Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit Np. 6390; British 8th Army Infantry El Alamein 1942; 61 parts in grey styrene; price about US$10
Advantages: nice newly molded figures of "Desert Rats" will be appreciated; very nicely done "original style" figures
Disadvantages: Commonwealth troops yet to rate "Gen2" weapons and kit
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Commonwealth desert warfare fans
It seems to be all too rare that DML turns its attention to something other than WWII German subjects when it comes to their excellent line of figures, and therefore it is always an occasion when something not wearing swastikas pops up in the "new items" list. This is the first set of Commonwealth figures in some time, and with the advent of new WWII African campaign related vehicles (alas, not from DML) they will be well appreciated.
The set provides four figures in standard short sleeve/short pants desert attire: an officer with a Webley pistol and a whistle, a kneeling figure with a Thompson and 50-round drum. an advancing infantryman with an SMLE and bayonet, and a crouching Bren gunner. Each figure is composed of the "standard" DML breakdown (head, torso, arms and legs) and has several items of kit - canteen, backpack, ammo pouches, "tin hats" and holsters for those authorized them.
The only surprising item is that so far the British do not rate the "Gen2" treatment for their weapons as the German figures have received. The weapons in this set are from the much older British Commonwealth Troops, NW Europe 1944 set (No. 6055) – two SMLE, a Sten gun and a Bren with two options for its bipod (closed or open). A new Thompson (parts 10 and 11) and an older model of the SMLE with flush muzzle, bayonet and scabbard (parts 14-16) are included but the latter is not indicated in the directions, even though it is what the figure on the box art and directions is clearly holding, but not what is indicated (part 1 off the 6055 sprue). Go figure. There is also another pouch (part 12) and an odd item (part 13) on the sprue which likewise are not called out. I am no longer surprised when DML makes errors on its major kit directions where more than a thousand parts are involved, but in this case with but 61 in the box it is hard to fathom.
Box art is not bad but it is not credited; however, from the style it was not done by Ron Volstad but one of the other DML artists.
Overall, any new set of British figures is welcome, and even more when new British desert oriented vehicles are becoming available such as the forthcoming M3 Grant from Academy. (I do wish that, given some of the disappointment in the uneven quality of recent Academy efforts DML had done one up to match these figures though.)
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
January 7, 2008
(Originally written on December 23, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6469; Flakpanzer 38(t) Sd.Kfz. 140 auf (Sf) Ausf. L "Gepard"; 1,121 parts (727 in grey styrene, 240 "Magic Link" tracks, 145 etched brass, 8 clear styrene, 2 preformed etched brass, 1 length of twisted steel wire); estimated price US$45
Advantages: nicely done kit of this popular vehicle with great emphasis on the details in the open casemate mounting
Disadvantages: May be more complex than competing kit; a lot more etched brass creeping back into "Smart Kits"; dumb choice of fake name
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all THNP series fans and German modelers
DML again continues to "do battle" with Tristar kits by offering a "Smart Kit" version of the Flakpanzer 38(t) version of the Praga based tank chassis.
Based on its Ausf. G kit, the DML version once again a "Smart Kit", but more and more etched brass is starting to creep back into these kits. It is not clear if DML feels that it is the best way to represent specific parts or if it is in response to the "Boo Birds" that have loudly complained about the lack of etched brass in the "Smart Kits."
Unlike the previous Pzkw. 38(t) Ausf. G and Marder III "Smart Kits", this version opts to change out a good number of the parts (248 new specific kit parts, plus the complete sprues from the Flak 38 2 cm kit) Most of the interior parts (e.g. transmission, drive line, control compartment details, etc.) already came with the Marder III kit and the engine was added in the G kit.
The kit provides the correct drive wheels with the excellent suspension as well as different springs for the bogie assemblies. Assembly follows the earlier kit and is pretty straightforward. However, the back plate (part B40) is one piece so the access cover cannot be shown open or removed, as in performing maintenance on the engine.
As this vehicle uses totally different fenders due to the overhang of the casemate at the rear, they now avoid the"ding" over the fenders of earlier kits.
Tracks are the DML "Magic Track" links, which are identical so do not have to be "handed" as with other kits. These even have casting data molded into them, but in my case it took a 10x jeweler's loupe to confirm it!
The interior is pretty much complete as near as can be seen, but the warning needs to be given that due to the small hatches it thankfully comes with new hatches over the engine compartment. Since the compartment is now amidships, this made it easier for DML to provide a better access to the compartment for viewing. This time they also note the "open" and "close" options for you, which is an improvement on the Ausf. G kit.
The casemate is "packed with vitamins" and a very, VERY busy place. Close scrutiny of the directions is needed here due to the many parts found there and the various options for opening or closing ports, panels or moving the gun in its position.
DML has made an effort to provide all of the necessary bits needed, and a different set of road wheels is also included with this kit.
The kit offers six different finishing options backed up with a colorful set of Cartograf decals. They include: 21st Panzer Division, Normandy 1944 (two color "splinter" pattern); Unidentified Unit, 1944 (three-color pattern); 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjungend, France 1944 (overall dark sand); 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjungend, France 1944 (three-color pattern); 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjungend, France 1944 (overall sand with whitewash); and 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjungend, France 1944 (sand with mottle).
Overall this is a nicely done if very busy kit, and again it will come down to the preference of the builder as to whether he wants this kit or its competitor. The only real problem I have with this one is the choice to call it a "Gepard" (Cheetah). Somebody in marketing apparently decided since the current SPAAG is the "Gepard" then this one may have been too, which is a 2 + 2 = 5 decision.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue Layout:
A 70 Pzkw. 38(t) wheels and suspension
A 89 Flak 38 - upper carriage
B 70 Pzkw. 38(t) Ausf. G fenders and hull components
B 45 Flak 38 - Sonderanhaenger 51
C 8 Flak 38 – elevation fittings
D 58 Pzkw. 38(t) interior and transmission components
G 55 Flakpanzer 38(t) details and front hull section
H 43x2 Pzkw. 38(t) front glacis details and stowage bins
J 8 Flak 38 gun and fittings
K 18 Pzkw. 38(t) OVM
L 2 Radio antenna
M 72 Flakpanzer 38(t) upper works and casemate sections
N 5 cleaning rods and accessories
N 2 Radio antenna
P 17 Engine and accessories
R 14 Flak 38 alternative parts
S 8 clear styrene parts
W 5x2 Pzkw. 38(t) wheels and tow cable heads
X 1 Flakpanzer 38(t) hull
Y 240 Magic Track
MA 103 etched brass
MB 40 etched brass
MC 2 etched brass
MD 2 preformed etched brass
1 twisted steel wire
GA 64 German kit: helmets, bayonets, canteens, gas masks
RA 9 German radios: radio and racks
RB 8 German radios: radio accessories
RD 14 German radios: radios and racks
January 7, 2008
(Originally written on December 23, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6407; Panzermayer LSSAH Division Mariupol 1941; 287 parts (281 in grey styrene, 6 etched brass); price US$14.98
Advantages: nice upgrade to a good set of older figures; Maxim gun a surprise but well done
Disadvantages: nothing major noted
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German armor and diorama fans
DML has been enjoying some success with a concept that pleases many modelers, namely re-releasing older but still well done figure sets with a set of their excellent "Gen2" figure accessories. This set, portraying "Panzer" Meyer and three soldiers from the 1st SS Panzer Division "Liebstandart Adolf Hitler" from 1941, provides the original set (No. 6116) with more than 200 new parts for detailing.
The figures come with Meyer wearing a greatcoat and carrying a Kar 98K, one soldier wearing a greatcoat with the same weapon, and two soliders wearing the camouflage smocks and also carrying Kar 98Ks. The kit provides for an optional MP-40 for any of the figures as well as the usual "Gen2" upgraded details – bayonets, grenades, gas masks, canteens, bread bags, ponchos, and ammo pouches.
The surprise in this kit is a nicely done Soviet Maxim gun on the wheeled carriage complete with "slide molded" open bore. It comes with two ammo boxes with optional position lids but no belts. Still, as it appears to be for use in a diorama as an "abandoned" gun that is not a problem.
Art and directions by Ron Volstad (original date 1999.)
Overall, this is a nice upgrade to an older kit and should be popular with diorama fans.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
6116 64 Four figures and accessories
GA 68 German kit; canteens, gas mask cans, helmets
GB 55 German kit; ponchos, bread bags, ammo pouches
GC 14 German kit: Offensive and Defense grenades
GC 6 German kit: helmets with camouflage covers
WA 18x2 German weapons: 2 x Kar98K and accessories
WB 18 German weapons: 1 x Gewehr 43, 1 x MP-44, 2 x MP-40
WE 14 7.62mm Soviet Maxim gun and accessories
MA 6 etched brass
January 7, 2008
(Originally written on December 23, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6461; German Field Howitzer Gun Crew - Premium Edition; 227 parts (217 parts in grey styrene, 10 in DS tan plastic); estimated price about US$14
Advantages: nice set of figures specifically tailored to go with the new 15 cm howitzer kit; wonderful selection of arms to get just the "right" pose for a specific figure
Disadvantages: Only about half the size of an actual crew
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German "redleg" fans and anyone doing a towed artillery diorama
One of the odd things – which is now the norm – is that with the exception of Italeri most modern model manufacturers are offering crews for towed artillery pieces as separate kits. This isn't necessarily a bad idea, for if you enjoy the figures from Company A but the kits from Company B you can now marry them up with no wastage or figures that are not wanted.
DML is now offering a new crew of five figures for its nice new sFH 18 Howitzer kit (No. 6392) that will complement any other manufacturers' towed artillery pieces, such as the AFV Club leFH 18 or the super-heavy artillery kits coming from Trumpeter. It must be pointed out that the normal crew for a heavy howitzer of this type is more like 10 and therefore it is really only a half crew, but most artillery pieces once dug in usually only have a "hands on" crew of 3 or 4 and the "other numbers" are basically ammunition handlers.
The crew is based on the regular DML figure breakdown of six basic parts per figure (head, torso, arms and legs) and provides a recommended assembly of the following: one gun captain, one projectile loader, one charge loader, one rammer, and one other number. Each figure – as this is a "Premium" set – is provided with generic kit from the GA and GB "Gen2" sprues. Also included are the 15 cm ammunition and DS plastic matting and shipping container sprues from the 15 cm kit itself.
But in the case of this kit, DML has done a great job of allowing for options, change and specific functions (recall you need 10 for a full crew or two sets) by providing no less than 29 arms for five men! The ones needed for the suggested figures are called out, but experienced modelers can mix and match as needed to get the right combination for a specific figure. (Companies like Italeri should pay attention, especially after the "two sets of twins" offered with their 40mm Bofors kit.) DML also offers suggested uses for the other arms with specific figure bodies as outline drawings in each figure assembly box on the directions.
The only comment on figure poses is that none of them are "in action", e.g. taking care to protect their hearing or turning away from the blast and flash of firing.
No decals are provided, but the directions and artwork are from Ron Volstad.
Overall this is a great set and as noted will complete anyone else's gun kits as well as the DML 15 cm one. Now for a new Sd.Kfz. 7...
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 72 Five figures, accessories, arm
B 7 Extra arms
GA 68 German kit; canteens, gas mask cans, helmets
GB 55 German kit; ponchos, bread bags, ammo pouches
15 15 cm howitzer 15 cm ammunition
L 10 DS plastic matting and packed shells
January 7, 2008
(Originally written on December 23, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited (cyber-hobby.com)1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6431; Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. N Smart Kit; 838 parts (565 in grey styrene, 216 "Magic Track" links, 42 etched brass, 15 clear styrene): price via Dragon USA US$41.99
Advantages: builds one of the more asked-for variants of the Panzer III; may be made with or without desert options; "Smart Kit" minimizes the amount of etched brass required
Disadvantages: kit does not come with DS tracks, which will disappoint a few modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all WWII German fans, and anyone doing a Tiger I diorama
F I R S T L O O K
DML continues to release variants on its line of "Smart Kits" and now adds another entry to its line of Pzkw. III kits. Following the Ausf. J and the StuG III Ausf. G, this kit offers the last production variant, the Ausf. N, which mounted the L/24 gun of the early Pzkw. IV tanks. Designed to provide heavier firepower for infantry support, its first primary role was as escort tank for the German Tiger I. That was a rather hazardous tasks, for the Soviets note in their writings how many of these tanks were usually lost or damaged in protecting the Tigers from Soviet infantry and tank forces.
The old Tamiya Pzkw. III kit from 1971 was originally offered as being able to built up as nearly any variant of the Pzkw. III from the Ausf. J to the Ausf. N. but did not have the right detail parts for most of the variants in that kit. Now DML has released this one, based on its nice Ausf. J, and which mixes the parts from the DML Pzkw. IV Ausf. F with 28 parts new to this kit and their nice set of etched-brass enhanced jerry cans.
The hull pan is a later one (as most of the Ns were built from Ausf. L chassis) minus the side hatches and other detail changes. It retains the full torsion bar suspension from the other kit and the detailed suspension components and muffler assembly. As with the StuG all hatches are separate with some interior details and can be positioned as the modeler chooses. All engine deck ventilators are spaced and mounted on separate frames to get the correct appearance and "lift" needed to give an accurate representation of the original.
The kit provides some of the options for spaced armor arrays as well as the choice of locations for the racks for the jerry cans – either on the rear edge of the engine deck or on the front part of the turret. Options also include blackout or clear headlight lenses and the "kugel" mount for the bow machine gun. All viewports and viewers may be positioned open or closed as well.
Once again this kit includes the rudiments of an interior, which accurate as far as they go. This should please the "after market boys" as there is more than enough room for a nice resin interior here and enough ports and hatches to see it.
Once more this kit offers the DML "Magic Link" single link 40 cm tracks. Also the kit only comes with a modicum of etched brass - mostly grilles, brackets and the track guides for the idler wheels.
The kit provides four finishing options: s.Pz.Abt. 501, Tunisia 1942/43 (sand overall, white 07); s.Pz.Abt. 501, Tunisia 1942/43 (sand overall, white 124); s.Pz.Abt. 501, Tunisia 1943 (Sand overall, black 242); s.Pz.Abt. 501, Tunisia 1943(sand overall, black 832). It would seem that for some reason DML was in a rut! Note that extra numbers are included on the sheet, but no information is provided. All markings are targeted and from Cartograf.
Overall this is another good choice and with the popularity of Tigers does offer some opportunities to "branch out!"
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 91 Pzkw III J hull details and turret mounting
A 61x2 StuG III Wheels and torsion bars (7 mini-sprues connected)
B 14 Pzkw III J upper hull and fenders
B 46 StuG III Road wheel arms and lower hull details
C 41 Pzkw III J applique armor and details
D 31 StuG III basic upper hull details
E 15 Pzkw III J turret and mantelet details
F 15 Pzkw IV F - turret cupola
G 52 Pzkw IV F - turret and hull details
G 15 StuG III OVM and light components
G 11 Pzkw. III fenders and mantelet parts
H 1 Lower hull pan
H 17 Pzkw. III details
J 8 Machine guns and muzzles
L 19 Pzkw. IV L/24 gun
L 144 Magic Track - Left
15 Pzkw IV F Clear styrene
N 12x4 German Jerry cans
R 144 Magic Track - Right
MA 26 Etched brass (6394)
MB 16 Etched brass
January 7, 2008
(Originally written on December 16, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6458; Jagdpanther Sd.Kfz. 173 Ausf. G1 Early Production - Smart Kit; (548 in grey styrene, 170 "Magic Track" links, 9 clear styrene, 6 etched brass, 2 twisted steel wires); price estimated at US$42-45
Advantages: "Smart Kit" of a very popular vehicle should make many modelers happy; redone parts in many areas something of a surprise
Disadvantages: No zimmerit on the early production model version does not appear to be correct; some modelers will be disappointed about lack of brass parts
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German armor and Panther fans in particular
When it became apparent to the Germans that the Soviets were able to figure out how to defeat the Tiger and Panther, a solution had to be created to give the advantage back to the German army. Since the Panther, even with its large size, was not able to mount the heavy 8.8 cm L/71 gun in its turret, a simple conversion to use a casemate with a limited traverse weapon solved the problem. The new vehicle, dubbed the "Jagdpanther" to indicate its tank destroyer function, entered production in January 1944 in time to go up against the new Soviet IS-2 and T-34-85 tanks. But only 392 of these heavy tank destroyers were built, as opposed to more than 4,500 IS-2s.
The sleep Jagdpanther has always been a modeler's favorite, and now DML has added a "Smart Kit" version of the vehicle to their line of Panther kits. Following the original "Smart Kit" (No. 6268) by 18 months, the new kit changes out a surprising number of parts from the original Ausf. G kit for the new variant. Some 209 parts have been replaced or added to the original kit basis.
Like previous "Smart Kits" it makes more use of "slide molding" than previous DML kit, and the goal seems to be to permit modelers to get "multimedia" kit finish and part definition with a minimum of actual multimedia parts – here being but six brass parts, mostly grilles for the engine deck, and two steel tow cables (large and small).
The lower hull remains a one-piece "slide mold" part with all of the torsion bars complete and separate parts. Fine details such as "bump stops", "pin knockers" and braces are all separate. As it is deems an "Ausf. G1" early production the kit provides the rubber tired road wheels, the cast mounting collar and the monobloc gun barrel. The model may be built with or without the small return roller wheel on the final drives, and both types are provided in the kit.
The hull rear plate comes with the four-pipe exhaust, but most of the other options from the G kit are now gone.
A totally new engine deck is provided with mostly new radiators, radiator fans, screens, louvers and separate access ports and lids. All grilles replicate full castings and are separate parts as well. No engine or deep interior parts are provided.
The hull side trim is all plastic, but comes with "slide molded" mounts and access holes for pins or attachment in order to permit track links to be hung in a prototypical fashion on their racks. The same goes for the tools and OVM.
The hull comes with a separate roof plate and details, with all hatches save the left from sliding plate as separate parts. The commander's hatch may have the "rabbit ears" periscope installed if the modeler desires, and al of the hatches are positionable as is the close in defense weapon. However, only a very minimalist gun breech for the 8.8 cm gun is provided. Since the rear gun access hatch is also provided separately, it does limit the modeler's options to show this hatch open as there is little to see inside the casemate.
Two finishing options are provided: 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, France 1944 (three color patches, black 314), or 2./s.Pz.Jg.Abt. 654, France 1944 (sand overall with no numbers.) A small sheet of Cartograf decals covers these options.
Overall, this should be a popular kit, but surprisingly as this variant seems to have been normally given a complete coating of "zimmerit" paste and DML has been doing some great work with providing this finish it is a bit of a disappointment that they did not do it to this particular version of the Jagdpanther.
H 33 Jagdpanther engine deck details and sponson liners
J 8 MG-34 bow gun
K 30 Tools and OVM
L 1 Jagdpanther upper hull
M 27 Jadgpanther casemate roof and exhaust parts
N 42 Jagdpanther rear hull, radiators and hatch details
Q 11 Jagdpanzer 8.8 cm gun components
R 1 twisted steel wire
S 9 clear styrene
T 26 Jagdpanther mantelet and gun barrel
X 1 Lower hull
Y 170 "Magic Track" links
Z 1 twisted steel wire
M 6 Etched brass
TG 3 Close in defense weapon
January 7, 2008
(Originally written on December 16, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6348; Panzergrenadier Italy 1943-1945 - Gen2; 333 parts (310 in grey styrene, 23 etched brass); price about US$14.98
Advantages: well posed figures with a wide variety of options to match to a specific situation
Disadvantages: Gen2 figures deemed "too busy" by some modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German fans and dioramists
Some of the hardest and most protracted defense in WWII was put up by German soldiers fighting in Italy, as the terrain benefitted the defenders and ensured that long and bitter battles such as Monte Cassino would become legendary. DML has now turned their efforts to create a set of figures which match the conditions of the two years of combat in Italy and appear to have done an excellent job of it.
The kit provides four "Gen2" figures with a plethora of options. Each one of the figures in this set includes two different heads (one for a helmet and one for a "soft cap") and a total of 17 parts to the basic figure's makeup (2 x head, 2 x torso, 2 x arms, 2 x hands, 2 x legs, 2 x boots, 1x collar, and 4 x coat skirt elements). Belt buckles and epaulet straps are also separate items, with these items also being offered in etched brass.
The kit provides seven of the now-well-known "Gen2" generic German equipment sprues for fitting the figures out, and this covers most of the parts in the kit.
One nice touch also included is a simple wooden chair for one of the figures to be seated in, taking up a very casual pose. All of the figures are in non-combat poses, but are very much suited to providing good accompaniment to a vehicle as the centerpiece of a diorama or vignette. While designated for use in an Italian theme, the figures are pretty much universal to any WWII combat location.
The artwork is provided by Ron Volstad as are the directions and painting instructions. No decals are included.
Overall this is another of the very nice DML "Gen2" sets, but it should be noted some modelers find them fussy to assemble and the two-piece heads may have seams which are hard to remove if not used with the proper headgear for each one.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 46 Two figures
B 53 Two figures and chair
GA 68 German kit - gas mask cases, canteens, entrenching tools, helmets
GB 60 German kit - ponchos, ammo packs, bread bags
GC 14 German kit - offensive and defensive grenades
WA 18 German weapons - 2 x Kar 98K
WB 18 German weapons - 1 x MP-44, 1 x Gewehr 43, 2 x MP-40
WC 25 German weapons - machine gun accesories
WC 8 German weapons - 1 x MG-34, 1 x MG-42
MA 23 Etched brass
January 7, 2008
(Originally written on December 16, 2007)
Kit Review: DML 1/72 scale Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7324: M2A3 Bradley; 191parts (159 in grey styrene, 22 in DS tan plastic, 10 etched brass); price US$13.98
Advantages: state-of-the-art kit of the most current model of the Bradley fielded
Disadvantages: some parts simplified, e.g. tools molded in place, one or two bad seams may be hard to align
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for small-scale modern American fans
The US, like the Russians and Israelis today, is having to come to grips with the fact that they no longer really need open-country heavy combat vehicles as much as "street fighters" to deal with terrorists and other urban fighters. The latest model of the Bradley IFV, the A3, now adds to the vehicle's capability to deal with these threats.
Like the M1A2 Abrams before it, the A3 Bradley now adds a Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) mounted on an armored pedestal behind the commander's hatch. It also adds the complete explosive reactive armor array which was designed for use even with the first versions of the A2 variant more than 17 years ago. GPS and IFF antennas are also present. There are other internal changes, but the bottom line is that all of this means the Bradley is now pushing 30 short tons weight from the wrong side.
Following on the heels of the DML M3A2 variant of the Bradley CFV (No. 7333) this kit includes nearly all of the parts from that kit less the commander's bullet-proof glass "cage" and adds even more parts to it. In point of fact, DML's 1/72 scale kits are now quite similar to their 1/35 scale brethren – once you take all of the sprues out of the box you will never get them all back in!
The kit is nearly identical to the M3A2 but now adds two more sprues with the A3 parts and some detail changes to the hull. In this scale, it does provide a great deal of options: all wheels roll, the rear ramp operates, and the gun can be made to move up or down. The latter comes at a price, as it requires using the aerial gunsight connector arm and other sight arm (parts E2 and E4) made out of DS plastic now, so one end may have to be left loose.
The hatches and missile launcher box are poseable but not moveable. Also this version comes with thermal ID panels and etched brass mounts for some of the ERA assemblies. These are the bases (meaning if desired the boxes may be left off). Note that you may have to sand or scrape off some of the surface detail to get a good fit with the styrene ERA assemblies on the hull sides and glacis.
As the A3 is now the vehicle of choice, the kit offers four finishing options: Charlie Company, 2-7 Cav, 1st Cavalry Division, North of Baghdad 2004 (C-13); 2-8 Infantry, 2nd Brigade 4th Infantry Division, Fort Irwin, California 2001(ID panel number 4160); 2-7 Cav, 1st Cavalry Division, Iraq 2004 (black 73); and Unidentified Unit, Iraq 2005 (ID panel A21, rear number 11). All are in overall sand with few tactical markings. A small sheet of targeted Cartograf decals is provided.
Overall, this kit nearly completes the full range of Bradleys in US service since the mid 1980s.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue layout:
A 3 Bradley hull and turret top
B 40 Bradley wheels
C 50 Bradley turret and A2 rear hull parts
C 29 Bradley hull and A1 rear hull parts
E 22 DS Plastic track runs and wheel keepers
F 10 Bradley applique armor fit
G 7 Bradley ERA fit
H 20 Bradley M2A3 parts
MA 10 etched brass
January 7, 2008
(Originally written on December 16, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale "Armor Pro" Series Kit No. 7284; 10.5 cm Sturmhaubitze 42 Ausf. G; 140 parts (132 in grey styrene, 5 etched brass, 2 DS plastic track runs); price US $13.98
Advantages: totally new kit of this vehicle in this scale brings quality of the "Smart Kit" to a 1/72 scale model; offers parts for both StuG III Ausf. G Early or StuH III
Disadvantages: probably not enough brass or options for some modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German and SP artillery fans
F I R S T L O O K
I am always a bit surprised when DML comes out with what is a nice kit of a popular subject and then goes back to "tweak" the kit a bit here and there to make it even better. This kit came out a few months ago and seemed to be right on the money, but DML "tweaked it" in some areas when it released the companion piece to their very nice StuG III Ausf. G Early Production kit (No. 7283).
The new kit has modified "A" and "B" sprues that now provide for both kits in one box (only one model is possible) but the modeler now has a choice – much like the original Tamiya StuG III/StuG III kit of 35 years ago – to built it up as either the gun or howitzer variant. The howitzer barrel and parts are "slide molded" on the "A" sprue and the 7.5 cm parts are now on the "B" sprue. A new bolted heavy armored bow section is also included.
The rest of the kit remains as before. All of the crew access hatches are provided as separate parts, but here only the ventilators on the rear deck are provided as separate bits. It provides the "early production" features of the Ausf. G (e.g. the angular gun mantelet/recoil cover) but only a minimal amount of interior detail (the basic gun, recoil mechanism and mounting.)
The running gear is very nicely done with molded detail on both sides of the road wheels (all separate) and the return rollers, while molded in pairs, are "slide molded" to capture the front side details. This kit now a choice in the front glacis panels, but as before they come molded together.
The fenders are separate as are most of the fender details, and the side radiator air intakes are provided both open with mesh grille brass parts and closed and sealed. The casemate is relatively complete with a pair of artillery binoculars ("rabbit ears") included for the commander. This kit does include the loader's machine gun shield but not the machine gun.
The tracks are DML's DS plastic and represent the 40 cm tracks as near as I can determine. As this is a "first look" I cannot vouch for their fit, but DML in the past cuts them a bit long to allow for sag when installed.
Two finishing options are provided: Unidentified unit, Germany 1945 (sand with small red-brown and green patches, and plain crosses) and Unidentified Unit, Ardennes 1944 ("Ambush" scheme, white 132). A very small sheet of Cartograf decals is included.
Overall this kit should be even better received than the original, but modelers who change their minds will need new decals to finish it correctly.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue layout:
A 53 StuH III fenders and hull details
B 33 StuG III gun, casemate and hatch details
D 44 StuG III wheels
E 2 DS plastic track runs
J 2 StuG III lower hull pan and casemate
MA 5 Etched brass
December 9, 2007
(Originally written on December 1, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-45 Series Kit No. 6302: Sd.Kfz. 182 Kingtiger Porsche Turret w/Zimmerit - Dragon Zimmerit; 798 parts (383 in grey styrene, 240 "Magic Track" links, 147 etched brass, 19 clear styrene, 4 white metal tow shackles, 2 twisted steel wire, 1 copper chain, 1 preformed brass wire, 1 turned aluminum barrel); estimated price about US$45
Advantages: older kit brought up to more modern standards with "slide molded" parts, brass and "Magic Track"; provision of cast-in zimmerit will be appreciated by many modelers
Disadvantages: Fixed zimmerit pattern not appreciated by all modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: to all German and Tiger fans
DML now has continued with their new series of German midwar armored vehicles with zimmerit pase surface molded in place by doing the early version of the Tiger Ausf. B with the Porsche turret; although only 50 were built as opposed to 435 with the Henschel turret, many modelers have preferred the lines of this version of the tank.
Up front I have to say that this is the first kit I recall when DML has pulled a fast one on modelers and reviewers: the kit uses the exact same boxart as the 1/72 scale Armor Pro version (No. 7254) of the same vehicle! I have not made an error with the attached box art with this review, as it is verbatim other than the standard box art presentation format for each scale.
So far comments from modelers have shown this is a very popular decision on the part of DML to offer pre-zimmerit coated models. As I thought originally, only the old liners have complained about it (the modelers who "broke the code" how to apply a realistic zimmerit paste finish to their models) but some of their comments are valid. One problem that does arise is thte fact that the kits offer no purchase for the brass parts used for track hangers and other OVM attachment points with the exception of the hull sides, which come with flat smooth spots for attachment. This means the modeler will either have to fill or smooth the turret locations or use epoxy or a very thick ACC type cement to get the brass parts to attach.
That being said, this kit follows the previous Henschel turret one (No. 6303) and uses the improved parts for their "Premium" kits of the Tiger II with newly molded bits and their generic accessory kits for German vehicles. This kit exchanges fewer parts as it has a much simpler turret and fittings than the Henschel one. Parts replaced include the upper hull, the turret shell, the hull rear plate, the machine gun ball mount for the glacis, the lower glacis, the turret rear hatch (two options), and the turret glacis. Note that while the directions indicate the regular hull and turret shell come in the kit, they have been "gated off" and removed from the sprues.
The remainder of the kit provides for a Tiger II with Porsche turret with the "normal" steel road wheels, "Magic Track" pre-trimmed two-part single link track (toothed links and plate links), a slightly smaller sheet of etched brass for the screens and detail parts, and a complete set of the "T" series recently molded German tools and OVM. The ones provided are as follows: TA - pioneer tools and a fire extinguisher; TB - jack and cable hooks; TC -tow cable heads; TD - auxiliary cable heads; TF - 8.8 cm muzzle brake for aluminum barrel; TG - self-defense projector weapon; TH - hatch braces; TJ - turret AA MG ring mount; TL - armored exhaust shrouds; and TK - bow machine gun mount. It also comes with an aluminum gun barrel with "slide molded" muzzle brake.
Alas, like the Henschel version of the zimmerit kit, this one regretfully uses the "Color Photo" version of the DML directions, using a pre-painted or primed version of the kit, which makes it far more difficult to determine the correct location of parts as it shows them installed and not when or how to install them. However, it does now include "cartoons" or line drawings showing specific details of some of the brass fittings, which is a step ahead over past renderings in this fashion.
The kit provides a total of six different finishing opitions: 3/s.Pz.Abt. 503, Mailly le Camp, 1944 (tricolor stripes, black 332); s.Pz.Kp.(Fkl) 316, France 1944 (sand, white 13); s.Pz.Abt. 506, Arnhem 1944 (sand and green patches, no number); unidentified unit, Eastern Front 1944 (tricolor patches, red 332); s.Pz.Abt. 503, Normandy 1944 (tricolor stripes, black 113). 3./s.Pz.Abt. 503, Hungary 1945 (whitewash with black 314); most of these are identical to the offerings in the 1/72 scale "baby brother" to this kit. There is a relatively large sheet of targeted Cartograf decals provided for these options.
As with previous kits, project supervisor is Hirohisa Takada; technical drawings by Minoru Igarashi; and technical consultants are Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.
Overall this is a brilliant idea and now the Tiger fans have a choice between the two Tiger II production models with pre-applied zimmerit.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 6x2 Tiger II drive wheels
B 50x2 Tiger II hull fittings and exhausts
C 37 Tiger II hatches and hull fittings (early kit parts)
D 30 Tiger II hull fittings and bow tow mounts
E 9 Tiger II (P) turret race and fittings
G 26x3 Tiger II standard (Normal Type) steel wheels
H 28 Tiger II (P) turret base and gun barrels
I 1 Tiger II lower hull
J 8 MG-34
K 10 Tiger II fenders and fittings
K 18 Tiger II (Zimmerit) hull, turret shell, rear and detail components
L 11 Clear styrene
P 1 Tiger II Porsche turret shell with zimmerit
S 8 Clear Styrene
U 2 Tiger II one-piece cupolas (two styles)
W 2 twisted steel wire
X 1 Tiger II Porsche upper hull with zimmerit
Y 120 "Magic Track" links - with teeth
Z 120 "Magic Track" links - no teeth
TA 8 German tools - pioneer tools and brass bending mantrels
TB 11 German tools - OVM and jack
TC 4 German tools - tow cable heads
TD 4 German tools - track recovery cable heads
TF 3 German tools - 8.8 cm muzzle brake
TG German tools - close-in defense weapon
TH 3 German tools - lock mechanism
TJ 10 German tools - turret cupola MG ring mount
TK 3 German tools - glacis ball mount
TL 7 German armored exhaust shrouds
MA 145 Etched brass (from Kit 6312)
MB 1 preformed brass wire
MB 1 aluminum turned barrel
MB 3 turned brass 8.8 cm rounds
MC 4 white metal tow shackles
MC 1 Copper chain
MC 2 Preformed etched brass screens
MC 1 steel wire
MC 3 Etched brass shell bases
MD 1 brass chain
(Originally written on December 1, 2007)
Kit Review: DML 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7254; Sd. Kfz. 182 King Tiger (Porsche Turret) w/Zimmerit; 193 parts (187 in grey styrene, 4 etched brass, 2 DS tan plastic); price US $13.95
Advantages: total rework of an earlier kit; nice new parts; molded zimmerit a great idea
Disadvantages: zimmerit will require some planning to mount parts correctly against the hull
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German small scale modelers, especially beginners
When DML first released their small-scale Tiger II with Porsche turret in February 2004, it was something of a disappointment as it had a diecast hull which made clean assembly difficult at best. The modeler would also have to add zimmerit paste, which in this scale and with metal would be a mess.
Now a new kit has been released that obviates the first one and should be very popular with small-scale German modelers. The kit has been totally reworked and only has some partial sprue elements remaining from the earlier kit. Two new sprues provide both an injected styrene hull and all of the parts coated with zimmerit molded on. So far this has proved to be a very popular option with modelers, especially beginners who just getting into the hobby or oldsters coming back, as well as modelers who just enjoy "slapping plastic" together.
As mentioned above the two-piece diecast metal hull designed to screw together is now gone, and while the new parts have some basis in the old ones (such as screw holes under the engine deck and radio operator's hatch) the new parts are much better. The axles remain attached to the hull, but this is slide molded with sponsons in place as well.
The rest of the parts are cleaned up versions of the original parts . A very shallow engine bay is also included (recall it used to have to clear the screw mounts) as well as solid plastic screens for the front intakes on the engine deck; however, this kit now also includes much better and more accurate etched brass ones as well. The turret has two optional position crew hatches and the rear gun removal hatch. A breech is included for the 88mm gun but no other turret interior.
The wheels appear to be nicely done, and all injection pin marks are hidden when the suspension is in place. The tracks are now the DS ones so may be glued together as with normal styrene plastic.
Oddly enough the kit comes with at least 42 spare track sections – but no provision or directions to mount any of them anywhere on the model! Well, if you keep them, eventually you can probably do another Tiger II chassis with paired link tracks!
A total of six different finishes are offered, with two sheets of targeted Cartograf decals. They include: 3/s.Pz.Abt. 503, Mailly le Camp, 1944 (tricolor stripes, black 332); 3/s.Pz.Abt. 503, Hungary 1945 (white overall, black 314); s.Pz.Kp.(Fkl) 316, France 1944 (sand, white 13); s.Pz.Abt. 506, Arnhem 1944 (sand and green patches, no number); unidentified unit, Eastern Front 1944 (tricolor patches, no number); s.Pz.Abt. 503, Normandy 1944 (tricolor stripes, black 113).
Overall, the model as it is now is a very nice little kit, and the fact that you do not have to add zimmerit is a big plus. It is now an easy one to use to teach a child, and I heartily recommend it for that purpose.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 76 Tiger II wheels
B 41 Tiger II turret and hull details
C 47 Jadgtiger engine deck and hull details
D 16 Tiger II upper hull with zimmerit and details
E 7 Tiger II Porsche turret and lower hull with details
K 2 DS plastic track runs
MA 4 etched brass
(Originally written on December 1, 2007)
Kit Review: Tristar 1/35 Scale Kit No. 036; 20mm Ammunition and Accessories for KwK/Flak 30/38; 121 parts (108 in tan styrene, 13 etched brass); price US$20
Advantages: permits dressing up any 2cm display or vehicle mounted system, nice choice of options for display
Disadvantages: relatively high price would mean a simple 2 cm Flak diorama with figures and gun would be about US $60
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German diorama fans and "duck hunters"
One of the features of modeling that has become more and more common today – for good or for bad – is the use of separate supplementary kits that join with a base kit to produce a ready-to-assemble diorama or system. The most expensive one of these so far has been the Tamiya GMC 2 ½ ton truck, which bases about $40 but requires two additional kits (a $13 cab machine gun ring, doors and accessories set and a $16 cargo assortment set) to build a complete model – total is now about $69 plus tax or tax and shipping. Think back to the days of the Tamiya Flak 36/37 kit with a set of eight figures, ammunition, choice of on or off carriage assembly, and a motorcycle and rider to boot for about $10 and you can see the big rise in both costs and moves to establish profit margin.
Admittedly kits molded to today's standards do cost more, and are better molded to start with even if they have some errors in the kits. But it appears this will be with us for the foreseeable future, and good or bad it does have some advantages. If you don't like the kit's figures, you can either make your own or buy suitable ones from another manufacturer. If you don't like styrene accessories, you can get resin or etched brass ones. At least you don't have to pay a very high price for the base kit to get things you do not want.
Tristar has done this with their very nice little 2 cm Flak gun, first offering the figures as a separate set and now offering the accessories as a separate set as well. This isn't a bad idea, as there are a lot of different 2 cm guns on the market in both single and quad mounts, as well as the shorter ground mounts in armored cars or halftracks. And this kit comes with a wealth of well-designed accessories.
What you get in the kit are lots of items that would be found either in or on a mount or in the immediate vicinity. Tristar gives you at least two of each item, which makes for a lot of parts. Among them are two twin spare barrel chests with an extra recoil spring in each one; the spring itself is molded to the base, but the barrels are separate. Note that part of the cost of this kit comes from the use of "slide molding" and here the barrel flash hiders are molded open.
Also included are 18 different magazines, both 10 and 20 round varieties, with 10 of them being empty and 8 loaded. 10 loose rounds are included (one of the major tasks for the crews was loading the magazines from bulk ammo supplies during lulls in the action) as well as two bulk ammo chests with optional position tops. It also includes four twin magazine carry cases (two 20s and two 10s), two sight cases, two lubrication oil cases with eight separate lubricant tins, and two adjustment tool cases, and two small objects I do not recognize (parts 40).
Overall this is a great idea and should give both flak and armored car crews plenty to do in a diorama.
Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on December 1, 2007)
Kit Review: DML 1/72 scale Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7333; M3A2 ODS Bradley w/ERA; , 172 parts (129 in grey styrene, 22 DS tan plastic, 16 etched brass, 5 clear styrene); price US $13.95
Advantages: state-of-the-art version of the Cavalry (recon) version of the Bradley family
Disadvantages: some parts simplified, e.g. tools molded in place, one or two bad seams may be hard to align, commander's windows may be hard to install
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for small-scale modern American fans
When the US Army went into Iraq in 2003, not much thought was given to the postwar activities. Unfortunately not only were the Iraqi diehards fairly inventive, once Al-Qaeda got into the act things got much worse.
One problem with Al-Qaeda when the hype is taken away is that one of their functions is to provide "Dirtbags R Us" training to any group of Islamic terrorists. Based on results from Chechnya and activities against the Israelis by Hamas and Hezbollah, they taught a great deal on how to use the humble RPG-7 rocket launcher to its greatest effect. Shooting Bradleys in the side was guaranteed to cause damage or even total destruction and unfortunately the terrorists in Iraq got very good at this. It took some time before the US Army reluctantly admitted this fact and began to retrofit its vehicles with suitable protection.
The M1A1 and M1A2 were fitted with the TUSK urban survival kit, and the Bradley – which in its A2 version had been designed to mount an explosive reactive armor fit – were soon upgraded. Also, based on Israeli experience with snipers, the commander received a bulletproof glass enclosure to allow him to sit head out of the hatch with a higher chance of survival.
This works, and a simple check of the internet shows vehicles like this in action. One fo the better ones shows a sniper firing on a Bradley with seeming immunity due to being higher than an escorting M1A1 could shoot. The Bradley, under fire, backs up and with the missile launcher elevating tells the sniper his time has come – which it did seconds later with a big fireball. So, it works.
DML has now released a kit of the upgraded A2 version of the Bradley (externally M2 and M3 Bradleys are nearly impossible to tell apart by other than bumper codes) and it is a nicely done job. The ERA blocks are molded in groups, which is fine unless the modeler wants to show one that has been engaged and the single blocks have detonated.
The kit is the same basic ODS Bradley kit which came out in June 2004, but it was a pretty nice kit then and still is. It comes with a box literally filled with parts. In this scale, it does provide a great deal of options: all wheels roll, the rear ramp operates, and the gun can be made to move up or down. The latter comes at a price, as it requires using the aerial gunsight connector arm and other sight arm (parts E2 and E4) made out of DS plastic now, so one end may have to be left loose.
The hatches and missile launcher box are poseable but not moveable. Also this version comes with thermal ID panels and etched brass mounts for some of the ERA assemblies. These are the bases (meaning if desired the boxes may be left off) as well as the frames for the commander's bulletproof glass shield. Five tiny sections of clear styrene (pre-cut) are provided for installation in the frame. Note that you may have to sand or scrape off some of the surface detail to get a good fit with the styrene ERA assemblies on the hull sides and glacis.
Only one marking option is given – bumper codes for C Troop, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (attached to 3rd Infantry Division), Tall Afar 2005. Note that it shows a reddish color for the outside of the various ports and viewers, which is an attempt to replicate the anti-laser coating featured on many of them today.
Overall, it is a nice kit and covers a very busy modern US vehicle.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue layout:
A 3 Bradley hull and turret top
B 40 Bradley wheels
C 50 Bradley turret and A2 rear hull parts
C 29 Bradley hull and A1 rear hull parts
E 22 DS Plastic track runs and wheel keepers
G 7 Bradley ERA fit
MA 11 etched brass
MB 5 etched brass
(Originally written on December 1, 2007)
Kit Review: cyber-hobby.com 1/35 scale Kit No. 23 (Dragon Models Limited ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6437); Raketenwerfer auf Fahrgestelle Pz.Kpfw. IV; 1,339 parts (728 parts in grey styrene, 293 etched brass, 288 "Magic Track" track links, 25 clear styrene, 4 pre-bent brass, 1 twisted steel wire); price (via DragonUSA) US $41.99
Advantages: one-off German prototype gets the full treatment
Disadvantages: DML Ausf. B to E chassis very detailed and fussy to assemble, lots and lots of etched brass
Recommendation: for fans of the Panzer IV and advanced German modelers
Dragon Models Limited's affiliate cyber-hobby.com continues with its series of boutique kits of German prototype vehicles with this one-off based on a Pzkw. IV Ausf. C chassis.
The Germans discovered that heavy high-explosive rockets made great short-range infantry suppression weapons, and as such used them on halftrack chassis as well as a number of lesser known chassis. This one, of which a single prototype was built, would have provided better protection for an assault crew to get close enough to deliver the rockets to their target (generally infantry in buildings or field fortifications where the high-explosives would be devastating at close range.) Other than it was built, history of this particular vehicle is short.
It should be noted the concept is not a bad one – today the Russians now have the TOS-1 "Buratino" (Pinocchio) in service for the same purpose, but it mounts 24 heavy 220mm rockets on a modified T-72 chassis.
The kit consists of the entire DML Pzkw. IV Ausf. C kit intact with two new sprues of 31 parts to cover the plastic elements of the rocket launcher installation. There are also another 112 etched brass parts, and as this is a cyber-hobby.com kit they are essential to its construction. This is fair warning as this is a pure kit for advanced modelers, and there are few of the usual DML options for with or without etched brass parts. The rocket rack is styrene but all of the packenkiste launcher are totally brass, as an example.
The kit provides a new turret base and the launcher housing in styrene. As the casemate section of the launcher was built using Pzkw. IV Ausf. C parts, the kit, in sheer overkill, provides two hull sprues for the Ausf. C to include the hatches and turret details needed. It also provides a new hull upper glacis less machine gun port and new applique armor as seen on the prototype.
The rest of the kit uses most of the new parts creatred for the Ausf. D kit and the cyber-hobby.com Ausf. B "boutique" kit. In regard to the latter, it uses nearly all of the new sprues and only changes a few of the parts out, namely the mantelet and associated parts (Sprue Y).
The running gear is quite detailed, but reportedly very fiddly to assemble. For example, the drivers assemble nearly in the same manner as the original: core sections, toothed rings with 12 separate bolts each, and caps and spindles – each one requires 31 parts and a LOT of patience. Bogie assemblies still consist of 18 parts each. The same "Magic Track" with 144 links per side of snap-together tracks are provided, but as I noted with that kit they are "handed" with the pin heads on the inside and the "keepers" on the outside. They are bagged separately (left track on the left side, right track on the right!) A jig for setting "droop" is also included. One-piece "slide molded" idlers are again included, as well as the normal two-piece kind.
Only generic white Balkenkreuze are included and the only finish offered is grey.
Overall this is a very offbeat kit, and cyber-hobby.com has done their best to make it as complete and close to the original as possible. But it is not for the faint of heart or unsure of skills.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue layout (NOTE: about 300 parts are left over when done!)
A 12+12 IV (drivers and rollers)
A 33 x 2 IV D driver rings (NEW)
A 73 x 2 IV (wheels and suspension elements) (REDO)
Advantages: FINALLY the STZ variant modelers have been looking for; many different turret options possible with this kit
Disadvantages: releasing it as a "limited series" kit is a DUMB idea!
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Soviet and "34" fans
To repeat what I wrote five months ago when the first T-34 STZ kit appeared, when the Soviets realized war with Germany was inevitable, and the T-34 began to show a great deal of promise, the Central Committee of the CPSU approved its production at other factories. The primary factory was the Kharkov Steam Locomotive Construction Factory or Factory No. 183 in Kharkov. The first satellite factory was to be the Stalingrad Tractor Factory in Stalingrad, aided by Factory No. 264, the Stalingrad Barge Works, and Factory No. 221, the "Barrikady" artillery foundry. The second was Factory No. 112, "Krasnoye Sormovo," but they also had the advantage of getting 50 knocked-down T-34 tanks to "learn on".
It took the STZ much longer to get their production started and the first tanks did not began to roll off the lines until the end of 1940. One of their problems – as with Factory No. 183 – was that the Leningrad factory complexes were stingy with supplying them with the short L-11 gun which mounted in the early T-34; in January 1941 they switched to the superior F-32 design, and cut off the T-34 plants entirely. Factory No. 183 led the changeover to their new gun, the longer F-34, and the STZ followed suit.
Originally the STZ tanks were externally no different from the Factory No. 183 tanks, and it was only over time and due to exigencies that the design began to deviate due to local problems and changes to facilitate high rates of production. The base design remained stable through the fall of 1941. By the spring of 1942, the design had changed. The wheels were now cast steel wheels with internal rubber bushings vice the old pressed disks with rubber tires. The turret was a rolled steel design with a removable plate that now covered the entire rear of the turret. The hull design had been changed to accommodate interlocking plates at the front, sides and rear, which is considered the "classic" STZ hull design.
By summer 1942 the design had again been changed to now use a "chisel" turret mantelet to speed production (the parts did not require being pressed into shape as with the original design.) Later, the Barge Works created newer designs of both cast and welded turrets with the "chisel" mantelet and "notches" in the lower cheeks of the turret; this is what most modelers consider the "classic" STZ turret. By the time production ceased in early 1943, the factory had built 3,770 tanks, most of which had fought in the legendary battle of Stalingrad. There is a myth that the tanks rolled off the production lines and right into combat outside the factory, but while there is an element of truth to the urgency of production it was not quite so immediate.
Five months ago many Soviet T-34 fans were quite disappointed when DML released a Stalingrad T-34 kit – but not the different variant they wanted, but basically the lightly modified variant based on the early knocked-down T-34 kits they received from Factory No. 183 in Kharkov. Now cyber-hobby.com has released a complete kit of the later production STZ T-34 with the features modelers were looking for – the "chisel" gun recoil mechanism cover, the "chopped" turret, and the "notched" hull, and this kit is everything they could want in many ways.
The kit comes with a totally new upper hull with the correct "notched" hull joints. According to Steve Zaloga, this was caused by two basic reasons: one, to speed up assembly of the hull; and two, since the armor plate was a new high-hardness type of steel, which was not amicable to being welded, it had to have the notching in order to retain ballistic integrity when struck by solid shot projectiles. (The Germans did the same thing for the same reasons – when the Soviets fired blunt nose 122mm projectiles at German Tiger and Panther hulls on test, they discovered they shattered the weld beads whereas pointed rounds would either penetrate or gouge the armor.) This upper hull comes with an integral glacis and fender assembly, so the others in the kit are now spares.
Likewise, the kit comes with a new T-34 STZ early-type hull pan with "notched" joints as well as the single road wheel arm stop on the first position.
While the kit comes as a "2-in-1" with a choice of early or late STZ turrets, it must be pointed out that this kit comes with a total of THREE turrets – Factory No. 183 welded, STZ early welded, and STZ/Factory No. 264 late welded. The latter is the one most modelers associate with the Stalingrad Tractor Factory, and given all of the options together there are four different main hatches and two new turret roof options in this kit. Also, the STZ late turret has a choice of regular or "chisel" recoil covers for the mantelet. The turret roofs also provide for the modeler's choice of PT-4-7 periscopic sights – zero, one or two. A new clear sprue also provides clear viewing devices for the driver's hatch. There are also a total of four 76.2mm gun barrels included – one two-piece, two "slide molded" and one turned aluminum.
The rest of the kit is basically most of what came in the STZ Model 1941 kit except that the pressed steel wheels are no longer included, only the cast steel ones with internal buffering. The usual DML options are provided such as the "Magic Track" two-section single link tracks ("a" with guide tooth and "b" plate without) and a plentiful fret of etched brass. Both 40 liter "box" spare fuel tanks are included and the same odd selection of the 95 liter "cylinder" tanks as was present in the T-34/76 cast turret kit (No. 6418). You also get two styles of engine louvers (vertical and horizontal) and extra fenders as well as spare glacis and driver's hatches.
Production credits are to Hirohisa Takada for supervision, Minoru Igarashi and the Dragon engineering team for technical drawings, and Nick Cortese for technical assistance.
The kit comes with a total of seven different finishing options: Unidentified Unit, Eastern Front 1942 (4BO green with white crosses); Unidentified Unit, 40th Army, Voronezh 1942 (4BO green with white "swoosh" stripe); 5th Tank Army, Bryansk Front 1942 (4BO green, White 07 "Za Stalina!"); Unidentified Unit, Kaliningrad Front, 1942 (4BO green, white 14 in triangle); Unidentified Unit, Eastern Front 1942 (4BO green with red decorated stars and white "Za Rodinu!"); Unidentified Unit, Eastern Front 1942 (4BO green with brown stripes and white L2-IS); Unidentified Unit, Eastern Front 1942 (4BO green with white 32-37). However, as is unfortunately too often the case, cyber-hobby.com/DML do not tell you which is an "early" tank and which is a "late" tank, which spoils the overall effect. Decals are targeted and from Cartograf.
Overall this is the kit many modelers have been waiting for patiently – but the only really dumb thing here is that DML is currently releasing it as a "limited" kit with low circulation, which is unfortunate. This one should have been a full court press and wide release, and as a result there is going to be complaining over access.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 12x2 T-34 driver mounts, road wheel arms
B 21 T-34 40/41 turret roof and hull details
C 18 T-34 40/41 upper hull and details
D 1 T-34 STZ upper hull
E 16 T-34 tie-downs and brackets
F 37x2 T-34 40/41 drivers/idlers, auxiliary fuel tanks
G 24 T-34 40/41 welded turret and hull details
H 6 T-34 engine intake vents, driver's hatch
H 14 T-34 41 turret front and details
I 1 T-34 STZ hull pan
J 5 Clear styrene
K 13 T-34 41 F-34 gun assembly
L 3x4 T-34 ice grousers
M 18x2 T-34 95 liter round auxiliary fuel tanks
N 4x2 T-34 spring towers
Q 37x2 T-34 cast road wheels, drivers and idlers
R 28 T-34 STZ early turret, glacis, hull details
S 16 T-34 STZ late turret and details
S 3 Twisted steel wire
Y 180 "Magic Track" links (90 plain, 90 toothed)
MA 170 Etched brass
MB 1 Turned aluminum barrel
(Originally written on November 18, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7309; HMMWV M105 ASK w/LRAS3 and HMMWV M1025ASK PsyOp Team; 198 parts (170 in grey styrene, 18 in clear styrene, 8 grey DS plastic tires, 2 etched brass); retail price about US $13.98
Advantages: two more variants to the growing DML line of 1/72 scale Humvees
Disadvantages: Out of the ordinary variants may be unappealing to modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all modern "softskin" and gun truck fans
DML continues after a year hiatus to produce more variants of the trusty HMMWV (Humm-Vee) as used in Iraq. These are the uparmored M1025 variant with one carrying the LRAS3 long range reconnaissance system (a multispectral camera by any other name) and a psychological operations team with loudspeakers.
The latter is interesting as these sorts of teams have been common since loudspeakers were invented. Most of the time the systems are unarmored and unprotected (the Marines in Korea being the only ones to be different, using a speaker mounted on the roof of an M46 to "persuade" Chinese to surrender - or else.)
The kit is typical of the HMMWV kits with the same standard parts breakdown. What the modeler gets in the box are two identical chassis sets with the armored body and the 41 part "boilerplate" sprue with details and interior parts, the "boilerplate" styrene sprue for the windshield and doors, and then the new bits.
The LRAS3 version comes with a box that mounts on the hip ring, but there are none of the components one would expect such as displays, power supplies, or radio mounts.
The PsyOP team vehicle has the speakers on the side of the hip ring but a gun mount is provided and used with any of a number of weapons. The kit now comes with a new weapons sprue with the hip ring and a choice of two M240s, one Mark 19 30mm grenade launcher, and one M2HB plus other components.
Both vehicles now have a choice of either etched brass grille guards or plastic, as well as the extended air cleaners.
Markings and finishing directions are provided for two vehicles: the LRAS3 vehicle is from D Troop, 1-9 Cav, Iraq 2004; the PysOp team is a generic one with now markings.
Overall these are nice little models, but as noted they are a bit esoteric and may not be as popular as previous releases.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 41x2 HMMWV common base parts (wheels, axles, details)
B 1x2 HMMWV uparmored body
C 8 Grey DS plastic tires
D 9x 2 HMMWV clear styrene windows, doors and roof
Advantages: another nice of a ‘34 variant, well done "slide moulded" cast turret
Disadvantages: some odd options with this kit are hard to fathom (tracks, fuel tanks)
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Soviet and "34" fans
One of the minor myths of the history of the T-34 was given out about 20 years ago in a biography of Alexander Morozov, one of the three designers credited with the design of the T-34 tank. When the Kharkov Locomotive Factory No. 183 (the factory building the T-34) was evacuated to Nizhniy Tagil in October 1941, the rolling machines used to bent the plates for the cast turret did not arrive on the other end due to a problem with rail shipment Morozov supposedly quickly designed a cast turret which was the equal of the rolled plate welded one and got it into production in a matter of weeks, thus saving the T-34 and the Soviet Union, etc. etc.
Not quite. The truth is that from the very beginning both cast and rolled turrets were made for the T-34 tank, and were fitted as available. The main reason for that is research into cast versus rolled plate turrets showed that castings had to be 15% thicker than homogenous armor plate to give the same penetration resistance. The plates on the welded plate turret were 45mm thick; the cast turret was 52mm thick. The origins of the myth seem to have been why after the factory moved only cast turrets were produced, but the real reason is they are faster to make and cheaper.
For years the only kit of a cast turret T-34 was the ancient one from Tamiya, which, while the turret was not bad, sat on a very poor hull and thus took an incredible amount of work to correct. Having done a conversion of that kit to an accurate cast turret Model 1941. using a Zvedza hull, the Tamiya turret, Maquette tracks, and a lot of conversion work it is not a fun change to make, and even swapping that turret to a DML Model 1941 hull is more work than one would think. Happily DML now offers a complete kit, which also includes the complete external parts of the Model 1941 cast turret as well.
The new kit uses many of the "tweaked" sprues that were used in the cyber-hobby.com STZ-built T-34 Model 1941. Nothing wrong there – the earlier kit was a bit of a disappointment as it only made the original version of the STZ tank, which was virtually identical to the Factory No. 183 version in many respects (the first 50 in fact being "knocked down" 183 hulls and turrets.) It builds us as a basic model T-34 Model 1941 but with some odd choices of accessories.
First off, it has "sprue" tracks of one of the earlier T-34 track designs with cast bars for reinforcement and a smooth face. This track was used on T-34 Model 1941s to be sure (the track is on the Aberdeen Model 1941 as a point of reference) but was quickly dropped for the later track type – the so-called "waffle" patterns. Secondly, it comes with both the 40 liter "box" tanks and the 95 liter round auxiliary fuel tanks, which did not come into service with the T-34 until much later – after the 40 liter "box" tanks were dropped, they went to the rear mounted angular tanks, and only in 1943 did they switch to three of the 95 liter tanks. It's too bad DML does not the angular set with this model, or a set of waffle tracks, as that would provide the builder with a wide variety of versions to build. While this tank was replaced in production at Nizhniy Tagil in April 1942 by the "Gayka" hexagonal turret, many of the other factories used this design or a very similar one until mid 1943.
The kit is basically a straight-up early model T-34 with rounded nose hull, "vertical" slat air intake grilles, rectangular hatch rear plate, and pressed steel wheels with rubber tires with lightening holes around the rim. Note that while the box digital art shows an early model T-34 hull pan, it is the same one with double stops on the front road wheel mount.
The new turret is a beautiful job of "slide moulding" with a nearly flat base and the rest of the detail cast in place. A new 76mm gun barrel is provided, one piece with "slide molded" hollow bore. The hatch is the later one with the original openings for flags and signal lights and rotating periscope removed from the molds.
The tracks are molded by sprues, with each sprue including nine ice grousers for mounting on the fenders. (With some tweaking you could also mount them on the track links for winter combat.)
The model does have a large fret of etched brass, and as with most DML kits you have your options on using it or not at your election.
Alas, the directions are the "color photo" type which makes assembly much more difficult. At least DML has finally figured out this doesn't help with etched brass, and now they do at least provide foolscap sketches with each one showing where the etched brass pieces go if you choose to use them.
The model comes with five finishing options: Unidentified unit, Eastern Front 1943 (whitewash, "Za Leningrad!" in red); Unidentified unit, Eastern Front 1943 (4BO green, "white 64"); 116th Tank Brigade, Eastern Front 1942 (4BO green, white 2-045 "Parkhomenko"); Unidentified unit, Manchuria 1945 (4BO green, "BARS" in white); Unidentified unit, German Army, Eastern Front 1942 (grey, yellow "1053"). I must say that I am always puzzled when there are a great number of good choices for markings and one is wasted on a "captured" vehicle. Also, something does not read right with the Cyrillic for the "Za Leningrad!" tank; I think it was supposed to say something like "from the womens' work brigade in honor of Welder Seorshin" but what is there does not make much sense. Decals as usual are from Cartograf.
Overall this is another great kit of a ‘34 – but now it's time for the "Gayka" kits (the Model 1942 with hex turret and Model 1943 with commander's cupola!)_
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout
A 12x2 T-34 driver mounts, road wheel arms
B 21 T-34 40/41 turret roof and hull details
C 18 T-34 40/41 upper hull and details
D 15x2 T-34 40/41 solid disk wheels
E 16 T-34 tie-downs and brackets
F 37x2 T-34 40/41 drivers/idlers, auxiliary fuel tanks
G 24 T-34 40/41 welded turret and hull details
H 6 T-34 engine intake vents, driver's hatch
H 14 T-34 41 turret front and details
I 1 T-34 standard hull pan
J 2 Clear styrene
K 13 T-34 41 F-34 gun assembly
L 65x3 T-34 Model 1940 early model tracks
M 18x2 T-34 95 liter round auxiliary fuel tanks
N 4x2 T-34 spring towers
R 16 T-34 cast turret and details
S 3 Twisted steel wire
MA 153 Etched brass
MB 1 Turned aluminum barrel
(Originally written on October 26, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6410; German Cossack Cavalry - Premium Edition; 194 parts (136 in grey styrene, 58 etched brass); price estimated at US$13.95
Advantages: nice update to a good kit makes it better; optional horse heads gives the opportunity for different action poses by the horses
Disadvantages: etched brass straps will need to be annealed before use; traditional Cossack dress has fairly thick coat edges
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for German, Soviet and horse cavalry fans
When this kit came out in 1997 (as No. 6065, for I went back and looked at my notes!) I originally rated highly with the exception of the fact that no bridal or other saddle furniture straps were included. This upgraded version, put out under the Premium Edition aegis, now fixes that and adds two of the generic "Gen2" sprues to the kit to upgrade the details.
To recap the original review, the kit provides two Kuban Cossacks in German service. One is wearing a German uniform and the other traditional Cossack dress, so he at least can "change sides" if the modeler wishes him to! Both wear the traditional Cossack cap and the light sabres preferred by the Cossacks, and the German garbed one also carries a Kar 98K.
The figures are the original DML style in that each consists of six basic parts (legs, torso, head and arms) with separate headgear and uniform details. The edges of the long coat of the Kuban man are a bit thick, and modelers may want to either thin them down or replace them.
Kit comes as either the standard bits for the horses or one of the "Gen2" generic sprues, which provides bread bags, ammo pouches, ponchos, and small accessories.
Most useful is the inclusion of the etched brass horse furniture from Kit No. 6216 which now solves the original failing of the No. 6065 kit. The fret includes horseshoes with nail holes, bridles, halters, belly bands, stirrups, and reins. Note that the fret will have to be held over an open flame to anneal it before use in order to get the brass flexible enough to replicate straps.
The original painting instructions and cover by Ron Volstad are included, but alas DML only added a foolscap illustration for installing the stirrups and reins and thus it is not much help in getting a nice installation of the etched brass bits. I wish that DML would provide better directions, as they give you great parts but only minimal directions on how to assemble them into a equally outstanding finished product.
Overall this is a nice upgrade to an older kit and if you are an experienced figure modeler you will be able to get a great result from it. I hope that DML will improve the directions, however, so the not-so-experienced modeler can enjoy it too.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
6065 5 Sabres
6065 23 Two riders
6065 32 Two horses
MA 58 German cavalry etched brass from Kit 6216
WA 18 German Generic Weapons - 2 x Kar 98K and accessories
GB 58 German Generic Equipment - ponchos, bread bags, ammo pouches
Advantages: first kit in this scale of this workhorse artillery piece; nicely optioned with ammunition, display components, and limber for either in action or march order display
Disadvantages: no crew, hopes for a new prime mover!
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German and "Redleg" fans
F I R S T L O O K
In 1995 Peter Brown and I took one of our "World Tours" to North Devonshire and the Cobbaton Combat Collection, a private military museum. The owner and director, Preston Isaac, met us and proved to be quite a character. Upon introducing myself, his first words were "I don't like Americans." A bit crestfallen, I was caught off guard a moment later when he said "All I have is a Jeep and that ex-ranges Sherman V over there." Now sorted, we got some tea and coffee and he gave us the grand tour.
One of his pride and joy displays was an ex-Czech OT-810 with a large if unfamiliar artillery piece next to it. It was odd as it looked to be a cross between Czech, Soviet and German designs. When Peter and I gave up, he proudly stated it was a Czech Army deep reserve weapon – a Soviet 152mm D-1 howitzer barrel mated to a German sFH 18 carriage, as the Czechs wound up with plenty of the latter but needed to conform to Warsaw Pact standards. The fact that the Czechs used a 1934 design carriage up until 1989 speaks volumes of what a good design this weapon really was.
Developed as part of a "duo" of guns in the 1920s by Krupp, one common carriage was created for either the 10 cm Kanone 18 field gun or the 15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze 18 field howitzer. The former proved to be too light a caliber for the heavy carriage, so the main production version was the sFH 18 howitzer. Weighting about six metric tons, the sFH 18 was mostly deployed in battalions of three batteries of four howitzers each, and as they were too heavy for horse drayage they were towed by the eight-ton Sd.Kfz. 7 halftrack fitted with lockers for the 15 cm ammunition.
The 149mm weapon could fire a 43.5 kilogram HE-FRAG round to a maximum range of 13,325 meters. However, even though relatively plentiful in the German forces it was inferior to most of the American 155mm guns, Soviet 152mm gun-howitzers, and British 5.5" guns. Improved versions never got into production and only one self-propelled variant, the Hummel, saw production in meaningful numbers.
As towed artillery never seems to get the "press" of the self-propelled types, it's not surprising that this important artillery piece has been nearly totally ignored in plastic over the years (ROCO did make a "duo" in 1/87th scale with both the 10 cm and 15 cm barrels, as well as the Sd.Kfz. 7 prime mover.) Once again, however, there are TWO kits of this gun due out in the coming months, and again DML is first to the front with its variant. A "Smart Kit", this model comes with a minimum of brass – only two parts and two more in etched nickel – as it covers most of the rest in well-designed plastic.
DML has pulled out all of its tricks to get a very nicely done result. The heavy rubber tired disk wheels are "slide molded" with the injection mold points at the top rim of the wheel, to ensure fast and easy cleanup while molding all of the grooves in place. The same goes for the much thinner limber wheels. The trails are hollow molded using similar techniques.
The gun proper (totally new, not borrowed from the recently upgraded Hummel) consists of the complete barrel in turned aluminum and a 10-piece styrene breech assembly with optional position three piece breech block. ("Do not cement" say the directions.) Two of the brass parts, the tubes, are used for the elevation cylinders. The nickel parts cover the gun's data plate and the stamped metal firing table placed in front of the gunner's position. The two etched brass parts are the linkages on the parking brakes.
The gun has an incredible amount of detail to it and even the limber consists of no less than 30 parts. The spades are optional position and the kit is designed so that the gun may be left assembled with a friction fit so it may be displayed either in march order (racked up, trails on the limber) or in firing position. This may not work quite as well as the directions indicate, but it is nice to know you may have a longer time frame to make a selection on towed or firing displays.
The gun comes with five HE-FRAG and five HE-FRAG concrete penetrators with ten propellant casings and propellant covers for five. The kit also comes with a pair of unrolled wicker mats for storing clean, prepared ammunition next to the gun in firing position as well as four rounds in wicker packing and what appear to be either fuse or primer cases; all of these parts are in tan DS plastic to capture crisp features on otherwise difficult parts to mold.
The sights are clear styrene parts, which seems to be popular but still have to be painted.
A sheet of generic artillery decals from Cartograf is included along with "kill" rings and generic ammunition placards for the packing and rounds. Five finishing schemes (three grey, one sand and one tricolor camouflage) are provided but no units or locations.
Technical assistance on this project came from Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson, and the project director was Hirohisa Takada. Box art from Ron Volstad (he always tends to get the "A" kits, and does them right by his artwork!)
Overall this is a welcome change and a nod to the fact that artillery pieces need "Smart Kit" treatment too! Now for a good crew and more importantly a new prime mover to replace the 33-year-old Tamiya kit... (I would call for the Czech reserve version, but that would seem to be a cyber-hobby.com option!)
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 66 Gun cradle, trails and breech assemblies
B 29 Fittings and cleaning rods
C 26 Lower mount and axle details
D 33x2 Main wheels, limber wheels, trail spades
E 21 Limber components
G 15 15 cm ammunition
K 3 Clear styrene
L 10 DS plastic matting and packed shells
MA 2 etched brass
MB 2 etched nickel
MC 1 turned aluminum
MC 2 brass tubing
(Originally written on October 20, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6439; Heuschreke IVb "Grasshopper" 10.5 cm le.F.H. 18/6 (Sf.) auf Geschuetzwagen III/IV; 957 parts (677 in grey styrene, 216 "Magic Track" links, 53 etched brass, 11 clear styrene); price estimated at US$45
Advantages: first new kit of this vehicle to reach the market; good mixture of extant and new moldings; very complete kit providing numerous options for construction and display
Disadvantages: towing bar apparently missing from the kit; many leftover parts
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for German armor and artillery fans
F I R S T L O O K
There are occasionally concepts that probably seemed good at the time they were conceived but in execution leave a lot to be desired. The concept of semi-self-propelled artillery – mounts that carried a complete field gun or howitzer with carriage and the ability to mount and dismount the gun at will – were tried in WWI and found wanting. The consensus opinion then was permanently mounted guns had more advantages overall and made better sense.
For some reason – I have never figured out exactly why – the Germans returned to this concept in WWII with several different prototypes, most of which were dubbed "Heuschreke" or "Grasshopper" followed by a suffix to indicate which was which. One of them which used the successful Gw III/IV composite Pzkw. III/Pzkw. IV derived hull from the Hummel and Hornisse/Nashorn self-propelled weapons was the Heuschreke 10, which mounted the sturdy 10.5 cm liechte Feldhaubitze 18 in a dismountable arrangement. Prototypes of two different concepts, one by Krupp and one by Rheinmetall-Borsig, were built in 1942.
The latter used a complete le FH 18/40 (10.5 cm howitzer on the 7.5 cm PaK 40 carriage) and simply removed the trails and wheels to mount it in a fixed casemate. The Krupp version used a purpose-built mount with the le FH 18/1 mounted in a StuH mounting in a fully rotating open-topped turret. The difference was that the entire turret could be removed by built-in crane rails on the sides of the hull and moved to an easily assembled square platform; the turret then had wheels attached to its sides and a towing lunette to the muzzle of the gun. The gun could be emplaced as a fixed ground mount or fired from the chassis.
Three prototypes were built and tested. Apparently somebody finally realized that this was a waste of the chassis and the concept of fixed artillery on the Eastern front was not too clever, for the Soviets were very good at counterbattery artillery fire and if the gun could not displace it would soon be "suppressed." The Germans then returned to more conventional designs for self-propelled weapons.
Over 30 years ago one of the Japanese companies – I want to say Bandai – had a kit of this unique vehicle in 1/30 scale but it was not very good, even though the entire kit "worked" and the gun could be shown as the turret, being removed, and emplaced on its mounting. Now both DML and Trumpeter are releasing new kits of this beastie, with the DML kit apparently being the first to market (the Trumpeter one is forecast for late November/early December.) This appears to be a repeat of the "dueling" Dicker Max kits, so time will tell which is the more popular.
Be that as it may, DML has done a nice job of using some of its newer kits with a number of new sprues combined with generic German components and elements from their Pzkw. IV ‘Smart Kits," the StuG III "Smart Kits," and the premium versions of the Hummel and Nashorn. This is smart to some degree on their part – once molds are cut the sprues cost only pennies to manufacture – but on the other hand it leaves the modeler with a large number of leftover or spare parts from each kit; this one looks to have at least 200 leftover grey and clear parts when the model is completed.
DML starts out with a newly molded specific hull for the Heuschreke with "slide molded" details. The suspension comes from a combination of the IV "Smart Kits" and the Hummel sprues, and as noted in the reviews of the "Smart Kits" has fixed tires on each road wheel. The interior provides lockers and access for the ammunition and batteries, and all of them have optional covers over them. Tracks are the 40 cm version of the "Magic Track" single-link track and as noted they are handed – left hand side of the header card is Left and right hand side is Right, which makes it easier to sort out when preparing for assembly.
The hull has specific parts with the unique lower hull rear with dual exhausts and the upper rear plate with winch mounts. DML cites "early" and "late" production NOTEK tail lights, but as only three prototypes were built this is probably more like a retrofitted part later in its test life. While optional position hatches are provided, there is no interior in the driver's/radio operator's compartment.
The ground mount is quite busy, with each of the four beams requiring at least six inserts to be added to it including the ground stake mounts. Nicely detailed "spoke" wheels and mounts go at the rear of the hull for the wheel stowage.
The frame rails for the offloading crane are very involved as DML has designed them to operate. If you loved Aurora kits with the "caps" that had to be cemented over every wheel set, then you should be able to enjoy putting this assembly together! Note that the beams for the ground mount either have to mount on the hull or on the ground, so this feature seems odd to have as a "working" one.
The turret uses the gun mount from the StuG III and the breech details but the rest is new, with a new barrel and muzzle brake for this version of the leFH 18. The turret flaps come with separate hinges and may be posed closed or open. A foul-weather canvas frame is provided but no canvas, which is not a bad thing as tarpaulins are difficult to do right in injected molded plastic.
The gun may be assembled in the turret or in the ground mount, and the wheels may be placed on their racks at the rear of the hull or mounted to the sides of the turret. Surprisingly, the one element missing from the kit is the towing lunette which clamps onto the gun barrel. This makes putting the turret on its beam mount with wheels somewhat silly, as it will not sit correctly nor can it be emplaced with the wheels on it. I am surprised DML left this feature out of the kit.
As these were only prototypes one finish –basic sand with generic crosses – is provided along with a small sheet of Cartograf decals.
Research for this kit was provided by Thomas Anderson, Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.
Overall it is nice to see a new kit of this popular if oddball German vehicle, and time will tell which kit is more popular with modelers.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue layout:
A 91x2 IV Smart Kit - wheels and bogies
A 37x2 IV Smart Kit - drive wheels and return rollers
A 31x2 Nashorn/Hummel - drive wheels and hull details
B 27 Heuschreke - fenders, rear and front plates, rails
C 23 Heuschreke - upper hull and interior components
D 80x2 Heuschreke - 10.5 cm components and interior details, trail wheels
E 4 Heuschreke - turret travel/ground base beams
F 16 Stug III Smart Kit - gun barrel and mantelet
G 24 German OVM
H 36 Heuschreke - turret, 10.5 cm gun and mounting
J 11 Clear styrene (flagged as "I" sprue in directions)
K 14 German OVM
L 108 "Magic Track" left side
R 108 "Magic Track" right side
X 1 Heuschreke - hull pan
GA 64 German generic kit - helmets, mess kits, canteens, gas masks
MA 52 Etched brass
MB 1 Etched brass
(Originally written on October 18, 2007)
Kit Review: Academy 1/35 Scale Kit No. 13210; U. S. Howitzer Motor Carriage M7 Priest; 414 parts (412 in olive drab styrene, 2 in gunmetal vinyl); retail price US$40
Advantages: new kit of early/interim model of the popular Priest; new suspension mounts and options for mounting; different method of assembling the howitzer but seems to be well done
Disadvantages: some "mixed metaphors" in features, one error which requires fixing on the engine deck but this may not be a problem (see text)
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: to all "redlegs" and US armor fans, as well as Allied forces and postwar
During WWII there were four iconic open-topped self-propelled guns used by the major powers: the German 15 cm "Hummel," the Canadian-designed "Sexton" with a 25-lb gun, the Soviet SU-76M, and the American M7 150mm HMC "Priest." The latter three were excellent designs and went on to live long after the war, all three serving into the early 1960s with various second- and third-world armies. Two of them, the Sexton and the M7, were based on the reliable US M3 medium tank chassis.
The M7 came about due to a perceived need for self-propelled armored artillery weapons to keep up with armored divisions. After a number of prototypes were tested, the M7 entered service and full-scale production in April 1942. While it was based on the M3 chassis, it also absorbed many of the changes that came about due to the introduction of the M4 series medium tanks and reflected those changes as production proceeded along. A total of 2,814 were built as well as 826 of the later M7B1, which used the M4A3 tank's Ford GAA engine in place of the original's radial air-cooled engine. Roughly one-quarter of these vehicles served with the Allied forces, going to the British and Canadians (and later replaced by the Sexton, which carried the preferred 25-lb gun in place of the American M2 105mm howitzer) and the Free French forces as well as postwar MAP deliveries to many other countries.
Academy had promised this kit for some time, but after the major problems that cropped up with the M3 Lee kit it apparently went back for some revisions. The kit is now on its way to the shops, and as the "boo birds" have already started making comments on this kit without ever seeing it, the best way to review the kit is to say what it is and what it is not.
What it is, is a fairly accurate representation of what appears to be a mid-production M7 with a riveted hull, T51 tracks and some of the MWO changes that went with it. It comes with the increased ammunition stowage racks which appeared about the time of the Operation Husky landings in Sicily, based on combat operations in North Africa. It has the production three-section bolted transmission housing with the full-size E4151 right side housing section vice the E1230 used on very early production vehicles and taken straight from the M3 medium tank. It has the top-opening stowage bins on the rear deck vice the side-opening ones from the early production series but not the mesh baskets which appeared on top of them or vents which are seen on late production vehicles. It also has the early model shallow "pulpit" for the .50 caliber machine gun.
Analyzing the kit, it comes with the M3 lower hull pan (with some subtle revisions, as it does not totally match the one in the M3 kit) and many of the M3's parts for the suspension, but this is primarily to give the modeler his choice of road wheels and idlers. A new set of bogies and drivers is provided separately. Note that very early production M7s and all of the M7B1s appear to have used the welded "spoke" style of road wheels whereas the bulk of production vehicles used the welded "pressed" type with the domed six-ribbed covers. They also used the "fancy" type of machined drive wheel rings (on the new sprue) but with most vehicles using the welded "spoke" type idlers. (This combination seems popular, for you see it on the M10 3" GMC as well.)
Using a simple Staedler steel rule, my best estimated is that the new bogie assemblies are 11mm even from the bottom of the hinge mount to the flat top of the bogie casting; those on the unfortunate M3 kit were a hair over 13mm, so the changes have been made to the design. (Hopefully this will be retroactively provided to the M3 kit as well, as it solves it major bugaboo.) The new bogies also come with a choice of facings, either original or with supplemental cross-brace webbing for stiffness; so far I have not seen this on any of the WWII photos I checked on for the model.
Each bogie consists of ten to twelve parts – wheels, rocker frames, spring sets, front, rear, return roller, and side flanges for the top of the rear section. Note that the directions would have you use the welded "spoke" road wheels, but as noted this is not as accurate a choice as the welded "pressed" wheels.
As noted the transmission cover is the original production three-section bolted one and comes in a total of six pieces (housing, joint strip, bolted flanges, and final drive covers). The hull rear is new and has separate doors, but for some reason comes with the later "square" air cleaners and not the early model "round" ones. The fasteners are provided but as Steve Zaloga has noted look much better if replaced by etched brass ones.
The interior of the hull includes all bits which can be seen from the outside, such as the transmission, driver's position, and other basics which go in front or around the gun mount. Note that there are a number of fine ejection pin marks on the inside of the hull sides and glacis which will need removing. The driver's instrument panel is the later M4 style rectangular one and not the longer thinner M3 type. Academy includes the same odd little oval hatch in the belly of the hull, which is some sort of quirk they have in every one of their kits. This is annoying and I wish they would get rid of it, for it serves little or no purpose that I can see as the kits are not motorized.
The gun is nicely done but in a totally different manner than I would have suspected. The main portions of the gun come in three sections: muzzle section, main section, and breech. The muzzle is a hollow "slide molded" tube and the main section is a solid plastic molding. Normally this is asking for the appearance of our old friend "Sammy Sinkmark" but Academy cleverly "slide molded" the heavy end of the tube and it comes out smooth and even. The remaining parts are fairly conventional for an artillery piece, and the entire assembly mounts on a subfloor which is installed when completed. (At this stage the kit has the lower hull with details and now the modeler moves to the upper hull.)
Most of the upper hull details are well done. Academy has added the boxes usually noted as being grouser racks but instead uses them to stow eight links of T51 track. I looked over my photos to see it that matches and while I found a number of other items in the racks (!) no track links.
The one glitch in the entire model that I found is the engine deck. On the original early and mid production M7s, due to problems in the geometry under the decking the vehicle had to have two large mesh vents placed on the rear sides to prevent a buildup of heat and fumes from the gasoline tanks. To prevent them being blocked by the usual kit tossed on the engine deck, they had a bent steel guard over them with two sturdy braces to keep it from collapsing (see photo.) Academy apparently used a late-production or post-war refitted vehicle, as it has the late engine deck without the vents. These will have to be added for an early or intermediate production variant. (The way around this is to do what the MWO said, namely weld some steel bars across the engine deck and use it for expanded stowage. The stowage can then be arranged to block the view of most of the engine deck – bags work wonders! – and obviate the need to fix the vent problem.) Also the three-section vent at the front of the deck is solid, and most modelers will want to replace it with etched brass.
The original M7 came with four crew seats which folded in the rear compartment and at least two versions of stowage before the MWO came out. One had six rounds in a 2 x 3 arrangement at the right rear and six in a 1 x 6 rack down the left side of the hull. The other had two bins, each 3 x 4, at the rear corners of the compartment. The MWO upgraded this by adding 1 x 6 racks in front of the bins and moving the seats, giving the vehicle a total of 36 rounds of ready stowage. This is the option proved in the kit. However, Academy gives you the ammo as two strips of 4 tubes and one strip of 10 tubes per side, and they mount directly in the bin. This means the "eggcrate" slots for individual rounds are not present, so if you want an "in-action" vehicle you will need to add the racks from thin sheet styrene or just strip and black paint. (This isn't wrong at all, but it does limit your options.)
The tracks are nicely done but are the non-cementable vinyl type and only attach with one link. My experiences with Academy track is they tend to be a bit loose, but nothing much to worry about. However, I would bet many modelers will switch to better-looking single-link tracks instead.
The kit provides a total of three machine guns but only one .50 is used, so you get two of the excellent Academy weapons for the spares box.
Markings are again one of the shortcomings of Academy kits, and while they have selected four options none of them seem complete. (It's like Academy seems to forget there is a front and rear to the vehicle; I wish that, like DML, they would have solid researchers on that subject provide them with the necessary info to get it right.) The four options offered are: 2nd Armored Division, Sicily 1943; B Battery (Baboon), 14th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Armored Division, Normany 1944; 11th Regiment RHA, 1st Armoured Division, El Alamein 1942; and 31st Firing Battery, 64th RADB, 2nd French Armored Division, France September 1944. The first one is a solid olive drab vehicle, which strikes me as odd as most of the vehicles were painted in a sand over OD finish for Husky. As noted the side markings look complete, but bumper codes seem missing across the board except for one set for "Baboon."
Overall, however, this is probably Academy's best effort to date and even with the snafu on the gas vents for the engine provides the basis for a really nice model of the M7. The rest is up to the modeler, but even out of the box it will produce a pretty decent representation of the vehicle.
Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample and Steve Zaloga and Joe Demarco for their research and assistance.
(Photos are of the VMMV (Cors) Collection vehicle, M7 serial number 1364)
Cookie Sewell
Sprue layout:
A 55x2 Sherman series - road wheels and drivers
B 63 M7 interior and rear hull details
C 60 M7 upper hull and engine deck
D 73 M7 - 105mm howitzer and OVM
H 65 M7 - M3 series tanks suspension items and transmission cover
X 2 Vinyl T51 track runs
Y 25 Generic US – two .50 caliber machine guns and accessories
Z 15 Generic US – two jerry cans and .30 caliber machine gun
1 M3 lower hull (riveted)
(Originally written on October 12, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7280; Sd.Kfz. 251/10 Ausf. D w/3.7 cm Pak; 143 parts (132 in grey styrene, 9 etched brass, 2 DS plastic track runs); price about US$13.95
Advantages: complementary D model of very nice C kit from earlier this year; nicely done Pak mount
Disadvantages: RP parts (as in right puny!)
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German WWII "Small Scale" fans
Five months after releasing the "Stroke 10" platoon leader's vehicle as a C model halftrack (no. 7314) DML has matched it with the D model.
This kit uses the same basic moldings as the previous D kits but with a new set of G sprues for the gun and its assorted new fittings. Missing from this kit however are the ammo racks which came with the C model and their associated etched brass. The upper hull is the regular welded Ausf. D one. The lower hull is a single piece pan, less the rear area, and the axles are molded on the lower hull. The running gear for each side consists of a rear (inside) wheel section, a center wheel section, three outer road wheels, and drivers. Once installed the connectors between the individual wheels on the inside and the center are not visible, so it helps speed up assembly while making it easier to get things aligned. Tracks are the gluable DS plastic, so you can also get them to settle down on top of the road wheels with some care.
Interior bits include the various control levers, rifles, MP submachine guns, and other items. The hinge mechanisms for the doors are single pieces, but are non-operating types. They cement to the lower rear section, as the upper hull has the rear angular parts of the hull attached to it. The four front viewers are separate parts and can be cemented either open or closed as well, as is the hood assembly with two flaps. No engine or interior is provided for the engine bay.
The fenders are one-piece units, but the stowage bins are only offered as closed parts. The front MG 42 parts are not offered in brass as with the C model – styrene only. Other RP parts include the "Notek" headlight and mount and the drum magazines for the two MG 42 machine guns. The weapons appear to be very close to scale, something I don't recall from other manufacturers in the past!
The Pak 36/37 gun is very neatly done with a "slide molded" open bore so it is up to speed with the larger kits. The gun and mount consist of 9 parts but an optional brass gun shield is also provided in the kit. Inside the hull the modeler has a choice of a single piece stryrene ammo rack or a combination styrene and brass ammo rack on each side of the hull, with the ammo cans provided separately and a single brass frame to be bent and fitted over them.
Directions are standard DML fare, but due to the fewer parts in their 1/72 series kits they are not as busy and much easier to read. These have some of the detail painting colors shown which breaks up the monotony of black and white with blue trim for the directions.
The model comes with but one offering for finishing, the ubiquitous "Unidentified Unit" on the Eastern Front 1944, in sand with a fineline green overspray. It comes with two nice sheets, one being a "number jungle" for the hull and the other being generic license plates, so the modeler with good references may choose his own subject.
Overall, DML keeps pace with its small scale "Cs" and "Ds" for the German halftrack fans.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue layout:
A 27 D upper hull
B 38 C/D interior and road wheels
C 27x2 D front wheels and interior details
D 2 DS plastic track runs
G 12 Stroke 10 conversion parts and 3.7 cm Pak
I 1 D lower hull
MA 8 etched brass
MB 1 etched brass
(Originally written on October 12, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6389; Afrika Korps Panzergrenadier El Alamein 1942; 76 parts in grey styrene; price estimated at US$8.95
Advantages: new release of figures will help out German desert fans
Disadvantages: why no "Gen2" weapons sets?
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German diorama and desert fans
DML still seems to have a large supply of "original series" figures in stock and keeps releasing them from time to time to keep us on our toes. This new set provides four figures in combat poses which should be appreciated by desert warfare fans.
The four figures consist of a two-man machine gun team based around an MG-34, one man loading a Kar 98K rifle in the kneeling position, and an officer directing them from a crouch. The weapons are mostly separate (the MG34 is an older model less the "slide molded" details and hollow bore, and the rest of them – a Kar 98K, a Gewehr 43, an MP40, an MP44, a Panzerfaust 60 and an MG42 with accessories – are from kit No. 6003) and no brass is provided for straps or detailing. I say mostly because the officer comes with a Luger molded in place; at least with small arms like pistols this makes better sense as it looks to be held for use rather than "stuck on" as too many do when modelers try to fit them to the hands of figures.
The figures are all basic DML types of six basic parts (head, torso, arms and legs) with molded in place coat skirts. These figures are wearing the desert canvas uniform with long trousers and long sleeves. Two helmets have camouflage covers, two do not and one set of sand goggles is provided for the officer. Two of the figures (the officer and the rifleman) have defensive grenades ("potato mashers") stuck in their belts, which are provided as separate parts.
The machine gunner is operating the weapon from the prone position and the assistant is feeding ammo from a box. The positions look far more natural than some but preclude "digging in" as the gunner is completely prone.
Artwork is by another of DML's artists and the directions are the photographic rendering type and not the excellent artwork of Ron Volstad. They consist of "paint this color here" flags and tags on a miniature version of the box art.
Overall, this is a good idea and as many modelers tend to suffer from overkill with the full "Gen2" sets a reversion to the "old school" is a good idea every now and again. But the "Gen2" weapons are better, and having the rifleman with his bolt open as in "Gen2" style would have made a bit more sense.
Advantages: updates an older but still decent kit; lots of spare parts
Disadvantages: could have probably benefitted from DS plastic one-piece track runs
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German halftrack fans
Eight years ago DML released the first in its line of Sd.Kfz. 250 light halftracks and they were well received at the time, offering both the "alte" or angular hull vehicles that were contemporaries of the Sd.Kfz. 251 Ausf. A, B and C medium halftracks, as well as the "neue" or flat plate hull vehicles which were the counterparts to the Sd.Kfz. 251 Ausf. D models. Somewhat spartan (there was no engine and if you wanted one you had to purchase a figure set of mechanics to get it) it was nevertheless nicely done and several different variants followed in both the "‘39-‘45" and "Imperial" series kits lines.
Now DML has gone back and redone the Sd.Kfz. 250/1 Neu infantry carrier version in their "Premium Series." The large number of parts is a bit deceptive, for the kit proper includes 188 parts whereas all of the added generic German equipment, weapons and tool sprues add another 155.
To justify the increase in price, DML has done a lot of tweaking and reworking of the original kit. The biggest single item is the presence of a one-piece "slide molded" lower hull replacing three parts in the original 1999 series kits. The suspension arms have been redone and also the drive sprocket mounts. The engine from the original add-on kit is now included, which is a nice touch.
The new one also includes "Magic Track" precut links, but in order to maintain fidelity and permit installation DML again chose to provide a separate pad for each link to "trap" the pins of the next link. This is very tedious work as the tracks are about the same size as the average 1/72 scale model, and perhaps here DML should have given thought to using its DS Plastic molding techniques to make single-section track runs.
The tracks do mount on new better detailed three-piece drivers, and the front wheels are now "sandwich" moldings to create both proper tread pattern and tread depth (five parts per tire.)
The details for the interior are still basically those of the original kit, but all supplemental details are from the "Gen2" series figures such as the personal equipment, weapons and the on-board tools.
The stowage bins now come with separate access panels, so all four can be displayed in the open position. Also the kit now includes the Sd.Kfz. 251 clear styrene viewers, which can also be shown either open or closed. For those who are not into interior detailing, a newly molded DS Plastic tarpaulin covers the rear half of the interior. For those who are, there are two cases for "rabbit ears" binoculars provided in etched brass as well as stowage racks for them.
Most of the etched brass provides the straps and mounts for this kit inside the lower hull of the model. The directions are pretty sketchy; while they do cover the placement and use of these items, you must pay close attention when working on the interior.
Technical assistance and work on this kit was provided by Hirohisa Takada, Minoru Igarashi, Dan Graves, Tom Cockle, Thomas Anderson, and Gary Edmundson.
The model comes with a total of seven finishing options: 3/Pz. Aufkl. Btl., 2nd Panzer Division, France 1944 (three color); 5th SS Panzer Division "Wiking," Hungary, 1945 (two vehicles, one sand and one sand with brown bands); 1st SS Panzer Division "LAH", Kamanets, Podolsk 1944 (green over sand); Obergruppenfuehrer von Pueckler-Berghaus, Orlik-Cimelice, Bohemia 1945 (three color); Pz.Aufkl.Btl., 1st SS Panzer Division "LAH," 1944 (three color); Unidentified unit, Eastern Front 1944 (three color "patch" pattern). The kit provides a generic sheet of markings for license plates and stenciling and a targeted sheet as well; both are from Cartograf.
Overall this is another "old chestnut" which has been improved and brought up to contemporary standards by the "Premium Kit" (also called "Green Stripe" by modelers) program from DML.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue layout:
A 41 250 chassis and details
C 31 250 Neu upper hull and interior components
E 37 250 Neu lower hull and details
F 168 "Magic Track" two-piece links
G 28x2 250 road wheels and front wheels
H 6 250 drivers
W 8 251 clear styrene
X 16 250 engine
Y 1 250 one piece lower hull
Z 1 DS plastic tarpaulin
GA 64 German equipment A (helmets, canteens, mess kits, gas masks)
GC 14 German equipment C (offensive and defensive grenades)
TG 10 German tools - pioneer tools and fire extinguishers
WA 18 German weapons - 2 x Kar 98K with magazines
WB 17 German weapons - 2 x MP-40. Gewehr 43, MP-44
WC 24 German weapons - machine gun accessories
WC 8 German weapons - MG-34 and MG-42
MA 57 etched brass
MB 2 turned brass width indicators
(Originally written on October 10, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited/cyber-hobby.com 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6263; Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F; 745 parts (401 in grey styrene, 200 "Magic Track" links, 90 etched brass, 51 clear styrene, 3 pre-bent wire); estimated price US$39
Advantages: nice, new ground-up version of this little German tank; very complete interior and selection of optional opening parts and hatches
Disadvantages: some modelers disappointed by selection of later variant; daunting number of parts for a relatively small vehicle
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German armor fans
F I R S T L O O K
Back in 1971 when I was on my honeymoon in New York City, I showed my wife a taste of what she was in for when we walked from 51st Street down to Polk's Hobbies and I picked up the newest kit in town, the 1/35 scale Tamiya Pzkw. II with Afrika Korps infantry. At the time I thought it was a neat kit with the five figures and the easy to deal with Panzer II. It didn't take too long before a few good references and a change in sophistication showed what a dog the kit really was with its "motoritis" problems, one-sided tracks and lack of accurate details.
Of all of the German tanks, for some reason I've always had a soft spot for the Panzer II, and when DML released a brand-new kit of the Marder II in June 2006 I looked at the kit sprues and said to myself there has to be a series of Panzer II coming behind this puppy. Sure enough, a bit later than expected, DML and cyber-hobby.com have now released a wide-release version of the Ausf. F version of the tank as its first kit in this series.
The Panzer II was the first "real" tank built by the Germans, and when it came out in May 1936 it was a state-of-the-art light tank. Armed with a 2 cm gun and a 7.92mm machine gun, its armament was little different from its contemporaries and ahead of many of them. The vehicle rapidly evolved through the Ausf. a, b, and c pre-series to the Ausf. A, B and C series production models, with over 1,100 of them being built between 1937 and 1940. There was a short flirtation with large road wheels with the Ausf. D and E, but they soon returned to the five small road wheel variant chassis with the Ausf. F. This was the first "wartime" model as it came into production in early 1941 and remained there until December 1942. However, only 524 were built before the chassis began to be used exclusively for self-propelled guns like the Wespe and aforementioned Marder II.
But by that time the Pzkw. II was inferior to many light tanks, with US and Soviet models carrying 37mm or 45mm guns with much more power. Its thin armor of 15 to 30mm could not resist even those modest weapons, and as a combat vehicle the Pzkw. II was pretty much regulated to rear area security or occasional reconnaissance functions.
While some modelers were disappointed that DML did not release an A/B/C variant of the tank, the Ausf. F did use the same basic hull as the Marder II so the two shared more common parts. The new kit uses a great deal of the work done for the No. 6262 Marder II kit but adds all of the necessary components for the Ausf. F.
Unlike the Pzkw. I series kits which took until the latest release to provide one with a full interior, this kit comes with it right out of the gate. The lower hull of the Marder had most of the interior parts needed by the Panzer II there, so this kit only needed a few bits to provide for the essential changes needed to yield the line tank variant. A new firewall and related parts (J sprue, one of alas many with that letter in this kit!) provides the different bits.
The running gear is pretty much that from the Marder II, which has brought some complaint about the springs being the heavier models for the SP guns and not the line tank versions. Most modelers are unlikely to quibble as the suspension is nicely detailed where it can be seen, and most of the springs will be concealed behind the road wheels when installed. (It's not like the springs mess up the "sit" of the tank like the old Tamiya M48/M60 kits which rode about 4" in scale higher than they normally would due to being empty, and the ride height appears about right with this tank.)
All of the hatches and ports on the hull and turret, and the stowage bin as well (!), are optional open/closed, which provides some modicum of view of the interior. At least the Panzer II is bigger than the I so there is more to see!
The turret is packed to the gills with parts, which is surprising when one considers how small it really is. The 2 cm is complete and the model uses a complete MG-34 from the generic German weapons sets. This comes with the ground mount for the bipod and ground sights, which appear to be removed prior to installation and that makes sense. Alas, the directions do not indicate making that adjustment, so anyone who fails to do so will have a major problem in assembly. There are 72 parts in this assembly alone!
Technical assistance on this project was provided by Ed Kusiak, Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.
A total of seven finishing options are provided: 2 Btn/5th Panzer Regiment (L), 5th Panzer Division (L), Libya 1941 (sand over grey); 1 Btn/5th Panzer Regiment (L), 5th Panzer Division (L), Libya 1941 (sand over grey); 9./202nd Panzer Regiment, 22nd Panzer Division, Stalingrad 1942 (sand over grey); Pz.Abt. 103, 3rd Infantry Division (Mot), Southern Russia 1941 (sand over grey); 5./1st SS Panzer Regiment, 1st SS Panzergrenadier Division "LAH", Kharkov 1943 (grey); 5./1st SS Panzer Regiment, 1st SS Panzergrenadier Division "LAH", Kharkov 1943 (whitewash); 7th Panzer Regiment, 10th Panzer Division, Tunisia 1943 (sand). A very nice sheet of Cartograf decals covers these markings and generic markings as well.
Overall this is the "missing link" in the DML WWII German panzer program and one can now built models of all of the major German combat vehicles from Pkzw. I to the Maus. It is likely that the prewar A/B/C variants will follow sometime in the future.
Advantages: older kit brought up to more modern standards with "slide molded" parts, brass and "Magic Track"; provision of cast-in zimmerit will be appreciated by many modelers
Disadvantages: Fixed zimmerit pattern not appreciated by all modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: to all German and Tiger fans
When larger scale armor modeling (e.g. 1/35 scale) began to catch on in the early 1970s it did not take long before many German modeling fans realized many of the German tanks were fitted with a concrete paste at the factory which was designed to prevent the adherence of magnetic or "sticky" explosive charges to the outside of the vehicle. Put on with special trowels by hand, the paste, called "zimmerit" by the Germans, was an essential item for finishing off the model. This caused a great deal of grief, as many modelers had no idea how to do it and as a result wound up in some cases putting in on at a 1/1 scale thickness.
Over the years it became a mark of good modeling of mid-war German subjects to see if the zimmerit paste could be accurately replicated, and many home-grown formulas came about to accomplish this, usually involving some type of plastic model putty, liquid cement, and broken Xacto knives.
About 15 years ago the Italian firm of Italeri made a bold experiment with providing modelers with a factory-based choice for optional zimmerit on their Tiger I and Panther Ausf. A kits. This consisted of form-fitting panels of injection molded styrene that fit on the model to replicate the finish. However, while the base kits themselves had some errors, the problem with this finish turned out that it if was not use the model was undersized and did not look right.
Later, new products came out to ease the problem of applying zimmerit, including thin flexible resin panels and even etched brass ones. Each had their adherents, but the most popular method still seemed to be "the hard way." R&J Enterprises offered a "package deal" of the best of the old methods dubbed "Zimmer-it-Right" and this became the best approach for some time. Companies like Tamiya even offered different pattern scale trowels for applying it.
Then in June 2004 Dragon Models introduced a 1/72 scale kit of the Tiger I with zimmerit patterns molded directly into the surface of the kit. This was a major breakthrough as it now meant that a new or average modeler could produce an accurate replica of a generic vehicle without the trial and error of applying zimmerit. They followed this with Tiger II and Jadgtiger variants later on.
My original observation was that this was a brilliant idea and that they should carry it over to their 1/35 scale line of kits. Now, three years later, the first one has been released, and is the very popular subject of the Tiger II (King Tiger) with Henschel turret.
DML took the improved parts for their "Premium" kits of the Tiger II with newly molded bits and their generic accessory kits for German vehicles and changed out a total of 18 parts from the "Premium" kits, replacing them with neatly done parts simulating being coated with zimmerit paste. These include the upper hull (sides only), the turret shell, the hull rear plate, the machine gun ball mount for the glacis, the lower glacis, the turret rear hatch (two options), and the turret glacis.
The remainder of the kit provides for a Tiger II with Henschel turret with the "normal" steel road wheels, "Magic Track" pre-trimmed two-part single link track (toothed links and plate links), a slightly smaller sheet of etched brass for the screens and detail parts, and a complete set of the "T" series recently molded German tools and OVM. The ones provided are as follows: TA - pioneer tools and a fire extinguisher; TB - jack and cable hooks; TC -tow cable heads; TD - auxiliary cable heads; TF - 8.8 cm muzzle brake for aluminum barrel; TG - self-defense projector weapon; TH - hatch braces; TJ - turret AA MG ring mount; and TK - bow machine gun mount. It also comes with an aluminum gun barrel with "slide molded" muzzle brake and three turned brass 8.8 cm rounds.
But as the old proverb goes, be careful what you wish for. There are some areas which will require concentration and some extra work. The zimmerit is there and well done, but it also covers most of the areas where mounts and clamps need to be attached to the hull and turret. DML got around this on the hull sides with raised smooth areas, but for mounting the extra track links on the turret it will take a ruler and a mini-chisel to skim off enough of the zimmerit coating to get a good mounting area. It will also require getting a good smooth finish on the model (as in Future floor wax or a similar product) to permit the kit's decals to be used and snug down with out the normal pesky "silvering" caused by a lack of smooth areas for adhesion.
Also, the kit regretfully uses the "Color Photo" version of the DML directions, using a pre-painted or primed version of the kit, which makes it far more difficult to determine the correct location of parts as it shows them installed and not when or how to install them.
The kit provides a total of seven different finishing opitions: s.Pz.Abt. 503, France 1944 (black 300, tricolor pattern); 1./s.Pz.Abt. 101, France 1944 (yellow 111, tricolor pattern); 3./s.H.Pz.Abt. 501, Ohrdruf, Germany 1944 (red 333, green stripes over sand); s.Pz.Abt. 506, Germany 1945 (red 2-14, three color patch pattern); 1./s.Pz.Abt. 101, France 1944 (yellow 113, three color patch pattern); 3/s.H.Pz.Abt. 506, Germany 1945 (black 3-13, brown stripes over sand); and 3./s.H.Pz.Abt. 506, Germany 1945 (blcak 3-14, brown stripes over sand). The kit has a relatively large sheet of Cartograf decals provided for these options.
Overall this is a brilliant idea and while many "die-hards" (those who broke the "code" of how to apply zimmerit) will grouse, it will be very popular with "newbies" and those who want a good looking model without the tedium of applying zimmerit.
For those fans of the Porsche version, be patient; several parts for an early production vehicle were on the sprues of this kit.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 6x2 Tiger II drive wheels
B 50x2 Tiger II hull fittings and exhausts
C 37 Tiger II hatches and hull fittings (early kit parts)
D 30 Tiger II hull fittings and bow tow mounts
G 26x3 Tiger II standard (Normal Type) steel wheels
I 1 Tiger II lower hull
J 8 MG-34
K 10 Tiger II fenders and fittings
K 18 Tiger II (Zimmerit) hull, turret shell, rear and detail components
L 11 Clear styrene
N 48 Tiger II cupola and turret fittings
0 44 Tiger II Henschel turret base and fittings
S 8 Clear Styrene
U 2 Tiger II one-piece cupolas
W 2 twisted steel wire
Y 120 "Magic Track" links - with teeth
Z 120 "Magic Track" links - no teeth
TA 8 German tools - pioneer tools and brass bending mantrels
TB 11 German tools - OVM and jack
TC 4 German tools - tow cable heads
TD 4 German tools - track recovery cable heads
TF 3 German tools - 8.8 cm muzzle brake
TG German tools - close-in defense weapon
TH 3 German tools - lock mechanism
TJ 10 German tools - turret cupola MG ring mount
TK 3 German tools - glacis ball mount
MA 139 Etched brass
MB 1 preformed brass wire
MB 1 aluminum turned barrel
MB 3 turned brass 8.8 cm rounds
MC 4 white metal tow shackles
MC 3 Etched brass shell bases
MD 1 brass chain
(Originally written on October 8, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6363; Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G LAH Division, Kharkov 1943 - Smart Kit; 743 parts (486 parts in grey styrene, 216" Magic Track" links, 25 etched brass, 15 clear styrene, 1 twisted steel wire); estimated price US $40-45
Advantages: inevitable follow-up to the F2 kit, adds correct parts for the newer model of the tank; "Smart Kit" makes assembly much simpler and easier
Disadvantages: probably not enough etched brass or mixed media parts to suit some modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German armor fans
As was obvious to many modelers and "old hands" when DML released its outstanding Pzkw. IV Ausf. F2 kit a few months back, an Ausf. G was certain to follow as well as the Ausf. H. Now the Ausf. G is here, and DML appears to have done its homework on this kit.
The F2 was an interim fix to provide a more powerful (e.g. T-34 killing) 7.5 cm gun and used a new KwK L/43 gun in the Ausf. F chassis. the Ausf. G was a full-up production model which also incorporated other changes, such as eliminating the vision ports on the forward sides of the turret. A new double-baffle muzzle brake was introduced soon after production commenced and later the newer KwK L/48 gun was introduced into the production line. Very late models had new design drivers and the driver lost his episcope. Very late production Gs also added the "Schurtzen" plates and thus late Gs appeared very much like the succeeding Ausf. H.
Based on those indicators, the DML kit appears to represent an early production Ausf. G with the new muzzle brake on the KwK L/43 gun and the aforementioned missing vision flaps. All of the rest of the bits have come directly from the Ausf. F2 kit.
As with the Ausf. F2, this kit has a new hull pan which is complete less the stern plates, separate final drives, and much of the surface detail simulates screw or bolt holes; it also has an applique lower glacis plate. Drivers now consist of only four parts; the separate bolts are gone. Bogies are now nine piece affairs without separate tires.
The upper hull consists of a deck and framework with applique sides, front and rear engine intake components and fenders. The muffler has a central tube section and six add-on parts to complete it along with a "slide molded" exhaust pipe.
All ports and hatches are separate parts so they can be posed open. While not present, the hull does come with a rudimentary firewall for the engine compartment, and the various vents and louvers are also posable either open or closed. The bow also comes with a well-done machine gun and ball mount. Note that all ports have clear styrene inserts as well.
The turret is relatively conventional in its parts breakdown, but the KwK 40 is unique. The barrel is nearly complete in regard to length, being trapped between the recoil cylinders at the rear and slid through the armored recoil cover and barrel jacket before having the muzzle brake installed; this is only in styrene, but a metal part could be provided later in an upgrade set. But in this kit the F2 "ball" type muzzle brake is now missing. Other than the gun and a very well done commander's cupola of 18 parts (5 are optional) there is only a minimal interior for the turret, however.
Etched brass is kept to a minimum and only covers items such as the engine air intake louvers, some small brackets, and the flaps for the engine air intakes on the sides of the rear deck.
Tracks are the "Magic Track" snap-together-then-cement type, and modelers are advised to recall that when facing the head card the left side track links are on the left and right are on the right; glad DML simplified that as before I needed a 10x jeweler's loupe to tell which was which!
A total of five finishing options are provided: 6th SS Panzergrenadier Regiment, 1st SS Panzergrenadier Division "LAH", 1943 (red 205, whitewash over what appears to be grey); 1st SS Panzergrenadier Division "LAH", 1943 (red 215, whitewash over what appears to be grey); 3rd SS Panzergrenadier Regiment, 3rd SS Panzergrenadier Division "Totenkopf," Kharkov 1943 (white 332, grey); Panzergrenadier Regiment "Grossdeutschland," Panzergrenadier Division "Grossdeutschland," Russia 1943-1944 (white 702, whitewash); 1st Panzer Division, Greece 1943 (white 714, grey). Decals are again from Cartograf.
Credits include project supervision by Hirohisa Takada, technical drawings by Shin Okada and technical assistance from Tom Cockle, Gary Edmundson, and Notger Schlegtendal.
Overall this continues the "Smart Kit" redo of older DML kits, and as such most modelers will be pleased by the upgrades.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue Breakdown: (all labeled as Pzkw. IV generic)
A 37x2 Drivers, idlers and return rollers
A 81x2 Road wheels and bogies
B 43 Turret base and details, gun breech
C 19 OVM and pioneer tools
C 8 Jack and details
E 35 Hull details and gun barrel
F 15 Commander's cupola
F 8 Spare track links
G 52 Turret and hull ports, smoke grenade launchers
H 57 Engine deck and details
K 2 Fenders
J 2 Hull top and turret top
J 8 Machine guns
L 108 "Magic Track" left side
M 15 clear styrene
R 108 "Magic Track" right side
Y 1 Lower hull pan
Z 1 Twisted metal wire
MA 25 Etched brass
(Originally written on October 7, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Kit No. 7211; Soviet SU-85M Tank Destroyer; 156 parts (138 in grey styrene, 14 etched brass, 2 DS plastic track runs, 2 twisted steel wires); price about US$14.95
Advantages: first new kit of this subject in this scale, very nicely rendered components
Disadvantages: relatively obscure interim vehicle
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all small-scale Soviet armor fans
Following on the heels of the DML SU-100 kit (No. 7208) is this 1/72 effort; the original 1/35 scale pairing of these two was reversed.
The SU-85M is a relatively obscure vehicle, as it was fielded as an interim version between the successful SU-85 and the more powerful SU-100. In December 1943 the GKO decided to move to the more powerful 100mm D-10 gun and ordered that the new weapon be installed in a vehicle to replace the successful D-5 armed SU-85. Prototypes were built and testing was successful. But due to problems with getting the new D-10 into production, instead they converted over to producing the chassis for the new SU-100 but hastily refitted with a new mount for the older 85mm D-5. This vehicle, dubbed SU-85M, went into production from July to September 1944 when supplies of the D-10 began to reach the factory.
The SU-85M used the nearly complete hull of the SU-100 with its commander's station and cupola moved to the right to clear the bigger gun, but with a smaller "ball" mount for the smaller 85mm gun. A total of 315 were built, and they were fielded in tank destroyer units.
The DML kit is essentially that of the SU-100 kit but with a total of four new parts supplied for the 85mm D-5 gun, its mounts, and the rear of the casemate which was not quite the same as the SU-100. This includes the "slide molded" barrel with hollow muzzle.
The basic kit again provides only two sprues – one from the 1/72 scale T-34-85 kit family and a dedicated SU-100 upper hull. The lower hull is a late T-34 hull with separate "beak" edge for the bow and with the now-familiar DML "Slide Molded" wheel sets for their 1/72 scale ‘34s.
About half of the T-34-85 parts are not used, but the rest are the detail bits to complete the model. It comes with a choice of plastic or etched brass grilles for the rear, four new 95 liter spare fuel tanks, and twin tow cables made from twisted steel wire.
Assembly is simpler than the 1/35 scale version as the upper hull and casemate are in one piece, with only a "pulpit" to be added to the right side of the hul l and the hull rear and front plates. Both are, like all DML ‘34 series vehicles, basically appliques over a frame molded onto the hull part.
All hatches except the engine access hatch are separate parts and may be posed either open or closed. The gun barrel is styrene but is "slide molded" with a hollow bore.
Etched brass parts consist of the aforementioned grilles, the internal air louvers for the radiator exhaust grille, and some smaller fittings.
The kit offers three finishing options: Unidentified unit, Eastern Front 1945 (white 119 with "gunsight" insignia on 4BO green); Unidentified unit, Poland 1945 (black 281 on whitewash); and Unidentified unit, Bohemia 1945 (white F2 on 4BO green). The decals are from Cartograf and it is a "targeted" sheet with just those markings on it.
Overall it is a good effort and fills in the "blanks" in the lineup nicely. DML now only needs the early war SU-122 and the original SU-85 to complete the series.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on October 7, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Model Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Kit No. 7305; M4A2 Tarawa;
164 parts (148 in grey styrene, 14 etched brass, 2 DS track runs); price about US$13.98
Advantages: new kit of this version in this scale
Disadvantages: Some engine deck details may be off
Rating: Highly Recommended
Once DML released a Sherman III kit (No. 7288) the choice of a Marine version of the tank (the M4A2) was inevitable, and now this kit has followed on the heels of the 1/35 scale Sherman III and M4A2 Tarawa kit. Some modelers will be disappointed to know that there are no wading trunks included with this kit, and it also is offered only for the 1st Tanks at Tawara with a new decal sheet covering the same six C Company vehicles provided in 1/35 and the one from D Company (which apparently was not at Tarawa with the markings provided.)
The main difference between this kit and the Sherman III variant is a small E sprue with the early "soft cast" transmission cover, some small details, and the "small" hull hatches now with separate viewer inserts.
But unlike the Sherman III, a quick check of photos of the actual vehicles shows these M4A2 tanks were fitted with the pressed/welded road wheels and thus are correct for the USMC versions of the tank. T54 type steel cleat tracks are also included.
The entire hull is new with a 56 degree "small hatch" upper hull, M4A2 deck gratings, and a lower hull with the mounts for the twin exhausts. But the upper hull is missing the radiator filler cap on the "flat" part of the engine decking which was common on the early model M4A2 tanks.
The turret is the "early model" or low-bustle turret with only a commander's split hatch and a choice of mantelets, either the early M34 or modified M34 or an M34A1 wide model. The latter can go in the parts bin but it will take a photo match to see what the specific vehicle you selected has – the narrow early M34 or the "eared" one with protective cover for the coaxial machine gun. Note that there are no slots for either the gunner's sight or the machine in the face of the inner mantelet (part A42.)
The kit offers one basic finishing option (olive green) with any of seven different 1st Tanks vehicles: CONDOR, COBRA, CUDDLES, CHARLIE, CANNONBALL, COLORADO or DESTROYER, of which the latter was a later vehicle. A very nice set of Cartograf decals accompanies the kit.
Overall this kit is a nicer effort than the Sherman III as it includes the correct bits to build it from the start, and does not involve cross-kitting to get the right wheels.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 29 M4 low-bustle turret with M34/M34A1 gun mount
B 41 M4/M4A1 detail components
C 32 M4 pressed/welded road wheel "straight top" VVSS suspension
D 32 M4A2 hull rear, three-piece transmission housing, sand shields
E 12 M4 cast nose, small hatches with separate viewers
G 2 M4A2 56 degree hull
X 2 DS plastic T54 type track
MA 14 Etched brass
(Originally written on October 7, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale "Armor Pro" Series Kit No. 7283; StuG III Ausf. G Early Production; 130 parts (123 in grey styrene, 5 etched brass, 2 DS plastic track runs); price US$13.98
Advantages: totally new kit of this vehicle in this scale brings quality of the "Smart Kit" to a 1/72 scale model
Disadvantages: probably not enough brass or options for some modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German and SP artillery fans
F I R S T L O O K
So far 1/35 scale modelers have been the greatest beneficiaries of the "Smart Kit" upscaling of older DML efforts, but this one is the first that appears to bring that level of quality to the 1/72 scale kit line. Using "slide molding" and other state of the art work it provides a really decent level of detailing to a small scale kit.
All of the crew access hatches are provided as separate parts, but here only the ventilators on the rear deck are provided as separate bits. It provides the "early production" features of the Ausf. G (e.g. the angular gun mantelet/recoil cover) but only a minimal amount of interior detail (the basic gun, recoil mechanism and mounting.)
The running gear is very nicely done with molded detail on both sides of the road wheels (all separate) and the return rollers, while molded in pairs, are "slide molded" to capture the front side details. With the exception of having the front lower glacis molded together with the upper front glacis, it also has a nearly identical hull pan when compared with the 1/35 scale kit.
The fenders are separate as are most of the fender details, and the side radiator air intakes are provided both open with mesh grille brass parts and closed and sealed. The casemate is relatively complete with a pair of artillery binoculars ("rabbit ears") included for the commander. Oddly, while shown on the box art the loader's machine gun and shield are not included. The mounts are present, but knowing DML this will probably come with the "Late Production" version.
The tracks are DML's DS plastic and represent the 40 cm tracks as near as I can determine. As this is a "first look" I cannot vouch for their fit, but DML in the past cuts them a bit long to allow for sag when installed.
Five finishing options are provided: 2nd SS Panzergrenadier Division "Das Reich," Russia 1943 (green over sand); Panzergrenadier Division "Grossdeutschland" Eastern Front 1943 (green over sand); 16th Panzergrenadier Division "RFSS" Italy 1944 (sand overall); 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf" Ukraine 1944 (whitewash over sand); and 1288th SP Gun Regiment, Red Army, Ukraine 1944 (whitewash over sand with "Aleksandr Suvorov" in red). A targeted sheet of Cartograf decals is included.
Overall this will be a popular kit – I'm not sure but the last one I recall was an ESCI pantograph of the original Tamiya 1/35 scale kit from the late 1970s. Good time for a state of the art one!
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue layout:
A 47 StuG III fenders and hull details
B 30 StuG III gun, casemate and hatch details
D 44 StuG III wheels
E 2 DS plastic track runs
J 1 StuG III lower hull pan
MA 5 Etched brass
(Originally written on October 6, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No.6417: "Dragon Expo 07" special kit "Georg Bose" StuG.III Ausf. G Early Production; 705 parts (383 in grey styrene, 288 "Magic Track" links, 23 etched brass, 10 clear styrene, 1 length of twisted steel wire); estimated price US$39.95
Advantages: specific vehicle that can be traced to a specific man on a specific date nice idea; "Smart Kit" virtually untouched from first release
Disadvantages: Due to "Smart Kit" concept likely to be some complaint about shortage of brass or multimedia parts
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for German "Stug" fans and kit collectors
Once a year now Dragon Models has come up with the brilliant idea of collocating with major US and European model shows and holding "Dragon Expo" in which they present seminars on modeling and actual subjects, clinics, and also release both new items and special versions of older kits as "DX" specials. This year DX 07 saw the release of two kits, a US M2A1 halftrack as a 2nd Armored Division special with a 37mm gun mounted in the rear and the StuG III Ausf. G vehicle used by German Leutnant Georg Bose, a Knight's Cross winner in this vehicle.
The kit is essentially the original No. 6320 StuG III Ausf. G Early Production - Smart Kit version but with some minor tweaks, notably a new sheet of etched brass with an improved rear air exhaust grille screen and three new styrene parts, the thickened lower glacis plate and applique plates for the front vertical parts of the casemate. It also includes specific directions for finishing as Lt. Bose's vehicle in winter whitewash and a nicely done specific targeted set of Cartograf decals.
Other than that, it is as noted a verbatim copy of the original kit. The kit comes 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. Modelers should again note the concept of a "Smart Kit" being one which does not NEED a large amount of brass to look good so it eschews it.
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!
Input on this kit was provided by Minoru Igarashi, Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson with specific help from Gordon Wacker.
Overall, this is a nice idea and uses a great kit for its basis. "DX" kits also tend to be one-time-only releases and at good prices, so if you want one and don't feel like dealing with kit collectors in the future I suggest you grab it up now.
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 30 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 3 Bow plate and applique armor
K 144 Magic Track - Left
M 144 Magic Track - Right
Z 1 Twisted steel wire
WC 4 MG34
MA 23 Etched brass
(Originally written on October 6, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6436; Ferdinand Fahrgestelle Nr. 150100; 627 parts (259 in grey styrene, 240 "Magic Track" snap-together links, 100 etched brass, 12 clear styrene, 4 shackles, 4 pins, 3 turned brass, 2 pre-bent brass, 1 turned aluminum barrel, 1 length copper chain, 1 length twisted steel wire); price US $39.95 (Special deal via Dragon USA)
Advantages: "Premium Edition" quality kit with a twist on markings
Disadvantages: possibly focused more on kit collectors due to unique markings and verbatim reissue of a recent kit
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for for all German SP gun and "Tiger" fans AND kit collectors!
For years model aircraft kit manufacturers and after-market decal manufacturers have enjoyed putting out either special releases of kits with fancy or unique markings that simulate a specific aircraft on a specific day with a specific finish. Some of these have been "number X produced by Y factory" such as a 5,000th fighter or bomber. Alas, up until now nobody has done that sort of thing for armor, mostly as it has either been poorly documented or unreported.
DML now is offering their verbatim recent No. 6317 Sd.Kfz. 184 Ferdinand - Premium Edition kit with a very unique finishing option: that of the final chassis produced by Porsche with all sorts of graffiti and good wishes chalked onto the red oxide primer. To that end, the model comes with a relatively large (about 90 x 145 mm) sheet of Cartograf decals that capture all of the chalk inscriptions. This is a nice idea and something other companies should look at; a series of kits with inscriptions such as final approval markings, good wishes from Belgian citizens to American tankers, or similar special finish options could also be done.
Admittedly this is the sixth version of the Elefant/Ferdinand released by DML, and with its unique markings plays more to the kit collector than the modeler. But it does provide the modeler with a new option, and the base kit is not too bad.
The hull still comes in a number of pieces – nine, to be exact: hull with sponsons, rear sides, rear plate and bottom rear of hull, bow plate and glacis, rear backing plate to glacis, glacis with ball mount, engine and forward compartment deck, and casemate. All are nicely detailed but smooth, but now the lower hull and casemate are "slide molded" with more details.
This kit also has a revised suspension, and while each bogie still has nine parts the wheels have been totally redone. The kit comes with the specific early model "Magic Tracks" which are handed, this time calling them "R" and "L" vice other letters, and the way to tell them apart is thethe left links are on the left side of the header card and right links on the right. That promotes waiting until necessary to open the bags or remove them from the card!
The same gun from earlier kits is included, to include a basic mount, recoil cylinders, and guards at the rear of the breech. The gun mount (parts C14 and C15) appears to cement in place, which limits traverse of the weapon once installed, but it would seem from the entirety of the gun mount and its components that it could be left loose to also provide the minimal traverse this big gun had in real life. The mantelet alone comprises five parts, so that the massive bolt heads on the joining plates can be accurately reproduced. (A new turned aluminum barrel and separate muzzle brake are now included so this can replace the kit's two-piece styrene barrel.)
As noted in previous reviews, the model does not come with zimmerit detail embellished on its parts. But in this case, the photos are from the period prior to final finishing and painting so in this case it is not a failing.
A choice of metal or styrene shackles is provided, as well as this time the kit comes with the two tow cables and metal cable for them. The kit also now comes with standard DML German tool sets TA (pioneer tools), TB (jacks and fire extinguishers) and TC (tow cable heads). Also included are the turned aluminum gun barrel and three turned brass 8.8 cm rounds.
Etched brass is not as extensive as some previous iterations but does provide for most brackets, a tool stowage box on the front right side, and "non-skid" tread plate on the exposed parts of the fenders. Oddly enough, while the parts are included there are NO directions as to how to apply it! This is a major boo-boo and one DML needs to correct, as it is highlighted as a special features on the box bottom. The copper chain is for use with the pistol ports, which have separate plugs and may be displayed opened or closed.
Overall this is a nice idea and one which is currently unique. The kit is being offered at a special price, which is also a good idea.
Many thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout
A 39 Ferdinand upper deck and hatch details
B 30 Elefant fenders
C 29 Elefant 8.8 cm gun
E 35x2 Drive wheels and details
F 18x3 Road wheels and suspension parts
G 1 Lower hull pan
H 1 Elefant casemate
L 120 Magic Track left side links
R 120 Magic Track right side links
S 12 clear styrene
T 11 pistol ports and antenna masts
Z 1 length twisted steel wire
MA 86 etched brass
MB 14 etched brass
MC 1 length copper chain
MD 1 turned aluminum barrel
MD 3 turned brass 8.8 cm rounds
MD 2 prebent steel wire
MD 4 metal pins
MD 4 metal towing shackles
TA 6 German OVM
TB 11 German OVM
TC 4 German OVM
a 3 Muzzle brake
(Originally written on September 23, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited (cyber-hobby.com) 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6310; Aufklaerungspanzer 38(t) mit 7.5 cm Kw.K.; 810 parts (480 in grey styrene, 240 "Magic Track" links, 71 etched brass, 19 clear styrene); estimated price US $41-45
Advantages: Interesting little vehicle based on DML's "Smart Kit" and "mix and match" from other kits
Disadvantages: one-off prototype
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all THNP series fans and German modelers
Towards the end of WWII the Germans began an odd sort of standardization as they began to try and get similar performance and capabilities from light vehicles in view of a constantly worsening situation. It appears that reconnaissance vehicles were one of the beneficiaries of this concept, as they went from open turrets with 2 cm guns to open casemates with 7.5 cm short guns. While not giving them great antitank capability, it did permit better fire support for general purpose missions.
Derived from the older Sd.Kfz. 233 close support howitzer, the wheeled version of the scout vehicle fitted in this manner emerged as the Sd.Kfz. 234/3. (The half-tracked versions, the Sd.Kfz. 250/6 and Sd.Kfz. 251/9, were designed to provide close support and not reconnaissance functions.) A tracked vehicle was designed to provide a fully-tracked scout vehicle based on the obsolete Pzkw. 38 (t) Ausf. G chassis. Only a single prototype of the latter was built. It was to provide reconnaissance capability to the Hetzer units as well as the Jagdpanzer 38(d) follow-on variants.
Dragon has now produced a model of this little vehicle with the participation of its cyber-hobby.com affiliate. Based on their excellent Pzkw. 38(t) Ausf. G "Smart Kit," it plays "mix and match" with some of the parts of that kit. 85 parts have been dropped, and another 245 added from other DML offerings with the majority of parts coming from the Sd.Kfz. 234/3 and Pzkw. IV Ausf. B-E kits. A single sprue of dedicated parts for this vehicle, covering its casemate and distinct details, has been added.
As with the previous effort, this kit provides the correct drive wheels with the excellent suspension as well as different springs for the bogie assemblies. Assembly follows the earlier kit and is pretty straightforward. However, the back plate (part B40) is one piece so the access cover cannot be shown open or removed, as in performing maintenance on the engine.
One area in which DML was "dinged" on the Marder III kit was the fenders. I have to say that having sat down with a number of photos of the TNHP tanks and a straightedge most of them seem to have come out of the factory with dead straight fenders. But once in service, whether it is crew use or track slap or something else, the front of the fenders from the center of the vehicle onward appear to take on a slight bend upward from the rear section. It took me a good ten minutes with this kit as I had to take out the fenders and check them but they appear to have a one or two degree up angle molded into them (and are specifically flagged as from DML Kit No. 6396, so would bet more kits will be forthcoming). However, the mounting flanges for the fenders on the sides of the hull are arrow straight so no idea how this will work on the model. But since the one photo apparently readily available shows the vehicle sans tracks, there is no way of saying how they actually mounted on this variant.
Tracks are the DML "Magic Track" links, which are identical so do not have to be "handed" as with other kits. These even have casting data molded into them, but in my case it took a 10x jeweler's loupe to confirm it!
The forward part of the interior is pretty much complete as near as can be seen, and as it has an open top will not need an "IPMS Death Ray" (penlight) to see most of the central bits. The engine compartment is pretty much ignored and few of those parts are used; also the engine itself is now gone.
As it was a prototype, only one finishing option is provided, and that is basic armor yellow overall. No decals are provided.
Overall, DML has done a good job of a one-off prototype. But as it was a one-off, perhaps when they do these in the future they should consider fans of what is called (happily or derisively, depending on point of view!) "Panzer ‘46" modeling and provide some suggested paint schemes and generic markings for very late war vehicles.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue Layout:
A 70 Pzkw. 38(t) wheels and suspension
B 70 Pzkw. 38(t) Ausf. G fenders and hull components
D 59 Pzkw. 38(t) interior and transmission components
E 1 Pzkw. 38(t) Hull
g 4 "Star" antenna
H 42 Pzkw. 38(t) Ausg. G alternate details
H 34 Pzkw. 234/3 interior details
J 14 clear styrene vision blocks
J 36 Pzkw. 234/3 7.5 cm gun details and ammunition
K 18 Pzkw. 38(t) OVM
L 19 Pzkw. IV Ausf. B-E L/24 gun details
P 17 Engine and accessories
T 17 Aufklaerungspanzer 38(t) casemate and details
Y 240 Magic Track
GA 64 German Gear A sprue (helmets, canteens, bayonets, mess kits, gas masks)
WC 29 German Weapons C MG-34 and detail parts
MA 59 etched brass
MB 12 etched brass
(Originally written on September 15, 2007)
Kit Review: Hasegawa 1/48 Scale Aircraft in Action Series Kit Number X48-11 (36011); FOLLOW ME Jeep Willys MB; 71 parts (66 in olive drab styrene, 4 clear styrene, 1 length of brass wire); retail price US $23.00
Advantages: provides a nice airfield diorama accessory for 1/48 aircraft or a suitable Jeep for use with 1/48 armored vehicles
Disadvantages: vastly overpriced for value received; decals not a great idea for "Follow me" color option, as is having the vehicle molded in olive drab
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: to 1/48 scale aircraft modelers and any armor modeler who REALLY wants a Jeep in this scale now
The ubiquitous Willys MB was probably the most popular US-built vehicle of WWII, nosing out the GMC CCKW series or the Studebaker US6 series trucks with just about everybody. Light, nimble, fast and useful, it found all sorts of applications. The USAAF used them for just about everything as well, from simple transports to air-ground liaison with forward air controllers and even airfield management vehicles, painted in bright colors for safety and generally fitted with large signs saying "FOLLOW ME" to guide aircraft to and from their parking areas.
There have been a few kitted over the years in both 1/72 and 1/48 scale, but this one from Hasegawa is a brand-new effort and is designed to compliment their airfield accessory line of figures, vehicles, and modern missiles and ordnance. As it comes, the kit provides a Jeep with an optional canvas top, console with ground-to-air radio set, three figures (two crew and one pilot), and decals and markings for three different vehicles. The primary option is for a red and white "FOLLOW ME" vehicle fitted with the radio set.
So far, so good. The Jeep itself is not bad, coming with even a three-piece engine and hood which can be position either open or closed, separate springs and shocks, a complete exhaust system, and all interior controls less foot pedals. The figures have separate arms and two have separate heads, giving some options on posing them. Both of the ground figures have the baseball caps, and the pilot has a WWII helmet and goggles vice soft cap or other headergear.
But.
The design of the kit appears based on the old Tamiya jeep kit from 1973, which was not bad, but again, 1973. The current kit is much more accurate and better, and as a point of fact will probably be the pantograph stand-in for a promised Tamiya kit. The production values for this kit are not high, with the belly riddled with ejector pin marks (at least Hasegawa put them on the bottom of the body) and "soft" details on the body to include the reflectors and hand holds. No tools are provided, and while the brackets are also missing, at least Hasegawa did not mold them to the body.
I checked my copy of TM 11-227, "Radio Communication Equipment" (April 1944) and the radio set seems to look like many of the home-grown mountings placed in jeeps to carry out air-ground coordination or airfield management, and while nothing specific can be identified it looks to have one HF radio set on the left and one VHF set (like either an SCR-522 or SCR-542 set) on the right. The radio antenna looks about right if a bit short.
While two of the optional finishes are in olive drab, the primary one of red and white check is a hard one to replicate and in this case the modeler will first have to prime the model, paint it white, and then, as the checks are provided as one bit (63 x 80 mm) sheet of decals, cut them to fit and try to get them to set down over the body details. This will be a very tough job and put any decal setting agent to the test. (The decals are red and white, but most modelers know if you put the average decal over a dark color the white is rarely thick enough to be opaque.)
At least Hasegawa, like Tamiya, has first-rate directions. They show the three options for the kit as being a "Follow Me" jeep from Iowa during WWII; 323rd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, 8th US Air Force, England 1943; and a USAF radio jeep in Korea, 1950. (I personally like the latter given the misery of the red-and-white paint job and will probably do this one posed next to a T-6G "Mosquito" in Korea.)
Overall, this kit could have been much better and especially for its very high price. Hasegawa can get away with that for its aircraft, but if aircraft modelers held this kit to the same standard for the price charged it comes up wanting. Had the body of the jeep been prepainted, it could have been worth the price.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakdown:
A 1 Jeep body
B 28 Jeep chassis, engine, suspension
C 19 Wheels, interior details
D 4 Canvas roof
E 3 Ground/air liaison radio set
G 11 crew figures
K 4 Clear styrene
U 1 brass wire
(Originally written on September 13, 2007)
Book Review: "Weapons of War" Series; The WWII Jeep in Canadian Service by Eric Booth; Service Publications, PO Box 333071, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2C 3Y9, 2007; 24 pp. with B&W photos; price CDN $9.95; ISBN 1-894581-34-9 (http://www.servicepub.com)
Advantages: The Canadian view of the ubiquitous Jeep; good look at Canadian vehicles and usage
Disadvantages: Vehicles mentioned in text have no photos or plans
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: For all WWII US and Canadian Jeep fans
Probably the most diehard attempt to take back a name belongs to Daimler-Chrysler, who copyrighted the name "Jeep" and now require it to be trademarked when used on commercial products. But it is an enduring name and one that other than merchandising will never truly be owned. Ford tried to deviate away from it with their "Military Utility Tactical Truck" or MUTT in 1962; nobody ever used that name in service, and it was always a "jeep." Period.
There have been a large number of books written about just about every possible aspect of the Jeep and its life – where the name possibly came from, its lineage, its variants, its use and users, and modifications and its descendants today. But to the best of my knowledge, this is the first book on the CANADIAN use of the little beastie and that alone should make it desirable to Jeep fans.
Written by Eric Booth, a former Canadian soldier and vehicle preservation fan with three Jeeps to his name, this book covers how the Canadian military acquired their first light vehicle – an unsuccessful Chevrolet 4 x 2 8 cwt design – in April 1940 and how their acquisitions, like those of the US and Britain, morphed and expanded over the course of the war. Originally opting for the Ford GP, they found to their dismay it was being dropped in favor of "another vehicle" which emerged as the Ford GPW copy of the Willys MB design. Canada soon found itself with requirements for 1,500 vehicles, but ran into the problem that the US had contracted for all of its production with either the US Army or the British Army, and the Canadian armed forces had to negotiate to get some of the British vehicles. They also later received 22 Ford GPA "Seeps" of which only a few went overseas.
Over the years Canada did receive six lots with a total of 13,800 vehicles; the last 2,800 were rebuilt used American ones. But like all resourceful forces, the Canadians "adopted" other vehicles when actually involved in overseas combat. It was noted that the Canadian units may have two or more jeeps with the same serials and registration numbers, but the goal was to ensure that none of the "twins" appeared next to its sibling at any time! Surprisingly none of the Canadians adopted the traditional US approach to "borrowers" of welding a chain to the body and padlocking it to the steering wheel. (This only works up to a point; I know of units in Vietnam that went searching for unguarded Ford jeeps with spare hoods and a set of "midnight requisition keys" that looked suspiciously like a large pair of bolt cutters. But I digress...)
Even so, the Canadians reckoned they never had enough, and the units in Italy noted they were short 650 jeeps at the end of the war as opposed to their needs. Canada cancelled all further contracts for jeeps on 14 May 1945. Postwar many Canadian jeeps were turned over to fledgling European armies such as Norway, Greece, Belgium, Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands.
The Canadian army has always taken a different attitude to either the American or Commonwealth forces, and as such their vehicles reflect a "third way." Jeeps were no different. One major change was eliminating the right headlight (normally fitting a bridge weight classification disk there, but in a pinch the Canadian snorkel equipment could also be routed through the missing light bezel) and putting a blackout shroud over the left one on many vehicles (US ones had both headlights and a dedicated blackout light on the left front fender.) Many jeeps were fitted with sockets for a Canadian-designed extension rack for three stretchers (similar to the old Italeri model ambulance jeep.) Even the British War Office finally liked the design and "borrowed" it.
The Canadian vehicles were modified to carry the British No. 19 and No. 22 wireless (HF radio) sets, but since the jeep had a 6-volt electrical system they needed modifications to run the radios. This resulted in having to carry two batteries for the radios as none of the jeeps were ever apparently converted to run 12-volt electrical systems.
The Canadians believed in "daisy-chaining" trailers and added trailer towing pintles to their normal 1/4 ton jeep trailers (US provided) and also to a unique 10 cwt single-axle trailer of their own design. The one fault of this book is there are no photos of either one with this fitting nor plans of the 10 cwt, which is a shame as 5,500 were built and used.
Initially the Canadian vehicles were repainted khaki or brown with black "foliage" pattern (called "Mickey Mouse" for its resemblance to a certain famous pair of ears) but from 1943 onward they were left in flat US olive drab; postwar they were repainted gloss green. All were given Canadian Mechanisation Depot (CMD) serial numbers, which for these vehicles had a CM prefix – C for Canada and M for 5 cwt weight class. Numbers were white and stencils were avoided. Airborne vehicles could use blue to reduce visibility.
Originally Canadian jeeps had a four-color British-style roundel on the hood, but after D-D-Day all vehicles except for RCAF liaison vehicles were repainted with the standard "star in a circle" markings. Most also bore "CAUTION - LEFT HAND DRIVE NO SIGNAL" warnings for use in British areas.
Overall a nice book to show what the jeep did in Canadian service.
Thanks to Service Publications for the review copy.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on September 13, 2007)
Book Review: "Weapons of War" Series; The Armoured Autocar in Canadian Service by Cameron Pulisfer; Service Publications, PO Box 333071, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2C 3Y9, 2007; 24 pp. with 1/35 scale plans and B&W photos; price CDN $9.95; ISBN 1-894581-38-7 (http://www.servicepub.com)
Advantages: Unique little book on a very interesting if obscure vehicle to anyone who has never been to the Canadian War Museum, nice plans by Chris Johnson
Disadvantages: Modelers will have to scratchbuild this beastie!
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: For all WWI and US and Canadian wheeled vehicle fans
When I got the change to visit the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa back in 1992, one of the oddest things I found in the main collection was a vehicle that looked for all the world like an armored buckboard with two Vickers machine gun and a Lewis mounted on it. At the time I looked for a signboard and description but couldn't fine one other than something saying it was a WWI armored truck.
Fast forward 15 years, and now Dr. Cameron Pulisfer, who is the historian for the Canadian War Museum, has written another nice little Service Pub "Weapons of War" book that describes this vehicle in great detail. This is an Armoured Autocar 4 x 2 truck purchased by Canada from the United States during the First World War to form the first full-fledged Canadian armored vehicle unit.
When WWI broke out, Canada, like many other countries, decided to use motorized vehicles for war purposes and began to seek out a suitable vehicle for use. The officer responsible for this project, Raymond Brutinel, began to conduct his search for a machine gun carrier. While much in the manner of the US Civil War patriotic citizens funded the odd mechanized unit such as the "Eaton Battery" and the "Borden Battery," Brutinel found what he was looking for at the American Autocar truck company. Autocar had a handy sized truck chassis powered by a two-cylinder "boxer" motor producing 22 HP, which fit under the floor and thus provided a "cab-over-engine" design that made it compact but powerful. In late August 1914 Brutinel signed a contract for eight armored versions of the truck, but in the end Canada received 19 Autocar trucks: eight armored machine gun carriers, five support vehicles, one gasoline and oil carrier, four "roadster" personnel carriers for officers, and an ambulance provided free by the Autocar company.
The trucks had light armor protection which was only capable of stopping conventional bullets at ranges of 60 yards or more (so it was claimed). Folding shields protected the gunners in action, and the vehicles were armed with two Model 1914 Colt .30 caliber machine guns. These guns, modified versions of the famous Model 1895 "potato digger," were ill-suited to their intended purpose and were replaced when the vehicles got to France with Vickers .303 guns.
Designated "Automobile Machine Gun Brigade No. 1" the unit trained until October 1914 and then deployed with the first Canadian contingent. But the unit remained in England for a number of reasons, most likely being that somebody doped out the fact that in the burgeoning trench system just beginning to flower wheeled vehicles were useless. The brigade finally got to France in 1916 and began to provide mobile machine gun support to Canadian forces.
With its two machine guns and an ammunition capacity of 12,000 rounds, the Autocars did eventually provide good service as a "flyaway" response team to deliver extra machine gun support to the infantry in the trenches, deploying nearby and using indirect fire and "beaten zones" to suppress enemy troops. Four of the vehicles were lost in combat and four survived the war, but when the dust settled only one remained long after the war, and Captain (later Major General) F. F. Worthington, the "father" of the Canadian armoured forces that fought in the Second World War, managed to save it for posterity. A photo in the book shows him passing in review in the survivor during one of its last driven performances.
The plans are very nicely done and show the markings of the survivor. Since Service uses color covers, there is a "Photoshop" version of the surviving Autocar on the cover, but unlike many other publications Service does "fess up" inside when describing it.
Overall this a really nice little book about one of those forgotten pages in both American and Canadian history.
Thanks to Clive Law from Service Publications for the review copy.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on September 9, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6356; Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. A Modified Version - Smart Kit; 487 parts (192 "Magic Track" links, 220 in grey styrene, 46 clear styrene, 29 etched brass); price estimated at US $28-31
Advantages: "Smart Kit" concept provides fine details in a nearly all-styrene kit; "Magic Track" will please many modelers...
Disadvantages: ...but track links are quite small and not intended for the multi-thumbed
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all early WWII and German armor fans, plus other venues such as the Spanish Civil War
There are times that model companies get stuck in an "in your face" rut and, while the subjects of choice are sure to please a niche of the market, leave the rest of us stumped. DML came out with a very nice "Smart Kit" early model Pzkw. I Ausf. A a year ago, but it was met with some snitfits by a few modelers due to errors and "it's not as good as the Tristar kit: whinges. Whatever that does to the DML management causes them to strike back and strike hard, and as a result they have now released this kit as "counterbattery" fire against Tristar.
To be sure, they have apparently taken much of the criticism to heart, as this kit shows that it has only two unchanged sprues (main suspension sprue A and upper works/turret sprue C) from the 2006 release and a modified hull pan. The rest of the sprues are either slightly reworked, modified, or new to this version. Most of the new bits are the requisite ones for the interior, turret fittings and engine bay, but the kit also includes new wheels with brass overlays to give the road wheels a "lip" on both sides as per the original. (This technique seems a good idea, and it would have saved one of the worst flaws in the Academy Sheridan kits, but I digress.)
The kit simply adds new bits for those sprues where needed; there was apparently some problem with the glacis access panel to the transmission but a new hatch (B44) is provided.
The interior is relatively complete and includes internal bulkheads, controls, batteries, foot pedals, a brass radio mount, copious amounts of magazines for the machine guns, two breech ends with fittings for the guns, very complex but complete clear view ports and frames, and all hatches and ports on the upper side of the vehicle are optional position bits.
The tracks are again "Magic Track" links, which in this scale would be fine except for the fact that they are smaller than most 1/72 scale track links. This is one area where the use of DS plastic flexible track would probably have been more popular!
Finishing instructions and decals are provided for three different tanks: HQS 6th Panzer Division, Western Front 1939-1940 (grey); 3./Pz.Abt.z.b.V.40, Norway 1940 (grey); and 1st Abt 15th Panzer Regiment, 5th Panzer Division, Sandomierz, Poland 1939 (grey). All are provided with white decals from Cartograf.
Overall, this is a nice kit and is now likely at least as detailed if not better than the competing Tristar kit. But did we really need another Pzkw. I Ausf. A kit?
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakdown
A 34 A wheels and running gear
B 51 A Details - fenders, tools
C 24 A upper hull details
D 27 A upper hull
F 22 A front glacis and details
G 32 A Interior parts
J 37 A turret and interior parts
L 12 A modified suspension parts
R 192 Magic Track links
W 46 Pzkw. I clear
X 1 A lower hull pan
MA 12 etched brass
MB 1 etched brass
MC 16 etched brass rings
(Originally written on September 2, 2007)
Kit Review: Miniart 1/35 Scale Kit No. 35038; T-80 Soviet Light Tank w/Crew; 390 parts (386 in grey styrene, 4 in clear styrene); price US$37.95
Advantages: Only kit of this Soviet tank in this scale; based on very good T-70M kit by Miniart; figures a nice complement with wide application
Disadvantages: suspension a cross between T-70 and T-70M parts
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Soviet and light tank fans
The Soviets practiced the concept of "learn through experience" during the Great Patriotic War (WWII) and one thing they learned the hard way was that tanks with a two-man crew are difficult to fight and unlikely to survive in anything other than scouting missions. The T-70 and T-70M light tanks suffered from this, as the commander had to both service the gun and command the tank. As a result, and based on better combat success (e.g. survival from the point of view of command functions) with the T-26 light tanks, the Soviets began to work on what was dubbed the "big turret" or "two-man turret" version of the T-70M.
Few people today realize how important the T-70s were in the early days of the war, and even at the famous battle of Prokhorovka in 1943 nearly one-third of the Soviet tanks engaged were T-70 and T-70M types. As a result, getting a tank that was likely to be more survivable was an important factor.
The Astrov design bureau at Factory No. 40 in Gor'kiy began serious work on this problem in October 1942, and eventually the prototype designs emerged as "Article 080" which eventually became the T-80 light tank. It took the proven T-70 chassis and added more powerful engines, increased side armor to 25mm, and added a totally new design of two man turret. This turret required increasing the diameter of the turret race from 966mm to 1112 mm, which was the same used by the old cylindrical turrets on the T-26 and BT series tanks. Due to the increased size and weight, the new turret race was firmly attached to the framework over the engine and formed one unit; this meant that the turret had to be removed to access the engines for more than routine servicing.
The turret used a cylindrical base and six-sided welded turret, fitted with an extended mantelet that gave the gun an elevation arc from -6 to +65 degrees (somebody decided it should be able to engage aerial targets along the way.) Each crew member (commander on the right, gunner on the left) had his own access hatch. The tank now had a rate of fire of 8-9 rounds per minute or twice that of the T-70M. Accepted for service in December 1942, the tank ran into immediate problems when the GAZ Factory (No. 40) refused to put it in production as it was strained to the limit with T-70M, BA-64, and trucks and engines. Eventually it was decided the new tank would be built by Factory No. 592 in Mytishchi near Moscow. Production would use parts from Factory No. 40 and hulls and turrets from Factory No. 176 in Kulebaki. By July 1943 the rate of production was expected to reach 150 tanks per month.
As with many Soviet tanks, not so fast. Due to problems the tank did not enter production in those time frames or rates. Even though Factory No. 176 had created 334 tank hull and turret sets for the T-80, production swung back to Factory No. 40 in April 1943. Problems then cropped with an old Soviet problem: "Better is the enemy of good enough." Searches for new hyper-velocity 45mm guns resulted in halts while new long-barreled 45mm guns were tested, as well as plans to use the GMC engines received via Lend-Lease to power the tank. But by that time, the day of the Soviet light tank was over, and in the fall of 1943 production was cancelled. Only 77 series production T-80 tanks were built, all by Factory No. 40. (Production then turned exclusively to the handy and effective SU-76 series SP guns on a modified T-70M chassis.)
The T-80 was arguably the best of the Soviet light tanks, but as with many "bests" it was too little and too late. Miniart has now followed on the heels of their very nice T-70M kits with one of the T-80 and this is an even better effort. As with all of the previous Miniart kits, it also comes with a set of five figures as a bonus, which also makes the pricetag more realistic when viewed in that light.
The T-70M kits suffered from the fact that their turret did not replicate the offcenter gun mantelet used by that tank, but instead used the "official" blueprints which show it to be centered. (Modelers should note that contrary to many claims on the internet this can be fixed within acceptable limits in less than 15 minutes, and I have an article in preparation which shows how to do that. But I digress.) This kit does not have those problems as it has a totally new turret for the T-80 and this one matches the set of plans in the Svirin/Kolomiyets book on the T-70 series tanks perfectly. The three hatches on the turret are all separate parts, as are all of the railings and other details. The gun barrel seems a bit undernourished, but the photos show that the guns used in the T-70s used thinner barrels than the older Model 1932/38 series 20-K guns so this may be correct.
The T-70M tanks (and by default the T-80) increased the size of the track links from 260 mm wide and 97 mm in pitch to 300 mm in width and 111mm in pitch, thus reducing the number of links needed from 91 to 80. The road wheels were beefed up in width from 104 mm to 130 mm, and the torsion bars changed from 34 mm to 36 mm diameter. Brake straps (the Soviets preferred ribbon brakes wrapped around a drum) were widened from 90 mm to 124 mm, and the result was that the tank carried more weight (from 9.2 metric tons to 10 metric tons) and while its mobility went up, its range went down to 250 km on highways. The other visible changes were made during the T-70's production run.
Checking the basic parameters of the kit, the hull has the correct width and the fenders are those for the wider M tracks. Track width is about 8.5mm or 300mm in scale and pitch is about 3.3mm or 115mm, but the wheels are 3 mm wide which is 105mm or in other words the basic T-70 wheel. That's a shame, but on the other hand for most modelers the difference will not be noticeable.
The hull is a one-piece unit with what appears to be what DML calls "slide molding" and is very nicely detailed; the belly has some discrepancies (there is an access panel which is square on the kit and rectangular in the Svirin/Kolomiyets book, for example) but overall detail is good. All screens are molded parts, but Miniart has wisely designed the kit so that they may easily be replaced with etched brass or scratchbuilt parts and they will fit into the model. It also comes with the correct twin muffler arrangement; the armored shrouds over the exhaust pipes are included but the finicky will want to replace them from sheet styrene.
The crew figures with this kit are new, and consist of five figures that correspond to early DML figures with each one consisting of about eight parts (head, torso, two legs and two arms plus cover and pistol holster) plus accessories. One figure is in coveralls and the other four in the standard Soviet uniform of 1942 onward. Two figures (the coverall one with tanker's helmet and one figure in a leather jacket carrying his helmet) are in "mannequin" poses, but the other three would make a good vignette: two officers checking mays and one checking his watch Six color maps are included with the directions for these figures.
There are no decals provided and the only finishing instructions are for a plain 4BO (FS 34102) green tank; this is based on available photos, as while the T-80s did see service there are few if any photos of them in action, as they were parsed out as command vehicles for SU-76 battalions and other staff functions which generally do not rate "in action" photos.
Overall, this kit is a great effort and permits a modeler to build ALL of the Soviet light tanks from the MS-1 to the T-80. (Some from other companies will take more work, however...!)
Cookie Sewell
(NOTE: The best single reference for this vehicle and the T-70 series at the moment is "Frontovaya Illyustratsiya (Frontal Illustrated) T-70 Legkiy Tank," FI No. 5-2006, by Mikhail Sviring and Maksim Kolomiyets, "Strategiya KM" Publishing, Moscow; ISBN 5-901266-01-3.)
Sprue breakdown:
A 41 T-70 hull and turret sprue less turret shell
B 37 T-80 two-man turret and parts
C 42x2 T-70 road suspension parts
D 44x4 T-70M cast track links
E 4 Clear styrene
F 48 Soviet Tank Crew figure set
(Originally written on September 2, 2007)
Kit Review: AFV Club 1/35 scale Kit No. AF35157; M151 Remote Weapon Station; 185 parts (163 in olive styrene, 17 clear styrene, 4 etched brass, 1 vinyl); price US$15.00
Advantages: provides separate RWS mount and accessories for any modern US vehicle mounting this unit; upgrades and fixes kits like the early Trumpeter Stryker kits
Disadvantages: an awful lot of spare parts for the purchase of one small accessory kit
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: For all modern US armor fans
Going to the big world military and arms shows like IDEX, DSEi or AUSA, one is struck rather quickly by the number of protected vehicles now on offer as well as the selection of remote control weaponry for them. AUSA 2006 showed at least a dozen of them with varying weapons and functions, including one with Metalstorm 40mm grenade launchers. But most consist of a single weapons station with one or two lighter weapons, smoke grenade launchers, and collocated sights for control from under armor.
This one, the M151 RWS, is the current standard one used by the US on the Stryker series wheeled armored vehicles. It combines either an M2HB .50 caliber machine gun or a Mark 19 40mm grenade launcher with a fully stabilized mount and sighting station controlled by joystick from inside the vehicle. This is a fairly fast acting system which permits the gunner to remain protected, and at the same time use "pan and zoom" to zero in on miscreant targets and engage them effectively night or day. While the RWS can be mounted on just about any US vehicle, it is currently mounted on members of the Stryker family, assorted uparmored HMMWV vehicles, and can be used with the M1A2 SEP version of the Abrams tank. (Curious to me is why, as that tank specifically changed the old remote control commander's weapon station and cupola for a manual machine gun and increased visibility fixed cupola.)
AFV Club has done this up right, and has now offered this as a separate four-sprue kit spun off from its excellent M1126 version of the Stryker. But as noted in the comments, most of the parts in this kit are superfluous to the RWS and as such can go to the parts bin.
The actual RWS consists of 63 parts which is still a stunning amount for what amounts to a "Ma Deuce on steroids." As with all AFV Club kits, it abounds with RP parts (right puny) so care must be taken with assembly and installation. A vinyl keeper is included so once the RWS is mounted on the vehicle of choice it can still traverse as the actual weapon station does.
Trumpeter produced one for its kit which was quickly noted as missing a great deal of details; such is not the case here, and it includes both the "eyebrow" shield for the TV camera lens cover as well as a mandrel for bending it to the correct shape prior to installation. This RWS can be used to replace the somewhat anemic one on the Trumpeter kit or for any of the Humvee kits on the market as well.
The remaining parts are not a waste of plastic, as they include handy bits like an M4 carbine with "red dot" sight, an M4/M203 combination, four plastic water cans, a complete set of modern US lights (two head and four turnsignal/stoplight pods), and many small handholds and details. The Stryker wheel components are alas unique, but if you have a Trumpeter kit and want to change the wheels with more precision of control (e.g over the step rings in the middle of the wheels) you may prefer these.
The directions are unfortunately printed over a B&W photo on the back of the box and as such are difficult to read without a good strong light. No decals are provided, and finishing consists of color suggestions inside the direction steps.
Overall this is a very nice piece of kit given good treatment, and should be popular with modern American modelers.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakdown:
F 65x2 M1126 Stryker wheels and details, water cans, smoke grenade launchers
G 33 M1126 weapons set and basic mountings
J 17 M1126 clear styrene sprue
M 4 Etched brass
1 1 vinyl keeper
(Originally written on August 24, 2007)
Kit Review: cyber-hobby.com 1/35 Scale Kit No. 20 (Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6419); Pz.Beob.Wg. V Ausf. D; 846 parts (469 in grey styrene, 170 "Magic Track" links, 175 etched brass, 14 clear styrene, 12 etched nickel, 2 turned brass, 2 preformed etched brass, 1 length of copper chain, 1 length of twisted steel cable): retail price (via DragonUSA mail order) US $41.99
Advantages: first kit of this particular variant as a plastic kit; mix and match sprues add to the parts box
Disadvantages: "Boutique" kits have limited distribution
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German and Panther fans
There are always offbeat versions of production vehicles beloved by modelers, and for years one of the most popular derivatives of the Panther tank was the armored observation vehicle variant – "Panzerbeobactungswagen" in German. Built mostly from redundant Ausf. D Panthers, the observation variant was designed as an armored forward artillery observer and fire coordination vehicle. But apparently (at least according to information from Tom Jentz) only one prototype was built and fielded (other numbers say 41, but Tom usually has his numbers correct.)
The vehicle had the gun removed and the mantelet was replaced with one mounting a dummy gun and a ball mount for a machine gun. The now roomy turret was fitted with a map plotting table and extra artillery band radio sets supplied for coordination of fires.
Until today the only way to get a model of this vehicle was to get an early model Panther kit (A or D) and a conversion kit from a company like Chesapeake Model Designs and do it the hard way. Dragon's niche modeling cohort cyber-hobby.com has now released a limited run kit of this vehicle with all of the parts in situ to make one from a kit.
This kit uses mostly the sprue sets from the older A and D kits with some upgrade parts from the "Premium Series" kits, one sprue from the Ausf. G "Smart Kit" and a number of odds and ends from other DML German kits combined with one new sprue of parts specifically for the Beobachtungswagen turret and dummy gun.
As it is a cyber-hobby.com kit and not a "Smart Kit" it comes with a wealth of etched brass and metal parts. The etched brass covers a wealth of extra detail, from the normally expected (in this day at least) grille covers for the engine deck through the skirt brackets, but installation of all of these metal parts is unfortunately once again shown in rather busy drawings next to color photos of the model components after assembly. This is not the best way to do it, as while color photos are fine, it would be better to leave them unpainted so the modeler could see exactly where the parts are supposed to go and not have to guess which are plastic and which are metal from the photo.
The model comes with some nice touches, such a choice of wheel hubs for the drivers and eight specially molded track links with separate guide teeth (all of which are hollow molded, including the "Magic Track") for "wrapping" around the drivers.
The kit comes with many extra parts (such as a complete Ausf. A/D turret, which could be used to make a "Panzerstellung" for the cost of a single kit!) and for once is not priced at ridiculous levels. No turned barrel is provided (the new one is also "slide molded" for a hollow bore) but that should not be a problem.
One finishing scheme is provided – "Unidentified Unit" – in the late war sand yellow color.
Overall, this is another "boutique" kit but a more popular and less obscure one.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 25 D upper hull
B 43 D/A sponson liners and details
B 53 G turret details and cupola
C 1 lower hull
D 43x2 D/A gun and details
E 33 D/A mantelet and back plate
F 11 Beobacthungswagen turret and mantelet
F 10 "Rabbit Ears" periscopic binoculars and tripod
g 4 "Crow's Foot" antenna
H 1 G cast cupola
J 40 D turret
J 8 MG34 ball mount machine gun
K 10 x 4 D road wheels
K 14 German OVM (cable heads, tools
L 14 D/A clear styrene
L 2 Panther antenna
M 3 D/A muzzle brake
N 2 Panther antenna
P 20x2 D/A suspension arms
Q 24x2 D track with separate guide horns
CG 4 German jack
WC 4 MG-34
Magic 170 Magic Track links
MA 159 etched brass
MB 16 etched brass
MC 2 preformed brass
MC 2 turned brass
MC 1 length of copper chain
MD 12 etched nickel
ME 1 length of twisted steel wire
(Originally written on August 21, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7318; AAV7A1 MICLIC; 156 parts (105 in grey styrene, 29 etched brass, 22 DS plastic); price US $13.98
Advantages: Now the mine clearing version the AAV7A1 joins the family; etched brass and optional parts a plus
Disadvantages: DS styrene wheel bushings will make assembly require extra care; no MICLIC "hose" provided!
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: For all USMC and AMTRAC fans as well as modern armor and engineer fans
Hot on the heels of their AAVR7A1 recovery version of the AAV7 family DML now offers the engineer mine clearing variant.
About 30 years ago several countries came to the conclusion that the best way to clear a minefield sewn with non-magnetic mines and other nasty weaponry was simply to blow them up with overpressure. Somebody figured out the best way to do that was with a tube filled with plastic explosive, but the use of items such as Bangalore torpedoes was fraught with danger, and pushing an assembled set in front of an armored vehicle was like trying to move a cooked spaghetti strand in a straight line. The solution was to use a flexible hose filled with plastic explosive and a rocket to drag it out to its full length, at which point the hose would be detonated. Research showed that a strip about 300-400 feet long and 15-30 feet wide could be relatively reliably cleared with this system. The British called theirs Giant Viper, the Soviets built one using a modified 2S1 "Gvozdika" 122mm SP howitzer chassis, and the US fielded the MICLIC (MIne Cleaering LIne Charge.)
There were several versions of this, one using a trailer and one mounted on the roof of the LVTE7 (later AAVP7) amphibious armored personnel carrier. The hose with the explosive stowed inside the dismount team compartment and the rockets and launchers were mounted on a folding bracket on the roof. To use the system, it would pull up to the edge of the minefield, open the top hatches and erect the rocket launchers, and then fire the launcher across the minefield. Three complete 350 foot MICLIC charges were carried inside the hull.
The new model from DML again uses "mix and match" to offer the new variant, and a new "F" sprue with the topside details is included.
Most of the details of these kits have long ago been discussed, such as the options provided for weapons stations and other fittings. The DS styrene tracks are a plus as they can now be cemented down to "sag" correctly, but since the wheels all use a bushing between two halves for assembly it will require care to avoid getting cement on them and getting them out of plumb or having wheels failing to roll (a great advantage in painting the tires!) Note that both the wheels and the tracks are shared with the M2/M3 Bradley kits, which is correct.
As with most recent versions this kit includes the post-1990 upgrades via the "UWS" or upgraded weapons station (40mm grenade launcher and a .50 caliber machine gun in one turret). You may then make a current version or one of the LVTE7A1 variants, but please note that this hull comes with the attachment points for the EAAK add-on armor protection suite and that will have to be removed for the earlier model.
The wave-breaker can be installed either closed (part A3) or deployed (A4), as can the water jet drives (A21/22 open, A23/24 closed). Thanks to "Slide Molding" the headlights are integral with the upper hull; this gives this kit the same technical capabilities as the diecast predecessor.
The new parts provided include the new hatches and frame that go on the roof, the rack and the three rocket launchers for them. Incredulously, DML provides open hatches and NO MICLIC hoses for the wide open and empty interior! This is a serious goof, as it means the model can only be finished off with the MICLIC launcher folded up and the hatches closed.
An etched brass fret is included with bits for the engine gratings as well as the muffler guard and handholds. The RP (right puny) parts include handles and brackets.
No markings are provided. Finishing is in the three-color NATO standard green/black/brown scheme. This is a bit of a shame as the vehicles were used during Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, but nobody seems to have investigated any markings for them.
Overall this kit is disappointing as it does not show the entire MICLIC device and thge modeler will have to do some research to get good info on the loading of the hose and create his own interior to show the vehicle correctly.
Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.
Advantages: another useful variant of the Bego VW kit; includes a number of detail accessories for dioramas
Disadvantages: subtle reuse of older/obsolete figure sets
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German VW fans and dioramists
DML rolls on with their combination DML/cyber-hobby.com/Bego mini-diorama kits that offer different combinations of parts and figures with their yeoman VW kit.
This one combines the Bego molds with "‘39-‘45 Series" figure set 6063, a DAK rest camp with accessories, the figures from "Imperial Series" kit number 9042, and a lot of etched brass bits to come up with a mechanic's version of the vehicle. Ignoring what DML recommends being condemned to the parts bin, this kit comes with no less than eight figures, a dog and a lizard!
The kit provides the complete Bego VW kit as a pre-packaged element with all five major sprues in a bag so they can easily be packed in the kits. It's a nice kit, but as its merits and failings have been discussed in the past I will not dwell on it. Suffice it to say it is pretty decent and most modelers are happy with the kit.
The two generic Bego figures are in normal (European) German uniforms. The other six figures are all in Afrika Korps uniforms and kit (but I wonder how many Rommels one can actually build and use!) The rest camp figures are very relaxed and wear different items, to include a pullover and two different pith helmets. They come with a stove, mess tins, canteens and three different designs of water bottles/water jugs of different sizes. A two-piece puppy and one-piece lizard are included.
The tool boxes and bins are all etched brass, making up most of the new bits in this kit. But the directions are a bit confusing, as they seem to be at cross purposes. The mechanic's vehicle has the back seat replaced with a tool bin and drawers and seemingly having the drawers and front right seat occupy the same place and location at the same time. The box art says this is not so, but the directions are not very clear on this point. The vehicle's rear seat top is replaced by a etched brass lid for access to more of the tool bins.
A number of parts must be cut out or trimmed; fair warning, look for the blue flags in the directions. The saddest part is that once all of the etched brass is folded and installed, there are no tools to display in any of the drawers or cabinets!
The kit states that a new set of generic markings from Cartograf are provided, but only one (Unidentified Unit, of course) vehicle is covered in the finishing directions in DAK Braun (dark yellow).
Overall this kit makes more sense than some from the "boutique" series, and many figure modelers will enjoy fattening up their spares bins. I do wish they had provided some etched or injected tools for the bins though!
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 23 VW body parts (Bego)
B 45 VW top parts and seat details (Bego)
C 15 VW details (Bego)
D 4 VW floorboards (Bego)_
E 23 VW wheels and two figures (Bego)_
E 11 German mess kits and canteens
F 13 German water bottles
G 8 VW clear windshield (Bego)
N 12 Three "Jerry" cans
9042 22 Rommel and driver figures from Imperial kit
6063 33 German Afrika Korps (four figures and a dog) set
MA 14 etched brass
MB 30 etched brass
MC 5 etched brass
MD 6 etched brass
(Originally written on August 10, 2007)
Kit Review: Italeri 1/35th Scale Kit No. 6456; Autoblinda AB 40 Ferroviaria; 197 parts (193 in light brown styrene, 4 black vinyl); price US$45.00
Advantages: another variation on this armored car; track section useful for display (only if on a base)
Disadvantages: no major items noted
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for "railway," armored car and Italian armor fans
One thing nearly every country that used armored cars (less the US, which was not as much of a believer in light reconnaissance as other countries) eventually adapted them for use on railways. This was not too difficult as most railways in Europe used standard gauge (4 feet 8 ½ inches) so as long as the inner track of the vehicle was no more than 1.435 meters the vehicle could easily be fitted with flanged railroad wheels. The vehicles could then be used for useful patrol vehicles along railways, assisting in fire support against partisan activities and other security missions. (The other reason seems to be the loss of a single armored car and a crew of two or three was preferable to a locomotive, crew and several train cars, but I am sure none of the armored car crews were given a choice of that kind of math!)
Italeri has now provided the railway version of its very nice AB 40 armored car kit with flanged railway wheels. These obsolete armored cars were used in Yugoslavia against Tito's partisans first by the Italians and later by the Germans.
Italeri's kit comes with two short sections of rails and ties (no bases, which is actually better as it lets the modeler come up with more realistic roadbed than injection-molded or vacuformed ones) that cleverly and realistically have fish plates joining them together. There is only enough to mount the model, however, and anyone wishing to put the model in a diorama will have to get some DML or Trumpeter 1/35 scale track.
The model comes with four tires and original "highway" wheels, so it does present a number of opportunities to show the model in road condition, changing over, or rail mode. The directions don't quite cover this (e.g. where to put the solid flanged wheels) but it is an option. It also has the essential railway sand bins on the front fenders as well as guards.
The rest of the model is pretty much the previous release of this kit with the twin machine gun turret. The model provides separate hull and engine access hatches as well as separate turret hatches but no interior components. The machine guns (there are four included) come with basic breech detail at least, so with some useful references an interior is possible.
Molding is very sharp and clear, and as is obvious to anyone sampling Italeri's recent fare they are putting heart and soul into their Italian subjects; I just wish it were across-the-board on some of their other efforts.
Finishing options cover a vehicle in Italian service in Yugoslavia (1942) and one in German service (1944). Number plates are provided for the Italian one (RE 375 B) but the German one only sports crosses. The Italian one is in sand and the German one in a tricolor scheme apropos for later in the war.
Overall this is a nice offbeat subject and very well done.
Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakdown:
A 9 Chassis and springs
B 62x2 Wheels, railway track sections, suspension details
C 39 Hull and turret details
D 21 Turret
E 4 Black vinyl tires
(Originally written on August 10, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Model Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Kit No. 7288; Sherman Mk. III; 157 parts (136 in grey styrene, 19 etched brass, 2 DS track runs); price about US$13.98
Advantages: new kit of this version in this scale
Disadvantages: wrong choice of wheels; missing details on engine deck
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: for all "small scale" Shermaholics
DML continues to march on the small scale Shermans with a new kit of the M4A2 (Sherman Mk III). This kit comes with some of the more common features of the British vehicles, such as the T54 type steel cleat tracks, three-piece transmission, and finally a set of sand shields and stowage brackets.
The entire hull is new with a 56 degree "small hatch" upper hull, M4A2 deck gratings, and a lower hull with the mounts for the twin exhausts. But the upper hull is missing the radiator filler cap on the "flat" part of the engine decking which was common on the early model M4A2 tanks.
The turret is the "early model" or low-bustle turret with only a commander's split hatch and a choice of mantelets, either the early M34 or modified M34 or an M34A1 wide model. The latter can go in the parts bin but it will take a photo match to see what the specific vehicle you selected has – the narrow early M34 or the "eared" one with protective cover for the coaxial machine gun. Note that there are no slots for either the gunner's sight or the machine in the face of the inner mantelet (part A42.)
The biggest problem with the kit is the fact that it simply reuses their normally excellent Sherman suspension. But while quite accurate as an M4 suspension, most of the M4A2 tanks (especially the Sherman III) were built with the five-spoke welded wheels and not the "six spoke" pressed steel/welded wheels. Note that they did use the pressed steel/welded idlers however.
The kit offers three different finishing options: A Sqn the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, Syria 1943 ("The Old Bell"); same unit, Syria 1943 ("Barford St Martin"), or C Sqn the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, Syria 1943 ("Corston"). All are shown in a dark grey/sand camouflage pattern. A very nice set of Cartograf decals accompanies the kit.
Overall it is nice to see that DML has not forgotten the Commonwealth fans, but it is disappointing to make some unfortunate reuse of molds rather than create a separate set of wheels for at least this kit; had they done that many modelers would have been happy to be able to "mix and match" wheels and kits.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 29 M4 low-bustle turret with M34/M34A1 gun mount
B 41 M4/M4A1 detail components
C 32 M4 pressed/welded road wheel "straight top" VVSS suspension
D 32 M4A2 hull rear, three-piece transmission housing, sand shields
Advantages: new, well detailed and very complete kit of this popular vehicle completes the series; complex driveline appears to be fully replicated; includes fighting compartment interior
Disadvantages: side bins and lower hull access doors molded in closed positions; engine bay will be difficult to open up
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: to all German armor and wheeled vehicle fans
F I R S T L O O K
After nearly one year since the last release (the Sd.Kfz. 234/2 "Puma", kit No. 6256) Dragon has now completed their totally new series of Sd.Kfz. 234 heavy armored cars with the "Stroke 3" variant.
As with the first three kits, 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 "Stroke 3" was designed for use as a heavy armored that would at least have sufficient firepower to deal with most unfortunate encounters. But by that stage of the war, and even with the advent of hollow charge ammunition, it was too light to have much effect on enemy forces. Ergo it was quickly replaced in production by the very heavy Sd.Kfz. 234/4 with the long-barreled PaK 40 7.5 cm antitank gun.
As with all of the 234s the "Stroke 3" was fast (80 kph/48 mph), moderately well armed, and had a long range (900 km/560 miles). Armor provided proof against small arms of 7.62mm caliber and shell fragments. Since its Tatra 103 engine was a 12-cylinder air-cooled diesel, it had a major advantage over other nations' armored cars.
Dragon has once again played "mix and match" with this kit, offering some 98 new or replacement parts to convert the kit basic parts to the "Stroke 3;" they have also tweaked some of the other molds from earlier kits. The gun here comes from their recent line of Pzkw. IV tanks (Ausf. B-E) and provides the basics for the gun, with new moldings adapting the L/24 gun to the 234 chassis. A new sprue of clear parts from one of the other recent kits (alas, I forget just which one) provides the periscopic sight as a clear part for the L/24 gun.
Also new to this kit is a set of three "street" tires with sectional tread, using the now optional DML "sandwich" method of assembly to get sufficient tread depth. Six sections are used to create each tire, and these tires can then be used to replace the stock tires that have been used in the other three kits. These are featured on the box art and they offer some variety in the model.
The etched brass has been minimized in this kit, and most of the parts provided are either tie-down fasteners or the centers for the six "jerry" cans. There are no brass parts for the engine access vents.
Once again however the fenders are molded "solid" with four stowage that have their doors closed.
The suspension and interior are beautifully rendered and this version even includes the "jump" seats for the gun crew which can be built as folded up or down. Ammo racks with separate rounds are provided for the interior.
Finishing options are provided for three vehicles: 226. Aufklaerungs Abt., 116th Panzer Division, Normandy 1944 (tricolor patches); "Ulrich von Hutten" Division, Germany 1945 (tricolor patches); Unidentified Unit, Normandy 1944 (sand brown overall). Two Cartograf decal sheets are provided, one targeted and one generic number plates and serial numbers.
This project was supervised by Hirohisa Takada, with technical drawings by Shin Okada and technical help from Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.
Overall this is a great series from DML and now the four vehicles are complete.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 3 234/1 upper hull components
B 66 x 3 234 generic wheels and tires
C 19 234/1 interior details
D 43 x 2 234 suspension components
E 77 234 Generic details - engine/transmission
F 1 234 Generic Lower hull
G 1 234 Generic Running gear spine
H 34 234/3 interior parts and shield
J 36 234/3 gun and ammunition parts
J 10 clear styrene
L 19 Pzkw. IV L/24 gun parts
K 18 234 Generic "highway" tires
W 6x2 Clear styrene
MA 17 Etched Brass
MC 4 Turned brass
TF 10 German Tools (fender poles)
TG 10 German Tools (shovels and fire extinguishers)
TH 14 German lights and jack
TJ 6 German Tools (jack)
WC 8 German Weapons - MG34/MG42 machine guns
(Originally written on August 9, 2007)
Kit Review: Italeri 1/35 scale Kit No. 6460; PAK 97/38 AT Gun with Servants; 111 parts in dark grey styrene; price US$16.00
Advantages: compact kit of an offbeat weapon
Disadvantages: somewhat crude, "mix and match" combination of parts to produce a new kit
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: to all German fans
There are times that exigencies create strange bedfellows, and the tale of the PaK 97/38 is one such story. When the Germans went up against the Soviets in mid 1941 they found to their horror their normal antitank guns – the 3.7 cm PaK 36 and new 5 cm PaK 38 – had little effect on the heavy armor of the big KV and T-34 tanks. Their interim solution was to simply get a bigger gun – in this case strapping 700 obsolete France 75mm Canon Modelle de 1897 barrels onto the carriages of the new PaK 38 gun. They did take precautions, such as adding a muzzle brake and reinforcing bands, but the guns, while moderately successful, were clumsy and not popular, and were relegated to rear area security and the Channel defenses as quickly as possible. (It was much later in the war that "hollow charge" – e.g. HEAT ammunition – was developed; this could have made the gun a success from the start, but that is the way of the world.)
Italeri has now released a kit of this weapon that basically uses three sources to produce a single kit: their nice PaK 38 carriage of a few years back, a new barrel and ammunition, and what appears to be the crew from their PaK 40 of about 30 years ago.
The gun barrel appears to be hurried into production, but on the other hand so was the original. Alas, instead of using the pressed steel wheels from the PaK 38 kit this one provides relatively mediocre late-war "spoke" wheels which look a bit out of place with the pressed steel castoring wheel fitting provided. A new cradle for the 75mm barrel also comes with the conversion, as do eight full rounds and eight casings. The latter are unfortunately not "slide" molded like their Asian competitors and as such will need to be drilled out for realism.
The gun shields do make an effort toward scale thickness, and the main shield is "spaced" to provide a realistic look. The lower shield may be fixed in firing or travel positions, but no instructions cover stowage of the castoring wheel in movement order.
The figures appear to be for late-war SS troops in camouflage smocks, which is sort of unfortunate as most of the action these guns saw was either early in the war in Russia or on D-Day against the Allies. As they appear to be the 30 year old moldings of the PaK 40 crew – which was great when it came out and better than the Tamiya one at the time – they now appear a bit crude and tired in comparison with modern figures. The positions are not bad and with some work and good painting can be turned into a good companion set for this gun.
Box artwork is very good but the box painting directions, as with many recent Italeri efforts, is awful. Use the frontside, NOT the back, for painting hints.
Overall this is a good, not a great, kit, but it is reasonably priced and a good value for the money, and with a bit of work will yield a nice model.
Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakdown:
A 19 PaK 38 gun shield, carriage, details
B 40 PaK 40 gun crew
C 25 PaK 38 lower carriage, trails, steering wheel
D 27 Gun barrel, shield, ammunition, wheels
(Originally written on August 9, 2007)
Kit Review: Italeri 1/35 Scale Kit No. 6458; Bofors AA Gun with servants; 149 parts in olive drab styrene; price US$45.00
Advantages: first kit of this famous weapon in styrene; made to order for detail parts, upgrades and conversions to other nations weapons
Disadvantages: very basic model limits options, some parts not included; crew rather static and simplistic; overpriced for the value received
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: for "Duck Hunters" and dioramists
It is always a surprise to me when totally obscure weapons get kitted whereas some of the most influential ones in history are ignored. Therefore it's no surprise I was amazed that it took nearly 40 years from the beginning of modern 1/35 scale armor kits for a full kit of a 40mm Bofors gun to be offered.
The Bofors 40mm automatic antiaircraft gun is one such weapon which ranks up there with the US M2 (nee M1921) 0.50" caliber machine gun – "Ma Deuce." Designed in 1928, the gun entered production and service with the Swedish military in 1930, but by the beginning of World War II was in service with 18 countries and in production in 11 more, with some unlicensed close copies also made in the USSR. Produced in both 37mm and 40mm calibers,
the Bofors was probably the most widely fielded light antiaircraft gun of the war, and even today serves in further developed models. Using the longer 70 caliber barrel, radar guidance with laser rangefinding, and even "trick" ammunition the 40mm is still lethal to low-flying aircraft, cruise missiles and UAVs. They are still in production today in the PRC.
The US originally was not a user of the Bofors, but its own 37mm gun turned out to be a dud, so the US did adopt the more powerful and reliable Bofors 40mm as the M1 in April 1941. Nearly 35,000 were eventually built and they served on far after the war, as well as provided the basis for conversions of M15 AA halftracks to single 40mm mounts, and the tracked M19 and M42 series AA guns used paired 40mm Bofors guns. A much upgraded version of the twin mount was even fitted to the ill-fated Sergeant York in the early 1980s.
The Bofors is one of those simple yet enduring designs, and is capable of firing up to 120 rounds per minute with a vertical ceiling of 7200 meters in its WWII version. Feed is provided by four-round clips, but the crew size varies based on the user country. It takes a crew of two onboard the mount (pointer and gunner) to operate the weapon as one man controls traverse and the other elevation and firing. Both are equipped with simple fixed format "predictor" sights with rings to suggest lead against the target.
Needless to say, when Italeri released its stunning PT Boat kit many modelers were excited to see a 40mm Bofors gun on the rear mount of the boat and a few hardy souls were even tempted to buy that kit just for the gun assembly. Italeri then announced that it would be releasing a complete Bofors with crew later in 2007, and the kit has now been released.
As Aberdeen recently refurbished their M1 Bofors and returned it to the North Lawn for display, I shot a number of photos of it to compare with this kit. The photos show that Italeri did a pretty good job of getting the basics of the gun right, and apparently most of their research right. The kit and the APG gun mounts do not match, but this appears to be due to Italeri doing an M2 carriage with the early elevation equipment and the APG gun using an M2A1 which used modified elevation gear to get faster on-target performance in tracking. (Hint: if you want to do an M2A1 carriage, use the APG one as a prototype; all of the postwar ones seem to have been upgraded to this version and it is like the APG gun was the prototype.)
There are some nice touches in the kit, such as a case containing a spare barrel and flash hider; like most high volume weapons, these guns tended to get "shot out" very quickly and barrels were frequently changed.
Unlike many recent kits from other companies, Italeri also shows how to set the model in both firing position with jacks down and wheels rotated up (the bogies are fixed to the carriage) and to set up the model in travel mode.
Those are the good points. The model is a bit simplified – case in point being that the entire bottom of the carriage is open – but the good news is that while a lot of small details are missing or skimped on the ones provided appear to be accurate, so it is a case of adding to rather than cutting away and correcting. The model comes with the correct combat wheels and rims and not the early commercial type ones, using the traditional split halves which leave only a minor seam to sand off.
The crew unfortunately uses an old manufacturer's trick of duplication, so you get "twins" for the spotter and gunner and "twin" loaders. They are in basic fatigues which are pretty nondescript and with helmets and canteens; rifles are also provided as extras. Three four-round clips of ammo are provided with the gun; one key part missing is the weather cover for the feed at the rear of the weapon, which was used to keep water and debris out of the feed tracks for the ammunition when the gun was not in use or in travel (the APG gun's cover is welded in place.) This is a simple sheet metal cover with welded on strap handles on either side, but it should have been provided in the kit.
No decals are provided and the finishing instructions are pretty basic – flat olive drab with black tires.
Most of the research on this kit that I used came either from "shooting down" the APG Bofors as it sits today or the excellent 1986 book "The 40mm Bofors Gun" from Terry Gander.
Overall the kit is pretty decent and can be used as the basis for a really nicely done Bofors gun, or the key component into an "M15 Special" or other nations' weapons. But the price is very, very high for value received, and even from the most expensive of the Asian companies a gun and crew would only run about $34. Such a high cost, knowing you will have to get some etched metal or other bits to really make it shine, may defer many potential buyers from the kit.
Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 33 Gun, main carriage components
B 58x2 Wheels, two crew figures, details
(Originally written on August 4, 2007)
Kit Review: Tamiya 1/48 Scale Kit No. 32548: U.S 2 ½ Ton 6 x 6 Cargo Truck; 115 parts (103 in olive drab styrene, 8 screws, 3 clear styrene, 1 diecast metal); price US$29.00
Advantages: nice new kit of this popular vehicle in this scale; wide opportunities for conversiona and use in multiple situations
Disadvantages: diecast metal chassis with screw assembly is problematic for detailing; truck comes in "as delivered" condition; overpriced
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: for all GMC fans as well as both armor and aircraft modelers
Even though better known as an armor modeler, I have admitted a secret passion for Korean War era aircraft and have been collecting them for some time, albeit I have only finished one so far (a Navy F2H-2 Banshee.) But I have both Navy and USAF aircraft as well as the "Unified Air Forces" ones too, and as these need to go on bases I have been seeking useful accessories to set them off on their bases when I get to them. I have several "Monovell" F-84D and F-84G Thunderjets as well as F-80C Shooting Stars and wanted a "Six By" to go with them (converted to the bomb loading version with the modified "A Frame" crane on the back. Now Tamiya has continued its 1/48 scale kit releases with this new version of the GMC CCKW-353 in "quarter inch" and it is a very nice little kit.
One of the best of the recent Tamiya 1/35 scale releases has been their CCKW truck which is a beautiful replica of the CCKW-353 "soft cab" long wheelbase variant of the 2 ½ ton truck. I like that kit and have a couple of them, but I did resent the fact that Tamiya charged $40 for the kit and then an extra $12 for the cargo to fill it up and $10 the rest of the details such as the M49 hip ring with M2 machine gun, cold weather canvas, etc. thus making it a $62 model without any etched brass or resin. Unfortunately, they have continued this philosophy over to this model and it replicates the basic kit with only two "jerry cans" and a driver figure. For nearly $30 they could have at least provided some optional items for this vehicle such as 55 gallon drums or some crates.
The other really dumb thing with this kit is that like many of the other 1/48 kits from Tamiya it comes with a diecast chassis for the model. I have no clue what possessed them to follow this line of reasoning, but it makes assembly of a "clean" model or any modifications (such as a CCKW-352 short wheelbase version) nearly impossible. The chassis is also "filled in" and therefore provides no open spaces in the boxed-in ladder frame. This makes it easier to use the provided screws for assembly at least, but a proper model kit without this feature would not NEED screws for assembly! (I could care less about "heft" or "scale weight" in a model.)
Once past those two gripes the kit is every bit as nice as its big brother, and provides the same basic parts albeit on a smaller and less detailed scale. The troop seats in the rear provide for optional positions (which like many DML kits lately is not called out in the directions; if left down the braces under the seats will need to be added) as does the tail gate. Underbody detail for the cargo body is much cruder however as it has to provide massive mounts for the false frame rails (C1/C2) and screw holes for attachment. No erected canvas is provided and like the 1/35 kit a set of five pre-molded bows are included for mounting in the stowed position on the front of the body frame racks.
Cab detail is on a par with older 1/35 scale kits in that it has all of the lever controls and the wheel but no foot pedals (even absent from the floorboard due to an oversize mount for the steering column.) The driver figure appears to be nice but comes with a helmet and leggings.
The wheels have been cheapened up as only the front wheels have an interior side to them, as the rear wheels are simply stuck together and the spare is likewise missing the backs side. Once again you are limited to the option of "stick it together or give up." The entire driveline is one piece less the springs, and each differential has a massive screw mount attached to it.
The kit comes with two finishing options, both in basic olive drab. One is for a 1st Army truck company, the 3549th, in Normandy 1944; the other is a "Red Ball Express" truck from the 3886th Truck Company, apparently also Normandy 1944.
Overall this kit was a bit disappointing as it is very stripped down and simplistic; Tamiya has done better and I expected this kit to fully match the quality of the 1/35 scale one. But it is the only game in town, and if you only need a "background" item in a diorama it will certainly fit the bill.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakdown:
A 2x31 Wheels, suspension, seats, details
B 19 Driveline, driver, front fenders
C 22 Cab, cargo body
D 3 Clear Styrene
1 Diecast chassis
4 self-tapping cap screws
4 self-tapping countersunk screws
(Originally written on August 3, 2007)
Kit Review: Italeri 1/35 Scale Kit No. 6233; Chevrolet 15 CWT Truck - Limited Edition; 168 parts (155 in olive drab styrene, 10 in black styrene, 3 in clear styrene); price US $35
Advantages: old friend makes a welcome reappearance; molds appear to have been cleaned up a bit
Disadvantages: Expensive kit for value received
Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: For all Commonwealth and softskin fans
Italeri is re-releasing some of their better old favorites that have not been seen for some years as "Limited Editions" this month. This kit is of a WWII Canadian-built Chevrolet 15 CWT 4 x 4 GS truck (even though the directions and box blurb have it as a "4 x 2" it is a 4 x 4.) For anyone not familiar with British-style rating systems the truck is rated as having a capacity of 15 hundredweight in cargo cross country, or about 1,680 pounds (762 kg.) The US Army would simply have called it a 3/4 ton 4 x 4 truck.
Ah, the joys of oft-traveled kit molds and their reappearance. I recall when this kit came out back in 1975 from Peerless Max that it was head and shoulders above many other kits on the market at the time, and actually better in many respects than the Tamiya Ford "Quad" which came out at the same time with their 25 lb Gun set. Over the years the molds have moved around a lot – first to Airfix, then Italeri, then Bilek in Poland and now back to Italeri where they have been cleaned up and show they still produce a very nice kit.
Compared to the first release, the molds as noted look very clean and the kit is relatively free of ejection pin marks. Some are cleverly concealed (such as the one in the center of the "starburst" stiffener pattern on the inside of the doors but some are in truly awful places – two of the five wheel/tire parts have them right on the mold line for the side wall right above the size markings on the tire, so will be nearly impossible to cleanly remove. Most are relatively well designed but the then typical for its day erected tilt has a nasty mold line that runs around the front end, but anyone wanting to use it should be able to clean it up without too much grief. Missing from the kit are "Curley, Larry and Moe" – three rather portly and unimpressive figures that were apparently supposed to represent a Commonwealth solider, an Australian with ANZAC campaign hat, and a Sikh in a turban. No loss.
I recall this kit as being a joy to assemble other than Peerless had a truly nasty mold release agent which took a lot of scrubbing to remove. The latest Italeri version has none of that and the parts are crisp and clean.
The chassis does not come with an engine but has many very nicely done parts to it, and the front wheels may be posed if the modeler is careful about assembly and has some modeling experience. The tie rod ends, shocks and drag links are all separate parts. The leaf springs have a centerline seam and some minor sink marks, but these aren't bad for a 32-year-old kit. Oddly the kit comes with a full radiator, even though the solid grille makes it sort of redundant.
The cab is the Canadian Military Pattern (CMP) No. 13 ("backward slant windshield") type and is nicely done; this feature was shared with two other kits using this basic chassis and produced by Peerless, with one having a full cab and the other a "Quad" type body. The new one is identical to the original and has a false hood, turn signals, mirrors, separate seat brackets and seats, and control levers in the cab; pedals are "molded on" and should be added. Clear windows are provided for the windshield and side vents, but the rear window here has a pass-through panel (part 90B) which appears to be correct. The windows are fixed and will take work or replacement to move if desired, and the screened vents are solid.
The body is a British "GS" (General Service) type or cargo body in American parlance, and comes with four padded seats, three top bows, four stowage bins with separate lids, a spare tire mount and holder, and the aforementioned plastic tilt. The tail gate may be made to work with care as may the spare tire brackets.
Three finishing schemes are included, and what I believe to be new decals (or at least redone ones) are provided for them. One version is Australian Army (the box art for this release) with an early war roundel on the roof listed to be in sand yellow, but oddly enough (and with many recent Italeri kits!) the box art shows it in khaki drab; one is British in a two-tone camouflage scheme of dark green and sand yellow; and one is Canadian Army in dark green and black (not "Mickey Mouse") camouflage. I am not sure on the units but the selections seem far more complete than most Italeri offerings.
Overall this was a nice kit when it came out and it does not appear to be too badly dimmed with age. The price of course is now a lot more, but then again it would seem a good deal over some of the earlier re-pops as it has been cleaned up.
Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 57 Chassis and driveline
B 52 Cab and interior details
C 46 Bed, bows and seats
D 3 Clear styrene
E 10 Wheels and tires (Black)
(Originally written on July 28, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6290; Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. G w/Interior - Smart Kit; 681 parts (319 parts in grey stryene, 240 "Magic Track" links, 113 etched brass, 9 clear styrene); estimated price US $40-45
Advantages: DML's "Smart Kit" line continues with this offering; interior is a nice addition to a good kit; appears easier to assemble than competing kit
Disadvantages: fighting and control compartment interior will be very hard to see
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all THNP series fans and German modelers
DML continues to "do battle" with the very well done Tristar kits by offering a "Smart Kit" version of the Praga-built Pzkw. 38(t) Ausf. G with the added bonus of a full interior.
The DML version is a "Smart Kit" with most of the details molded into the parts using "slide molding techniques" rather than the use of built-up styrene or etched brass parts, and in comparison with the Tristar kit (without interior) it does have more parts to it (568 stryene and 113 brass versus 492 styrene and 51brass) but it should be kept in mind that Tristar has advertised an interior for their kit as well.
The kit follows on the heels of DML's Marder III "Smart Kit" and borrows most of the "below the fenders" sprues from that kit. The new one provides 97 new parts that provide the turret race and upper hull, turret decking, turret, interior and engine parts. Most of the interior parts (e.g. transmission, drive line, control compartment details, etc.) already came with the Marder III kit as they were exposed so the turret interior and engine are about the only major items which needed to be added to the original kit.
The kit provides the correct drive wheels with the excellent suspension as well as different springs for the bogie assemblies. Assembly follows the earlier kit and is pretty straightforward. However, the back plate (part B40) is one piece so the access cover cannot be shown open or removed, as in performing maintenance on the engine.
One area in which DML was "dinged" on the Marder III kit was the fenders. I have to say that having sat down with a number of photos of the TNHP tanks and a straightedge most of them seem to have come out of the factory with dead straight fenders. But once in service, whether it is crew use or track slap or something else, the front of the fenders from the center of the vehicle onward appear to take on a slight bend upward from the rear section. It took me a good ten minutes with this kit as I had to take out the fenders and check them but they appear to have a one or two degree up angle molded into them (and are specifically flagged as from DML Kit No. 6396, so would bet more kits will be forthcoming). However, the mounting flanges for the fenders on the sides of the hull are arrow straight so no idea how this will work on the model.
Tracks are the DML "Magic Track" links, which are identical so do not have to be "handed" as with other kits. These even have casting data molded into them, but in my case it took a 10x jeweler's loupe to confirm it!
The interior is pretty much complete as near as can be seen, but the warning needs to be given that due to the small hatches (commander's and radio operator's) it will be very difficult to see the details even with an "IPMS Death Ray" (penlight). The engine compartment is much more accessible as the hatches may be opened up on the deck cover. However, again DML doesn't bother to indicate that you have optional choices in the directions, a disconcerting flaw that I have encountered more and more frequently. Many modelers will realize this going in, but it is not fun to have to put parts together in one step and then not install them until five or six steps later and then realize you have just sealed up all the details you worked on in between. DML should do more to clear this up and emphasize in their directions where and when you have to make choices.
The details are very nicely done and should be given foreground attention. Both of the machine guns have belts of ammo provided for them and are better done than the ones in the Tristar kit, albeit neither kit seems to have the angled handles seen on preserved guns.
The kit offers six different finishing options backed up with a colorful set of Cartograf decals. The options include: 6/Pz.Rgt. 25, Eastern Front 1941 (grey); 4./Pz.Rgt. 404, 22nd Panzer Division, Russia 1942 (grey); Unidentified unit. Bohemia 1945 (tricolor mottled pattern); Pz.Rgt. 21, 20th Panzer Division, Russia 1942 (grey); 30th Armor Regiment, 1st Field Armored Division, Hungarian Army, Hungary 1942; Slovakian LT-38, Slovak National Uprising, 1944 (sand with Slovak badges).
Overall this is a well-done kit, and the main factor still comes down to the preference of the builder as to whether he wants this kit, which is easier to assemble, or its competitor; both are very nicely done and it is up to the modeler for his preferences, but the interior of this kit permits more detailing for about the same initial cost. With the lack of visibility of the forward two-thirds of the tank and the engine access being the best feature if used well, it also tends to lend itself to "MIG" style depiction of the vehicle as "destroyed" which does at least show off all of those details.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue Layout:
A 70 Pzkw. 38(t) wheels and suspension
B 70 Pzkw. 38(t) Ausf. G fenders and hull components
C 34 Pzkw. 38(t) Turret and Turret Race
D 58 Pzkw. 38(t) interior and transmission components
E 1 Pzkw. 38(t) Hull
F 8 Pzkw. 38(t) Turret Cupola and Interior
F 15x2 Pzkw. 38(t) Turret Ammo Racks and Interior
F 4 x 2 Pzkw. 38(t) Turret Sights and Details
J 9 clear styrene vision blocks
K 18 Pzkw. 38(t) OVM
N 5 cleaning rods and accessories
P 17 Engine and accessories
Y 240 Magic Track
MA 113 etched brass
(Originally written on July 21, 2007)
Kit Review: Academy 1/72 Scale WWII Ground Vehicle Set 7 Kit No. 13409; U. S. Tank Transporter Dragon Wagon; 217 parts in olive drab styrene; price US$27.00
Advantages: first kit of this subject in this scale; parts breakdown offers a myriad of options for finishing the model; can be turned into a show-stopper with some effort
Disadvantages: tires not spot on; some parts (e.g. windows) not provided; directions do not highlight the kit's engineering
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all small-scale US Armor fans (WWII and Korea)
The big tank retrievers that developed during WWII have always fascinated modelers, primarily as were very large and "bitty" – lots of things hanging off them and details tucked into just about every available niche or slot that could be found. The US M25 "Dragon Wagon" with its massive armored M26 tractor and M15 semitrailer was probably the best example of this until the German Faun "Elefant" appeared in the late 1960s.
For many years the only kits available of this beast were the Peerless Max one in nominal 1/35 scale and the ROCO one in HO, both of which basically came out in the 1960s. About ten years ago, Tamiya came out with a totally "in your face" kit of the Dragon Wagon in 1/35 which while not cheap was a stunning example of the kit-maker's art and found a lot of homes with modelers.
Academy continues its nice new series on what it calls "Ground Vehicle Sets" (apparently in an attempt to convert aircraft modelers in 1/72 to armored vehicles – the armor modelers are the "faithful" here and need no converting!) with a very well done kit of the Dragon Wagon. It provides the standard version – the armored M26 cab and not the later M26A1 "soft" cab – with the M15 semitrailer.
Unlike the other sets this one just provides the Dragon Wagon – no other vehicles or accessories come in the kit, but on the other hand in 1/72 this is a BIG model. But as it is 1/72, modelers should not expect to see the same level of detail that Tamiya used to set the standard.
The model is well laid out and as noted above the kit is better engineered than the directions would have you to believe. All of the doors and armored panels on the cab are separate and may be posed, but be advised there are ejection pin marks on the inner faces of the panels. Unlike the big kit, the cab of this one comes in four parts and not one. The interior provides seats, several of the lever controls, and other details. Serious modelers will find plenty of room to add detail though as this cab is roomy and as noted can be opened up. The cab has a number of separate parts to include tow bars and a hip ring for the machine gun. A single-piece M2HB and a separate ammo can complete the cab roof details.
The chassis consists of a backbone frame with add-on frame extenders and all of the primary and auxiliary winch details. Drive details are well done, but for some reason Academy made the tires far too square-shouldered and these will need some sanding to get the right rounded shape to them. The winches are nicely detailed and the only part which is greatly simplified is the "strongback" assembly (here part A6) which could be erected on the Tamiya kit for towing or using the tractor as a wrecker. A6 is a single part with the "strongback" folded down into stowed position around the fifth wheel.
The trailer is simplified compared to the Tamiya one and as noted Academy does not even bother to point out options such as having the ramps (C42/C43) up or down, showing just the "up" position. Ditto the "landing gear" (Parts D21, C49 and C50) which is also only shown retracted; however this will take more work to install in the "down" position. Also shown in the "up" position are the rear wheel guards (parts C33-C41, D11) which are stowed on the gooseneck of the trailer.
The model comes with three different finishing options, all in olive drab: all are listed as "unknown" and two are for France 1944 and one is 1994 – no clue if it is a restored vehicle or not. The second one clearly shows markings for "465-O EVAC 11" which should be the 465th Ordnance Battalion, which would be a higher echelon unit and not a divisional one.
Overall Academy has provided a sound basis for an outstanding model, and I am sure that Eduard will continue its dovetailing to provide a good set of brass for this kit to really bring out its nicer features.
Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 7 Main cab and trailer components
B 50 Tractor chassis, winch and axle components
C 62 Cab interior, trailer details, machine gun mount
D 49x2 Wheels and trailer axle components
(Originally written on July 21, 2007)
Kit Review: Italeri 1/35 Scale Kit No. 5605; S.L.C. 200 "Maiale"; 68 parts (47 parts in grey styrene, 20 etched brass, 1 sheet of clear styrene), one 36-page book, one box art reproduction on heavy card stock; price US$33.00
Advantages: a kit of probably the most successful "midget submarine" of WWII; figures give a museum-like presentation to the model; book very useful to understand the purpose and function of the vessel
Disadvantages: seemingly very expensive for a small model (about 17 cm long when finished)
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: to 1/35 scale ship and naval item modelers and dioramists as well as anyone wanting to do a totally different subject
The Second World War saw a new class of weapon introduced – midget submarines, which came in different varieties based on national views of the weapon. The British, Japanese and Germans saw them basically as miniaturized versions of the larger vessels with crews of two to about six men and some way to deliver their payloads by either drop charges or actual torpedoes. While all were tried, only the British and Japanese ones had any effect but for the most part it was minimal.
The Italians had a different approach, basically using a vessel which was a cross between a torpedo with human guidance and what is termed today a "swimmer delivery vehicle."
According to the very handy and useful booklet provided with this kit, in 1935 the Italians began seeking a way to clandestinely attack enemy shipping using what they termed a ‘siluro a lenta corsa" or "slow running torpedo" - the S.L.C. for short or "Maiale" (pig) to sum up its handling qualities. Armed with a standard 230 kilogram 533mm torpedo warhead, the S.L.C. was used to manually bring a warhead next to its victim at a very slow speed while the victim was moored. The crew of two was responsible for attaching the warhead underneath the keel of the victim and setting the timers, and then leaving the area.
The S.L.C. was carried Japanese-style on the back of a "mother" submarine and released when close enough to reach its target on its own. The concept was successful and during the war (through 1943 for Italy) three warships and twelve merchantmen were attacked and either sunk or damaged, including HMS Valiant and HMS Queen Elizabeth. Since only about 50 were built, this is a remarkable achievement.
Equally remarkable is the fact that the crew did not have modern-style SCUBA tanks and had to use a rebreather device. These were less sophisticated than SCUBA in some ways, but did have the advantage that they left no trail of air bubbles to give away the swimmers.
I recall seeing a movie about these vessels as a kid in which the heroes - the S.L.C. swimmers – attacked the two British battleships and were being interrogated on board one of them when the warhead detonated. Since I think it was a British film, obviously they were impressed by the courage of the Italians for pulling this off.
Italeri's new kit follows several of their recent armored vehicles as it is an effort focused more on the "home market" and as such seems to be about two notches above many other recent Italeri kit efforts. The inclusion of not only etched brass, figures and a "frameable" artwork print but also a book on its subject is unique for them and a very impressive way to present the model.
Based on the research carried out to produce the booklet, the kit may be used to produce either a single-warhead "standard" model or a later double -warhead version; a set of extension parts is provided to increase the length of the S.L.C. The warheads are interchangeable so no cutting is involved.
The kit is actually quite simple and even comes with a five-piece display stand/rack for the S.L.C. when complete. This appears somewhat conjectural as an actual dolly is shown in the book and perhaps the kit would have been a bit better off to provide the dolly and a second of handling track for the actual S.L.C. If you don't want to do that, just leave the nameplate off the stand.
The kit consists of very simple components – the torpedo hull, the seats and controls, and the air cables for pressure adjustment. The instrument faces are provided by decals and there is a section of clear styrene to create the waterproof covering for the instrument panel with an etched brass frame.
Most of the rest of the assembly is pretty straightforward - seats, combings, component boxes - but the propeller will take care and forethought. The propeller and most of the other elements are etched brass and very tricky to fit. For example, in order to ensure that the crew does not do an "Isadora Duncan" there is a very sophisticated guard around the propeller blades, which Italeri provides as a single piece. It consists of a ring and four truncated cone sections which have to all fit together, so it will take care and skill.
Also requiring some care are the four stirrup assemblies for the swimmers which are also all etched brass.
The crew figures are quite nice but a bit statically posed, sort of like museum mannequins. This appears to be due to the fact that Italeri has done them up to show the use of their Modello 49/bis rebreather suits. One has the suit on and the helmet off and the other is fully suited for action. The first man has his helmet in his arms and only requires the helmet (attached to his left arm) and oxygen tanks to be attached. The other one has his helmet in place and requires his fitment hose and tanks (with the man's right hand molded to the tank valve) to be cemented in place.
A small decal sheet provides for the instruments and limited tactical markings. Painting directions are slim but then again the color "black" seems to be the main one used for the basic reason that stealth at night was the goal. The only thing not provided is thin wire or thread for the control cables running to the rudder/elevating planes controls.
Overall this is a very impressive (if expensive) kit and a super achievement for Italeri.
Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on July 18, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7319; AAVR7A1 Assault Amphibian Vehicle, Recovery; 186 parts (133 in grey styrene, 31 etched brass, 22 DS plastic); price US $13.98
Advantages: Now the recovery version of the AAV7A1 joins the family; etched brass and optional parts a plus
Disadvantages: Boom crane only a dummy; DS styrene wheel bushings will make assembly require extra care; nice, big hatches open up on...nothing!
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: For all USMC and AMTRAC fans as well as modern armor buffs
After a year's silence DML has now released another member in the USMC's AAV7 family, the recovery variant. Of all of the variants, the engineer and recovery versions have always been the most interesting as they have a number of external fitting which liven up the basically barn-shaped hull of the vehicle.
DML again based this kit on their AAVP7A1 RAM/RS kit (No. 7237) and EAAK kits (No. 7233) and once more added one new sprue of parts. The kit retains the EAAK applique in two sections, one for each side of the hull, but they are relatively thin and look to be in scale once installed. All of the external fittings such as antenna base units (matching units) and guards are provided as well.
The DS styrene tracks are a plus as they can now be cemented down to "sag" correctly, but since the wheels all use a bushing between two halves for assembly it will require care to avoid getting cement on them and getting them out of plumb or having wheels failing to roll (a great advantage in painting the tires!) Note that both the wheels and the tracks are shared with the M2/M3 Bradley kits, which is correct.
While this kit includes the post- 1990 upgrades via the "UWS" or upgraded weapons station (40mm grenade launcher and a .50 caliber machine gun in one turret) the recovery version does not mount them. (The term "buoyancy" comes to mind about why the vehicle is unarmed.)
The wave-breaker can be installed either closed (part A3) or deployed (A4), as can the water jet drives (A21/22 open, A23/24 closed). Thanks to "Slide Molding" the headlights are integral with the upper hull; this gives this kit the same technical capabilities as the diecast predecessor.
The new parts include a boom, winch, side pannier, and cupola for the boom operator (which goes where the gunner's weapon station used to go.) The crane looks to be accurate, but is inoperable and as such, while it can be posed, cannot be extended. Considering that companies such as Kibri can make these parts in 1/87th Scale (HO) operable and in scale, I was a bit surprised to see this one is basically a dummy.
An etched brass fret is included with bits for the engine gratings as well as the muffler guard and handholds. The RP (right puny) parts include handles and brackets.
Markings are provided for one vehicle: Unidentified, USMC, Iraq, 2006, and it is in the three-color NATO standard green/black/brown scheme without the EAAK kit. This is a bit of s shame as the kit provides a number of options but for that the modeler is on his own.
Overall this kit does provide for the recovery variant, and hopefully DML will also do the engineer versions.
Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 45 AAV7A1 turrets and details
B 40 M2/M3 wheels and drivers
C 2 AAVP7A1 hull
D 29 AAVP7A1 applique armor and details
E 22 DS plastic (M2/M3) tracks and keepers
E 17 AAVR7A1 boom and parts
MA 31 Etched brass
(Originally written on July 18, 2007)
Kit Review: cyber-hobby.com 1/35 Scale Kit No. 19 (Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6398); Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. F1 "Vorpanzer" - Smart Kit; 793 parts (531 parts in grey styrene, 216 "Magic Track" Links, 30 etched brass, 15 clear styrene, 1 twisted steel wire); estimated price US$45
Advantages: the "other shoe" drops with a nice companion to the Ausf. F2; subtle changes in the sprues; includes parts for desert variant
Disadvantages: probably not enough etched brass or mixed media parts to suit some modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German armor fans
Following closely on the heels of the excellent DML Pzkw. IV Ausf. F2 "Smart Kit" is this effort from cyber-hobby.com which provides a "boutique" version of the Ausf. F1 with the short L/24 gun.
DML itself last produced a Pzkw. IV Ausf. F1 back in 1997 (1/35 Scale Imperial Series No. 9044; DAK Pzkw. IV Ausf. F1; 694 parts (574 in grey stryene, 210 in steel colored styrene, 10 photo etched)) which was a totally different kit derived from Gunze Sangyo molds. Many modelers hoped for an F1 when the new F2 kit was released in March 2007 and now cyber-hobby.com has honored their wishes.
This kit is basically the excellent F2 kit with the exception of some "sprue roulette" changes to the original kit. The kit boasts modified B, D and K sprues covering 58 parts and also has new L (the L/24 gun assembly) and T (the "Vorpanzer" applique armor array, taken from the Pzkw. IV Ausf. E "Vorpanzer" kit) parts along with two new frets of etched brass for a total of 49 new parts made just for this kit.
As I previously noted, this kit has a new hull pan which is complete less the stern plates, separate final drives, and much of the surface detail simulates screw or bolt holes; it also has an applique lower glacis plate. Drivers now consist of only four parts; the separate bolts are gone. Bogies are now nine piece affairs without separate tires.
The upper hull consists of a deck and framework with applique sides, front and rear engine intake components and fenders. The muffler has a central tube section and six add-on parts to complete it along with a "slide molded" exhaust pipe. This kit does provide both the "solid" engine deck access hatches as well as the "louvered" desert ones, which is a bit odd as only a single finishing option is provided.
All ports and hatches are separate parts so they can be posed open. While not detailed the hull does come with a rudimentary firewall for the engine compartment, and the various vents and louvers are also posable either open or closed. The bow also comes with a well-done machine gun and ball mount. Note that all ports have clear styrene inserts as well.
The turret is relatively conventional in its parts breakdown. The new version only uses the KwK L/24 gun so the options that are provided for the KwK L/43 gun go to the spares box. Other than the gun and a very well done commander's cupola of 18 parts (5 are optional) there is only a minimal interior for the turret.
Oddly enough for a cyber-hobby.com "boutique" kit this one nearly has less brass than the Ausf. F2 kit did. Etched brass is kept to a minimum and only covers items such as the engine air intake louvers, some small brackets, and the flaps for the engine air intakes on the sides of the rear deck.
Tracks are the "Magic Track" snap-together-then-cement type, and modelers are advised to recall that when facing the head card the left side track links are on the left and right are on the right; glad DML simplified that as before I needed a 10x jeweler's loupe to tell which was which!
A tiny sheet of targeted Cartograf decals is provided along with but ONE finishing options: Unidentified unit, 1942. This tank is in overall grey (the directions state "field grey" but from what I recall that was a grey-green color and not a vehicle color) with the name "Hansi" on the lower glacis plate. The model does not come in any of the DAK or other options, which considering there were more than 450 built is something of a shame. Perhaps DML is planning to release the "straight" F1 as a separate kit.
I have one work of explanation to post with this review, and that is the use of the term "Panzerbraun." I don't coin terms in German, and as a point of fact got that one several years ago from noted German armor researcher Tom Jentz. He used it to differentiate between what he called "Panzerbraun" which was the standard sand color used for German armored vehicles from the factories and "DAK Braun" which was the desert color. Having seen the one alleged pristine vehicle in DAK paint – the APG Demag 1-ton halftrack captured in 1943 – it is more of a "Gulden's Mustard" color than the colors I often see at shows. Thankfully in some respects this model doesn't offer either color as an option, so that is probably better for my sake!
Unlike other cyber-hobby.com kits this one has "parents" — credit is given to project supervision by Hirohisa Takada, technical drawings by Shin Okada and technical assistance from Tom Cockle, Gary Edmundson, Notger Schlegtendal, and Thomas Anderson. With these gentlemen providing input I believe them when they call the vehicle "unidentified!"
Overall this appears another short-run "boutique" kit from cyber-hobby.com but hopefull DML will give it "legs" – and more finishing options.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue Breakdown (all labeled as Pzkw. IV generic)
A 37x2 Drivers, idlers and return rollers
A 81x2 Road wheels and bogies
B 28 Turret base and details, gun breech
C 19 OVM and pioneer tools
C 8 Jack and details
D 27 Hull and turret details (desert variant)
E 27 Hull details and gun barrel
F 16 Commander's cupola
F 8 Spare track links
G 52 Turret and hull ports, smoke grenade launchers
H 57 Engine deck and details
K 3 Fenders and upper glacis plate
J 2 Hull top and turret top
J 8 Machine guns
L 19 L/24 gun and parts
L 108 "Magic Track" left side
M 15 clear styrene
R 108 "Magic Track" right side
T 20 "Vorpanzer" armor array
Y 1 Lower hull pan
Z 1 Twisted metal wire
MA 15 Etched brass
MB 15 Etched brass
(Originally written on July 11, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale Modern AFV Series Kit No. 3536; M1A2 SEP;
817 parts (669 in grey styrene, 98 etched brass, 40 clear styrene, 3 prebent metal parts, 2 DS plastic track runs, 2 prebent brass wire, 1 turned aluminum barrel, 1 spring, 1 twisted steel cable); price about US$45.00
Advantages: provides for the other major Abrams variant in US Army service; more options for building the kit; replaces "Magic Track" with DS track runs
Disadvantages: requires guide teeth to be installed on DS track runs
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all modern US armor fans
There are currently two variants of the Abrams tank in mainline US Army service; the M1A1 AIM (Abrams Integrated Management), which is being carried out as tanks are rebuilt; and the M1A2 SEP (Service Enhancement Program) which is the current main version of the tank being built "new." "New" is relative as many M1A2 tanks started life as M1 or IP M1 tanks 20 years ago and are being totally rebuilt from the ground up as M1A2 SEP tanks.
The main differences are that the SEP comes from the factory as a fully digitalized tank with many new features, such as automated GPS, IFF, Battle Command Information System (BCIS), automated internal climate control, and more automatic diagnostic features and self-repair modules to ensure the tank remains functional even after taking direct hits from high kinetic energy weapons. The AIM is a rebuilt M1A1 that is being brought up to digital standards and has many of the features found on the M1A2 series tanks retrofitted to it.
With the release of this kit, the only options that are not yet available in plastic for modelers are the TUSK tanks – TUSK standing for Tank Urban Survival Kit, which is a package most notable for its use of reactive armor modules on the most vulnerable parts of the tank to damage from RPGs or ATGMs.
DML has been the best of the companies modeling the M1 series tanks, but in the early days its kits were noted for the highest level of accuracy but the most finicky construction, including a bustle rack which was nearly impossible to cleanly assemble due to its molding. But with the outstanding M1 Panther II mine clearing vehicle (#3534, released May 2005) and their M1A1 AIM (#3535, released August 2006), they have corrected those problems and created a great family of kits covering the Abrams. Note that this kit bears no relationship other than its subject material to the original DML M1A2 kit (#3524) which had numerous turret and hull errors.
This kit shares many of its basic sprues with the AIM kit but in many cases the molds have been cleaned up and enhanced, and the fact that the kit has nearly 100 more parts says much for the differences. Approximately 370 parts are carried over with or without modifications and 310 are new or modified. The biggest single change in this kit is the replacement of the "Magic Track" single link tracks with two tan DS plastic track runs with separate guide teeth, similar to the concept used with the "Easy 8" suspension Sherman kits. While some modelers will squawk about having to attach the teeth, they are relatively easy as the tracks take normal plastic cements. The packaging is unique: since the tracks are way too long to fit in the box if packed flat, and complains about tracks in other kits having unwanted curves or damage set by packing them loose in the box, the ones in this kit are packed separately but folded over on themselves. To ensure there is no sharp bend, a styrene roller is provided at the flop point to ensure that the track stays flat and useable.
Note that one source indicates the tracks are a bit too long; the good news is that there are three overlap links for assembly, and that one or two can be removed and still permit a good tight joint thanks to the DS plastic makeup of the tracks.
The kit also sports some nice touches. As with the AIM, the lower hull with sponson floors is "slide molded: with even the lower brackets molded with the holes opened up in them. The suspension matches late model Abrams vehicles, with no "safety" rins for the drivers but the parts normally missed (such as V28, the mud scraper) included. The front idler and first road wheel station are interconnected to set track tension, but here consist of a five part assembly vice one part or simply molded in place axles. Once again there are some are holes to open up as you go, and DML calls them out in Step 3.
The upper hull and turret shell come with no-slip tread molded in, and while a bit heavy for some modelers is going to be fine for most people; a light wash and drybrushing will bring out the texture. Also all of the weld beads are included (raised, not trenches) and there are etched grilles for the air intakes on the engine deck. Note there are two different driver's hatches, one with a reinforced lip and one without.
The rear plate of this model is a masterpiece of molding, as it comes with 20 parts whereas the 25 year old Tamiya hull has but one. Grilles are "see-through" and as noted may be posed open or closed. All of the major panels are loose, so you have a choice of either cementing them in place or opening the tank wide for an aftermarket engine/transmission power pack. Note there are some small mistakes in the directions and a very small sheet with two corrections on it is provided.
The Chobam armor side plates come with a choice of open or closed panels, as well as etched brass top trim strips and accurate internal braces.
The turret is excellent, but retains the silly spring for "realistic recoil" that is pretty much a waste of time. The M256 gun barrel comes in seven styrene parts but it is the only realistic way to get the right shapes and details on it. It assembles in the same manner as the real one, with the bore evacuator slipped over the barrel and a "slide molded" muzzle reference system cap cemented on the end of either barrel. A complete new commander's manual control weapons station is included with the larger view blocks in clear styrene and a completely new commander's independent thermal viewer (CITV, the "top hat" device on the left side of the turret).
Side bins may be opened or closed, as can the extra smoke grenade stowage bins. The rails and bustle rack were the main complaints with the old kits, being nearly impossible to clean up and assemble; this kit retains the AIM one of three assemblies as well as etched brass flooring. Styrene or steel/etched brass/styrene tow cables are provided for the turret sides. Also included are two styles of blowoff plates, two different wind sensor masts, two different styles of thermal sight housings, different radio antenna combinations, the GPS antenna fitting on the CITV, the auxiliary power unit in the bustle, two drip pans (these go under the final drives when the vehicle is parked in a motor pool or "ecologically friendly" area), and a tow bar. The A Company 1-64 Armor auxiliary bustle rack is included, but as of this date I have no idea how many units have adopted this useful fitting. I suggest checking photos of current vehicles, as the one on the box photo does not appear to have one.
Other accessories include thermal ID panels, front turret panels, five-gallon plastic water jugs, MRE boxes, two Minigun ammo boxes, and a city-fighting thermal exhaust deflector. I can personally testify that you do NOT want to be behind an unfitted Abrams when it is running!
Markings and finishing directions are included for six different vehicles: "Hell Yeah", HQS 1-8 Cav, 1st Cavalry Division, Iraq 2004 (sand); "Absolute Death", A Company 3-67 Armor, 4th Infantry Division, Iraq 2003 (sand); "Cowboys from Hell", B Company, 1-8 Cav, 2nd Brigade Combat Team ("Black Jack" Brigade), 1st Cavalry Division, Iraq 2004 (sand); "The Hunter," HQS 3-8 Cav, 3rd Brigade Combat Team ("Grey Wolf"), 1st Cavalry Division, Iraq 2004 (sand); and 1st Battalion, 16th Cavalry, Armor School, Fort Knox, KY 2002 (three-color camouflage.) Note that unless a cavalry unit is serving as a cavalry unit (e.g. divisional reconnaissance squadron or part of an armored cavalry regiment) they have companies and not troops. Two sheets, one generic M1A1/A2 and one targeted, are provided from Cartograf as are light cardboard boxes for MREs and recognition panels.
Overall this is another really fine kit from DML and permits the modeler to build an M1A2 to match their M1A1.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakdown:
L 2 DS plastic track runs
M 10 Turret body
N 58 Main gun and turret details
O 24 Bustle rack and side rails
P 25 Commander's weapons station
Q 20 Turret blowoff panels and details
S 40 Clear styrene
T 14 Hull top
U 40 Driver's hatch and rear plate details
V 57x2 Wheels
W 36 M1A2 turret roof details and bustle rack
W 40x4 Center guide teeth
X 46 M1A2 commander's weapons station and CITV
Y 1 Lower hull
Z 1 Twisted steel wire
MA 93 Etched brass
MD 1 turned aluminum barrel
MD 1 spring
MD 2 prebent brass wire
MD 1 prebent etched brass
MD 3 prebent metal parts
a 21x2 Smoke grenade projectors
b 12 Tow bar
c 7x2 Water jugs
d 7x2 Turret thermal ID panels, tow rope heads
e 11x2 Minigun ammo cans, WD-1 reel
f 5x2 Thermal sight base
g 8 Machine guns
(Originally written on July 10, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7312; Sherman Mk. V "Tulip"; 201 parts (153 in grey styrene, 46 etched brass, 2 DS plastic track runs); price US$13.98
Advantages: continuing the versions of the Sherman and tracking the 1/35 scale DML offerings; very nicely done rockets and racks
Disadvantages: size of etched brass parts borders on the ridiculous
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for small scale Commonwealth fans and Shermanoholics
DML's latest Sherman release gets them back on more stable ground with a nicely done Sherman V (M4A4) with the 60-lb rocket launcher option.
Attaching rockets to tanks has been an ongoing program by various nations since the beginning of armored vehicles. The Soviets had probably the most extreme version in which they essentially created rocket-powered 120 kilogram bombs and attached them to the sides of the turret of a BT-5 and called it the BT-5TT – TT for "tankoviy torpedo!"
During WWII the British were a bit more rational (one note of observation is the "Murphy's Law" corollary that if you attach explosives outside of your tank they can blow you up too!) and used much smaller 60-lb rocket projectiles. The idea was to provide overwhelming firepower at point-blank range against bunkers or infantry barricaded inside a building. The 60-lb rocket projectile warhead had the same basic impact and damage capability as the 5.5" gun so was extremely lethal at short range.
DML has now taken their Sherman V (M4A4) kit and added the rocket launchers to it. As before this 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 their M4A1 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 the Firefly patch, but in this kit that is ignored. Again, the trailer hitch remains 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. Another oddity, probably based on the "mix and match" sprues, is that for this kit they provide TWO M2HB .50 caliber machine guns, but neither one is used. Go figure.
The rockets come with two brackets, a two-piece launch rail, and rocket warhead/body and separate tail fin section. These have credibly thin fins and appear to be pretty much on the money.
Markings and finishing instructions are provided for three different tanks from the 1st Armoured Battalion, Coldstream Guards, Germany, 1945; all are in olive green with a choice of three different numbers (white 2A, white 2B or yellow 9B.) The complete markings for one of three tanks are provided on a small targeted Cartograf sheet.
Overall this is a nice little kit and unlike the unfortunate 105mm turrets uses one of the best of the DML efforts, now enhanced with the rocket racks.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 38 M4A4 hull details
a 28 M4 75mm turret with M34/M34A1 gun mount
B 41 M4/M4A1 75mm Sherman details
C 30 Mid-production VVSS suspension
D 2 M4A4/Sherman V hull
d 14 60-lb rockets and racks
X 2 DS plastic tracks (T62 type)
MA 46 etched brass
(Originally written on July 10, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6394; Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. J 2-in-1 Smart Kit; 747 parts (486 in grey styrene, 216 "Magic Track" links, 26 etched brass, 19 clear styrene); price about US$45.00
Advantages: can be built as either an early (KwK L/42) or late (KwK L/60) Pzkw. III Ausf. J; many options to match specific tanks at set points in the production run; "Smart Kit" minimizes the amount of etched brass required
Disadvantages: kit does not come with DS tracks, which will disappoint a few modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all WWII German fans
F I R S T L O O K
If you ask noted German armor researcher Tom Jentz which German tank he prefers, he answers immediately with the Panzer III series. The true "workhorse" of the German army, it served in all theaters and in many different forms, always rising to meet the needs pressed upon it and showing a tremendous amount of "stretch" in the chassis. It was only at the very end of the war that it was no longer capable of performing as a counter-armor vehicle and could not effectively deal with late war US and Soviet tanks.
First entering production in 1937 under the aegis of the term "Platoon Leader's Vehicle" the Pzkw. III had progressed through five different version before the war started in September 1939, with the Ausf. E being the latest variant. Armed with a 37mm gun and two machine guns, the Pzkw. III was easily able to cope with Polish armor and resistance. Joined by the Ausf. F it then moved into France in June 1940, but even at this stage of the war only about 600 Pzkw. III had been built. Production did not begin to increase until the Ausf. G model in April 1940, which also added the short-barreled KwK L/42 gun to increase firepower.
While the Germans were learning in the desert that the Pzkw. III was a good and reliable tank they also found it did not have sufficient armor protection, and thus began adding applique armor to the tanks with the Ausf. H in October 1940. More than 950 Pzkw. III tanks were in service when the Germans began their invasion of Russian in June 1941, but once again they received very rude shocks to find out that the Soviet 45mm gun could penetrate their tanks, making even obsolete tanks like the T-26 and BT series dangerous opponents: they also found out very quickly that the new and very deadly T-34 and the monstrous KV tanks were invulnerable to their short-barreled 5 cm gun but could easily dispatch the Pzkw. III tanks with their powerful 76mm weapons.
The result was the creation of the Pzkw. III Ausf. J. The first 1,569 were built with the short KwK L/42 gun found on their predecessor, but at Hitler's personal directive (and pleas from the front) the tank was later upgraded with the KwK L/60 gun; 1,067 were produced new. While it boosted their armor penetration capabilities against British tanks in the desert, it was still not a wholly effective weapon against the increasing numbers of T-34 and KV tanks. (A later AP40 shell with tungsten core solved that problem, but it took a while to get it into production. This gun was ballistically identical to the PaK 38 5 cm antitank gun.) The J was also uparmored to 50mm frontal armor protection and also later received spaced armor arrays to provide additional frontal protection. Note that surviving early model Pzkw. III tanks from the Ausf. E onward were also rebuilt with either the KwK L/42 or L/60 guns as available.
The Pzkw. III Ausf. J has often been selected as a favorite for modelers due to its well-balanced shape and the wide number of options that the tank could use over the course of a career. That was one of the reasons behind the choice Tamiya made in 1971 to produce the similar Pzkw. III Ausf. L/M as one of their first new generation 1/35 scale armor kits. When DML picked up the line of Gunze Sangyo kits some 15 years ago, they also used them to create an entire line of late-model Pzkw. III kits under their "Imperial" series (9xxx kits.)
Now they have released a brand-new kit of the flexible little Pzkw. III Ausf. J version, based in large part on their excellent StuG III "Smart Kit" molds. The kit shares five sprues and the "Magic Track" links with the StuG kit and also borrows a few sprues from the Pzkw. IV Ausf. F "Smart Kit" as well (mostly the cupola and clear ones.) The rest – some 196 plastic parts and 26 etched brass ones – are new to this kit.
The hull pan is similar to that from the StuG but has the side hatches and other detail changes. It retains the full torsion bar suspension from the other kit and the detailed suspension components and muffler assembly. As with the StuG all hatches are separate with some interior details and can be positioned as the modeler chooses. All engine deck ventilators are spaced and mounted on separate frames to get the correct appearance and "lift" needed to give an accurate representation of the original.
The kit provides a number of options to include the complete spaced armor array as well as the choice between the L/42 and the L/60 guns, with four different possible combinations; both barrels are "slide molded" with hollow bores and, as with the original, share the same breech and fittings internally. Options also include blackout or clear headlight lenses and the "kugel" mount for the bow machine gun. All viewports and viewers may be positioned open or closed as well.
The kit includes the rudiments of an interior, but unlike many Russian or Ukrainian kits the details they provide are highly accurate as far as they go. This should please the "after market boys" as there is more than enough room for a nice resin interior here and enough ports and hatches to see it.
Some modelers are now learning to love the new DML DS plastic tracks, but this kit was not a beneficiary of that technology so the modeler will have to use the excellent if tedious "Magic Track" links. As the old curse goes, be careful of what you wish for as you may get it! Also the kit only comes with a modicum of etched brass - mostly grilles, brackets and the track guides for the idler wheels. I am sure that "boutique" upgrade kits are on the way for those who believe one can never add enough brass!
The kit provides eight different finishing options: 5/Pz.Regt. 24, 24th Panzer Division, Stalingrad 1942 (gray with L/60); 1/3rd Panzer Grenadier Division, Stalingrad 1942 (whitewash with L/60 and spaced array); 2/Pz.Regt. 18, 18th Panzer Division, Russia 1942 (Panzerbraun with L/42 and spaced array); 23rd Panzer Division, Eastern Front 1942 (gray with L/42); 5/SS Pz. Regt. 1, 1st SS Panzer Division LAH, Kharkov 1943 (whitewash with L/42); 3/Pz. Regt. 7, 10th Panzer Division, Tunisia 1943 (Panzerbraun with L/60 and spaced array); 1/SS Pz. Regt. 5, 5th SS Panzer Division "Wiking", Russian 1943 (gray with L/60); and 3/Pz. Regt. 8, 15th Panzer Division, Tobruk 1942 (Panzerbraun with L/60 and spaced array.) All markings are targeted and from Cartograf.
Overall this is another excellent choice and nearly completes the basic family of German WWII tanks newly molded and offered by DML (only the Pzkw. II is missing), and based on other kits, it is likely more new-mold Pzkw. III and Pzkw. IV kits will be coming as well.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 91 Pzkw III J hull details and turret mounting
A 61x2 StuG III Wheels and torsion bars (7 mini-sprues connected)
B 14 Pzkw III J upper hull and fenders
B 46 StuG III Road wheel arms and lower hull details
C 41 Pzkw III J applique armor and details
D 35 Pzkw III J gun and barrels
D 31 StuG III basic upper hull details
E 15 Pzkw III J turret and mantelet details
F 15 Pzkw IV F - turret cupola
G 52 Pzkw IV F - turret and hull details
G 15 StuG III OVM and light components
H 1 Lower hull pan
J 8 Machine guns and muzzles
L 144 Magic Track - Left
15 Pzkw IV F Clear styrene
P 4 Clear styrene
R 144 Magic Track - Right
MA 26 Etched brass
(Originally written on July 10, 2007)
Kit Review: Italeri 1/72 scale Kit No. 7049; KV-1 m41; 106 parts (104 in olive stryene, 2 steel colored vinyl track runs); price about US$14.00
Advantages: re-release of ESCI kit No. 8037, easy assembly and good appearance for wargaming
Disadvantages: "pantographed" version of 35 year old Tamiya kit
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: for small scale modelers, especially wargamers
Modelers are a quirky lot; many are able to split hairs on exactly when a specific sub-variant of a German tank was built and where it was used, or what options were found on a sub-variant of M4 Sherman, but most still have few clues about how the Soviet tanks were built or what designations Russian historians have given them for convenience's sake.
First off, this new kit from Italeri is a KV-1 Model 1942 with "heavy" cast turret from UZTM and a late production hull from Factory No. 200 – essentially modeled on the two tanks provided by the Soviets in late 1942 to the US (S/N 11502) and Britain (S/N 11306) for study. This is the same exact one used by Tamiya in 1972 to produce its kit, which is pretty much what ESCI did about five years later to produce their own line of 1/72 kits. Italeri, who now owns the old ESCI molds, has re-released it in a new box and with far better decals than ESCI ever seemed to provide. (At least Italeri did not call it a "KV-IC" or the German designation!)
As such, it follows the same parts breakdown as the Tamiya one other than a multi-piece hull instead of a "motorization" tub like Tamiya used. It is a reasonably sharply molded kit with very nice detailing of the small parts, and also comes with two figures (copies of the Tamiya crew figures in their kit) but with the same proportions (the figures are 23mm high, which works out to 5'5" tall – Soviet tankers were later short, but not in this tank!)
Since it was a "mini-me" of the Tamiya kit, it comes with two 95 liter fuel tanks and two ZIP bins for the fenders, the same incorrectly located driver-mechanic's hatch (too far to the rear) and all of the other failings of that kit. Sadly they also duplicated the "first generation" vinyl tracks with no interior face details – silky smooth.
For wargamers, however, this kit should be welcome as it is a very easy assembly and looks a lot better than most of the other kits produced in the past such as the Fujimi 1/76 scale ones. If no detailing is desired, a good modeler should be able to slap this puppy together in about an hour or two.
Markings and finishing are included for three tanks: "Moskovkiy OSOAviakhimovets" in white with red lettering; "Shchors" in 4BO green with white lettering; and a mottled whitewash over green tank with the name "KIM" on it in black. (Oddly the color swatch for "flat white" is flat black; Italeri should pay closer attention to its box art as this is the second one with mislabeled colors on it.)
Overall anyone hoping for a new Italeri ground-up KV-1 kit will be disappointed, but it should be quite popular with 25mm wargamers (it bears a logo saying "ALZO ZERO Wargames Approved" to prove that point!)
Thanks to Bob Lewen from MRC for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on June 25, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6375; German Tank Crew 1939-1943; 80 parts (69 in grey styrene, 11 etched brass); price estimated at US $13
Advantages: new crew specifically designed for something other than Tiger I tanks; great poses and selection of poses
Disadvantages: none noted
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German armor fans and dioramists
Occasionally DML has wandered far afield lately in seeking out truly obscure WWII German units to represent in figures, but have ignored some of the very basic sets needed to compliment their excellent vehicle kits. Somebody apparently did their homework, and now we have this new and very well done set specifically designed for Panzer III and Panzer IV series tanks.
DML had covered some of the earlier vehicle crews starting with a generic Tiger crew (#6014) and SP gun crew (#6016) and then expanding them to items like a "personality" set of SS tankers with Michael Wittman (#6028) and an early StuG III crew with berets (#6029) and working out from there. But until now there was no dedicated "meat and potatoes" crew for the essential workhorse Panzers, the Mark III and Mark IV.
This set brings that gap to a close. The kit shows three full figures and three half figures on the box art, but in reality this kit provides six full figures. Five are the crew to a Mark III or IV with the side turret doors open; there is a commander figure in the hatch, the gunner and loader sitting in the open turret hatches, and for a Panzer IV a radio operator and driver in their respective hatches. A six man is on the ground and is handing a bottle of wine up to the figure on the left hand side of the turret. All wear the "standard" German tanker's uniform of black canvas with pink piping, and three headsets are provided as well for the commander, radio operator and driver. As a bonus three "jerry" cans with brass seam inserts are included.
The figures are DML "Gen1" type – head, torso, legs and arms – with separate headgear and pistols for each man. All heads have unique faces and tilt to the head on the neck. The radio operator also is provided with a pipe.
With some spares and "mix and match" this set of crew figures could be used for any mid-war tank or self-propelled gun. The artwork and painting directions by Ron Volstad are first rate and make it easier to get the most out of this set (note that they are in grey with red trim so the inference for the easy conversion to SP Gun crews by changing from Panzer Black to Artillery Grey is provided for as well!)
Overall this is a great choice, with very casual relaxed poses and a nice selection for use in one or more vehicle projects.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on June 23, 2007)
Kit Review: Italeri 1/35 scale Kit No. 6455; ABM 41/42 with 47/32 AT gun; 271 parts (247 in tan styrene, 12 etched brass, 10 vinyl, 1 clear styrene, 1 turned aluminum); price US$45.00
Advantages: first kit of this vehicle in this scale in stryrene; clear, crisp details; beautifully rendered 47mm antitank gun
Disadvantages: references are scarce
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all African, Italian or wheeled vehicle fans
Two things which tend to be irresistible to armor modelers are "ugly" and "fancy paint job", and for all of the beautiful auto styling that has come from Italy over the years, this vehicle certainly qualifies as the former and wears the latter well. Modelers have always liked the Italian armored vehicles used in North Africa due to their completely unique nature and shape. This one, an upgraded version of the "Sahariana" light armored desert vehicle, is well done and captures the vehicle nicely.
Lately we have been subjected to "Jekyll and Hyde" products from Italeri (such as their awful M923 with Shelter, still on my list of misbegotten kits) but this one is definitely one of their "Jekyll" kits. Very nicely and completely rendered, it shows a greater deal of planning than many recent kits. (One could note that Italieri has tried harder in recent years with its Italian armor kits, sort of playing to the home crowd.)
Take for example the 47/32 47mm antitank gun. In their unfortunate LVT(A)-5 kit, Italeri basically pulled a "Hyde" and rendered the complex 75mm pack howitzer installation as a single piece; not so here, as they pull a "Jekyll" with a 16 piece basic gun assembly for a very simple gun, topped off with a choice between a two-piece (muzzle and tube) or single-piece turned aluminum barrel. It also has an ammo box with six rounds to compliment it.
Even the mass jerry can installation has a respectable amount of detail. While the cans are molded in blocks of five, each has a separate three-bar handle and spout.
Based on the previous AB 41 armored car and Sahariana kits, this model has the same basic structure and shared parts. Construction begins with the chassis pan and suspension, and then progresses to the body. Note that three different versions may be built from the kit, so care must be taken as to which one the modeler has selected as the various features are called out as the model progresses. Variant A is one serving in Rome during September 1943 and has bins, spare fuel tanks, and different stowage; Variant B is in Sicily 1943 with a similar arrangement, and Variant C is in Tunisia 1943 with sand channels and double the jerry can fit.
Options are pleniful. A and B get tactical tires, C gets desert tires; all are provided in vinyl and nicely done. On the body sides, A gets bins and racks, B gets bins and jerry cans, and C gets double jerry cans. Alternate position jump seats are provided inside the body.
Etched brass parts are provided for both the Variant C sand channels as well as the rear jerry can racks (one per side with two cans) and straps for the main racks. The rear racks are very involved and I suggest you have either a Hold and Fold or Etch-Mate before tackling them.
As noted, the model comes with three finishing options: Regio Esercito, 123a Compagnia Arditi Camionettisti, Rome September 1943 (Variant A - tricolor scheme); Regio Esercito, 113a Compagnia Arditi Camionettisti, Sicily July 1943 (Variant B - sand); and Regio Esercito, Raggrupamento Sahariano, Tunisia 1943 (Variant C - sand). At least Variant C has a flag to indicate it changed sides as well!
Overall this is one of the nicer kits to come out from Italeri in recent years and looks to be a fun built. Wish they would have paid this attention to some of their other kits!
Advantages: very complete kit of this vehicle, several options and choices for the modeler
Disadvantages: will not build the version many modelers were hoping for from DML (see text)
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Soviet and "34" fans
When the Soviets realized war with Germany was inevitable, and the T-34 began to show a great deal of promise, the Central Committee of the CPSU approved its production at other factories. The primary factory was the Kharkov Steam Locomotive Construction Factory or Factory No. 183 in Kharkov. The first satellite factory was to be the Stalingrad Tractor Factory in Stalingrad, aided by Factory No. 264, the Stalingrad Barge Works, and Factory No. 221, the "Barrikady" artillery foundry. The second was Factory No. 112, "Krasnoye Sormovo," but they also had the advantage of getting 50 knocked-down T-34 tanks to "learn on".
It took the STZ much longer to get their production started and the first tanks did not began to roll off the lines until the end of 1940. One of their problems – as with Factory No. 183 – was that the Leningrad factory complexes were stingy with supplying them with the short L-11 gun which mounted in the early T-34; in January 1941 they switched to the superior F-32 design, and cut off the T-34 plants entirely. Factory No. 183 led the changeover to their new gun, the longer F-34, and the STZ followed suit.
Originally the STZ tanks were externally no different from the Factory No. 183 tanks, and it was only over time and due to exigencies that the design began to deviate due to local problems and changes to facilitate high rates of production. The base design remained stable through the fall of 1941. By the spring of 1942, the design had changed. The wheels were now cast steel wheels with internal rubber bushings vice the old pressed disks with rubber tires. The turret was a rolled steel design with a removable plate that now covered the entire rear of the turret. The hull design had been changed to accommodate interlocking plates at the front, sides and rear, which is considered the "classic" STZ hull design.
By summer 1942 the design had again been changed to now use a "chisel" turret mantelet to speed production (the parts did not require being pressed into shape as with the original design.) Later, the Barge Works created newer designs of both cast and welded turrets with the "chisel" mantelet and "notches" in the lower cheeks of the turret; this is what most modelers consider the "classic" STZ turret. By the time production ceased in early 1943, the factory had built 3,770 tanks, most of which had fought in the legendary battle of Stalingrad. There is a myth that the tanks rolled off the production lines and right into combat outside the factory, but while there is an element of truth to the urgency of production it was not quite so immediate.
When DML began to release its T-34 series of kits a few years back, and they were shown to be THE T-34 kits on the market, many T-34 afficionados hoped that an STZ variant would join the family. This increased when cyber-hobby.com announced that they would do one as a "boutique" version kit of the vehicle. But...the result was not what anyone expected.
First off, it has to be said up front that the kit they released is an STZ-built T-34 Model 1941. But it is a variant from sometime in the middle to late fall of 1941, with the new turret with the wide rear plate and the solid cast steel wheels, but the original Factory No. 183 hull and gun installation designs. It can be built as an earlier model with the pressed steel disk wheels and with some sanding and putty work (and a DML T-34 Model 1940/41 cast turret) the interim cast turret used by STZ without any rear plate at all, but as for the STZ Model 1942 most modelers were hoping for, the answer is a solid no. That is a shame, as it would have been a great kit. (Zvezda makes that turret in styrene, but unfortunately they put theirs atop a regular T-34 Model 1942 chassis from Factory No.183.)
Given that disappointment up front, what is provided in the kit is excellent. It is basically the complete DML T-34 Model 1941 kit with additional sprues for the new turret parts, new hull details, a choice of fender tips, and two sets of wheels, idlers and drivers. New "Magic Track" separate track links are provided, but they are for one of the regular "waffle" pattern tracks so nothing fancy there either.
As with most "boutique" kits it comes with a good-sized fret of etched brass which covers nearly all of the brackets and straps used on the original vehicle as well as the engine radiator exhaust grille and deflector louvers.
The model comes with four finishing options: 1st Guards Tank Brigade, Eastern Front 1942 (brown over 4BO green with red stars); Unidentified unit, Eastern Front 1942 (4BO green overall with white 85); the usual "captured" German one, Eastern Front 1942-1943 (4BO green with Balkenkreuze); and Unidentified Unit, Leningrad 1942-1943 (white patches over 4BO green.) A small targeted sheet of Cartograf decals is provided for these options. Note that the side views show wheel options for these vehicles which are NOT called out in the directions.
Overall this is a lovely kit – but it's not what the modelers were hoping for.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout
A 13x2 T-34 driver mounts, road wheel arms
B 21 T-34 40/41 turret roof and hull details
C 18 T-34 40/41 upper hull and details
D 15x2 T-34 40/41 solid disk wheels
E 16 T-34 tie-downs and brackets
F 37x2 T-34 40/41 drivers/idlers, auxiliary fuel tanks
Advantages: only kit of this aircraft in this scale; nicely done rendition of a Korean war workhorse with good armament selection
Disadvantages: somewhat spartan cockpit layouts
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: For all Korean war fans
I've always like the Tigercat as one of Grumman's late war "hot rods" that got a new life in Korea, albeit far from its original design as a long-range heavy fleet interceptor. In its radar equipped "Dash 3N" variant, it was excellent at what was dubbed "truck plinking" in the Gulf War and disruption of Chinese Volunteer/Korean Peoples' Army supply lines.
106 F7F-3N two-seat night fighters (Italeri had a problem with the designator, but they're not alone in goofing these things up) were produced between May 1945 and June 1946, basically very similar to the earlier F7F-2N two-seaters but with a new longer nose and radar fit. The radar replaced the four nose-mounted .50 caliber machines, but with four 20mm cannon in the wing roots it was still more than capable as a fighter. While it was soon outmoded and began to be replaced with the new jet-powered F3D Skyknight, the Tigercat was still in front-line service when the Korean war broke out.
Having no basic need for night fighters at first, the Marines converted them over to the night intruder mission where they excelled. They flew missions until April 1953 and over the course of their combat career in Korea they managed to shoot down two PO-2 "Bedcheck Charlie" night bombers. Unfortunately, they also lost 27 F7F-3N aircraft with 37 crewmen either killed in action or missing in action.
A normal combat load for the aircraft was a full ammo load for the 20mm guns, two 5oo or 1000 lb bombs or napalm tanks, and eight 5" rockets; total external ordnance was up to 3,220 pounds.
ESCI came out with a very nice series of 1/48 F7Fs a number of years ago, and then the molds passed into the hands of AMT. When they gave up the ghost, the molds then moved on to Italeri who has thankfully re-released them. As I have the aforementioned fondness for the Tigergcat and also Korean war aircraft, I finally found one at an IPMS show still shrinkwrapped and snapped it up. I found out to my disappointment that the kit came with vinyl tires. One had eaten into the wings and another had totaled the decal sheet.
Happily Italeri has fixed both problems and now they include nicely done two-piece styrene tires with this kit. They also have a totally new decal sheet with four options vice two.
The kit itself is not bad, with fine recessed panel lines and fairly nicely done wheel well interiors and engines. I always thought the cowlings looked odd, but close-up photos on Cybermodeler show them to be quite accurate. The struts and wheels are also well done.
The cockpit and radar operator's area are spartan at best, and could use some TLC or even figures. Due to the awkward and cramped radar operator's "seat" (he is located right over the main wing spar and main fuel tank, and even the back of the canopy had to be bulged for him to hunch over the radar!) it is unlikely anything other than a purpose-built figure would fit in that area. Call me a child of the 1950s, but I like figures in cockpits rather than tape or etched brass origami!
The ordnance is reasonably well done and includes two 1000 lb bombs, eight 56" rockets and a centerline drop tank. The bombs and tank come with sway braces, always a nice touch in this scale. The model also comes with a prototypical (!) 55 gallon drum with crate on it to balance the aircraft. Apparently F7F-3Ns were tail heavy and if parked unfuelled would "rock" back onto their tails, making it a pain to service them. Ergo the ground crews would put something under the tail to hold them upright!
The finishing options cover four aircraft: VMF(N)-534, NAS Miramar 1946 (blue with white markings, no bars, and no stencils); VMF(N)-542, Kimpo air base, Korea September 1950 (blue with full markings except for BuAer numbers); VMF(N)-513, Kangnung air base, Korea, winter 1951-52 (black with white numbers and lettering); and VMF(N)-513, Pyongataek air base, Korea 1952 (black with red numbers and lettering). While the last two sport very few markings (it tended to give away the aircraft at night, especially if caught by headlights or searchlights) the VMF(N)-542 aircraft most certainly would have had them and it is a shame the decals do not provide them.
Overall a nice kit and good place to start.
Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 6 F7F-3N Fuselage, nacelles
B 10 F7F wings, tires
C 23 F7F ignition harness, wheel doors, seat, one prop, one elevator
D 30 F7F rockets, nose strut, crankcases, one prop, one elevator
E 22 F7F engines, main struts, sway braces
F 15 F7F-2N/3N cowlings, bombs, interior details
G 5 Clear parts
(Originally written on June 17, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7317; Sd.Kfz. 251/7 Ausf. D mit w/2.8 cm sPzB 41 AT Gun; 161 parts (149 in grey styrene, 10 etched brass, 2 tan DS plastic track runs); price about US $14.98
Advantages: very nice, clean model of the D version of this popular vehicle in "small scale"; unique but effective method of assembling running gear; beautifully done Gehrlich gun
Disadvantages: RP parts (as in right puny!); bridges may be too narrow
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German WWII "Small Scale" fans
DML continues to march on with its halftracks in "Small Scale" with this nicely done variant on the engineer variant. This particular one comes with the unique 2.8 cm schwere Panzerbusche 41 antitank gun, better known as the "Gehrlich gun" after its inventor.
Brute force antitank guns work in one of two ways: either they fire such a heavy projectile that it crushes the armor of its target, or a small hard one traveling at very high velocity to penetrate the armor using the laws of physics. Dr. Gehrlich focused on the latter, and combined several factors in his three guns. He used the hardest known material at the time - tungsten steel alloy – with a very powerful propellant charge and a specially designed tapered gun barrel. Fitting the projectile casing with soft brass bands or skirts, the projectile was "squashed" down as it came down the bore and the velocity was increased beyond normal levels. For the smallest of the guns, a 28mm gun whose projectile left the muzzle with a caliber of 20mm, the velocity went up to nearly 4600 fps and the penetration was far above all other similar guns of the day.
Gerhlich designed three guns – a 28/20 mm light variant, a 42/30 mmm based on the PaK 36 design, and the 75/55 mm PaK 41. While all three guns were superior to all of their competitors, only the small 2.8 cm one entered service in reasonable numbers in 1941, but as Germany lost access to tungsten they were soon retired and few were left in service by 1945. However, as it weighed less than 120 kg without its carriage, it was a popular replacement for the weak 3.7 cm Pak 36 on halftrack vehicles.
Like the previous halftrack kits, this is not an actual pantograph of the larger kits, which would make it a nightmare to try and assemble, but still appears based on the same research and drawings used for the 1/35 scale kits. The lower hull is a single piece pan, less the rear area, and the axles are molded on the lower hull. The running gear for each side consists of a rear (inside) wheel section, a center wheel section, three outer road wheels, and drivers. Once installed the connectors between the individual wheels on the inside and the center are not visible, so it helps speed up assembly while making it easier to get things aligned. Tracks are the gluable DS plastic, so you can also get them to settle down on top of the road wheels with some care.
The model comes with simplified interior fittings but they are quite tiny as noted and will require a good deal of care. Interior bits include the various control levers, rifles, MP submachine guns, and other items. The hinge mechanisms for the doors are single pieces, but are non-operating types. They cement to the lower rear section, as the upper hull has the rear angular parts of the hull attached to it. The four front viewers are separate parts and can be cemented either open or closed as well, as is the hood assembly with two flaps. No engine or interior is provided for the engine bay.
The fenders are one-piece units, but the stowage bins are only offered as closed parts. The front MG 34 shield is offered as either a single piece of styrene or a three-piece etched brass option. Other RP parts include the "Notek" headlight and mount and the drum magazines for the two MG 34 machine guns. The weapons appear to be very close to scale, something I don't recall from other manufacturers in the past!
The Gehrlich gun comes in a very complete nature and provides a choice of styrene or etched brass gun shields as well; these apparently attach to the styrene ones to give the standoff between the inner and outer armored panels notable on the prototype. The bore is hollow molded via "Slide Molding" techniques but the sides of the large muzzle brake will need some cleanout to get the full advantages of that. The gun also comes with the conversion panels for the roof of the hull to mount it for both C and D variants, so if the modeler wants to swap it to another kit the parts are here to accomplish that move.
The assault footbridges are nicely done, but some sources indicate they may be too narrow as these are scale-downs of the 1/35 scale designs. The interior of the hull is basically the Stroke 1 interior; I have some references which indicate factory built engineer models had more stowage for engineer equipment and explosive charges but I am not sure of them.
The kit comes with two generic sheets of Cartograf decals and two finishing options, one for a Panzer Lehr Division vehicle in Normandy 1944 in overall Panzerbraun, and one from our favorite, "Unidentified Unit." in Italy 1944 in a tricolor scheme.
Overall another nice effort. This is another nice effort for the "Small Scale" fan and a unique vehicle.
Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue Layout:
A 27 251 D upper hull
B 38 251 C/D interior and road wheels
C 27 x 2 251 D front wheels and interior details
D 2 DS plastic tracks
E 9x2 251/7 footbridge assemblies
G 11 2.8 cm Gehlich gun and mounts
I 1 251 D lower hull
MA 8 etched brass
MB 2 etched brass gun shields
(Originally written on June 17, 2007)
Product Review: Archer Fine Transfer New Releases
AR35245; Pz. IV Ausf. F1 & F2, 14th Panzer Division, Russia 1942; price US $9.95
AR35246; StuG III B, C, D or E, 2/Batt StuG Abt. 221, Barbarossa to Moscow; price $6.95
AR35247; StuG III B, C, D, E, or F; 1, 2, 3 Batt StuG III Abt. 197; price $7.95
AR35248; Dodge 3/4 ton truck instruments and miscellaneous stencils; price $6.95
AR35249; StuG III B, C, D, and E; Sturmgescheutz Abteilung 192; price $9.95
Advantages: provides for correct full markings for specific vehicles or detailed upgrades of the kit markings; conversion directions included where necessary
Disadvantages: none noted
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for the specific vehicles listed in the header information
Wood Vondracek is one of the busiest guys I know but at least he has good people doing his research and assistance. One thing I do recall from the early days of AFT is that Woody would always deliver on his promises; if he got good, useful research information on a subject he would produce the markings. That was much better than anybody else at the time, and today he remains as one of the most quickly reactive and prolific producers of dry and wet transfer markings in the hobby.
These six new released recently showed up and once again are typical of AFT's standards. All are crisp, precise, and complete where possible.
Sheet 35245 covers Pzkw. IV F1 and F2 variants in Russia in 1942 and are designed to compliment the recent DML "Smart Kit" release. Designed to go on grey vehicles, the markings are in black, white and yellow and provide for one each F1 and F2 vehicles. Directions are provided inside the packet for modifications to the kit. Research for this set was provided by Jussi Metsala.
Sheet 35246 covers the 221st Sturmgescheutz Battalion in Russia and is designed for either the new Tamiya Ausf. B or the older DML kits of the early StuG III vehicles. Markings in black, white and red are provided for one of two vehicles, either 201 or 212, and a memorial inscription for a dead crewman is also provided for one vehicle. Research for this set was provided by John F. Steinman.
Sheet 35247 covers another StuG III battalion, this one being StuG Abt. 197. It provides for two vehicles from the three batteries, but only one from each battery may be covered. Markings are in white, yellow, red and black. Research was again provided by Mr. Steinman.
Sheet 35249 is a third variation on StuG battalions, and this time the subject is the 192nd Battalion. Markings are provided for two of six possible choices with 13, 14, 24, and 34 being the preset versions. These are quite colorful with either a red on black or yellow on black "skull and crossbones" provided along with the tactical markings. Again the sheet is in red, yellow, black and white.
Sheet 35248 is another of the excellent and time-saving sheets covering dashboard instruments and placards, this time for the Dodge WC-51/52 series 3/4 ton trucks. It also includes extra stencils for antifreeze and tailgate warnings to other traffic. Markings are provided for two vehicles. Research again was done for this sheet by Norm Samuelson.
Sheet 35250 is for the new DML M4 81mm mortar halftrack and provides the correct markings for vehicle 15, Headquarters, 3rd Battalion 41st Armored Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division prior to movement to France in April 1944. It is in yellow and white and provides the tactical and serial numbers as well as the stars and side markings. Researched by Pat Stansell, it also provides directions on how to convert the DML M4 to a 2nd Armored version by reversing the mortar and changing the interior layout.
Overall these are all great sheets as we have come to expect no less from AFT, and they have not disappointed.
Thanks to Woody Vondracek for the review samples.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on June 16, 2007)
Kit Review: cyber-hobby. com 1/35 scale Kit No. 18 (Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6413); Sd.Kfz. 251/17 Ausf. C Command Version; 732 parts (671 in grey styrene, 36 etched brass, 16 clear styrene, 5 DS plastic, 2 turned brass, 2 silver paper); price about US $45
Advantages: first kit of this vehicle in this scale in styrene; provides a nice set of radio equipment
Disadvantages: another variant of the 251 series may dull modelers' interest in the subject; no cabling or wiring instructions for radio sets
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German fans
As this is a command variant, much of what has to be said for it follows the previous review I did on the Sd.Kfz. 251/17 Ausf. D; note that from the kit's parts DML kit No. 6395 will be an Sd.Kfz. 251/17 Ausf C. model, with which this kit shares most of its parts.
While they had always had a problem with the Soviet Il-2 in the East, the Germans began to run into a problem with "Jabos" – Allied fighter-bombers – when they lost air supremacy over Europe in the summer of 1944. As a result, they began to make more and more modifications to standard vehicles to carry light or medium caliber antiaircraft guns.
One of the most radical conversions was the Sd.Kfz. 251/17 Ausf. C, as it required cutting away the side armor and adding new panels that folded down in order to provide suitable traverse and operating room for the crew. Prototypes came out in October 1943, using obsolete Ausf. A and B chassis. But these were expensive and time consuming conversions, and so a simpler method was sought.
The result was the /17 D model, which used a very compact mounting that "drop fit" into a standard Sd.Kfz. 251/1 hull by removing the forward pair of dismount seats and adding ammo racks. While cramped, it did provide for a more rapid conversion. This mounting, the so-called "Schwebelafette" or "Suspended Mount," boosted the 2 cm gun up over the top of the armor so it could be used from under armor protection, and also engage ground targets in a 360 degree circle.
As a command vehicle for its D model 251/17 cyber-hobby.com is offering a "boutique" version of the command variant. As such it comes with all of the conversion parts to the "stroke 17" less the 2 cm gun, and instead offers five sprues of now generic German radio sets from DML.
As it is the C model no "Magic Tracks" are provided and the kit's regular two-piece clip-‘em-and-clean'em tracks are used.
Once again, the kit comes with a nice set of radios for use in commanding a unit – this requires sets to talk to the guns, headquarters, and a radar unit if one was available or in reach of tactical communications, but as with the VW command car cyber-hobby. com once again provides lovely kit but no diagrams for cabling nor cabling material. As the radio sets are quite visible, this is an error and lets the kit down. True, the radios are in the rear corner of the hull and therefore their backs are harder to see, but the fronts also have a lot of cabling and cyber-hobby.com really owes a diagram to the modelers.
A DS plastic flexible driver figure and partial tarpaulin are also included.
Finishing options are for one vehicle: Flak Regiment, Herman-Goering Division, 1942 in grey. The model comes with two separate Cartograf decal sheets, one for licenses and one for tactical markings.
Overall this is a nice kit and well executed, but again the lack of a wiring diagram provides a nice effort with "magic radios" to go with the "magic tools" of earlier day.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakout:
A 27 (251/17 C) Upper hull components
B 39 (251/17 C) Lower hull components
C 55 (251) lower hull details and interior, machine guns
D 42+43 (251) interior
E 151 x 2 (251) wheels and tracks
E 6 x 2 (251) new drivers
E 6 x 2 (251) new outer road wheels
F 14 (251/17) Interior base and components
F 32x2 (251/17) Interior details, side walls to hull
RB 8 x 2 (Generic) radio installation components
RC 14 (Generic) radio rack and radio components
RD 14 (Generic) radio rack and radio sets
RE 7 (Generic) "clothes rail" antenna and mounts
RF 8 (Generic) radio rack and power supply components
T 9 (251) seats
W 16 (clear)
X 1 (251) lower hull pan
a 5 (DS) driver figure
MA 36 (251/17 C)
a 2 (silver paper)
1 turned aluminum
2 turned brass
2 silver paper
(Originally written on June 16, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6253; Pzkw. VI Ausf. E Sd.Kfz. 181 Tiger I Late Production 3-in-1 Kit; 720 parts (590 parts in grey styrene, 104 etched brass, 21 clear styrene, 2 DS track runs, 2 twisted steel wires, 1 spring); price US $44.95
Advantages: molds cleaned up and improved once more; DS tracks solve the tedium of single link track assembly; choice of detail parts
Disadvantages: fifth Tiger from DML (and second "late" version) may muddy the waters and confuse modelers; still no zimmerit on hull or turret
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German Tiger fans
There is a point in life when the number of versions of a specific vehicle offered tend to boggle the mind of the average modeler; in the words of Al Capp's famous mountaineer, Li'l Abner, "it's cornfusin'." Such is the case for most of us when it comes to DML's Tiger releases.
There are now five of them on the market based on availability (at least one is "sold out") and as near as I can figure it looks like this:
Kit Number Production variants Release Date Parts in kit Price
6252 Initial Jan 2005 756 $32
6253 Late Jul 2005 1,134 $45
6286 Initial - DAK Oct 2005 950 $45
6350 Early "Wittmann" Nov 2006 1,053 $100 (cyber-hobby.com)
6406 Late Jun 2007 720 $45
Most kits were "3-in-1" kits, but in this case the choice was basically a line tank, company commander, or battalion/regimental commander based on radio antennas. This new kit is also a "3-in-1" with the same level of options and command antennas. The "Initial" production ones were either the dual "saddlebag" bin ones used near Leningrad or single bin "common" versions with "Fiefel" air cleaners. The "Early" Wittman tank was a special release "boutique" version, but the late ones have the final "Steel Wheels" vice the "Rubber Tired" wheels and a number of detail options for specific sub-variants based on build date.
The main difference between the kits other than their variant was the inclusion of either more or less etched brass (five frets being the maximum noted), figures, and the use of regular, "Magic Track" links or now the much simpler DS plastic runs. Some purists have already squawked about the latter, but many modelers have found out the hard way to be careful what you wish for, as single link tracks, some consisting of as many as five parts a link, may look good but are incredibly boring and tedious to build, plus generally quite fragile on top of it. The DS plastic looks good, takes paint well, and glues with common plastic solvents; it also permits undercutting such as the pin ends of the track and even open teeth to replicate castings as is the case here. Overall, cleanup is simple and I do believe most people will like these better. The two "sag guides" from previous kits are included so you can get a good fit over the wheels with the tracks.
There are a great number of options with the kit: two styles of idlers, two different rear plates, three different mantelets, two different turret roofs, two different commander's cupolas, two different muzzle brakes – the list goes on. As before a partial interior is included for the engine compartment as well as all of the torsion bars and the 8.8 cm gun breech in the turret.
There are still some oddities, such as no zimmerit yet even though it has been provided on the 1/72 versions of this tank. I suppose some modelers prefer doing their own and matching a specific tank, but for the majority providing it would make life easier. While the mount for the AA MG is provided, no machine gun is provided in the kit once again.
I noted changes in only three of the sprues that came with the kit from the previous "late" version, but DML has once again included a four page "brag book" as to what has been done to the kit. They state they have redone the mufflers and armored covers for the rear plate, fixed some problems with the turret escape hatch, redone the hull shell to make more use of "Slide Molding" features, and provided for the use of a engine pre-heater (read blowtorch) at the rear of the hull. However, if you wish to use that you will have to either knock one together from scratch or use the one in the VW Starter kit that DML just released.
The amount of etched brass has been reduced, and my take on that is that the molds have all been "tweaked" a bit to clean up earlier problems and thus much of the brass detailing is now superfluous.
The kit comes with a nice sheet of targeted Cartograf decals and a choice of one of six different finishing options, all but one in a variety of late war tricolor schemes: "334", 1./s.Pz.Abt. 505, Nowe Koszary 1944 (green over Panzerbraun); "122", 1.s. SS-Pz.Abt. 101, Normandy 1944; "242", 2./s. SS-Pz.Abt. 102, France 1944; "304", 3./s SS-Pz.Abt. 101, Normandy 1944; "933," 9./s. SS-Pz.Regt. 3, 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf", Poland 1944; and "133", 1./s. H. Pz.Abt. 510, Kovno 1944. Technical assistance and research for this kit came from David Byrden, Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.
Overall it is a nice kit and simpler to assemble due to the lesser amounts of brass and single-section track runs, but I am not sure how many more Tigers the market can absorb with relatively minor "tweaks" between kits or choices of options.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue Breakout
A 26 (Tiger I generic) 8.8 cm gun
B 40 (Tiger I generic) drivers and idlers
C 39 (Tiger I Late) fenders and alternate drivers
D 30 (Tiger I Late) turret
E 35 (Tiger I Late) turret roofs and optional details
F 12 (Tiger I Late) hull sternplates
G 31 x 2 (Tiger I Late) Steel road wheels
g 4 (Command antenna) star type
H 54 x 4 (Tiger I Late) torsion bars and single track links
J 39 (Tiger I generic) interior components
K 12 (Tiger I Late) hull roof and grilles
L 2 (Command antenna) whip type
L 12 (Tiger I generic) clear blocks
MA 99 Etched brass (Tiger I Late)
MB 1 Spring
MB 1 Prebent wire
MB 4 etched brass
MB 1 Preformed etched brass
N 2 (Command antenna) whip type
P 39 (Tiger I Late) hull sides and cable details
R 15 (Tiger I Late) turret stowage bin
S 9 (Tiger I Late) clear
U 2 (Tiger I Late) cupolas with or w/o rain gutters
150 parts (126 parts in grey styrene, 20 etched brass, 4 DS plastic); retail price US $13.98
Advantages: improved version of original kit; modern armor arrays newly done
Disadvantages: bar armor array not full convincing
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: for all small-scale British and engineer vehicle fans
Following two months after the Challenger 2 with bulldozer kit (No. 7285) is this kit with the latest "fad" among armored vehicle designers – bar armor. All major countries are now looking to it, and the US, UK, Russia and China actually field vehicles carrying it.
Bar armor – also called slat armor, grille armor or the truly unique Chinese name of "boom shields" – is a simple idea whose origins go back to WWII when shaped charge explosive weapons fired at low velocities began to proliferate. The main threat to the Western countries came from the "Panzerfaust" weapons, and those of the Germans were the PIAT, bazooka and other similar weapons. The concept is simple: put lightweight (relatively speaking) steel slats on the sides of the vehicle spaced out to the nominal optimum standoff distance for the shaped charge and either detonate it prematurely or cause its warhead to be crushed and rendered useless between the bars. As such, the bars are 50 to 100 mm inches wide and spaced about 60-70 mm apart (most weapons of this type are from 73 to 152 mm in diameter.)
The Chinese offer their "boom shields" as options on all tanks from the Type 59D onward; they were first encountered in Iraq during Desert Storm in 1991. The Russians now mount and use them on various vehicles, having tested their original concepts in Afghanistan and fielded them in Chechnya. The US and UK have created sets for use with their vehicles in Iraq, and right now at least the UK Warrior and US Stryker vehicles there mount full sets.
The Challenger 2 is a natural for this sort of protection, for it provides very good protection against RPG and ATGM fire for relatively little weight. (The Stryker kit weighs about 2.5 metric tons.) As a result it is used to protect the most vulnerable parts of the tank, namely the hull and turret rear areas where the armor is thinnest. A very good explanation and show of these items has appeared in recent issues of "Military Modelling" with Dick Taylor covering Warrior and Peter Brown the Challenger 2 fits.s.
This again is the reworked DML kit with "slide molded" components and DS plastic tracks. The latter should be appreciated as they are more flexible and since they take normal plastic cements also easier to install and paint; also this particular kit now includes DS plastic tow cables. This is a good idea as they are flexible, highly detailed but easy to paint and attach (more in the other scales, please!)
While the hull still comes with the original screw attachment holes and mounts, the parts now simply cement together. It now comes with modified uparmored skirts less the ground-length dust covers, applique armor for the glacis and the bow, and the TIP armor panels for the sides of the turret. The "4 x 8 plywood" ones for the turret glacis are not included, but I am not sure if they go on the variant modeled.
The model comes with hatches that can be positioned open or closed, but again the driver's hatch opens onto one of the screw holes. Note that the direction arrows STILL show the cover (part A38) cementing into the screw hole; most modelers will figure that one out in a hurry, but I do wonder why DML didn't correct their original error?
The kit now includes the modified armor panels and arrays for the modifications needed to mount the bar armor. The bar armor array is all etched brass, including its mounts, and requires bending and folding. The main turret and hull armor arrays are single parts and therefore make assembly a bit easier, but they are very thin and very fragile so a great deal of care will be required. (If you don't have a "Hold and Fold," "Etch-Mate," or "Fender Bender" getting good bends in parts this thin and this large will be problematic.)
The one major problem is that the actual bar armor arrays are about 3/16" of an inch thick and about 2" deep; while smaller and thinner than the other countries' arrays, this is a near impossibility to accurately reproduce in 1/72 scale. The bars thus have no depth to them, and it is doubtful many modelers will go through the misery of gluing 0.010" square strip to each bar to give the impression of depth. The result is a pleasing look only when viewed broadside on, as the rest of the views show them to be far too simple and too thin. Having just done a model of a T-72B with "Reshyetka" grille armor arrays, I can sympathize with DML's plight as I had to opt the other direction, using slightly overscale thickness in 1/35 scale to get sufficient durability.
Still, DML should be commended for this, as few other kits with any sort of bar armor have shown up over the years. There are several for the Chinese "boom shields" to fit to T-54 or T-55 type tanks, and at least two have been advertised for the new Stryker kits. All are etched brass as well, and all require soldering skills for clean assembly.
The kit does come with a small decal sheet, but only one recommended paint scheme for the Royal Dragoon Guards Armour Regiment in Poland, 2006. However, the only vehicle known to be fitted with this armor right now is the one photographed by Peter Brown at the ACTU at Bovington, so I cannot verify the accuracy of the claims. (The model does match with Peter's photos, however.)
Overall I think DML has made a game effort of it and that most modelers will be pleased with the kit as provided.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue layout:
A 78 Main details for upper hull
B 38 Wheels and return rollers
C 3 Turret and hull parts
D 4 DS plastic tracks and tow cables
E 7 ERA and ID panels
MA 10 Etched brass (generic)
MB 10 Etched brass bar armor array
MB
(Originally written on June 2, 2007)
Kit Review: cyber-hobby.com (Dragon Models Limited) 1/35 scale kit No. 17 (6339)Kuebelwagen Radio Car w/Cold Weather Starter and Mechanics; 176 parts (154 in grey styrene, 14 etched brass, 8 clear styrene) : retail price US $19.95
Advantages: another useful variant of the Bego VW kit; includes tank kit adapters for Tiger II and Panther chassis
Disadvantages: few noted
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German VW fans and dioramists
I am never sure if DML actually reads reviews but I was particularly disappointed in the last of their Bego VW kits – the radio car – as it required a bunch of cables and there was not one whit of directions, wires or any other means to assemble them. This time happily there are instructions for what this kit does and how to use it.
The Germans – like the Americans, the British and the Soviets – all provided for manual (crank) starting of their tank engines if either the batteries went dead, the electrical system was damaged, or it required "pre-starting" in very cold weather. But trying to kick over a big engine in cold weather can be extremely tedious, frustrating and fatiguing for the crew. (I found that out back in 1975 with simple little 10 HP four-cylinder gasoline generator engines, which do not instinctively want to start at 20 below zero...)
The German solution was to create a simple starter mechanism driven by the power of the "boxer" engine in the VW Kuebelwagen. By attaching a special drive to the crankshaft output on the engine, the VW engine could be used to provide direct-drive cranking to the bigger engines.
This kit provides such a system, as well as three mechanics in winter parkas and two different connector heads for the drive mechanism and an open adapter plate for both the Panther series chassis and the Tiger II (a Jagdtiger is shown in the directions) hulls. They do point out that the Jagdtiger plate on the kit's stern plate must be cut off for the new one to mount, but the Panther ones are separate so it is just a matter of replacement. A blowtorch (basic heating 101) is provided along with a weld-on rack for stowage on the back of the Panther.
The drive unit is nicely detailed but only a "stick-on" assembly as there is no provision for connecting it to the vehicle's engine. It simply attaches to the lower part of part A23 with no feed-through to the crankshaft take-off.
The Bego VW itself now comes as a pre-packaged element of the kit with all five major sprues in a bag so they can easily be packed in the kits. It's a nice kit, but as its merits and failings have been discussed in the past I will not dwell on it. Suffice it to say it is pretty decent and most modelers are happy with the kit.
The figures are all dressed in late-war parkas with "splinter" camouflage being indicated, and one figure is operating the clutches on the takeoff unit while the other two hold the drive unit up to the rear of the tank. All are typical DML products with well-rendered faces, uniforms and details and normal "six-piece" basic shapes (legs, arms, torso, head.)
Three generic sets of markings are provided: one Luftwaffe, one German Army (Heeres) and one "German Armed Forces" (the telltale SS runes say who it really belongs to, and the "Totenkopf" divisional symbol pretty much nails it down.) Once again the painting directions are pretty much hosed up as it calls for a mixture of black, grey and one other color (H59/15) which is not listed, but some variety of field grey seems to be the ultimate result. The color directions for painting the mechanic's parkas are similarly screwy, and it is too bad cyber-hobby.com could not have provided a color painting diagram for the crew. The decals from Cartograf have number jungles for the license plates and a few more divisional symbols on them.
Overall this kit makes more sense than some from the "boutique" series and should be very popular with those modelers who like to do dioramas.
Advantages: solves many modelers' problems with either ACC or epoxy adhesives; wide range of product sizes and capabilities; no odor or caustic chemical problems
Disadvantages: use of the "Gloves" requires some trial and error and getting used to the feeling of the material on the fingers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all modelers with multimedia projects and even for general home repair functions
I have to say up front one reason I do not do more multimedia projects, or that is to say conversions or kits involving resin, metal or etched brass, is that I really do not like the adhesives one has to use to assemble those materials or attach them to styrene plastic. ACC glues are pretty iffy to me, with sometimes nasty fumes, "crazing" of some styrene parts, erratic set-up times, and a known lack of shear strength which causes parts to fly off if bumped from the sides. Epoxy is thick and messy to prepare, and if not done in the correct proportions the bonds are weak or may never even set up. Contact cement is thick, hard to apply accurately, and unsympathetic to mistakes. Most other adhesives do not have sufficient bonding power.
I also have to plead guilty to being a closet (rather basement) model railroader and as such like to hit the four big Great Scale Model Train Show events every year in Baltimore which are held at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. At this year's February event I saw a stand for Sinbad Glues and went over to hear the salesman's pitch. The use of the base product, called simply Sinbad Glue, was most impressive. Thicker than most ACC cements but thinner than old-fashioned plastic model cement, the adhesive lived up to all claims, and could even glue rubber together with a solid bond that I could not break in two minutes flat.
The salesman pointed out that Sinbad Glue itself is similar in composition to the glues used by dentists for installing caps and crowns, and is activated by having oxygen shut off. (It is a cyanoacrylate glue, but not ACC.) This requires a good, tight bond and seal between the parts, but once there bonds with something like 1100 pounds of strength and also maintains shear strength. Unlike ACC cements, which once exposed to air begin to lose their effectiveness and usually lose adhesive quality after two or three months, he noted that the Sinbad glues have an indefinite shelf life if kept correctly stored.
Having been the unwilling host to three crowns over the last 17 years, all of which are firmly in place, I could see how well this sort of adhesive worked and was eager to try it out. (The fact that they had a direct-to-customer sale price on the Value Pak set also helped!)
The salesman said the only major preparation required was to rub your fingers or hands with the "Gloves" first. This is a white cream which coats the surface of the skin and prevents the adhesive from bonding to them; he also noted it would work with ACC glues as well. A further suggestion was to coat the threads on the cap of the bottle with it as well to prevent the cap sticking. Note that this is an adhesive which WILL work on flesh and all normal care should be taken with it, whether or not you follow the directions and use the "Gloves."
I recently received a set of Miniarm T-90 conversion parts from Bill Miley and decided to try the Sinbad products out on them. The first step was modifying a Tamiya T-72 hull to take the Miniarm glacis panel. Once I had the two mated and a good seal, I opened the Gloves and rubbed them on my right hand. The feel is something like having Teflon coated fingers, and I suggest ensuring you have knurled tools around to use when you are working with this product. I applied the glue in reasonable amounts to the parts, noting that it does stay put and does not run.
Once clamped together with simple hand pressure, I noticed that the parts did set up in about 30 seconds as advertised and after two minutes the hull top could be twisted and contorted but the bond would not break. (I did not put the Gloves on my left hand, and where the glue oozed out of a crack between parts I noted it did try and "grab" my fingers, but I switched hands in a hurry and suffered no ill effects.)
Next I tried the wheels, with the same result. However, I noted that if the seal or joint between parts is not tight, the adhesive does not seem to react and thus no bond will form until the parts are correctly mated. The vinyl "keepers" in the road wheels were a shade too long for the resin conversion wheels, but after trimming them down the parts bonded as per the other resin parts.
I have not had a chance to try out all of the bits and options, but so far this product seems to deliver and deliver in spades, so I for one am highly impressed. Anyone who has been frustrated by other adhesives should take note of this product, as it is a boon to modelers just on its general qualities and specifically for the lessening of health risks and frustrations.
I have not had a chance to try the other elements of the Value Pak yet, but here is what Sinbad claims they do, and after trying the lead two products I have no reason to doubt their effectiveness.
Sinbad Glue Gel – functions like Sinbad Glue but in a thickened gel format. It takes about 2-3 minutes to grip and 8-24 hours to firmly set up
Sinbad Accelerator – designed for use with porous or absorbent materials, the accelerator seals the porous material on one side so the glue will grip right away, and thus permits work with polyethylene, pewter, wood, glass, stone, and some plastics.
Sinbad Filler – used for filling cracks, holes, broken edges, and can be used on seeping liquids like water, oil, gasoline or diesel fuel. Requires an application of Filler Glue first and after use of Filler (as a sealer.) May be sanded and painted after 24 hours.
Sinbad Filler Glue – enhanced performance Sinbad Glue that "grabs" in five seconds, and therefore provides a base for the Filler. May be used to stop leaks in pipes.
inbad Debond – acetone based glue remover, but takes two hours to loosen bonds.
It should be noted that Sinbad is made in Germany and the company also offers regular product lines for other hobby work as well, such as fabric cements, hot glue guns, epoxy resins, ballistic lubricants, degreasers, wood and metal putties, and many other products which are explained on their web site.
Overall I really like these products and even just for around-the-house "honeydos" they appear to offer some nice advantages. But for modeling their flagship product solves most of my miseries and should be a real boon in the future.
(Originally written on May 27, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7314; Sd.Kfz. 251/10 Ausf. C w/3.7 cm Pak; 166 parts (149 in grey styrene, 15 etched brass, 2 DS plastic track runs); price about US$14.95
Advantages: nice continuation kit with very nicely done Pak mount and racks
Disadvantages: RP parts (as in right puny!)
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German WWII "Small Scale" fans
After a pause of about a year DML has returned to their small scale family of German C model halftracks with the "Stroke 10" platoon commander's vehicle. The idea was that by giving the platoon leader his own direct engagement firepower he could eliminate threats to his platoon.
This kit uses the same basic moldings as the previous C kits but with a new set of G sprues for the gun and its assorted new fittings. The upper hull is the regular welded Ausf. C one. The lower hull is a single piece pan, less the rear area, and the axles are molded on the lower hull. The running gear for each side consists of a rear (inside) wheel section, a center wheel section, three outer road wheels, and drivers. Once installed the connectors between the individual wheels on the inside and the center are not visible, so it helps speed up assembly while making it easier to get things aligned. Tracks are the gluable DS plastic, so you can also get them to settle down on top of the road wheels with some care.
Interior bits include the various control levers, rifles, MP submachine guns, and other items. The hinge mechanisms for the doors are single pieces, but are non-operating types. They cement to the lower rear section, as the upper hull has the rear angular parts of the hull attached to it. The four front viewers are separate parts and can be cemented either open or closed as well, as is the hood assembly with two flaps. No engine or interior is provided for the engine bay.
The fenders are one-piece units, but the stowage bins are only offered as closed parts. The front MG 34 shield is offered as either a single piece of styrene or a three-piece etched brass option. Other RP parts include the "Notek" headlight and mount and the drum magazines for the two MG 34 machine guns. The weapons appear to be very close to scale, something I don't recall from other manufacturers in the past!
The Pak 36/37 gun is very neatly done with a "slide molded" open bore so it is up to speed with the larger kits. The gun and mount consist of 9 parts but an optional brass gun shield is also provided in the kit. Inside the hull the modeler has a choice of a single piece stryrene ammo rack or a combination styrene and brass ammo rack on each side of the hull, with the ammo cans provided separately and a single brass frame to be bent and fitted over them.
Directions are standard DML fare, but due to the fewer parts in their 1/72 series kits they are not as busy and much easier to read. These have some of the detail painting colors shown which breaks up the monotony of black and white with blue trim for the directions.
The model comes with but one offering for finishing, the ubiquitous "Unidentified Unit" on the Eastern Front 1942, in Panzerbraun. However it comes with two nice sheets, one being a "number jungle" for the hull and the other being generic license plates, so the modeler with good references may choose his own subject.
Overall, again DML has another nice offering to small scale modelers.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on May 27, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6309; Vergfuegungstruppe France 1940; 98 parts in grey styrene; price about US $9.50
Advantages: another uniform option for German fans; nicely done weapons of somewhat exotic nature
Disadvantages: no explanation as to what this set is or what it is doing
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German fans
There are times I am easily stumped by models when the kit does not readily identify what it is or what is does. This is one of those times, so bear with me. The kit calls itself "Verfuegungstruppe" which as near as my German permits me to translate is "Disposal Troops" – but more along the lines of explosive ordnance device (EOD) clearing engineers. What it comes with is a set of four figures wearing early pattern smocks with an "ambush" color pattern on them and weapons such as the Model 39 antitank rifle and a Bergman MP18 submachine gun. They are very relaxed and having chow (a 1/35 spoon is even part of their kit!) and one figure has a chunk of white bread in his hand.
There is what appears to be an engineer munitions case with them so they may well be engineers involved in obstacle clearing, but from the box art it seems more like checking for booby traps in captured French equipment (they are posed with two French light tanks.)
The kit is typical "first generation" DML – six main parts per figure and a good deal of add-on kit (bread bags, canteens, gas mask canisters, mess kits, entrenching tools, and a few oddities like a Mauser Model 1896 in its holster. Helmets are provided with matching camouflage covers, but all four figures have solid heads and are bare-headed. One man is bandaged.
Weaponry consists of two Mauser Kar 98K rifles, two of the Model 39 antitank rifles with extra clips and bipods, and the Bergmann SMG with four magazines and a choice of open or closed bolts.
Internally the kit is identified as "Das Reich" – e.g. 2nd SS Panzer Division – so that could explain some of the lack of description on the box art. The box art is not from old reliable Ron Volstad but an uncredited artist, and the directions are not those like Ron uses as well. They are not as clear and somewhat confusing as they show the assembled figures and then the box art with lines and arrows for painting.
Overall the figures are great as usual – but I just wish I knew more of what they are supposed to be doing!
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on May 26, 2007)
Kit Review: Miniarm 1/35 Scale Resin Conversion Parts and Sets
Kit No. B35005; T-72B, T-72BM, T-90 Wheel Sets, Late Version (For Tamiya and Trumpeter Kits); 24 parts in light grey-green resin; price US$24.00
Kit No. B35031; T-90 Model 1992 Turret, also for T-90S; 109 parts (107 in grey-green resin, 2 turned aluminum); price US$58.00
Kit No. B35032; T-90 Model 1992, T-90S, T-90A, T-90 "Bichma" Conversion Set; 24 parts (23 in light grey-green resin, 1 length of soft brass wire); price US$40
Kit No. B35034; T-90, T-90A, T-90S Workable Track Set w/Drive Sprockets and Idlers; approximately 178 parts in light grey-green resin; price US$40
NOTE: These items are distributed and marketed by Chesapeake Model Designs, PO Box 393, Monkton, MD 21111 or http://www.chesapeakemodels.com; if purchased from them as a set the price of the unit (T-90 CK) is US$140.00)
Advantages: Turns the T-72M1 into an early model T-90 or T-90S
Disadvantages: need some work on the part of the modeler, heavy pour blocks on some items
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all modern Russian or Indian armor fans
The T-72 has not had a happy time of it since the fall of the Soviet Union. While one of the "best sellers" for the Soviets and the "Uralvagonzavod" in the 1980s, with the fall of the Union in 1991 combined with the debacle of Operation Desert Storm in that same year put the factory in a tough spot. The T-72, long vaunted as one of the most powerful tanks in the world, lost both its prestige and its backers within a year.
While former Soviet flacks tried to spin the Gulf War to their advantage, the fact of the matter was that most prospective customers believed the American version of events and not the Soviet one. (Soviet Claim: only 14 T-72s were lost by the Iraqis and most of them were destroyed by their own crews to prevent capture. American Claim: B Company 4th Tanks of the USMC destroyed 34 T-72M and T-72M1 tanks in less than 14 minutes.)
Meanwhile, back in Russia they had been working on improving their domestic version of the tank. First they produced the T-72BM which made a number of changes to the vehicle, including replacing the 4S20 add-on reactive armor ("Kontakt-1") with the new second-generation 4S22 ("Kontakt-5") reactive armor in new arrays. The vehicles received a new 1A40-1 fire control system backed up by a 1K13-2 sight for a through-the-bore antitank guided missile system. Other changes were made, but there was no real quantum leap forward in this tank and only a few were procured by the Soviet Army.
This was followed by a far more modified dubbed the T-72BU. This tank added a modified version of the 1A45 "Irtysh" fire control system from the T-80U which both improved the fire control of the T-72B as well as standardized most parts with the two tanks. It got a new V-84 diesel engine of 840 HP (780 HP in early models), new radio sets, and a meteorological sensor mast. Lastly, it was equipped with the brand-new "Shtora-1" passive/active protection system that detected laser rangefinders and target designators. This system would then either slew the turret to face the threat or fire smoke grenades to blind the enemy; it also used "dazzlers" on either side of the turret to disrupt the tracking control of enemy ATGM gunners.
But with the T-72 designator being a drug on the market, in 1992 new Russian President Boris Yeltsin wisely (at least from a marketing standpoint) changed the designator to T-90 and proclaimed it the "First Russian Tank." Unfortunately even with all these changes the Russians were broke, and over the course of 15 years they have only been able to purchase less than 350 tanks for their own use. Happily the Indians stepped in and purchased 310 of the tanks fitted out for hot climate operations as the T–90S, so the production lines have kept going.
Over the years the T-90 has undergone a number of changes. The very first one was to replace the old single-pin RMSh tracks with new twin-pin RMSh types that were improved versions of the tracks used on the T-80 family of vehicles. These are now called the "Universal Tracks" and are being fitted to all Russian vehicles using T-72 or T-80 chassis and components.
In 1999 a new welded turret was introduced and while not formally identified resulted in a tank called either the T-90 Model 1999 (T-90S Model 1999) or T-90A (T-90SA) on Russian blog sites. This has better armor resistance than the cast turret.
Also the tank received first a modifed version of the V-84 engine, the V-84MS, and later the new 1000 HP V-92S2 engine. Both of these engines are externally identified by a long, curving "anteater" type exhaust tube that has baffles over and under it as well as a grille in the duct itself. These draw cold air from the air cleaner and reduce the tank's overall signature.
Miniarm's new series of kits now permit regular modelers to produce the members of the T-90 family; the "T-90A" welded turret will follow along later this year and the only component not yet offered by Miniarm is the new exhaust mounting and tube for the V-84MS/V-92S2 engine installation. Picking up kits B35005, B35031 and B35032 will permit the modeler to make one of the very earliest of the T-90 series with the standard RMSh kit tracks; adding B35034 to the mix provides for the standard production Model 1992 or the early version of the T-90S, dubbed "Bishma" by the Indian Army. (The Russians named the tank the "Vladimir" in honor of designer Vladimir Potkin, who died of a heart attack shortly after the vehicle was accepted for service.)
The kits are typical of the fine product line from Miniarm, and all of them seem to match the profiles of their prototype very well. However, these are older technology products, which in resin says sizeable pour plugs that must be removed. Most are at least logically sited so they can be removed without damage to the part, but great care will have to be taken with the bins on the turret.
That being said, the kits all state that they are for either the Tamiya or the Trumpeter
T-72M1 kits. In good conscience, I must heartily recommend that only the Tamiya kit be considered. The Trumpeter T-72M1 kit is literally a cheesy knock-off of the Tamiya kit (the directions are xeroxed from the original with the logos cut off) and, like all second-rate copies, the kit possesses lousy fit and finish. Ergo, plan on the Tamiya one even at twice the price.
Once you have the right kit, the rest is relatively simple as the directions, while "point and stick" photos, show what has to be cut off the original and where the new bits go.
The wheels are literally a one-for-one replacement. Note that you will have to drill out the holes for the axles in each rear wheel, but if done carefully the original Tamiya "keepers" will fit so the wheels can be left loose until final assembly.
The tracks are nearly identical to those used on the T-64 upgrade kits and simply snap together as they are a slightly flexible resin. However, while the correct new drivers are provided as well as new idlers, the drivers do not come with the track guide disks so those will have to be taken from the base kit or the spares box. (The good news is the new ones are simply the kit parts but with the proper "teeth" added for the twin-pin links.)
The hull parts are more extensive than some in the past, as it provides both the new glacis and fender section to replace the T-72M1 glacis (this one has the built-in "Kontakt-5" armor arrays in it) as well as some of the details added, such as reinforced rubber "flapper" covers for the rear air exhaust vents, new final drive drain assemblies, and the "Kontakt-5" panels for the front half of the side skirts. They also provide directions for the "stagger" to these panels for installation. There are a number of kit parts used, so the directions show where the kit parts fit on the new glacis. These include the tow hooks, headlights and guards, and marker lights, and the wire is provided to run new control wires down to the stub control connectors for the mine plow fittings. It also provides new attachment fittings for the front of the hull to replace the somewhat anemic kit parts.
The turret is complete and requires very little from the kit. This is a good idea, as very few items from the T-72M1 turret transfers over directly to the new T-90 turret. Having just done one the hard way with a Tamiya T-72M1 turret and an old DML "T-72M2" (T-72B1) turret I am impressed with the quality of the base molding. Basically the actual vehicle also shows the fact that the T-90 took the entire remote control machine gun cupola from the T-64BV series tanks and fitted it to a T-72B turret, so all of that has to be new. The gunner's hatch is better detailed than the original, so replacing it is a good idea as well.
The turret has a ton of new parts, so they must be carefully fitted after studying the plans. Some are very tiny and require care. For example the "Shtora-1" system is complete and need a lot of care as the coarse laser detection heads (parts 25) have optional position covers (parts 26) as do the fine laser detection heads (part 24) and its covers (parts 27). Each smoke grenade launcher barrel assembly (parts 35 I think!) mount individually to the two brackets. There are also 22 separate "Kontakt-5" bricks for the turret (not listed but very obvious as they are on a "wafer" of resin) and no less than 17 of them are called for (there are some fits seen with as many as 19 used, so three must be spares) but location here is pretty much shown in the photos.
The "dazzler" searchlights are an amazing bit of molding, as most modelers who scratchbuild would not attempt them due to the "hedgehog" heat sink pins located all over their surfaces. Miniarm has done a beautiful job of them and adds a separate top to give six-surface finishing to them.
The barrel is the only really tricky part, as only one end of the bore evacuator (resin) is tapped with a hole for the assembly pin. Drilling out the other will be somewhat tedious. Also for no reason I can find the flange where the barrel thermal jacket is sealed is missing; Miniart has engraved a fine line in the top of the barrel where it goes, but no material is provided for it. You will need strips of very thin brass or styrene to add this feature.
No finishing directions are provided by any of the sections, but all of the Russian ones seen so far are in some variation of their new standard camouflage of sand grey, dark green and black. Since the colors vary nearly from vehicle to vehicle, there aren't any really good color matches to give for them other than suggesting FS37038 black and FS34088 dark green.
Overall, these kits do provide a chance for the modeler to create one of the more current tanks in Russia or to create the Indian Army Bishma tank. For those wanting a later version, the welded T-90 turret, combined with the other three elements of this grouping, should provide a model of that tank later this summer, and if Miniarm releases the new exhaust assembly a current production version can be built.
Thanks to Bill Miley of CMD for the review samples.
Cookie Sewell
(By the way this is my next project!)
(Originally written on May 19, 2007)
Kit Review: Italeri 1/72 scale Kit No. 7046; Sd. Kfz. 231 6 Rad; 59 parts in dark grey styrene; price US$12.50
Advantages: nice. cleanly executed kit of this different subject
Disadvantages: "one way" to build it; odd choice of items to fully detail and just simplify
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: for all early war German armor fans as well as wheeled armor lovers
During World War I almost all armored cars shared two features: they only had two axles and they were not really suited for cross country operations. Between the wars, heavier armored cars were introduced, and even on roads that required using at least three axles. The US, Soviet Union, and Germany all went with three axle designs, but none of them were truly successful. The reason for this was that the long gap between the front and first driving axle (all were basically 6 x 4 configuration types) caused the hull to "belly in" when crossing gaps. The Soviet solution – typically Soviet as it was simple and inexpensive – was to place stub axles on the sides of the body and fit them with the spare wheels, so in essence they turned into an 8 x 4 design. The Germans simply went to an 8 x 8 design.
The Sd.Kfz. 231 (6 rad) was their first heavy armored car and began development in 1929. Essentially it was based on a standard medium truck chassis, much in the same manner that the Soviet BA-3 was developed from the GAZ-AAA (Polutorka) chassis. Three companies produced them, namely Buessing-NAG, Magirus-Deutz, and Daimler Benz. It was therefore not standardized other than its external body, as each company's vehicle used its proprietary engine. Between 1932 and 1937 123 Sd.Kfz. 231 (6 rad) and externally similar Sd.Kfz. 232 (6 rad) standard armored casr and 28 Sd.Kfz. 263 (6 rad) heavy radio cars were produced. Their combat career was short as they had very limited off road performance. Note that for some odd reason the Germans reused these same designators for the early 8-wheel cars as well but added (8 rad) after them to show which was which. The six-wheelers were reduced to police work and rear area units after 1940. (Note that later on some vehicles were fitted with a belly roller to try and prevent this, but all it did was reduce the ground clearance and prove more of a hindrance than a help.)
Still this vehicle has always been popular with modelers as it looks imposing, but until recently only the ancient Midori 1/40 scale wind-up model covered this subject. Now new kits are out in both 1/35 and 1/72 from Italeri. This is the smaller of the two, and it is a cleanly executed model of the basic vehicle. It comes on but a single sprue (the only variant being the aforementioned radio car, which only requires the "bedstead" antenna rack to be fitted to the standard car) but is relatively complete. Note that the kit does not offer the belly roller as an option.
The kit breakdown is similar to the old Airfix kits – upper and lower hull, separate fenders and engine assembly, and then the wheels and tires as single units. All are clean but the wheels suffer from sink marks in the center of the outer hubs of the outer wheels. This isn't so bad as the original vehicle was pretty simple and did not have a great deal of external bits either.
Some modelers will be disappointed as Italeri did skimp on some details as none of the crew hatches may be opened, and the spare tire with cover is molded directly to the rear hull plate. But all of the OVM are separate parts, as are the smoke candles and a four-piece antiaircraft machine gun mount with MG34 that goes on the top of the turret. The guns are fixed and the mantelet is part of the turret front.
Decals are provided for four vehicles: Unknown unit, Germany 1939; 2nd Panzer Division, France May 1940; Unknown unit, Germany 1938; Unknown unit, Poland 1939. All four come with number plates and specific markings. I do question the colors – the directions call for overall finishes in RLM 70 Schwarzgruen which is a very dark green and not the "Panzergrau" which was more common at the time. In point of fact, all of the artwork is in dark grey so think somebody messed up on the colors.
Overall, this is a nicely handled kit and as Italeri seems to be targeting the gap between wargamers and "small scale" fans it looks to make a good fit for all concerned.
Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.
(Originally written on May 17, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Armor Pro Kit No. 7313; M4A3(105mm) HVSS Sherman; 201 parts (172 parts in grey styrene, 27 etched brass, 2 tan DS plastic track runs); retail price US $14.95
Advantages: amazing amount of detail in a 1/72 scale kit; very nicely done with new parts breakdown; DML discovers weld beads; HVSS now with T80 tracks as well
Disadvantages: retains earlier mistakes from VVSS version of this kit
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: for all Shermaholics and 1/72 scale modelers
Hot on the heels of their "Thunderbolt VII" M4A3E8 76mm kit (No. 7302) we now receive a new 105mm howitzer version from DML. It is different from Kit No. 7274 in many ways but retains one unfortunate error.
The new variant model is a late production howitzer Sherman – HVSS suspension, 47 degree ("big hatch") hull, high-bustle turret with loader's hatch, early style exhaust deflector, T80 twin-pin steel faced tracks, and a "slide molded" 105mm barrel.
This kit uses the "wet stowage" hull which is absent the odd holes in the bottom of the VVSS ones. The upper hull is "slide molded" in one section and has the mounts for the side shields on it with bolt holes clearly visible. The smaller tools (e.g. mattock, tanker's bar, and axe) are molded in place, but the remaining ones are separate. Oddly enough the kit does not include the late model "split" exhaust deflectors found on this vintage of M4A3.
The suspension is the new and revised HVSS one that consists of the six bogies for the HVSS suspension with each bogie requiring eight parts – a "bicycle" formed by two wheels and the bogie frame, two outer wheels, two spring sections, a joiner for the articulated sections of the bogie, and a mounting to attach them to the hull. Wheels are detailed on both sides.
The turret consists of a top and bottom with the pistol port molded in place, but the cover left separate. This is again a "slide molded" part to get the detail resolution. The turret is quite complete, with a very nicely done machine gun with parallel heat jacket at the rear of the barrel and separate spade grips. The commander's "vision" cupola is provided and nicely molded.
The etched brass parts replace some of the detail parts provided in styrene, such as the front fender tips, the rear luggage rack, and some of the tool racks. The parts are called out on the directions with blue for parts to be trimmed or removed and a mustard color for the brass parts to be installed; this is quite helpful as the directions are thankfully in black and white and parts are thus much easier to see.
Unfortunately this kit still replicates the too narrow mantelet of the 1/35 scale kit as well as the previous VVSS kit. But unlike previous DML efforts, this is the first one to include the same error noted in the larger kit. In 1/72 scale the mantelet 14.3 mm wide; but on the kit it is exactly 13mm. Ergo, it is approximately 9% undersized and unfortunately DML did not take the original criticisms to heart and fix it.
The applique armor sprue from the M4A3 76mm HVSS kit is included for the new hull rear and fenders. DML missed an opportunity here to include parts for the flamethrower version used later in the Pacific or Korea.
Finishing instructions cover four tanks: 713th Tank Battalion, Okinawa 1945 in OD with sand temporary camouflage; 67th Armored Infantry Battalion, 13th Armored Division, Austria 1945 (OD overall); 752nd Tank Battalion, Italy 1945 (OD overall); and 20th Armored Infantry Battalion, 10th Armored Division, Germany 1945. A "targeted" set of Cartograf decals is provided. I do wish they had included USMC markings for Korea as a change of pace, though.
Overall this is again a nice kit of the howitzer Sherman but once more the too-narrow mantelet detracts from its accuracy.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue Layout
A 11 M4A3 details
a 32 High Bustle turret with 105mm howitzer fittings
B 40 Sherman hull details
D 66 HVSS suspension
E 16 M4A3 HVSS details and applique armor
G 2 M4A3 Wet Stowage hull
Y 2 DS tracks - T80
MA 27 etched brass
(Originally written on May 14, 2007)
Kit Review: Tristar 1/35 Scale Kit No. 030; German 7.5 cm Pak 40 Fgst. Pz. Kpfw. Marder III Ausf. H; 861 parts (608 in sand colored styrene, 136 etched brass, 109 in creamy tan styrene, 8 clear styrene); retail price US$49.00
Advantages: another and totally different approach to this vehicle; massive amount of etched brass comes with the kit; very clever way to provide loaded ammo bins
Disadvantages: fiddly tracks, not kind to sloppy or "That's Close" modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all WWII German fans and "Czech Tank" fans
The more of the Tristar kits I see the more impressed I am with their engineering. This kit is surprisingly not a simple reuse of their excellent Pzkw. 38(t) molds with an AFV Club Pak 40 slapped on it as was originally indicated; the kit only uses two AFV Club sprues and only the running gear from the earlier kits intact. All other sprues are new and dedicated to this kit.
While it has lagged behind the DML kit of the same subject – and that being a "Smart Kit" with emphasis on minimizing extraneous or multimedia parts – this kit has taken a different approach to the subject, a popular German SP antitank conversion. As noted only two sprues – the cradle and associated components and the 7.5 cm ammunition selection for the Pak 40 – have come from AFV Club. The remainder of the fittings, to include the base, barrel and other associated components, are all new Tristar moldings.
While the components have all been redone, they do use the engineering and design work from the outstanding Ausf. E/F and Ausf. G Pzkw. 38(t) kits. The suspension is provided intact with the bogies and Tristar track sets.
This kit is different and Step 1 begins with the transmission, clutches and ribbon brakes. The air flow shutters in the firewall may also be positioned either open or closed. Step 2 is the belly and lower hull, which follows the gun tank kits. From here on Steps 3-4 are for the new vehicle and cover all of its internal bits as well as hull assembly. The road wheels and suspension follow in Step 5 and the fenders and details for the upper hull in Step 6. Step 7 is the upper hull and engine deck.
Step 8 covers the jack and tool boxes as well as the rear of the hull. Tristar finally fixed the problem with the optional track tension adjuster (E-34) or dust covers (E-33) and no longer has the modeler trying to fit both at once! Step 9 is the exhaust system and upper engine deck cover and fittings; unlike the etched "basket" in the DML kit this one provides a styrene one (B-25) but since it was tubular steel this is probably more accurate.
Step 10 covers the hull ammo racks. Tristar has provided commendably thinwalled tubes for the ammo racks, and if you wish to load them also provides projectiles only with tapered ends to load in the racks; I think back to the old Italeri kit that simply got around this by having no tubes and very thin 7.5 cm rounds in order to get them to fit! The gun base is also fitted in this step.
Step 11 is the gun barrel and cradle assembly (what the Russians call the "elevating mass" components) and combines the new Tristar bits with the AFV Club ones. Step 12 is the attachment of the gun to the hull and fitting of the gun shield. Step 13 covers the details for the inside of the casemate to include viewers and ready racks. Step 14 is the assembly of the casemate and Step 15 covers the tracks. These can be snapped together with care but are somewhat peevish and will still need to be cemented together once in place. The last assembly covers the AFV Club ammunition (which is extra for detailing) and the muzzle brake. Tristar provides two choices – open for use and with a canvas travel cover in place. The latter is a very nice touch and looks that with some Mr. Surfacer preparation and dry brushing it should look the part.
Note that Tristar kits are precision kits and do not react well to sloppy or thoughtless assembly. They are vulnerable to Murphy's Law of "if anything can go wrong it will go wrong" so they take more care than other manufacturers' kits. Also this one is etched brass heavy and there are no options to using the etched brass components provided with the kit. For example, the clutch and ribbon brake assembly requires 15 etched brass parts and 6 styrene ones.
The model comes with a total of 8 finishing choices and options: Pz.Jg.Abt 1, 1st SS LAH Division, Kharkov Winter 1942-43 (mottled); 29th Pz.Gren. Division, Italy Summer 1944 (tricolor); Pz.Jg.Abt. 171, 17st Infantry Division (tricolor); Pz.Jg.Abt. 171, 17st Infantry Division Italy 1943 (streaks over Panzerbraun); Unknown unit, Northern USSR, Spring 1944 (streaks over Panzerbraun); 23rd Panzer Division, Eastern Front 1944 ("Paula" in overall Panzerbraun); Trainer #1214 (two-color camouflage); and 2nd Company, Pz.Jg.Abt. 39, 21st Panzer Division, Tunisia 1943 (two-color camouflage). A "targeted" decal sheet is provided.
Overall this is a nice kit and another approach to modeling the popular Marder III. ‘
Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue layout
A 73 Pak 40 cradle and details (AFV Club A)
36 7.5 cm tubes, rounds and cases (AFV Club 35075)
A 28 Marder III hull and basic fittings
B 50 Marder III barrel, carriage, fittings
C 31 Marder III casemate and details
D 44 Tools and details
E 55x2 Wheels and suspension
F 54 Ammo stowage and projectile heads
G 8 clear styrene
H 72 Marder seats and interior details
T 73x3 track links
etch 136 etched brass
(Originally written on May 11, 2007)
Product Review: Armorscale 1/35 scale Set No. B25-064; .30 caliber Browning 1919A US Machine Gun Barrel; two turned brass parts; price US$7.00 (from Chesapeake Model Designs, PO Box 393, Monkton, MD 21111; http://www.chesapeakemodels.com)
Advantages: absolutely dead accurate and gorgeous barrel assembly for a "30 cal"
Disadvantages: needs to be routed out with a drill bit for assembly to take place
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all diorama and vignette builders (see text)
There have always been problems with machine guns, especially air cooled ones, in rendering them in model form. Quite often the barrels have lots of ventilation holes in them which make accurate molding of styrene barrels virtually impossible, as the molds usually can't get all around the barrel (holes aren't just facing the molds, but where they were needed to be.)
The most common of the guns, the Browning .30 caliber M1919A4, was used both on tripods and in vehicle mounts through the mid 1950s and was not completely replaced until Vietnam with the advent of the 7.62 x 51mm NATO rounds (.308 Winchester) and the M60 and its derivatives. Still, many countries used it under MAP and to this day there are still many serving in third world countries.
While the big M1921 M2HB machine gun also has its own problems around the protective shield where the barrel joins the receiver (straight and with either holes or slots in it) the smaller .30 caliber Brownings are usually the more ill-treated of the two. The most common flaws are either molding the barrels the wrong length, leaving off most of the details, or worst of all, molding the barrel with a blank adapter in place (the truncated cone gizmo seen in nearly all Hollywood films, as you need it to make the gun work with blanks!)
For several years manufacturers have tried to come up with good replacements, the most promising of which involved a metal barrel with a rolled brass cooling jacket to go around them. But unless perfectly rolled, it looked like a piece of brass rolled up and stuck over a metal barrel.
This new effort from Armorscale is a gorgeous piece of work, involving two pieces – the barrel with the muzzle cap and receiver fitting turned from brass, and a brass cooling jacket pierced over its entirety. The muzzle of the barrel even has the slot for disassembly cut into it, a touch many modelers miss when upgraded kit plastic barrels or resin after-market ones.
There is a problem, however, in that there are small burrs from the jacket piercing (drilling?) and right out of the bag prevent it from being assembled. It will take a few swipes of a suitable drill bit in a pin vise down the bore of the jacket before the barrel will slide into place. This shouldn't take most modelers too long to fix, and the directions indicate how to drill out the receiver to take the new barrel. The pin is long enough that with a proper choice of drill bit a smooth and tight fit can be achieved and the barrel look the part.
However, it is most likely modelers will only want to use these barrels for "foreground" modeling such as a .30 caliber with a figure or figures, or on the top of a tank; I cannot see too many folks spending $35 to put them on all of the guns of an early M3 Stuart, for example! They also would complement vehicles like the new DML halftracks with their Brownings on the skate rail.
Overall, if used for the right subject these are one of those "knock your socks off" touches that can really make a model.
Thanks to Bill Miley for the review samples.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on May 10, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Kit No. 7302; M4A3E8 (76) HVSS; 189 parts (160 in grey styrene, 27 etched brass, 2 tan DS plastic track runs); price US$14.95
Advantages: very nicely done kit with both general options and specific options for "Thunderbolt VII"
Disadvantages: "Not German"
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Shermaholics and US armor fans
DML continues to rock with their small-scale Sherman line, and in this case it appears they have done a very commendable job of it. The model builds up as an early production M4A3 with the "Wet" stowage hull, a 76mm M1A1C gun with muzzle brake, the "split ring" loader's hatch, HVSS suspension, and T66 single pin cast track. It also comes with a sprue of additional parts to correctly represent Colonel Creighton Abrams' "Thunderbolt VII" command tank when he was commanding Combat Command B of the 4th Armored Division in early 1945.
The model is of the normal "mix and match" sprue provision of most DML kits, and in this case provides the early T23 type turret sprue, an apparently updated HVSS suspension sprue with a great deal of details present, a generic Sherman detail sprue, the aforementioned supplemental parts sprue, a small fret of etched brass, and the two DS glueable plastic track runs.
The hull and turret details look very good, and as it is a generic sprue it also has the M1 gun barrel (no muzzle brake) and M1A1 with thread protector on it. The .50 caliber now has a set of spade grips but they come on another sprue; at least DML has been listening to complaints about such details being missing on early members of the "family."
The suspension consists of the six bogies for the HVSS suspension with each bogie requiring eight parts – a "bicycle" formed by two wheels and the bogie frame, two outer wheels, two spring sections, a joiner for the articulated sections of the bogie, and a mounting to attach them to the hull. Wheels are detailed on both sides – this is quite a nice touch in 1/72 as it was only recently those features made it to 1/35 scale kits! Ditto for the idlers.
The tracks are very nicely done T66 tracks with acceptable levels of detail; they may be a bit thin but once installed and painted it should not be too noticeable.
The supplemental parts sprue provides a matched armor array for "Thunderbolt VII" of applique panels for the bow and turret, but as is too often the case DML's directions don't highlight which parts are for which tank and show all four offerings for finishing with the same parts. The parts are all marked with the ambigious "optional" blue arrow favored by DML so the modeler is left up in the air unless he has good reference. (For "Thunderbolt" use all of them.) Note this also includes a .30 caliber in front of the commander's station.
The brass parts cover new front fender tips, the luggage rack at the rear of the hull, and headlight guards. Also note that before cementing the hull together you have to drill out several holes to mount the OVM on the rear of the hull and this is shown in Step 4. The drawing isn't too clear but it is from the inside of the hull and you can see the indentations to drill when inverted.
As noted, there are four finishing options, all in plain olive drab: 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Tank Division, Germany 1945 (as already noted it was CCB 4th Armored); generic 4th Armored Division, Germany 1945; 35th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division, Bastogne 1945; and 41st Tank Battalion, 11th Armored Division, Germany 1945. The latter is the well-known "Flat Foot Floogie" and it is rendered correctly (it's from a song of the period – "Flat foot floogie with the floy joy...")
Overall this is a much better kit than the unfortunate 105mm howitzer version whose gun and mantelet let it down, but I wish DML would use better instructions and keyed references when there are possible variations.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue layout
A 36 T23 early style turret
B 40 Sherman hull details
D 66 HVSS suspension
G 2 M4A3 Wet Stowage hull
E 16 M4A3 HVSS details and applique armor
MA 27 etched brass
Y 2 DS tracks - T66
(Originally written on May 9, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6361; M4 81mm Mortar Carrier - Smart Kit; 377 parts (355 in grey styrene, 20 etched brass, 2 turned aluminum); estimated price US $35-38
Advantages: a correct service mortar vehicle kit; based on great M2/M2A1 kit with all basic parts carried over, including radios and machine guns
Disadvantages: markings provided for but no comments or directions to create an accurate M4 Modified as used by 2nd Armored Division (e.g. mortar forward)
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all American halftrack fans as well as WWII armor fans
As part of the new halftrack program from 1941, the US Army also had the third type produced as a mortar carrier for the 81mm battalion level mortar. Using the chassis of the M2 halftrack, the new carrier had a stiffened floor plate and racks for up to 96 rounds of 81mm mortar bombs around the interior of the hull. It kept the "skate" ring inside the hull, but also added a door similar to that used on the larger bodied M3 halftrack for either access (limited by the skate rail) or ammo resupply from the ground. Provision was made to mount an SCR-510 radio set and amplifier unit on top of the right hand forward ammo box.
572 of these vehicles were built, and after some modifications based on field experience, another 600 M4A1 vehicles with a new mounting for the mortar were also built. This required the addition of a 7 3/8" base spacer to be placed under the vehicle's mortar baseplate to provide for proper traverse when firing. The plate at the rear of the had holes spaced at 100 mil intervals (about every 5.6 degrees) for the points of the bipod to engage. From the ground the main external differences were the provision of the winch and the "combat" headlights (M4s had the roller and "highway" headlights.)
The 2nd Armored Division found that the rearward firing mortar was awkward to aim and use, so they took the components from the M4A1 and reversed them with some other modifications (one ammo rack was removed, the other mounted in the center of the vehicle, and the baseplate and traversing plate were reversed). The rear door was no longer useable, but the increase in tactical effectiveness outweighed the shortcomings. Later, a refined design on the M3 chassis designated the M21 was built with this feature, but only 110 were built and it did not see wide combat action.
Each battalion headquarters in tank and armored infantry battalions had a platoon of three mortar carriers and a command halftrack, so there were at least 18 to 27 of these vehicles in an armored division.
DML's kit is a beautifully executed early production M4 version of the mortar carrier and uses the entire M2/M2A1 verbatim with the addition of another 32 parts to cover the altered internal components of the rear body, the new rear end with door, and the mortar itself. Only the alternate radiator covers for the "combat headlights" version of the grille are missing as the M4 only used the "highway" headlights out on the fenders.
The bulk of the kit is identical to the M2/M2A1 kit. Four sprues provide the parts for the chassis and drive train, including a complete White engine and transmission. While the hood is molded in one piece, DML has notched the back side as well as the insides of the "cab" sides to permit easy cutting to open them up for display. The tires have caused a lot of controversy as DML molded them with a slight bulge to show underinflated tires under load; this has been a love/hate feature of the kit, but personally I think it is not as bad as some of the "boo birds" have claimed. To each his own on taste.
The bogies and track runs are very impressive, as the idlers and drivers are "slide molded" with respectively thin details and openings. Each bogie assembly consists of 18 parts and is very petite; the mounting suspension provides five more with the track tension adjusters nicely portrayed. The tracks are very interesting: DML molded them in hard styrene plastic in two halves, cut in such a way that the "chain" plate drive tooth guides in the center are represented as they are found on the actual vehicle. Since the tracks were metal with rubber "endless belt" casings vulcanized onto them, this is a neat way to portray it.
The model again comes with two sets of body panels for the rear body, but as all M4s only had the skate rail the other set is not used, noir is the very nice M49 ring mount. DML again provides two beautifully done .50 caliber M2HB machine guns and four equally well done .30 caliber Brownings, all with the correct mounts.
The new rear end provides the "split" bumper needed with the new door as well. These contain the lights, which are correct for WWII. There is an oval on the left top for the taillight, a rectangle on the right top for the stop light, and two rectangles on the bottom for the combat blackout taillights. Again, as this is an early M4 no rear stowage bins are provided.
The "cab" is neatly done but with only set of grille mounts included. One is provided closed and one with the folding louvers removed (these have to be made from etched brass, as no plastic parts are provided for the louvers.) The model has the "civilian" style dashboard, so note that the instruments are a brushed aluminum color on preserved/restored vehicles and not the more common black with white numerals.
The winch and roller each come with their own bumper and accouterments, but the M4 only used the roller so the winch goes off to parts.
The new body has the ammo lockers molded in place on the floor pan, but the molding is neatly done. However, all of the racks are full so it will take some work to show an "in action" version with some of the bomb stowage tubes missing. The well for mounting the mortar is present as are the covers for the well and the extra frame braces under the floor. The mortar consists of five styrene parts and a two-piece turned aluminum barrel with the "knob" fitting for the baseplate turned on the base section.
Brass is again – as this is a Smart Kit – kept to a minimum and covers the aforementioned louvers, the headlight guards, the mud flaps, wipers and some small stiffeners.
The kit does provide a generic driver with tanker's style jacket and helmet. Note he comes with his own seat cushion, but it's not for use in this vehicle!
Markings and finishing instructions are provided for three vehicles: one unidentified labeled "Prowler" with the bumper code "SP HQ 13", USA 1944 (possibly the demonstration regiment at Fort Knox; overall OD); unidentified (no markings and just serials), USA (overall OD); and one from the 1st Battalion, probably 41st Armored Infantry, Belgium 1944 (1-32 tac number in yellow, overall OD). This last one is wrong as it is a modified M4 with the forward-firing mortar as well as fitted with the mine racks and other differences, not called out in the directions.
Overall this is another great kit from DML and a much more useful (and better executed) model than the hoary old Tamiya M21 kit. I am a bit surprised that the few parts needed to convert this to an M4A1 were not included in the kit.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue Breakout:
A 40 Chassis and suspension
B 28 Armored cab assembly
C 29 M49 mount and front bumper assemblies
D 48x2 Bogie assembly and wheels
E 7 Clear styrene parts
H 2 Front grille (open/closed)
J 37x2 Machine guns and radio set
K 40 Rear body components
L 8 Driver figure
S 25 M4 body parts
T 5 81mm mortar parts
W 8 Slide molded drivers and idlers
MA 20 Etched brass
MB 2 Turned aluminum mortar tube
(Originally written on May 6, 2007)
Kit Review: Miniart 1/35 Scale Kit No. 35017; Soviet Tank Crew at Work; 37 parts in grey styrene; price about US$9
Advantages: nice, modern set of figures in casual poses "doing something" around a tank
Disadvantages: "Not German"
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Soviet armor dioramists
For too many years the wealth of figures and figure sets produced have been too closely focused on only WWII German subjects, which has been very frustrating to the rest of the armor and figure community. When the stray American, Russian or (heaven forbid!) Commonwealth set came out, modelers would fall on it like a pack of hungry piranhas no matter how good – or bad – it was.
Happily many of the newer manufacturers have seen this and now the Chinese and Eastern European ones are filling the void, and with good, high quality figures too. Miniart has begun with a pretty good track record on figures, and now Soviet WWII modelers have been able to get some decent figures to compliment the growing number of WWII Soviet armored vehicles offered.
This set provides five Soviet tankers performing maintenance. Three of the figures are posed as it operating a bore brush for the main armament (which was usually carried in sections inside the longest of the stowage bins – "ZIP" in Russian for spares, tools and accessories – on the fenders of nearly all combat vehicles. One bareheaded figure is posing with a rag in hand and the commander is standing in a relaxed position with his hands set to drape over an open hatch.
The one thing that I have noticed about the new Miniart figures is that their facial sculpting yields to no one. The five heads in this set are the equal of many of the after-market resin ones offered and can be shown to have individual expressions and even ethnicity – one tanker hear looks to be a Tadzhik (central Asian) with a shaven head and it shows. The same goes for the other four.
Anyone with a good set of tank blueprints may want to have the man with the rag working on cleaning out the tank's air cleaners, which needed constant maintenance with a good cleaning by the crew every 3-4 hours (until 1951 when UVZ finally created a working design that solved that problem.)
Finishing is provided similar to DML boxing with an assembly diagram and color directions on the back of the box. Interior directions provide a handy sketch of where the parts for each figure are located on the sprue.
Overall, this is a great set and one that any diorama modeler would be able to find good use for with a T-34 or IS tank or other 1943 and later armored vehicle.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on May 6, 2007)
Kit Review: Miniart 1/35 Scale Kit No. 35032; Soviet 76.2mm Gun ZIS-3 w/Crew; 170 parts in grey styrene; retail price about US $22
Advantages: nice new kit of legendary field gun; crew figures well done and compliment weapon
Disadvantages: parts are fragile and will need care removing them from the sprues
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Soviet fans and "Redlegs" in general
By 1930 the Soviets had standardized on a number of calibers of artillery: 76.2mm for regimental and divisional weapons, 107mm for divisional guns, 122mm for divisional howitzers and corps guns, 152mm for corps howitzers and army level guns, and 203mm for army level howitzers. Selecting a standard set of ballistics, most of the guns were designed around those ballistics.
For most of the 1930s they tried to find a good combination of features for the divisional 76.2mm gun. Weapons like the long-ranged F-22 were good but too heavy and unwieldy for rapid maneuver. Finally, the legendary V. G. Grabin found the right combination in his Model 1939 USV gun, but it still had some drawbacks, mostly with its carriage, as it weighed in at 1,560 kilograms. In May 1941 Grabin put forth a new version, which corrected many of the problems of the Model 1939; it was 440 kilograms lighter, lower, and now had a muzzle brake. On 22 July 1941 the gun was submitted for approval, which took another seven months, but it was accepted for service on 10 February 1942. Some 1,000 guns were already in service, so it was considered "troop tested."
Offical numbers indicate around 49,000 were built during the war years as ZIS-3 division guns with others built for SP weapons or replacements. The famous F-34 and ZIS-5 76.2mm tank guns were ballistically nearly identical to the ZIS-3 and all three guns used the same ammunition. Performance of the ZIS-3 with armor-piercing ammunition was such that many tank destroyer battalions were equipped with the gun for antitank use. In fact during the introduction of the Tiger I into German service near Leningrad, the first two Tigers lost in combat fell into a trap baited by a T-60 light tank and were destroyed by broadside fire at point-blank range from a battery of ZIS-3 guns.
In the mid 1970s Italeri came out with a very nice kit of the ZIS-3 that included a crew of three with the kit. Inexpensive and of pretty high quality for the time it remained popular and is still in their catalogue. But by now the kit does show its age, and thus the prospect of a totally new kit from Miniart has been eagerly awaited.
The kit appears to live up to hopes, with the gun coming on two busy sprues and another one providing a five man crew. The kit appears to use a lot of the concepts either copied from or provided by DML, as the kit's boxing, directions, parts breakdown, and figure set all follow the DML concepts.
The gun comes with its wheels and tires split out with a separate hub and five sections to form the tire - two sidewalls and three inner ribs to give the tires tread pattern. (If you don't like them, they are standard GAZ-AA wheels and those found with any of the Eastern Express armored cars or Toko GAZ trucks should replace them.) Construction is pretty straightforward beginning with the trails and then the axle, carriage cradle ("l'yulka" in Russian) and locking levers,wheels, barrel and recoil cylinders, muzzle brake, gun shield, ammo crates, breech, and on to final assembly and then the crew. While the directions are similar to DML's the latter should pay attention as the Miniart layout and graphics are much clearer and present things in a much less cluttered and more understandable format.
Parts are fragile and some of the smaller pieces were broken on the sprues, but due to internal bagging all parts were still present so no long-term harm was done.
The crew is excellent and is of the standard figure breakdown format with six main parts per figure– head, torso, legs and arms. The crew consists of a commander, gunner, loader and two "other numbers" bringing up ammunition for the gun. Each figure has a helmet, canteen, personal weapon (a TT pistol, two PPSh submachine guns, and two Moisin carbines) and are fitted with the uniforms from 1943-1945. The commander and gun crew are kneeling and the other two are crouching.
The kit comes with two ammo chests and a total of 10 complete 76.2mm rounds and three casings – four of the rounds are the late war "arrow" shells, however. (Also in the kit but unflagged are four 57mm rounds and three casings for the 57mm ZIS-2 gun which uses the same carriage.)
Two finishing schemes for the ZIS-3 are included, as are some photos of ZIS-3 guns in action for reference. The ones here are pretty much being used in antitank mode, so the modeler may take that as a reference point. Colors are flagged for Tamiya, Revell, Humbrol and Model Master paints.
Note that the crew itself is available separately as Miniart Kit No. 35031 for about US$9 so you can use it for any of the other Soviet era artillery pieces on the market as well.
Overall this is a very nicely done kit and a bargain as it provides a five man crew for the same basic price levels of some kits with just the guns.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on May 6, 2007)
Kit Review: Miniarm 1/35 Scale Kit No. 35034; Soviet Tank Ammo-Loading Crew; 46 parts in grey styrene; price about US$9
Advantages: nicely done figures in black canvas coveralls "bombing up" a tank or armored vehicle
Disadvantages: "Not German"
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Soviet armor fans and dioramists
I am rapidly becoming a big fan of the Miniarm figure sets, as they are simple and yet very well sculpted and meet the needs of anyone who does not build German armored vehicles.
This nice little set provides five Soviet tankers in later war black canvas coveralls, three with matching helmets, loading ammo into their vehicle. Each man comes in the standard six piece breakdown (head, torso, legs and arms) with two bareheaded and three with tankers' helmets. Each helmet consists of three parts (crown and ear flaps) with the fastener tucked up on one side.
Three are in positions of handing rounds up, holding them, or handing them down to another member inside the vehicle, one is seated to deal with the ammunition and load into ammo racks or stowage, and the five man is a kibitzer, shown hanging over the gun barrel on a T-34 76mm.
To ensure broad use, the kit provides a selection of both 76mm and 85mm ammunition so it can be used with any sort of vehicle post 1943. The 85mm rounds include an HE-FRAG, an APC round, and an "arrow" round; the 76mm ones are two HE-FRAG and two APC ones of different types.
The facial molding is very good but these figures are a bit grimmer of visage than some pf the other Miniart ones.
Painting and assembly instructions are on the back of the box, and a small diagram of where the parts are found on the sprues is included inside. Colors are matched for Tamiya, Humbrol, Revell and Model Master paints.
Overall, another great set from Miniart and one Soviet modelers are sure to appreciate.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on May 3, 2007)
Kit Review: cyber-hobby.com (Dragon Models Limited) 1/35 scale kit No. 15 (6337); Kuebelwagen Radio Car; 215 parts (163 parts in grey styrene, 49 etched brass, 2 turned aluminum, 1 pre-bent steel wire): retail price US $19.95
Advantages: another useful variant of the Bego VW kit
Disadvantages: you need to know German radios to figure out what it is and what it does
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: for all German VW fans and dioramists
Since acquiring the Hasegawa/Bego VW DML has been using it for a number of functions, and after recent efforts as an ambulance and a desert model it appears here in the guise of a field communications center.
The sprues for the Bego VW are here intact, which means it comes with a crew of two for the vehicle (listed as "not used" in the directions) as well as other things. The vehicle has a rack made of etched brass (this is a cyber-hobby.com "boutique" kit, so no styrene alternative parts) for two radio sets, a power supply, and antenna mounts. The kit also provides a field switchboard but like the crew that is condemned to the parts box. I suspect the radios – as there is now a generic DML "German radio set" sprue - are from the field command post set, which would explain the switchboard.
Based on my copy of "Communications Equipment of the German Army 1933-1945" by Charles Barger I suspect one is a Torn. Fu. d2. a VHF AM radio in the 33-38 Mhz range, and the other is a 100 W.S. HF AM model in the 200-1200 Khz range. That is a pretty good mix for a command vehicle, but don't quote me on the idents. I also can not identify a receiver, which since most German equipment was single function (e.g. not a transceiver) this would be incorrect. The unused field switchboard looks to be a 10 line box, which would be for echelons around regiment or higher (if it was used.)
Unfortunately cyber-hobby.com provides not a whit of which radios are provided nor do they show how to wire them up correctly. This is kind of a shame, as with such an open mount and antennas the vehicle most certainly would have visible cabling. Model manufacturers that make biplanes and those who make sailing ships all provide rigging diagrams (and often materials as well) so one could expect the manufacturer – especially of a niche "boutique" kit – to provide them here as well.
The Bego kit is pretty well known by now, and most modelers either like it or prefer the Tamiya kit to it based on personal predilections. It is quite a detailed kit, with separate floor boards, engine and driveline, as well as a minimum of ejection pin marks.
A small sheet of decals is included, once again from Cartograf, but while it claims "unidentified unit" in grey the helmet of "Grossdeutschland" is on the rear engine hatch. Nobody is credited with either research or technical assistance on this kit.
Overall this is a bit of a disappointment as for a "boutique" kit with an expectation that the modeler will use the brass it should have come with cabling directions. But at least DML will run with the molds; I wish that Tamiya had done the same with its excellent CCKW (e.g. short wheel base, dump truck, shop van. etc.)
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
A 23 VW body parts (Bego)
B 45 VW top parts and seat details (Bego)
C 15 VW details (Bego)
D 4 VW floorboards (Bego)_
E 23 VW wheels and two figures (Bego)_
E 21 German radio sets
G 8 clear styrene (Bego)
L 20 German radio sets and field switchboard
N 12 German "jerry" cans
MA 14 etched brass
MB 30 etched brass radio mounts
MC 5 etched brass "jerry" can details
MD 2 turned aluminum
MD 1 pre-bent steel wire
(Originally written on May 2, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Armor Pro Kit No. 7277; T-34/76 Model 1943;
140 parts (114 in grey styrene, 22 etched brass, 2 tan DS plastic track runs, 2 twisted steel wires); price about US $13.98
Advantages: Continues the progression of ‘34s, nicely done cupola and good number of options
Disadvantages: DS tracks cut long for sag and will require care in fitting
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all small scale Soviet armor fans
DML is continuing to produce outstanding "small scale" T-34s and have now followed their excellent if misnomered T-34 Model 1942 "cast turret" (actually pressed steel) with a Model 1943. (This is assessed as correct by modern Russian historians even thought it was not used at the time; at least they didn't use the puerile "T-34/76D" German designation!)
This tank came about due to complaints from Russian tank commanders that the simple little periscope they had for target acquisition just did not give sufficient view of the battlefield. While they had experimented with T-34s with a commander's station and five man crew, this had proven too cramped in the T-34's small "gayka" (hex nut) turret. But eventually the concept of a cupola proved sound, and it was introduced to T-34 production. Replacing the left-hand commander's hatch, the commander received a cupola with five vision slits backed by triplex glass, and it was a big improvement even with the one major drawback that the commander was still the gunner. Numbers vary, but it appears as many as 5,000 tanks were built with this cupola arrangement on all types of the "gayka" turret including the pressed steel version.
The kit comes with the same parts breakdown as other DML T-34 kits. This time it comes with the mid 1942 onward modified "steel" road wheels with two sets of rubber tired cast ribbed wheels and six internally buffered steel wheels; they are the correct "rimmed opening" ones for non-Stalingrad produced steel wheels as well. As is now normal these wheels are molded in one piece for a two-wheel set; the openings will need drilling out for accuracy. "Waffle" tracks are provided in DML's DS plastic.
The hull comes with optional rear grilles, either solid styrene or open with an etched brass grille and an etched brass set of louvers to go under it; the Mk 1 eyeball says to be careful as it may interfere with mounting the grille. At least it is bored so the alignment pins in the engine grille will pass through it for solid attachment.
A sprue of Soviet external details is included, and these are a different set from the ones which came with the Model 1942 and early Model 1942 kits. It includes two logs, two tarps, two "angle" fuel tanks for the rear of the hull, a ZIP (spares) box and two shovels.
Decals and paint schemes are provided for four examples: Unidentified unit, 1st Ukranina Front, Poland 1944 (4BO green overall); 169th Tank Brigade, 16th Tank Corps, Ukraine 1943 (4BO green with whitewash patches over it); the usual "captured" T-34 in tricolor camouflage with oversize crosses, Eastern Front 1943; and Unidentified unit, Eastern front 1942-43 (named "Marshal Chombalsan - Revolutionary Mongolia" in red over whitewashed 4BO green; actually this is the 112th Red Banner Tank Brigade, later 44th Guards Tank Brigade, commanded by Marshal Choybalsan. Close.) A neatly done Cartograf sheet is provided with these markings.
Overall, another one joins the fold!
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue Layouts
A 44 T-34 76mm standard upper hull and details
B 24 T-34 Model 1942 series turret details
D 2 "Gayka" turret
E 5 Model 1943 turret roof
I 14 External stowage
K 24 T-34 early rubber tired and mid 1942 steel/rubber wheel sets
L 1 T-34 lower hull pan - early type
X 2 DS track runs
MA 22 etched brass
? 1 Twisted steel wire
(Originally written on May 2, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6372; Winter Grenadiers, Wiking Division Eastern Front 1943-1945 - Gen2; 300 parts (283 in grey styrene, 17 etched brass); price about $14.98
Advantages: nice set of four "action" figures in post 1941-42 winter gear; usual Gen2 detailing
Disadvantages: relatively drab uniforms
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all WWII German fans and dioramists
DML's Gen2 figures are becoming the industry standard, and if nothing else have forced other companies to play catch-up. This isn't a bad thing, as now even Eastern European injection molded figure sets are getting to be very good and the day of the Tamiya "dwarf zombie" is pretty much a thing of the past.
This set provides four German panzergrenadiers in full winter kit with parkas and leather boots with all of the "kit" that comes as standard with Gen2 sets. Each figure follows the normal Gen2 pattern – 18 parts each (head (2), collar (1), torso (2), arms (2), hands (2), legs (2), boots (2), coat skirts (4) and in this case a hood (1).) A complete fifth head and two extra hands are also included for flexibility.
The figures comprise a two-man MG42 team in the prone position and two men running with Kar 98K rifles; one may be replaced by an MP44 or Gewehr 43 if desired and one extra hand is provided for that option. The machine gunner may have his head down sighting or up and cocking the gun, hence the extra head and hand for him as well.
As usual, the Euro-PC push means that the full designation – 5th SS Panzer Divison "Das Wiking – is sanitized, nor are there any SS collar tabs or flashes; at least with these uniforms they probably wouldn't show anyway.
Overall this is a nice set, eagerly awaited by more than a few modelers, and again provided with a nice set of painting instructions and cover art by Ron Volstad.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakdown
A 43 Two figures
B 41 Two figures
WA 18 (2 x Kar 98)
WB 18 (1 x Gewehr 41, MP-44, 2 x MP-40)
WC 29 (machine guns)
GA 64 (mess kits, canteens, entrenching tools, bayonets)
GB 56 (magazine pouches, holsters, bread bags)
GC 14 (grenades)
MA 17 Etched brass
(Originally written on May 1, 2007)
Product Review: Archer Fine Transfers new releases
AR49021; Misc. U.S. AFV Stencils; $5.95
AR49022B; German WWII Turret Numbers (black outline); $5.95
AR49022W; German WWII Turret Numbers (white outline); $5.95
AR49023B; German WWII Turret Numbers (black solid); $5.95
AR49023W; German WWII Turret Numbers (white solid); $5.95
AR49024; German WWII Balkencruz (sic); $12.95
AR35241; Jeep Instruments and Placards; $5.95
AR35242; GMC 2 ½ Ton Truck Instruments and Placards; $5.95
AR35243; GMC DUKW Instruments, Placards and Misc Stenciling; $7.95
AR35244; BEF Matilda II Mk. I (Grenyna); $4.95
Advantages: Still the best and on top of the new releases
Disadvantages: Nothing major to report
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all WWII armor and softskin fans
It was good to see Woody Vondracek at the AMPS 2007 show, and to note how many tables all of his products now cover (I think it was five, and that was in "stadium" type racks). A week after the show, these new sets showed up and are right up there with his usual great quality and excellent subject matter choices.
First is a 1/48 scale version of a sheet I helped Woody out on with research several years back, but it is now more relevant as there are some nice new 1/48 jeeps and a GMC CCKW from Tamiya to use them on. These cover items like "CAUTION LEFT HAND DRIVE", speed limits, and preparation and storage data.
Next are four new sheets of German WWII turret numbers, with two sizes of number jungles on each sheet and about 60 large items and 64 small ones. The four sheets are identical other than colors and solid or stencil outline numbers.
The last 1/48 sheet is one of German "Balkenkreuzen" if one can forgive the spelling errors! The sheet covers the period of 1939 through at least 1942 and has eight large black and white crosses with outlines, 12 small ones, and three sizes of small white and yellow crosses for the early war armor.
The next three sets are nicely done (it takes a jeweler's loupe to tell!) dashboard placards and instrument faces for the three different vehicle types. The one for the DUKW is the most involved, and as such only covers a single vehicle with the basic placards and stenciling. If the Italeri kit uses the brass sets from Eduard, some other "tweaks" offered by aftermarket companies, and this placard set it should be an impressive model. The other sets cover at least three vehicles each (I think the CCKW has enough for six) but only minor stenciling.
The last sheet provides markings for a BEF Matilda and were researched by Robert Gregory with an assist from Peter Brown. They are for a vehicle named "Greyna" which appears to have been in a two-tone green camouflage scheme. While the Tamiya Matilda has recently been re-released for the umpteenth time, it is only a shame there is not a nice, new kit for these markings to compliment!
Once again, good choices and good products from Archer Fine Transfers!
Thanks to Woody Vondracek for the review samples.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on May 1, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6370; Sd.Kfz. 171 Panther G with Steel Road Wheels - Smart Kit; (605 in grey styrene, 180 "Magic Track" links, 14 clear styrene, 13 steel wire, 8 etched brass, 2 twisted steel wire): price around US$45
Advantages: The Panther G "Smart Kit" with some tweaks and a set of steel wheels to boot!
Disadvantages: Probably not enough etched brass for some modelers
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for late-war German and Panther fans
Following hot on the heels of their now very popular Panther Ausf. G "Smart Kit" is a new model of the later variant with all steel road wheels. This new kit is a slightly "tweaked" version of that kit but now adds a complete set of the steel road wheels – only two were provided in the first version. Since this one also comes with the complete rubber rimmed wheel set as well, it is actually a better deal than the original!
All of the sprues in this kit are shared with the first one as well as the presence of two new "W" sprues with the steel wheel sets. It still provides the same track arrangement as the Ausf. D and earlier G – eight "wrap around" separate links with separate guide teeth for the drive wheels and the same "Magic Track" links that snap together for assembly. Note that ten more "Magic Track" links are provided for the sets to be hung on the turret as extra protection as well.
My remaining comments pretty much echo that of the first G kit. It makes more use of "slide molding" than any previous DML kit, and the goal seems to be to permit modelers to get "multimedia" kit finish and part definition with a minimum of actual multimedia parts – here being only 8 etched brass parts, all grilles for the engine deck, and two steel tow cables (large and small).
The lower hull is a one-piece "slide mold" part with all of the torsion bars complete and separate parts. Fine details such as "bump stops", "pin knockers" and braces are all separate. The kit provides the aforemention two complete road wheels sets, so the modeler has an option of which ones to use or to mix them judiciously per good references. The model may be built with or without the small return roller wheel on the final drives, and both types are provided in the kit.
The hull rear plate comes with the late production regular exhaust pipes, so the "flame dampers" appear to be gone. Ah, the joy of molding gates!
On the hull top braces, locks and handles are provided for the "flip up" style of crew hatches. The engine deck – or "decks" as there are two with a choice of where to place the lifting lugs – is/are very complete, with radiators, radiator fans, screens, louvers and a large number of separate access ports and lids provided. All grilles replicate full castings and are separate parts as well. No engine or interior are provided with the kit, but the interior is set up for relatively easy installation.
The hull side trim is all plastic, but comes with "slide molded" mounts and access holes for pins or attachment in order to permit track links to be hung in a prototypical fashion on their racks. The same goes for the tools and OVM.
The turret comes with either the early (rounded) or late ("chin") mantelet with a one-piece plastic barrel and a three piece muzzle brake. The gun does have a minimal breech assembly but no other interior parts are provided except for the self-defense weapon (mine thrower) in the turret roof. The commander's cupola comes with clear vision blocks and two interior sections that fit inside the "slide molded" cupola to give it the right thickness.
Four finishing options with Cartograf decals are provided – Pz.Rgt. 1. LAH SS Division, La Glieze, 1944 (tricolor); Pz.Rgt. 2, East Prussia 1945 (no clue – DML left out the color match to the flags!); Pz.Rgt. 24, Eilendorf, Germany 1944 (tricolor); Pz.Rgt. 24, Aachen 1944 (tricolor). Two decal sheets are provided.
Overall, this is even better than the first one given the choice of wheel sets. But as nice as it is unfortunately there are still some who miss the point and will loudly complain about hte lack of etched brass – still have not figured out what "Smart Kit" means.
Product Review: Ausfwerks Design Product No. 16-04, the Fenderbender; retail price $114 ($91.20 if ordered direct from the manufacturer via the Internet at http://ausfwerks.com)
Advantages: simplifies problem of bending metal or plastic for modelers; simple design makes operation a snap
Disadvantages: expensive; requires some care in handling to prevent unwanted bending; no degree scale for precise angle bends
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all modelers who wish to use metal parts or those modelers who need a longer bending device
There are days when somebody pokes you in the eye with a sharp stick and brings back things from 45 years ago. I recall being in metal shop in 7th Grade and being introduced to a bending brake, but did not think about it much as I only used it once on a graded project.
Fast forward about 30 years. The advent of etched brass detailing parts for models caused a lot of problems for most people, as they were difficult to bend to shape, sharp and nasty if handled wrong, and difficult to attach to a model. As designed progressed, the last item became less problematic due to better planning, but the first two were still a hassle.
The advent of the "Hold and Fold" – a small aluminum block with a spring-loaded screw clamp, solved most of these problems overnight. From that tool came later and more flexible "Hold and Fold" tools, the competing "Etch Mate" product line, and even uncopyrighted knock-offs of those two products.
In 2006 Ausfwerks Designs debuted their "Fender Bender" at AMPS 2006, and they were once again here at AMPS 2007 to show their wares. The "Fender Bender" is something of "Gen One and a Half" tool for dealing with etched metal and plastic, and they use the correct (and largely forgotten term) of "Finger Brake" to describe it.
Brake tools generally involve clamping the metal being worked in place and then having a solid sheet of steel with a lever attached to bend it to the proper angle. Unlike the "Generation One" Hold and Fold and Etch Mate, which rely on an external object like an industrial razor blade from a box cutter or other heavy knife to carry out bending of the metal, the Fender Bender articulates right at the point of bending like the old metal shop bending brakes. The tool itself is formed from heavy machined aluminum seven inches wide and approximately three inches deep, articulating right in the center of the depth. It has a large double-sided clamp – one side, the "Finger" part of the finger brake, has 11 different size "teeth" or fingers in 1/16" increments from 1/16" to ½" and then 5/8", 3/4", and 1" sizes. The other side is a continuous machined bevel surface 7" long.
To operate the Fender Bender, one simply opens the three screws (which are not spring loaded like the others, but instead have high tensile steel washers - "lift springs" - to open the clamp when the screws are backed off) and inserts the material. The directions highlight only using finger pressure; the screws are brass and if tightened with pliers or a wrench will strip out the threads holding them in place.
With the material in place, all the user needs to do is lift the opposite side to make the bend. The brake will provide a bend angle of from 0 to 120 degrees, which is amazing for the size of the tool. This has the advantage of placing even pressure on the item across its width as well as providing for greater control once mastered. (It has the one drawback that, since the tool folds in the middle, grabbing it the wrong way may cause a premature or unwanted bend in the material.)
I fooled around with it and found that it does exactly as claimed, and with large objects (e.g. fender stowage bins, fender edges, and some shields or ammo racks) it is much easier to use that the "Generation One" tools. The one thing I wish it did have, however, is a protractor scale on one end to get accurate bends without having to use the Mark 1 or Mark 1A eyeball to get it right. (Case in point: most Soviet tanks have a 68 degree glacis which needs either a 112, 68 or 22 degree bend to fit some parts.) It wouldn't be hard to fit, as the machined parts permit the installation of such an item and it has a natural surface on the right side where it could be mounted.
The directions indicate it should only be used for metals from 0.001 to 0.020 inches in thickness, but it should also work for plastic if care is taken. I have used the Hold and Fold with plastic, and with care sharp bends can be made without cracking the plastic parts.
The tool does seem expensive but since all of other large tools are $80 or more right now its price is not that far out of line with the others.
Overall the idea is a sound one and as more and more parts are available in etched brass or metal for modeling (such as the incredible Lion Roar etched body for the M2 halftrack) tools like this should find a greater audience.
Thanks to Ausfwerks for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on April 26, 2007)
Kit Review: SKIF 1/35 Scale Kit No. 221; T-55A; 277 parts (237 in medium green styrene, 34 etched brass, 6 in steel colored vinyl); retail price US $25-36 (out of production, but the molds have changed hands)
Advantages: dimensionally relatively accurate; provides the basics for a complete interior
Disadvantages: details very soft, wheels totally wrong, undersized hatches
Rating: Recommended with Reservations
Recommendation: for Soviet and Third World armor fans
The T-55 has fared a bit better in model form than the more widely operated T-54 series medium tanks, but their history in kit form has not been a great one.
The first 1/35 (well, nominally anyway) kit to see market was a motorized one from Tamiya that came out in the mid 1960s. As the ONLY kit of this vehicle out for years, it did enjoy a great deal of popularity among kit collectors up until 1989, even though it was a PA kit – as in plain awful.
In 1988 a company called Twentieth Century Industries (TCI) displayed artwork for a new 1/35 scale kit of the T-55 in Nurnberg, but they never made it to market. Apparently Lindberg bought their molds, as they released all of the announced TCI kits the next year. The T-55 was eagerly awaited, and when released did at first glance look like a T-55. Alas, its details were all a bit off (angles, sizes, wheels, fuel tanks, etc.), the turret was symmetrical, and as such it soon became known as a "dog."
About two years later ESCI announced three T-55 related kits and once again Soviet armor fans got excited. But when the kits came out they were a bit better than the Lindberg one but still had major errors, albeit new ones. This kit had wrong wheels and even a wrong suspension (the last road wheel station was "leading" link, not "trailing" link as shown in the kit) and many, many more detail errors. Result: 0 for 3.
Finally, SKIF announced that they would do a T-55A kit. This was met with more than a bit of trepidation given SKIF's notorious erratic kits (either reasonably good or awful) and modelers waited to see which was which. Unfortunately, shortly after this kit was released, Tamiya announced a new kit of the T-55 which would build up as a T-55, T-55A, T-55 Model 1970 or T-55A Model 1970.
I have to feel a bit sorry for SKIF. At any other point in time this kit would probably have been reasonably well received, but alas it came to market just before the Tamiya one and as a result took an initial pasting by kit reviewers and modelers. But once the Tamiya kit was announced, this kit was ripped to shreds and decried as awful. Looking at the kits side by side at the time, I had to concur that it was not even close.
Fast forward to 2007. I picked up one of these kits at AMPS 2007 from Baseline Hobbies to see if in the cold light of day it was still that bad. The answer, surprisingly, is no.
What SKIF tried to do was make a kit of a T-55A Model 1970 (e.g. with DshKM AAMG mount for the loader) with some basic upgrades such as the RMSh (T-72 style) tracks and a laser rangefinder. They also gave the kit a relatively complete interior.
The good news is that dimensionally the kit is accurate within limits with the only major flaws being the gun barrel is about 2.5 mm too long, and the wheels appear to be a bit narrow. The turret's shape drops right on top of a good set of T-55 plans that I have in 1/35 scale, so it got the asymmetric shape right. Hull angles and dimensions also match well with the plans. Shapes are also very good.
The rest, alas, is not so hot. The wheels – other than the correct diameter – have little in common with standard production "starfish" wheels for the T-55 and are best chucked. The tracks are thin and lack definition but are tangibly RMSh tracks; they are marred by ejection pin marks on their faces, which are virtually impossible to remove from vinyl. The drivers and idlers are thick but shapes are again close.
The rear of the engine deck is not bad with etched brass screening, but the access hatches are not right in shape and are raised panel lines which are not right at all. The fender fuel tanks are primitive and there is no fuel system for them (at least they got all three the correct size, unlike ESCI.) The same goes for the fender stowage bins.
The turret shape is right, but that is about the limit of things. The hatches are "drop-in" parts which are far too thick and as a result they are underscale and not close to the actual vehicle's hatches. The gun is designed to work and therefore SKIF tried to simply use the "pig's snout" mantelet without the cover; that in and of itself is not wrong, but the result is too big and too rectangular and is therefore not very good. The gun's diameter is about right, but the bore evacuator is too short and too small in diameter.
Inside the hull the details are in the right places, but again are very soft and need a great deal of work to come up to acceptable levels. SKIF tried to be creative by molding both sides of the belly pan with details; the torsion bar bulges are on the belly, and the floor and interior location ridges are on the other side; result is that the part is too thin and the rear is very oversimplified, but at least it was not 1/4" thick like the Alan SU-76 kit. The engine, transmission, "guitar" transfer case, and other engine compartment bits are very simplified, and to make matters worse, SKIF left out half of the major parts – the radiator, oil cooler and air cleaner are all missing! The driver's compartment is very spartan (the parts are at least correct for what is provided) as is the turret.
Brass parts are used here and there, with the main components for the engine deck grilles (with no louvers under them as on the actual vehicle) and fan blades being the majority of the parts.
The kit comes with a small decal sheet for a Soviet Guards vehicle and for an East German NVA vehicle.
The reason I even bring this kit up is that with some parts from the soon to be redundant Tamiya "T-62A" kit this model may be made into a very presentable T-55A. I say that as the new Trumpeter T-62 Model 1966 and T-62 Model 1970 kit test shots show they have fixed most of the errors in that 30 year old kit, and as they can usually be had for $5-10 at model shows and flea markets now they are a useful supply of spare parts.
By taking most of the details from that kit such as the fuel tanks, applicable stowage bins, DShKM, hatches, searchlights, and other minor details and using a set of resin wheels from companies such as Chesapeake Model Design or Miniarm this kit can be done right, or it could be converted into a T-54 variant with a bit of work and one of the Miniarm conversion kits plus "spider" cast wheels and the early metallic tracks (like the ones which came in the "T-62A" kit but from another company such as Fruil.)
I will give it a whirl at some point in the future and report back on my results.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on April 24, 2007)
Kit Review: SKIF 1/35 scale Kit No. 226; T-80UDK Tank; 307 parts (292 parts in medium green styrene, 14 in black vinyl, 1 length of steel wire); estimated retail price US$36 (note: out of production and molds have changed hands)
Advantages: relatively accurate dimensional model of a very early T-80UD; can be built into a good model with additional details
Disadvantages: soft details, kit based on prototypes or pre-production validation lot vehicles
Rating: Recommended with Reservations
Recommendation: for all modern Soviet armor fans
The T-80 has been around for some time – if the Soviet sources now released by the Russians are correct, the first tanks went into service in 1978. The current service models, the T-80B, T-80BV and T-80U, are still one of the main elements of the reported 12,000 serviceable tanks in the Russian Army. The T-80UD tanks, which were designed and built by the
A. A. Morozov" Kharkov Design Bureau for Machinery Construction and the "Malyshev" Factory, were a method by which the Ukranian factory combined its oppposed piston engines with the Leningrad-designed and Omsk-built T-80U chassis. Only about 200 of them were built, serving with the "parade" divisions in the Moscow area, and most famously were shown in October 1993 during the standoff between Boris Yeltsin and the Russian Parliament.
The tanks were seen to come wheeling up, take up positions, and after about two hours began to fire on the building. The first round fired went into the office of Ruslan Khasbulatov, getting his attention (he was out in the hall with his compatriot Aleksandr Rutskoy at the time) and firing on the building for about an hour until the MVD Internal Troops stormed the White House.
Since then it has been reported that all of the T-80UDs, under the usual situation of "not invented here" (e.g. built in either Omsk or Nizhniy Tagil in Russia) were shipped back to Ukraine in the mid 1990s. The tank remains under production there with a new, welded turret and Ukrainian improvements as the T-84.
SKIF has a notorious reputation with modelers for hit or miss with its kits, with the "hits" being weak and the "misses" being awful. As such, when SKIF came out with this kit, rumored to be a reboxing of a smaller company's kit which was rated badly, I gave it a pass. This year at AMPS 2007 Baseline Hobbies was clearing out their stock at quite reasonable prices (this kit was $10) so I picked one up. If you build Russian armor as I do, "parts is parts."
Surprisingly, this kit is really not that bad. Overall it is reasonably accurate in its primary dimensions, and the road wheels – while a bit crude – are the proper size and shape. The tracks, while flimsy and made of some sort of soft vinyl, are the correct size and correct pattern (unlike SKIF's truly horrible T-64 vinyl tracks, which could not figure out if they wanted to be T-64 or T-80 track!) The turret on this kit is correct in shape and size (where it also beats out their T-64 series kits) and as a result it seems better than at first glance.
Those are the kit's high points. But first and foremost while it is a "K" or commander's model, and comes with the 11 meter radio antenna mast, nowhere in the directions does it say that antenna is only used when the tank is in a fixed position and that it needs two sets of guy wires or lines to hold it in place!
The engine deck is correct, but only for one of the prototypes or pre-production validation (ustavleniye) series tanks. Production T-80UDs had an engine deck nearly identical to that on the T-64B.
While the tank comes with a complete reactive armor suite, unfortunately SKIF molded the early model tanks with 4S20 "Kontakt-1" first generation reactive armor "bricks". Nearly all of the production model T-80UDs were fitted with 4S22 "Kontakt-5" second generation reactive armor modules, which are like those found in the DML T-80 Model 1989 – the T-80UD. The two are completely different in appearance.
Given all that, the model DOES provide for the basis to build a good model of a T-80UD – but it needs help. By combining this kit's basics with the engine deck, rear plate components, details and "Kontakt-5" reactive armor suite from the DML T-80 SMT Model 1989 (T-80UD) and new tracks from a company like Miniarm or Fruil a relatively decent model can be built. Built from the box, it will lack something and look a bit toylike around the edges.
Finishing directions are provided for a Soviet/Russian three color paint scheme (sand, olive drab and black) but the only markings are for two generic tanks and one Ukranian tank.
Overall this model is not as bad as I would have thought, but it needs help to become a good example of the T-80 family. At least it says something about the poor representation T-80 has had among modelers in that this is the best of four kits of T-80s of which I know.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on April 22, 2007)
Kit Review: AFV Club 1/35 Scale Kit No. AF35133; BIG FOOT Track for M2A2, M3A3, AAV7A1, MLRS Late, CV90 (Workable); 360 parts (180 in black styrene, 180 in brown styrene); price about $15-18
Advantages: nice set permits fixing errors in kits or upgrading other kits with very well done set of single link tracks; "snap-together" feature a good idea
Disadvantages: assembly and clean-up of track pads will be tedious
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all modern US fans building late-production US armored vehicles or upgrades from current combat
Everybody looks for a "niche" that they can claim as their own, and AFV Club has tried harder than most to provide very well engineered working single link track sets to compliment their very well engineered kits. This set is no different, and permits the modeler to either upgrade kits like the Tamiya OIF M2A2 or AAV7A1 UGS kits, DML's MLRS, or to fix errors in kits like Academy's OIF M2A2 which came with the older model tracks.
The tracks are simple – they consist of a black styrene track pad and a brown plastic track link; while there are no marks on the black parts, the injection pin marks on the latter are wisely limited to the place where the pad attaches to the link, so cleanup is an absolute minimum. The brown links are made from a slightly flexible plastic, and can be assembled by simply flexing the track link and engaging its pins on either side of a second link. The directions have you assemble the pads to the links first, but actually I think snapping the track links together first and then adding the pads will work better (the pads are not part of the attachment means for this type of track.) This will permit the modeler to assemble (and even paint) the links first, and paint the pads separately as well, and then assemble them later.
Overall this is another nice set from AFV Club, and while they require some forethought and patience the results are usually superior to most other options.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on April 22, 2007)
Kit Review: Prieser Military 1/48 Scale Kit No. 67003; Pilots, Ground Crew, U. S. Army Air Force 1942-45; 30 parts in white styrene; price estimated at US $13-15
Advantages: nice selection of poses and figures permits use in a wide variety of situations and with a large number of vehicles; may also be used in Korea
Disadvantages: 1/48 about the limit of good execution by Prieser
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all 1/48 scale armor and aircraft fans
I have liked Prieser's figures for many years, first finding them in both 1/87 (HO scale) and 1/72 scale, and now they have blossomed out to cover all major modeling scales from Z gauge (1/220) up to LGB gauge (1/22.5). But their secret to this is simply coming with one good master and them using a pantograph to enlarge or reduce the size of the mold. But what makes a stunning figure in HO or 1/72 starts to wane as it gets bigger. 1/48 (US O gauge, as European O Gauge is 1/43) is about the limit of good resolution and detail in their figures before it starts to look "soft" and descend toward loss of definition.
That being said, this set of 12 figures in uniform is an excellent addition to both aircraft and armor dioramas or vehicles in 1/48 scale. The set includes the following figures: three mechanics, one with a tool chest; six pilots in various stages of dress and uniforms, from khakis ("suntans"), dress uniforms ("pinks and greens"), bomber jacket with garrison cap, garrison cap with vest and parachute, and full up flight suit with helmet and all kit worn; one Military Police solider with bloused pants, helmet and dress uniform; and two women, one WAAF in dress uniform and a WASP pilot in flight gear.
Three extra heads are included, so with the ones given (either garrison caps or service caps) and one in a pith helmet just about any combination can be modeled. Since other than flight gear most WWII uniforms were indistinguishable from each other, these figures can for the most part be used as either USAAF or US Army personnel.
Also, most of the figures can be used for Korea and the early 1950s as well, as the uniforms of the early USAF were cut to the same patterns as the Army ones, and only the colors changed.
Overall this is a nice little set with a lot of flexibility and promise, and should be popular with both aircraft and armor modelers.
(Originally written on April 22, 2007)
Kit Review: DML 1/72 scale Armor Pro Kit No. 7285; Challenger 2 w/Dozer Blade; 148 parts (136 parts in grey styrene, 10 etched brass, 2 DS plastic track runs); retail price US $13.98
Advantages: improved version of original kit; nicely done blade adds appeal to this kit
Disadvantages: no markings included of any sort
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all small-scale British and engineer vehicle fans
The original DML Challenger 2 kit was eagerly awaited when it came out by modern armor fans as it cover the "Operation TELIC" (British component of US Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003) but had a number of compromises and shortcuts which disappointed some fans.
This model appears to have been reworked, now using DML's current production values, and as such now has "slide molded" components and DS plastic tracks. The latter should be appreciated as they are more flexible and since they take normal plastic cements also easier to install and paint.
While the hull still comes with the original screw attachment holes and mounts, the parts now simply cement together. It now comes with modified uparmored skirts less the ground-length dust covers, applique armor for the glacis and the bow, and the TIP armor panels for the sides of the turret. The "4 x 8 plywood" ones for the turret glacis are not included, but I am not sure if they go on the variant modeled.
The model comes with hatches that can be positioned open or closed, but again the driver's hatch opens onto one of the screw holes. Note that the direction arrows STILL show the cover (part A38) cementing into the screw hole; most modelers will figure that one out in a hurry, but I do wonder why DML didn't correct their original error?
The new dozer blade consists of 9 parts and looks good, but apparently must be cemented into position and does not move. A set of etched brass is included, providing the engine deck grilles, four covers for the front, and two lifting lugs on the sides of the gun aperture.
While no decals or markings are included, one recommended paint scheme for the Scots Dragoon Guards Armour Regiment in Poland, 2006, is provided
Overall I think DML has fixed some of the original kit's errors but again the directions are not as good as the moldings.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on April 22, 2007)
Kit Review: cyber-hobby.com (Dragon Models Limited) 1/35 scale Kit No. 14 (6396); 7.5 cm Stu.Kan. auf Pz.Kpfw. 38(t); 589 parts (288 parts in grey styrene, 240 "Magic Track" links, 47 etched brass, 14 clear styrene); estimated price US$41-45
Advantatges: nice new Pzkw. 38(t) parts, use of new "smart kit" molds
Disadvantages: very obscure "one-off" prototype
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for German SP gun fans and Praga family fans
I have to admit it that this particular kit stumped me as I could not find out anything on it from my normal references. Happily, since AMPS 2007 was going on I ran into Tom Jentz and asked him.
Tom indicated that as I suspected this was a "oner" and a single prototype was built in May 1942 to test variants of mounting 75mm and 76mm guns on the Praga Pzkw. 38(t) chassis. It lost out to the more popular and better designed Marder III with the 7.5 cm Pak 40 mounting, but apparently like all good German prototypes it saw service in Russia. Only three photos of this vehicle and no plans are known to exist. (It is one of Tom's "Panzer Tracts" books – one of the Volume 7 issues on Pzkw. 38(t)s.)
Following other "niche" or "boutique" kits, cyber-hobby.com has now released this effort using bits of two of the new smart kits – the Marder III Ausf. H and the StuG III Ausf. G Early. They use the main sprues from the Pzkw. 38(t) components in the Marder III, two sprues from the StuG III, and a new sprue of adapter components and the semi-enclosed casemate from the Stu.Kan. prototype.
Since so little information is really known about this vehicle, most of its internals would appear to be mostly reasonable speculation or extrapolation. However, as the "bits" chosen are new and well done, the results are probably not far off the mark if at all not totally accurate.
A new sprue of clear parts and a small sheet of etched brass, the latter being generically listed as "Pzkw. 38(t)" are also provided. Note that this kit comes with five different radio sets, so it nothing else it will certainly plus up parts boxes.
The kit uses the "Magic Track" from the first two Pzkw. 38(t) based kits, which is universal and therefore does not require special care to get the "left" and "right" sets in place.
There is apparently an error in the directions (not surprising) and as such a small 2 x 4 inch sheet with amplified instructions for the location of the radio set and a four-round ammo storage rack are provided separately.
One small sheet of very generic Cartograf decals is provided along with a color scheme for the "most popular" German unit – Unidentifed on the Eastern Front, 1945.
Overall the model is well done, but I am not sure of its actual appeal.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue Layout
A 60 Pzkw. 38(t) wheels and suspension
B 70 Pzkw. 38(t) Ausf. G fenders and hull components
D 57 Pzkw. 38(t) interior and transmission components
E 1 Pzkw. 38(t) Hull
E 33 StuG III gun details and radio sets
F 16 StuG III gun details
J 4 clear styrene vision blocks
J 10 clear styrene vision blocks and periscopes
K 18 Pzkw. 38(t) OVM
M 24 Stu.Kan. upper works and casemate
Y 240 Magic Track
MA 47 Pkzk. 38(t) etched brass
RA 9 German standard radio set components
(Originally written on April 22, 2007)
Kit Review: Master Box 1/35 Scale Eastern Front Series Kit No. MB3523; Kit No. 2 Soviet Infantry in Action 1941-1942; 60 parts in khaki colored styrene; price about US $14.50
Advantages: very well chosen and sculpted "in action" poses; extra heads provide flexibility
Disadvantages: somewhat expensive for styrene figures
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Soviet GPW fans
I have heard a lot of good things about the Ukrainian company Master Box but this is the first chance I've had to pick up a set of their figures and have to say up front I am impressed.
This set – one of three they produce in their "Eastern Front" series (the others are a set of German infantry and one with two Germans and two Soviets in a pitched hand-to-hand battle) – provides four figures in the early war uniforms and various combinations of kit. One figure comes with leg wraps and shoes and the other three with boots; also, four "flat top" heads (the norm for nearly all manufacturers when oversized headgear like helmets is called for) are provided along with two heads with "pilotka" sidecaps.
Breakdown is the normal "six piece" figure assembly – legs, arms, torso and head. Sculpting is very good and all six heads in the box show good definition and emotion.
The figures are well armed with two Moisin M1891 rifles with fixed bayonets, two PPSh submachine guns, and one DT machine gun. Each figure also comes with a canteen, bread bag, and entrenching tool.
All figures are in the early war "rankless" informs without epaulettes and with color tabs. The officer is standing with a PPSh, one solider is charging with bayonette, one is firing the DT machine gun, and the fourth one appears to have just been wounded.
Overall this is a nice set, better done than the comparable but older Zvezda sets covering the same time frame in the Great Patriotic War, and closer to the DML figure standard than many others.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on April 12, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6367; German Self-Propelled Gun Crew; 80 parts (72 in grey styrene, 8 etched brass); estimated price about $12-13
Advantages: tailor-made for the DML Marder III kit; good choice of poses permits use in other vehicles and situations
Disadvantages: no seated gunner figure (see text)
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all fans of open-top German SP guns
DML still rules the roost when it comes to very useful figure sets, and have been producing an entire run of crew sets for their vehicles this year which are providing to be very popular. As this one is actually relatively generic, it should be towards the top of many German modelers' lists. It provides four figures which are optimized for the new Marder III kit on the Pzkw. 38(t) chassis – a seated driver, a standing gunner, a standing gun commander, and a kneeling loader. The figures come without much in the way of kit and are "old school" DML figures – head, arms, legs and torso – so a quick build. The driver and commander also come with headsets (hence the etched brass for the headbands) and all figures have sidecap type headgear.
The set also provides the "C" sprue from the PaK 40 with a total of eight different AP rounds, three spent casings, a two-round ammo chest, and eight single-round shipping tubes. This is also accompanied by a small sheet of Cartograf decals for the stenciling on the cases and rounds.
As the crew is in the standardized SP gun uniform, they can also be used as a change of pace for tank crews by simply changing the colors from field grey with red piping to black with pink piping.
This set should be very popular as it provides a fairly generic crew for most open German SP guns, to include the new DML "Dicker Max", their Marder II, and others as well as those from other manufacturers. The sculpting is first rate, and the only part that may disappoint some is that the gunner is standing and not seated. (The driver could be converted, but his head is turned around to look to the rear.) Also the kneeling loader limits the use he may have as he seems to call for a small vehicle with a back deck where the loader would more likely be found in combat. But this still permits them to be used on a wide number of models and as such should be a good seller for DML.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
(Originally written on April 6, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6395; Sd.Kfz. 251/17 Ausf. C; (782 in grey styrene, 71 etched brass, 16 clear styrene, 5 DS plastic, 4 paper stickers, 2 turned brass); price estimated at US$44.98
Advantages: first kit in styrene of this popular version of the 251 series; combines two great kit series with conversion bits
Disadvantages: comes with two-piece single link original track; sides must be fixed in one of several positions
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German armor and "Duck Hunter" fans
The Germans found themselves getting more and more desperate for tactical air defense assets as the war progressed, and as such began to term to armored platforms to keep up with their units. Armored formations began to turn to Pzkw. IV based chassis, but the Panzergrenadiers, in the interests of commonality and simplicity, turned to their trusty Sd.Kfz. 251 series halftracks for suitable platforms.
The Sd.Kfz. 251/17 was one such platform, offering a 2 cm Flak 38 gun inside an armored hull with sufficient clearance and functionality that it could also be used with light armor protection against ground targets. The result was the conversion of existing vehicles into the "Stroke 17" platform and by October 1943 there were conversions of the Ausf. A and B in service. Three different versions of the "Stroke 17" appeared on the Ausf. C chassis, but later more rational thinking took charge when the Ausf. D chassis were converted. Little information is available about the number of conversions that were made, especially with the major rebuilding required for the first three variants.
Due to the fact that this variant is more striking than many other 251 types, it's always been popular with modelers. I recall a beautiful version done by Dave Armstrong back in 1973 out in California, as most of this model had been scratchbuilt. DML has now provided an Ausf. C variant of this kit, using its now tried-and-true 251 modular kit assembly system.
The 251/17 basically uses two kits – the baseline 251/1 Ausf. C kit with some changes in the basic sprues to create a new hull upper and lower section, and the 2 cm Flak 38 mit Sd.An. 51 kit. To this are added 80 new styrene parts and 71 etched brass parts.
I'm not sure if DML is advertising or getting paranoid about some of the sniping it takes on the Internet, but this kit comes with a four-page flyer that describes what is new about the generic moldings and what is specific to the kit. Counting bits on the sprues, I do have to point out that there are subtle changes to them and the number of parts on each one has changed slightly, so it appears DML may have a point about indicating what has been altered.
In specific, however, this kit provides the new base for the Flak 38 in the center of the fighting compartment along with the fold-down sides. These are nicely detailed but do not work; the modeler is provided with several different settings and options to have them closed or cracked open. The braces that hold the sides in specific positions are included, along with the external rifle racks for the crews' personal weapons.
As this is considered to be an "older" chassis, it only provides the original kit's two-piece single link tracks, which are tedious to assemble. Some people do not care for the "Magic Tracks" but they do make this chore much easier!
Three finishing options are provided, all for the "Herman Goering" Division (remember these weapons are served by Luftwaffe flak personnel, not Wehrmacht men.) These are for the flak regiment of the division, 1942 (panzergrau overall); East Prussia 1944 (panzergelb overall); or the 6th Company of the regiment, Tunisia 1943 (panzergelb with green overspray.) A "targeted" set of vehicle decals and generic license plate sheet are provided from Cartograf.
Overall this should be a popular model, and adds to DML's stable of 251 variants.
Kit Review: Academy 1/35 Scale Kit No. 13208; M551 Sheridan "Gulf War"; (457 in sand colored styrene, 2 in steel colored vinyl, 1 section of nylon screen); retail price US $40
Advantages: adds parts for M551A1 series vehicle and configuration for "Desert Storm"
Disadvantages: No corrections to errors in previous kit
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: For all modern American armor fans
I have to feel a bit disappointed in Academy. They have shown themselves to have some of the best ideas and molding going in today's market and yet their research tends to not be applied to their kits, which is a shame. Three kit lines which could have been big winners were their M3 light tanks, their M3 medium series, and their M551 Sheridans.
When the M551 Sheridan Vietnam kit (No. 13011) was released two years ago, it was a initially a very welcome model as it replace the awful Tamiya kit and Academy's even worse clone of that kit. But once it got into the hands of the modelers, it showed a number of problems with shapes and details which was unfortunate. Its more annoy flaws were some shape problems with the turret, a length and angle problem at the rear of the hull, and errors in the location of the suspension arms. While I personally can find the first two errors (the engine deck is too long, resulting in too steep an angle of the rear upper hull plate) the only error I can find with the basic suspension geometry are some hollow areas behind the road wheels I don't seem to find on any of the production vehicles.
This kit does correct some of the detail errors of the Vietnam kit and provides some new bits of use. Some items like the AN/VVS-3 searchlight lens are still missing, which is another annoyance that could have been fixed, however. As I noted when I reviewed the original kit, some items were skimped over in order to make a reasonably produceable kit. One point concerns the road wheels, which have a very annoying lip around the rims (a sure dust and mud magnet) whereas the kit's wheels are simple dished affairs.
There is a large hole in the belly but it is NOT a motorization hole; this is the vehicle's belly escape hatch (there is a shape like this which the belly armor leaves a cutout for, figuring that the center of the hull is not as likely as the bow or sides to suffer mine effects; however, it is much farther forward so this should just be cemented in place, filled and forgotten.) One nice touch is the provision of buckles and strap tiedowns on the C (suspension) sprues, which will be very handy items for modelers to use.
As for the kit, it provides the main sprues from the 1-11th ACR Vietnam model with a large new sprue of parts for the A1 and upgrades of earlier bits and two from the very nice US Machine Gun Set by Academy; this vehicle actually comes with three .50 caliber M2HB guns and two .30 caliber Brownings, so it provides four of them for the spares box up front. It also comes with the OVM sprue from the M4 series kits and more extra bits.
Some new basic parts are included, such as new idler mounts and idler arms as well as shackles and hull details. The kit does provide most of the detail changes between the M551 and the M551A1. The massive smoke grenade launchers are replaced by standardized modular units as used by all other US vehicles today, but the brackets for the older ones are now also provided. Also included are the laser rangefinder and detail changes to the entire "crow's nest" commander's station and a new bustle rack which appears to be a close copy of the one used by the 82nd Airborne Division vehicles.
Maddeningly the Academy folks have provided a number of spare bits to dress up the model, such as a spare wheel, fuel and water cans, ammo cans (including the popular 20mm boxes used for stowage) but then they provide ten links of track. Other than some ejection pin marks on the inner face of the links, they are more accurate than the two vinyl runs which come with the kit. Somewhere along the line Academy either took their dimensions from a Sheridan with worn-out tracks or missing its rubber pads, for their tracks come without them. This is more than a minor annoyance, as correcting it will call for either getting the Legend Sheridan track and suspension kit or a set of Fruil tracks.
Decals are provided for three different Sheridans from 3-73 Armor, 82nd Airborne Division, during Desert Shield. (My readings were that the Sheridans were used for security and did not directly participate in combat operations once the "heavy" divisions arrived in Saudi Arabia, but the 82nd's Sheridans were the first "boots on the ground" armor for US forces.) However, the two named vehicles are "Die Hard" (listed as C-11) and "Drifter" (B-34) which should have been part of D Company, and photos of "Deathstalker" (D-34) seem to bear this out. I could be wrong (as most of the photos of 3-73 Armor with the flashier markings were taken much later in the campaign; upon arrival they were just quickly repainted in FS30277 Sand and not the later shade) but few units rarely stray from American Army traditions (company letter is the first letter of the vehicle's name.) The geometric shape markings likewise indicate different subunits and platoons.
Overall, except for the ultra-purist the only really problematic area of this kit are the skinny and incorrect tracks, and most modelers will probably be happy to build this kit to complete their collection. I have seen one individual, dim of reasoning perhaps, state the Tamiya kit is actually better but that is pure fantasy. I suggest he seek out the corrected version I built of that model that was presented in Fine Scale Modeler with one photo showing the Tamiya kit's hull enclosing the ENTIRE hull of a correct size 1/35 scale Sheridan before making such boorish comments.
Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC/Academy for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue Layout
A 2 Turret
B 76 Sheridan Vietnam series parts and smoke grenade launchers
C 92x2 Wheels, ammo cans, smoke grenade launchers, sprue details
D 48 M4 series D sprue with .50, .30 machine guns and small details
F 106 Sheridan details and new parts
Y 24 M2HB machine guns
Z 15 .30 caliber machine gun, jerry cans
1 Upper hull
1 Lower hull
1 nylon mesh
2 vinyl track runs
(Originally written on April 6, 2007)
Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6357; 1,015 parts (654 in grey stryene, 288 "Magic Track" links, 67 etched brass, 4 clear styrene, 1 turned aluminum gun barrel, 1 length of twisted steel wire); price estimated at US$44.98
Advantages: first kit of this vehicle on the market; fighting compartment interior complete
Disadvantages: "one-off" vehicle with few options
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for German artillery fans and fanciers of low production rate vehicles.
F I R S T L O O K
I have to admit that I come from a long line of merchants who were successful at selling goods to the public (my grandfather sold Al Capone his trademark white hat back in the 1920s as a case in point) and the rule of thumb for success was either find a niche nobody else can fill or be better at competing with them in general goods. I am thus always a bit disappointed when one model company announces that it is going to sink its resources into a very low production rate or prototype vehicle and the next thing we see on the market are competing products.
DML is now first to the market with its kit of the 10.5 cm K18 auf Panzer Selbsfahrlafette IVa, better known as "Dicker Max" (Fat Max). Originally conceived as a bunker buster able to close to point-blank range and dispatch it with a 10.5 cm round, two were built for testing in 1941 and used in Russia.The chassis chosen was that of a Pzkw. IV Ausf. D, but the "a" indicated a change from rear- engine to mid-engine location. Testing went well and the guns found themselves very effect against tanks as well as bunkers with the high-power 105mm gun, but one was knocked out and the other withdrawn. The 10.5 cm K18 gun did not go into production as by that time the Germans were pursuing other weapons, and the 10.5 cm leFH 18 was considered better at basic artillery missions and newer weapons in the 8.8 cm range more useful and lighter in tanks. The remaining gun apparently did not survive the war.
Accompanied by an eight page "brag book" on the features of this model, DML cites the fact that researcher Thomas Anderson actually did find the original plans for the weapons and used those to assist DML in making the kit. The kit itself borrows heavily from the DML Pzkw. IV Ausf. B to E kits released over the last two years, and as such has most of the parts fine-tuned and many of the early problem areas corrected or replaced.
The kit comes with the basic lower hull and tracks of the Ausf. D version of the kit, with carded "Magic Tracks", separate tires, one-piece idlers, and all of the B/C/D/E kits. I am not sure about the arguments over the location of the drive wheels or not, but the chassis appears to be the most recent one.
The actual "Dicker Max" elements amount to some 239 parts and provide for a new bow section, casemate and interior, gun assembly, and all of the specific "Dicker Max" detailing. As it is mid-engined there are tall air intakes on either side of the gun assembly, as well as venting and channels around the fighting compartment.
The gun itself, based on photos, comes with two different "slide molded" muzzle brakes, a standard German style twin-chamber type and a "tulip" shaped one. A solid styrene barrel or optional turned aluminum one come in the kit as well. Note that for some reason the aluminum barrel does not show up on the directions.
The kit does abound with nice touches. The head lights (J-2 and J-3) are clear parts with an etched brass mask over the front to replicate the vehicle's headlights. The amount of detail is amazing, and as it does not look to be trumped up or "swaged" as some have been in the past, the moldmakers do seem to have access to the blueprints.
A disclaimer comes that as the vehicles were only used as prototypes with two units – the 521st Panzerjaeger Detachment for a proposed attack on Gibraltar and later with the 3rd Panzer Division in Russia – the markings are based on surviving photographs of the two "Dicker Max" guns. Ergo, there is no good way to tell which gun is which from the markings. The only color offering is grey. At least the small decal sheet is from Cartograf.
Overall this is a lovely kit, but I still wonder at the wisdom of slugging it out with two kits of two vehicles and passing over some more deserving and underrepresented ones.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue Layout
A 10x2 IV (drivers and rollers)
A 78 x 2 IV (wheels and suspension elements)
B 32 IV (armored final drives)
C 24 Dicker Max hull top elements
D 97 IV (fenders and details)
E 20 Dicker Max details
E 22x2 Dicker Max ammo stowage
F 59 Dicker Max 10.5 cm gun
H 58 (OVM)
J 4 Dicker Max clear styrene
K 25 Dicker Max interior components
L 2 (one-piece idlers)
L 144 "Magic Track" left side
38 IV (tires)
R 144 "Magic Track" right side
X 1 IV (lower hull)
Z 1 twisted steel wire
GA 64 German generic kit - helmets, canteens, mess kits, gas mask canisters
RA 9 German generic radio set and mount
RB 5 German generic radio details
MA 63 Dicker Max (etched brass)
MB 1 turned aluminum barrel
(Originally written on April 2, 2007)
Kit Review: Tasca 1/35 Scale Accessory Set No. 35-008; 1/35 M4 Sherman "VVSS" Suspension Set B (Late); 184 parts (159 in olive drab styrene, 24 in clear vinyl, 1 section of thin rubber sheet); retail price US $29.95
Advantages: clean, well-done set of late M4 series suspension bogies; choice of drive wheels and road wheels; unique assembly method
Disadvantages: "working" suspension a relative waste of time; very expensive kit
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all die-hard Shermanoholics
There are now a number of M4 series medium tank suspension kits on the market, and I have to admit that I have not picked up one of the Tasca sets for some time due to cost and also availability. Mark from Michigan Discount Models had both of their M4 series suspension sets at the IPMS Region IV show in Pittsburgh this year, so I decided to try one for the experience.
Tasca makes two types of early vertical volute spring suspension bogies (no quotes are really required but they added them anyway): Set A is the early version with the flat or "straight" return roller mount and a choice of either the welded five-spoke road wheels or the later pressed steel welded type; Set B is the later "upswept" return roller mount and a choice of either the pressed steel welded type or the late production "dish" type welded wheels. Note that they do indicate that the modeler must provide and attach his own inside the rim rivets on the pressed steel welded wheels, but no material is provided to make them.
Both sets come with a choice of three different types of drive wheels – "fancy" or cast rings, "cut" or notched rings, and "smooth" or "disk" rings, as modelers have different terms for each one – and a choice between the spoked idler and the pressed steel idler. This provides the modeler a pretty good selection of options for any of the late VVSS equipped M4 based vehicles – the M4, M4A1, M4A3, M32 series vehicles, late model M7 Priests, or the M36 series 90mm GMC. (The M10 series usually had the earlier model bogies with the five-spoke wheels as found in their "A" kit.)
Tasca uses a different system of assembly for its bogies. Each wheel consists of a front and rear section, so detail is captured on both sides. They are then individually mounted in a swing arm that is "trapped" between the sides of the bogie during assembly. Each bogie has two equalizer arms which are separate parts, a VVSS unit which traps between them, and an odd addition of three sections of rubber padding cut from the sheet provided to give them limited working capability. This latter feature, which started with the original Italeri M4A1 suspension back in 1975, is not really a popular one with most modelers, as it makes the tracks harder to get into position and either forces the modeler to figure out a way to lock the suspension down or use single-link tracks to avoid the "rocking horse" look for which Italeri kits were notorious.
The roller traps between the bogie sides as well during assembly, and the bogie is finished off by a hull mounting bracket, the track return guide, and a base attachment fitting. It would appear from the directions and kits illustrated that Step T is the fitting of the parts to a Tamiya M4 series hull, Step I is the fitting to an Italeri hull and Step D is for a Dragon (DML) hull. (They don't give you that information in English.)
Overall this is a very nice but expensive set, costing nearly twice as much as similar sets from AFV Club (which also needs the rubber bits replaced to lock the suspension down) and a number of resin manufacturers. It is quite accurate, but then again, it is sort of like purchasing a "graded" hunting rifle over a
