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Kit
Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Kit No. 7270; T-34/85
Mod. 1944 Late Production; 165 parts (93 in grey styrene, 69 etched
brass, 2 track runs in tan DS plastic, 2 twisted steel wire); retail
price about $13.98
Advantages: nice new sheet of etched brass adds to this kit; optional
"Bedspring" armor package will be appreciated
Disadvantages: late model T-34-85 hatch proportions off
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: for all Soviet and бе34 fans
DML has cornered the market on 1/35 scale T-34 tank kits, and is now
working its way through all of them in 1/72 scale as well. This is their
latest offering.
The main differences in "early" and "late" production
T-34-85 tanks has usually been the turret and the commander's hatch.
The early models, as with many other Soviet tanks, had a rotating ring
mount with a two-panel "split" hatch opening. The later models
went for a fixed forward panel and a larger, one piece flap; one of
the reasons was that Soviet tank commanders often liked to fight "heads
up" and the larger one-piece armored covers gave them more protection
than the smaller split flaps did.
Given that this is the raison d'etre for this kit, I was surprised to
see that DML blew the proportions of the hatch sections, (parts B7/8)
making them about 50/50. The actual proportions are closer to 38/62
with the hatch being larger than the fixed section on the ring. This
is quite noticeable and means if you use figures you can't get one into
an open hatch.
That is a shame, for the rest of the kit is excellent. It is basically
the same overall as kit number 7269 with the rounded fender tips not
as common with most later production Model 1944 tanks. The wheels are
again molded together with the "six web" cast wheels with
lightening holes; again, they have the less common holes molded in the
rims which were usually dropped from later production tanks as the supply
of synthetic rubber met Soviet production needs.
The large etched brass sheet covers the well-known "Bedspring"
standoff protection added to a few tanks to protect against the new
threat of the Panzerfaust launchers, and provides very nicely done arrays
for the kits with separate shields and standoff brackets. Since the
"drop tanks" cannot be used if the arrays are fitted, the
directions now show that the holes should be filled in. Brass upgrade/replacement
parts also include the engine radiator exhaust screen (vice the etched
nickel provided in previous kits), the radiator air exhaust louvers
directly below them, and many of the guards and brackets normally used
on the T-34-85.
Again, as is now nearly "boiler plate" with DML kits, the
model comes with "slide molded" gun barrel muzzle and hollow
molded tow cable heads with twisted steel wire cables. Tracks are once
again DML's DS tan plastic which can be attached with model cements.
Six finishing options are provided: the "Bedspring" armor
on an unknown unit, Eastern Front 1944; a two-tone brown over green
tank, also unknown, Eastern Front 1944; 2nd Guards Tank Corps, East
Prussia 1944; unknown, Poland 1945; 3rd Belorussian Front, East
Prussia 1945 (totally whitewashed); and 3rd Belorussian Front, East
Prussia 1945 (partially whitewashed.) I suddenly stopped to think that
these are GERMAN terms of reference, as to the Soviets it was always
the WESTERN front! Oh well.
Overall this is a nice little kit but it does appear somebody cut a
few corners on research, which is unfortunate. It would have been nicer
to see it with the more common solid-tired wheels, squared off fenders,
and correct size hatch.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
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Cookie Sewell
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