Mid-production VVSS suspension
D 2 M4A4/Sherman V hull
MA 51 brass
X 2 DS plastic tracks (T62 type)
(Originally written on November 25, 2006)
Kit Review: Italeri 1/72 Scale Kit No. 7037; Sd.Kfz. 234/3; 66 parts in light ochre styrene; retail price about US $12.50
Advantages: nice, clean kit of this vehicle; options for either detailed or simplified wargame version of the model
Disadvantages: somewhat simplistic parts will not be popular with current small-scale modelers
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: for all small-scale German WWII fans as well as wargamers

While some of the other companies now making kits in 1/72 and 1/76 scale have gone to great lengths to increase the accuracy and resolution of their kits, with some now numbering more parts and types of materials than some of the better 1/35 scale models, Italeri has taken a different tack and is now trying to appeal to both the small-scale modeler and the wargamer who wants a simple but accurate model to use with miniatures gaming rules. As such, their new kits provide different options, from either a 2-in-1 choice like this kit (either detailed or wargaming) to one of each type in the same box to two wargaming versions in one box.

This particular kit is based on the "Stroke 3" variant of the later model heavy armored car series. The Germans continued their prewar designs throughout the war, and the Sd.Kfz. 231 heavy eight-wheeled armored car series was replaced by the Sd.Kfz. 234 series beginning in September 1943. Four different vehicles were produced in this series:
Sd.Kfz. 234/1 (Geraet 95) 200 built  2 cm cannon/7.92mm MG in open turret
(built Jun 44 - Jan 45)
 Sd.Kfz. 234/2 (Geraet 93)   101 built 5 cm gun/7.92mm MG in closed turret (also called the Puma) (built Sep 43 - Sep 44)
Sd.Kfz. 234/3 (Geraet 94) 88 built 7.5 cm L/24 in open mount
(built Jun 44 - Dec 44)
Sd.Kfz. 234/4 (Geraet 96) 89 built 7.5 cm Pak 40 in open mount
(built Dec 44 - Mar 45)

The first one to see service was the Puma, as it entered production nine months ahead of the other models. It was followed by the "stroke 1" and later the "stroke 3" and finally the "stroke 4." The latter was purely a heavy tank destroyer version, as by that time the Germans needed all of the heavy (75mm and up) antitank guns they could muster. Both the 3 and 4 were similar, with the exception of the heavier gun in the 4, and used the standard hull but with no turret and modified decking.

Italeri's new kit is of the "Stroke 3" with the L/24 7.5 cm howitzer and as noted comes with two build options which they call "Fast" or "Skillful" on the end of the box.

They both use the same parts but the difference is that the "fast" version leaves most of them out. The "Skillful" version takes 58 of the 66 parts on the single sprue whereas the "Fast" version only requires 26 and provides sturdy if inaccurate axles.

The kit comes with the main hull split in half lengthwise, four separate leaf springs and eight complete suspension units. It has a very spartan interior of only six pieces – base, two steering wheels, rear bulkhead, and two simplified ammo lockers (e.g. no openings for the rounds or round bases molded on them). The late-model four-bin fenders are each one unit and the mufflers attach at the rear of each unit.

A number of details are separate parts – jerry cans, fire extinguishers, jack, shovels, lights, and fender guide rods. But the gun consists of a main unit, a muzzle, light mount, MG42 machine gun, and a frame for the armor protection, all of which fit into a casemate base. These are very simplified, and I know that some modelers are going to squawk about that. However, they should realize that this kit is aimed at the wargamer and not the collector, and as such is designed to be easy to assemble in numbers, look great when done, and survive years of table top battles and the normal wear and tear of coming and going to wargame venues. The fact that it can be built as a normal model with the basics provided so that the hard-core modeler can upgrade it is a bonus – if you wonder what I mean, think back to the Edori PVC kits of about 30 years ago and you will find wargamer items that could not be brought up to collector's standards.

A nice sheet of basic markings is provided along with finishing options for four vehicles. Two are unknowns, one in Normandy and one on the Western front, one is 21st Panzer Division in Normandy, and one is the 116th Panzer Division in Normandy. Italeri calls them "A. A." vehicles which I assume was their stab at Aufklaerungsabteilung (reconnaissance battalion) or something like that. The ones on the direction are in black and white but there are color prints on the back of the box.

Overall, look at this kit as what the Airfix Sd.Kfz. 234/4 kit of 40 years ago SHOULD have been and you will be able to determine its overall worth. Molding is not bad and the kit should answer the mail for more than a few modelers.

Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on November 17, 2006)
Kit Review: cyber-hobby.com 1/35 Scale Kit No. 12 (Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6350); Tiger I Early Production "Michael Wittmann";   1,053 parts (625 parts in grey stryene, 188 etched brass, 216 "Magic Track" links, 1 turned aluminum barrel insert, 1 spring, 2 pre-bent wire, 8 white metal castings, 8 aluminum pins, 1turned brass, 1straight wire,  2 twisted steel wire); price estimated at US $45
Advantages: targeted "boutique" kit of one specific vehicle of popular subject
Disadvantages: another selective low-distribution kit tends to confuse some modelers and also enters a very crowded marketplace for this vehicle
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for die-hard Tiger fans

There is a joke going around among non-German WWII armored vehicle modelers that there will eventually be something like 5,500 kits of the Tiger I on the market in 1/35 scale – one each of every single one built by Trumpeter, Dragon, AFV Club, and Tamiya. (I could include another 1,385 from Italeri but their Tiger kit hasn't been seen in a few years, and I suppose I should wait for it to come out with new markings as well!) While it's more of a grouse about a lack of other worthy subjects, it does seem to have some basis in fact as there seems to be four or five out from each one (less Trumpeter, but give them time) right now.

This kit has once again been the subject of intensive speculation and pre-orders on the Internet due to the excellence of the DML Tiger I kits as well as the choice of subject. Michael Wittmann is a cult figure amongst many WWII German armor fans, and as such there are a rabid few who really follow every tiny detail of his life with an intensity that is hard to fathom, given his rather extreme political views. (Tom Jentz has seen some of the personnel records on him that are stored in the US National Archives and what is there shows him to be more of what US troops call a "hot dog" than an "ace." He appears to only have survived and received promotion and awards due to his NDSP membership and mythos, as any other officer would have been relieved and court-martialed for constant violations of standing orders. But that is another story.)

The kit is typical of current DML/cyber-hobby.com "boutique" kits or an absolute boxfull of parts! Compared to the last DML version of the Tiger I to be released (No. 6253, a 3-in-1 Tiger I Late Production from July 2005 with 1,134 parts in the box) thnis kit changes out a number of sprues, adds others from the earlier Tiger I Early Production kit, as well as a bunch of new ones. Comparison with the Tiger I Late Production 3-in-1 shows that 166 parts have been changed or modified by new or reworked molds and another 235 swapped in from either the Early Production or Tiger (P) kits.

What the modeler winds up with is a Tiger I with the rear turret basket and the complete "Feifel" air cleaner installation, early production wheels, early production details, the turret with a one-piece roof and the right rear hatch; the directions show no "zimmerit" paste was applied so therefore no "ding" on the kit for not providing it. As I personally have little interest in Mr. Wittmann and have never followed much about his career, I cannot testify as to either the accuracy of the selection of parts chosen or if they are correct for this specific vehicle.  

There are some new tweaks that I have not seen in past Tiger I kits, such as TWO sets of forming guides for the tracks. While the tracks are apparently the early model, they are still "Magic Tracks" which have proven relatively popular as they only need to be snapped together and then cemented. As such, the directions call for 96 links on the left side and 95 on the right, and therefore due to the difference in the torsion bars and placement of the wheels the two sets of guides (D-23/24 and G-32/33) provide for an accurate set on each side. 

The kit comes with a handful of the original track links with separate guide teeth but these are the spares for the hangers on the turret; therefore, since they came on the same sprue as the Tiger I Late's torsion bars, a new sprue with 16 torsion bars is provided (Blue P). Incidentally, since DML/cyber-hobby.com used "mix and match" sprues, where there are duplicates one is listed as "Black Letter" and one is "Blue Letter." And just when you thought DML directions couldn't get any more confusing!!!

As noted the kit comes with full, semi-operating (once you cement the tracks in place, I doubt you'll want to test it!) suspension and a full set of torsion bars, as well as the now familiar partial interior for the engine bay with fans, fuel tanks and radiators. Note that when assembling this kit there are a large number of holes that need to be drilled out from the inside, especially in the engine bay area, so plan accordingly.

The kit does come with some expected features and some odd ones. A nicely detailed MG34 is provided for the bow gunner/radio operator and can be left free, but DML also added an operating driver's viewer. The gun "recoils" via a spring, not what I personally consider one of the better "working" features on a kit, with an aluminum core and styrene bits at both ends. A regular styrene barrel is also included. Note that no AA MG is provided, and right or wrong is something more and more common with other kits of late; why DML does not do this is beyond me, even if the modeler does not choose to use it or does want to make a similar vehicle that carried one.

All of the hatches on the model can be opened or closed, including the two on the turret basket. To avoid "midnight requisition" operations by the unscrupulous, the kit also includes padlocks for the latter with each one consisting of SEVEN parts with hasp. I give, my eyes aren't that good anymore even WITH an Optivisor!

One set of markings and finishing instructions are included for Wittmann's tank with turret number "1331" as marked for Operation "Zitadelle" (Kursk) with the 1st SS Panzer Division "Liebstandart Adolf Hitler" which, in order to dodge EU and other laws about glorifying the Nazis, is simply listed as "LSSAH" in the directions. Decals are again by Cartograf from Italy.

Production credits for those who, um, wish to comment are Hirohisa Takada and Minoru Igarashi, David Burden, Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson. All have struck me as competent and serious about their research in past projects.

Overall this is a good choice of kit, especially based on its subject matter, and is already closing on sell-outs in some markets from info posted on the Internet (take that with a grain of salt, as many sites are prone to exaggeration in both directions.) But in all seriousness, it enters a crowded and increasingly confusing variety of 1/35 Tiger I kits, and comments from the same Internet sites do indicate a level of frustration of having bought the "wrong" version of the kit in a past release.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Sprue breakdown (* = new sprues compared to previous release):
A 26 (Tiger I generic)
B 40 (Tiger I generic)
C 46 (Tiger (P)) Turret parts
C 39 (Tiger I Late)
D 30 (Tiger I Late) (turret)*
E 44x2 (Tiger I) wheel sets*
F 8 (Tiger I Late)
F 21 (Tiger I) Turret and hull details
G 42 (Tiger I) hull details
G 44 (Tiger I) hull details
H 54 (Tiger I Late)
H 1 (Tiger I) Hull base
K 28 (Tiger I) hull
L 12 (Tiger I generic) clear styrene
P 40 (Tiger I Late)*
P 25 (Tiger I) torsion bars
R 15 (Tiger I Late)
S 9 (Tiger I Late) clear styrene
V 31 Tiger I Turret Details
W 4 (Feifel hoses)
Y 12 (cleaning rod sections, details)
Z 180 (MagicTrack)
TA 8 (German OVM)*
TC 4 (German OVM)
TD 4 (German OVM)
TE 4 (German OVM)
TF 7 (German OVM ) jack
TG 4 (German OVM) tow cable heads
MA 147 Etched brass
MB 36 Etched brass
MC 4 grilles
MD 1 barrel insert
MD 1 spring
MD 2 pre-bent wire
MD 8  white metal casting
MD 8 aluminum pins
MD 1 turned brass
MD 1  straight wire
ME 2 twisted steel wire
(Originally written on Novewmber 10, 2006)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6192; Sturmgescheutze Crew Reloading Russia 1941; 48 parts in grey styrene; estimated price about US $10.95
Advantages: very flexible set of figures can be used with SP guns or tanks from 1941 to 1944 (as the sprue flag says so!), choice of ammo a good idea
Disadvantages: figures are not "Gen2" standard
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German armor fans
Occasionally a set of figures comes out with little fanfare or apparent advantage, but when examined closely is a good "maid of all work" that can be used for a very wide variety of functions and either with a single kit or in a diorama setting. DML's choice of figures here is very much one of those sets.

This kit provides a single sprue with three basic figures of Germans wearing the generic armor crewmen's uniform and one more with a pullover sweater performing the basic uploading – "bombing up" to Commonwealth armour fans – of ammunition into an armored vehicle. I say generic as it basically depends if you paint them in field gray with red trim as assault gun or antitank crewmen or black with pink as tankers. Each figure comes with a choice of either a peaked soft cap or a side cap for headgear.

The figures are basic – torso, head, two arms and two legs – but molding is up to DML's standards and these figures, as not in combat or wearing more involved uniforms, do not really need the extra "zing" provided by Gen2 molding techniques. Eight heads are provided for variety, however, but four have their tops cut at a slant for the side caps and four squared off for use with the peaked caps.

Poses are simple: one man with a sweater is an observer, one is holding a round, one is handing it down, and one is receiving the round from the previous figure. A nice touch is the presence of three distinct type of ammo: four rounds for what appears to be the stubby L/24 gun, four HE rounds for the L/46-48 guns, and four AP rounds for the latter weapon.  But as they are pretty generic figures, it should not be hard to use them with the longer 7.5 cm L/70 ammo or 8.8 cm rounds.

Overall, the greatest advantage of this set is their flexibility, and I wouldn't be surprised for German armor fans to stock up on them.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on November 8, 2006)
Kit Review: Academy 1/35 Scale Static Model Kit No. 13207; M4A3 Sherman 105mm Howitzer and M1 Dozer Blade; 448 parts (446 parts in green styrene, 2 silver vinyl track runs); price US $42.00
Advantages: first kit to include the dozer blade; all styrene kit with one-piece tracks should make building a snap
Disadvantages: Academy still about one generation behind DML on details; shortcuts on some parts understandable but still compromise accuracy
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: For all Sherman and Marine fans as well as modelers who don't like multimedia kits

F I R S T   L O O K

The new Academy M4A3 105mm Sherman with M1 Dozer Blade kit arrived hot behind the new DML M4A3 105mm HVSS kit, so I can compare both of them as to their subject.

First off, Academy fudged on one fact – the dozer blade provided for this tank should have been the M1A1 dozer blade, which was designed to fit on the wider M4 series tanks with HVSS suspension, not the M1 series blade. The difference was the earlier blade had a width of 124 inches and the new one was 138 inches. That works out to just about 100mm even in 1/35 scale, but the one in the kit is only 96mm assembled. Reversed, that comes out to 132 inches, so Academy split the difference. The later T7 installation used variable blades, but as it had no arms on the sides, this could only have been meant to be the M1A1.

Moving on to the kit proper, the details are not bad but some could have been better done. One case in point is the fact that the upper hull still has the "trench" type of weld beads used, and hopefully Academy can fix this bugaboo of Sherman modelers with subsequent kits. Otherwise, the hull is nicely done with a separate engine deck and access panels, fenders and braces, hatches with separate viewers, viewer mounts, guards and cover flaps, gas filler caps, two styles of travel lock, and a cast nose with separate tow shackles. The mounts are molded in place, which could be awkward if the modeler chose to use them, but with the dozer blade in place they are nearly impossible to see so it is probably a moot point.

Also, the kit does not come with the correct bore cleaning rods for the 105mm howitzer, giving the 75/76mm set instead, as well as not including the rather prominent first aid kit for use outside the tank. 

The HVSS bogies comprise ten parts each, but all are fully detailed and the wheels have details on both sides. The idlers do not, but they are detailed on the outsides and the inner parts are hard to see so again not a major problem. The drivers consist of six parts each (disks, track guides, and two drums) with a choice of the "cast" or "plain" toothed disks. Note that you need to pay attention to details, as if you use the dozer blade you have to not install the front two bogie bearings (E-3) on each side of the tank as the dozer frame mounts (C25 and C26) fit in there.

The tracks are one place where Academy took a shortcut. T80 and T84 series tracks cause problems for manufacturers producing Sherman models, as the center guides are basically hollow cubes with a hole for attaching them by bolt and nut to the center track connector. DML's solution with its new series kit was to make the track from its styrene cement compatible DS plastic, and provide 176 separate slide molded guides for it. Academy basically cheated, combining the features of the T80 tracks from the M4 series and the T80E1 series tracks from the M26/M46 series tanks by having a square guide open at the top with separate "teeth" on the longitudinal ends. Most modelers who hate track will be happy, however, as you only have to heat seal the ends and mount them.

The turret is completely new and makes use of slide molding in the same fashion as DML, namely to capture the pistol port detail accurately and also to hollow mold the gun barrel for the howitzer. However, this turret does not come with the "Cheek" casting of the DML one nor does the kit provide the attachment fittings and "gutter" for the mantelet cover used on many M4A3 howitzer tanks. Both of the subject tanks of this kit had mantelet cover attachments, so you will have to come up with these on your own.

On the other hand, the turret has nicely done parts for the rest of the bits, and it does come with both a .50 caliber and a .30 caliber machine gun for use on the turret. The turret also has separate ventilators, so those into "mix and match" can easily convert it to a good late-model "high bustle" turret with a 75mm gun or even a MAP 76mm. (Think "Kelly's Heroes" and the Yugoslavian Army tanks they used.) The turret sprue also comes with the late model twin exhaust deflector grille for the rear of the hull. 

The kit comes with two finishing options, both Marine Corps and both from Korea. They are B43 and D43 of 1st Tanks at Hagaru-ri, November 1950. Since there is a good shot of both tanks on page 500 of Hunnicutt's "Sherman" book (among others, as this shot gets around) that shows both tanks less their dozer blades, you can see exactly how to finish them. B43 has the fenders removed and the spare tracks mounted directly on the hull sides, the dozer blade piston attachment missing, and its commander's machine gun either stored or removed. D43 is more complete, with fenders and the piston, as well as mounting an M2HB and with the first aid kit on the left side of the hull. Both tanks have twin whip antennas at the rear of the turret.

The directions show them in olive drab with white markings and stars, and it is hard to tell from most photos as to the accuracy of the colors or not (e.g. Marine Corps green, which has a bluish tinge, or real OD that has burnished out.) The large numbers (B43 and D43) appear to be yellow, as do the serial numbers.

Overall, this is not a bad kit but once again Academy cut a few corners that could easily have been kept. It is an easier kit to assemble than the DML one, and modelers who want a reasonably good kit that will not take a long time to assemble should keep it in mind.

Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Sprue breakout:   
A 89 M4A3 47 series degree hull
B 99 M4A3 75/105mm high bustle turret and detail parts
C 36 M1 dozer blade
E 59x2 HVSS bogies
F 103 M4 series details
1 M4A3 lower hull
2 T80 vinyl tracks
(Originally written on November 7, 2006)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit Number 6354; M4A3 105mm HVSS; 706 parts (639 in grey styrene, 27 etched brass, 18 clear styrene, 12 springs, 6 brass tubes, 2 tan DS plastic track runs, 1 turned aluminum barrel, 1 twisted steel wire); estimated price US $41-45
Advantages: totally new kit of this vehicle; many nice touches to make it either WWII or postwar versions; correct tracks for late-war HVSS tanks
Disadvantages: Separate guide teeth for the tracks will not be popular with many modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: For all US WWII and Korean War fans as well as "Shermaholics"

There was an old saying I recall of "it never rains but what it pours." Right now that seems to be the case with Dragon, for after several year of exclusively German (with a few Russian) subjects now they are churning out one great American armored vehicle after another.

This kit is no different; hot on the heels of three brand new Sherman kits (their M4A3E8 "Thunderbolt VII", the USMC M4A2 "Tarawa" tank, and the Commonwealth Sherman III) comes another missing link, the M4A3 105mm self-propelled howitzer with HVSS suspension.

Created primarily to replace the M7 Priest as the close support weapon of choice in tank companies and armored infantry battalions (each one had two or three 105mm howitzers for close support missions) the 105mm howitzer tanks proved relatively popular with the forces as they were fully armored and thus able to face a pillbox or strong point at point blank range and level it.

Externally these tanks looked just like a normal Sherman with the exception of the different mantelet and rotor assembly and of course the thick, stubby gun barrel. Internally the tanks were rearranged, and while initial production models with the VVSS suspension did not have power traverse it was quickly reintroduced after complaints from the field. Also, early tanks had the old split-cover hatch for the commander with the new oval loader's hatch. Due to priority for the so-called "vision" cupola to go to the "gun" tanks, it was not until the summer of 1944 that the howitzer tanks began to receive them. Photographic evidence is hard to evaluate, as it appears in some cases either an early tank was updated or a later one swapped out the vision cupola for the split-hatch version as tanks with a variety of features can be seen in photos.

Later production tanks had the new HVSS suspension, and the last group to be built also added fittings for a canvas mantelet cover along with that cover. The Marine Corps in the Pacific also had a modified version that added a flamethrower, dubbed the POA-CWS-H5. In Korea, the USMC used both that vehicle and a regular M4A3 (105mm) but also fitted with an M1A1 dozer blade.

The US Army took delivery of 1,641 M4 (105mm) (800 with VVSS and 841 with HVSS) tanks and 3,039 M4A3 (105mm) tanks (500 with VVSS, 2,539 with HVSS). The UK received  593 M4 (105mm) tanks.

Previously these vehicles have been covered as the Tamiya M4 105mm VVSS kit and an early DML POA-CWS-H5 version with and without corrected hull, neither of which was very good or very accurate. But DML's new kit combines bits of their latest kits with several new or redone sprues and a totally new set of tracks. The model can be built as an early production HVSS tank with split-hatch cupola (or upgraded one) as a very nice one is provided in the kit, as well as the vision cupola with clear styrene blocks. It also provides the attachment gutters for the canvas mantelet cover as separate parts, so a WWII version without it or a postwar/late war one with it can be built from the kit.

The upper hull is the recent one with raised (!) weld bead and an M4A2 engine deck, with the A3 deck provided separately. An older T23 turret shell is provided, but it only is included in the kit for the early model (WWII) rear exhaust deflector. A new first-aid kit is now provided for the rear of the tank or side, based on time and version modeled. All of the periscopes and their mounts are separate parts as well.

The fantastic "E8" HVSS suspension from "Thunderbolt VII" is included, but this time DML has changed the tracks to the T80 type, and it may provide the one plus or minus with the kit based on modelers' preferences. DML realized with the VVSS tanks that Sherman tracks per se do not lend themselves to their concept of "Magic Track" snap-together links (other than the correct T66 tracks with "Thunderbolt VII") and thus have turned to their DS cementable vinyl-like plastic for the T80 tracks. But here they have used slide molding to accurately produce the center guide teeth – a hollow cube with a hole in the top so that it can be connected to the center hinge in the tracks by a bolt, and DML has nailed it. But as a result, the kit comes with 176 individual guide teeth in grey styrene that must be individually glued to the DS track runs. While this should work without any major problems (if you use styrene glues and not ACC or non-compatible adhesives) the concept of having to glue a large number of itty bitty guide teeth to the tracks may not be very popular. Given that adviso, the tracks are excellent with even the outside detail on the end connectors.

The turret is a "high bustle" type with oval loader's hatch and pistol port, and as noted the sprue provides both the vision cupola and the split-hatch cupola. The latter has been completely retooled with spring detail as well as the casting mounts for the machine gun clip and lock. Many turret detail parts can be selected from either styrene or metal, such as the barrel and vision device guards. Tiny styrene tie-downs are included, which makes better sense from the standpoint of good adhesion to the kit and not going "airborne" when you turn on an airbrush. The styrene barrel even comes with rifling!

The kit also now provides the correct bore brush/cleaning rods on the left rear of the hull and the panels over the grouser bins are now gone. The only thing which could have been added are the late-war/postwar split exhaust deflector grilles and a commander's M2HB machine gun, which is AWOL in this release of the kit.

The kit provides markings for four tanks: 713th Tank Battalion, Okinawa 1945; 67th Armored Infantry Battalion, 13th Armored Division, Austria 1945; the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion, 10th Armored Division, Germany 1945; and the 752nd Tank Battalion, Italy 1945. All but the first one are solid OD vehicles with white markings; the one from Okinawa is OD with what appears to be a greyish color mud daub over parts of the tank. No postwar markings are included, but with new markings postwar Marine tanks in Korea are easy to do.

Overall this is another super kit for those of us who are Sherman fans, and DML has done it up very nicely. I just wish they would have spaced them out!

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Sprue breakout:
A 96 M4A2/A3 Late upper hull with A2 engine deck
B 76   High bustle 75/105 turret
C 18 clear styrene
G 24 M4A3 engine deck and VVSS details
H 24 Early T23 style turret
J 24 Road wheel tires
K 4 Idler tires
Q 35x2 Drive wheels
Q 48x3 HVSS road wheels and bogies
S 1 Twisted steel wire
T 44x4 Center Guide Teeth - T80 track
X 1 Lower hull pan
Y 2 DS plastic track runs
MA 27 Etched brass details and fenders
MB 12 steel springs
MB 6 brass tubes
MB 1  turned aluminum barrel
(Originally written on November 4, 2006)
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