Preview 2

Preview 2

Doug Chaltry

Simon Barnes (2)

When you mount the tracks, you will notice that the rubber band track is twisted from one set of teeth from half of the sprocket pushing the tracks outwards due to the misalignment. - Y.C. Wang

First releases had the old vinyl tracks; later releases unsure.

Preview2

Preview 2

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If you build the kit OOTB, you will get misaligned drive sprocket teeth. The left and right halves of the drive sprocket (on any given side of the tank) will not line up.

When you mount the tracks, you will notice that the rubber band track is twisted from one set of teeth from half of the sprocket pushing the tracks outwards due to the misalignment. - Y.C. Wang

Danilo Carli

Rob Haelterman (used in conversion to M10)

The kit has only 18 wheels, while it would need 20 (16 + 4 spare), even though the instructions mention 20 wheels. The "old" Dragon Ausf. F1, F2, G, and H kits all have 20 wheels, but only need 18 and can serve as a donor. The Dragon Jagdpanzer L/70 kits 7293 and 7238 have too many steel roadwheels, which might also help. (Note that the new releases are different.)
Also note that the use of steel wheels on Brummbären was inconsistent, with some vehicles fitted with 16, 8, 4 or no steel wheels at all.

Preview2

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If you build the kit OOTB, you will get misaligned drive sprocket teeth. The left and right halves of the drive sprocket (on any given side of the tank) will not line up.

When you mount the tracks, you will notice that the rubber band track is twisted from one set of teeth from half of the sprocket pushing the tracks outwards due to the misalignment. - Y.C. Wang

When you mount the tracks, you will notice that the rubber band track is twisted from one set of teeth from half of the sprocket pushing the tracks outwards due to the misalignment. - Y.C. Wang

Olav Hauke

Preview 2

Preview 2

Stephen Brezinski

Timothy Lau points out that

• Vehicle 1023 has the wrong type of turret (the kit is hard edge, the real vehicle soft edge) and lacks Swastikas.
• Vehicle 742 should have its number placed lower than in the instructions

172Shermans.com

Combined preview

Combined preview

172Shermans.com

172Shermans.com

Combined preview

Combined preview

According to Timothy Lau the "Totenkopf" marking option is actually a vehicle from "Wiking", seen here or here and would need parts of an Ausf.F2 kit like the globular muzzle brake.

Timothy Lau points out that the decals for "132" might possibly be based on this vehicle (here and here). If so, it was not a StuH and it was not in the Ardennes and it was not an ambush scheme.

Combined preview

Preview2

Preview 2

Combined preview

Combined preview

Combined preview

172Shermans.com

172Shermans.com

Combined preview

Combined preview

Preview 1
Preview 2

Preview (@ 172shermans)

Combined preview

Combined preview

172Shermans.com

Combined preview

Combined preview

• the marking option for 11 Pz.Div. is questionable.
  Decal 7 should be replaced with a 11 Pz.Div. divisional insignia where the ghost faces left and should be repositioned from the hull to the turret. (Note that the 11. Pz.Div. insignia always points left. )
  The parallelogram in the instructions is perhaps not applicable to this vehicle.
  Furthermore, the Balkenkreuz for the vehicle from LSSAH (written as "LAH" in the instructions) should be placed over the visors on the sides of the hull, not in the middle of the hull sides, as shown in Echelon decal set 721007, as shown in a sister vehicle here.
• more info about the marking option for 12.Pz.Div. can be found here:
  picture 1, picture 2, picture 3, picture 4, picture 5, picture 6.
  The given decals depict vehicle 613. It probably did have a smoke candle box in the rear, although it is hard to say for sure from the pictures. Even though not called for in the instructions, the divisional insignia and cross need to be in the rear.
  

When you mount the tracks, you will notice that the rubber band track is twisted from one set of teeth from half of the sprocket pushing the tracks outwards due to the misalignment. - Y.C. Wang

The kit was originally issued in 2008. In 2017, Dragon reissued the kit. The quality of the 2017 molding appears to be inferior to the original 2008 version. However, a metal barrel is included with the reissue. - T. Lau

When you mount the tracks, you will notice that the rubber band track is twisted from one set of teeth from half of the sprocket pushing the tracks outwards due to the misalignment. - Y.C. Wang

The kit was originally issued in 2008. In 2017, Dragon reissued the kit. The quality of the 2017 molding appears to be inferior to the original 2008 version. However, a metal barrel is included with the reissue. - T. Lau

172Shermans.com

Combined preview

Preview 2

Combined preview

This is the Tiger with a Panzer III bin on the rear of the turret.
These kits are not simple declinations of earlier Tiger kits, but highly improved molds, with correct asymmetric turrets, open hatches with detail on the underside, full radiator detail, a rudimentary turret interior and better detail.

Preview of kit 7407 for cross-reference and individual remarks

This Jeep set appear to be 1/76 scale and not 1/72 scale as advertised. Measurements (in inches) of various parts found in the kit with my dial caliper follow:

• Jeep wheel base = 80in = 1.1in in 1/72 scale
  Dragon Jeep = 1.05in = 1/76 scale (80/76)
• Jeep wheel/tire diameter = 6.50x16 = 29in = 0.40in in 1/72 scale
  Dragon Jeep wheel/tire = 0.38in = 1/76 scale (29/76)
• Bazooka length = 54.72in = 0.76in in 1/72 scale
  Dragon bazooka = 0.72in = 1/76 scale (54.72/76)

I assume that the Jeep released in combination with the Sherman (kit no. 7412) will be the same. So it looks like the 1/76 scale builders have an excellent Jeep to add to their collections while the new Heller/Airfix offering appears to still be the best dimensionally accurate Jeep in 1/72 scale. - Al Magnus

Timothy Lau points out the following: The cable mounted on the spaced nose armor is a very rare item and, because the kit represents a Serie 3 vehicles, the armored cover over the grille (C16) is not optional as the instructions suggest. If I am not mistaken, the flag staff (B18) should also NOT be installed as directed by the instructions.

Timothy Lau adds the following about the Kubelwagen:

The hull as represented by the model was manufactured from mid 1942-early 1943. With regard to license plate numbers (which naturally increase over time), photographic evidence appear to limit the WH range as follows:

• Greater than WH-1275336
• Lower than WH-1477058

The bounds can, of course, tighten or broaden a bit with further research. I have not done the work to establish the corresponding WL and the SS range.
The builder can backdate or postdate the kit with necessary modification. The builder should then adjust the license plate range accordingly.

Timothy Lau adds: The hull only has the old style vision port. So the kit represents a Serie 1. A tweak list can be found on Armorama but is incomplete. "B7 and 8 are covers for the reversible lamp reflectors and their location is marked on the hull side with a small ridge; this is best removed as it positions the covers too near to the split crew access hatch. The hinges of them should sit right on the angled edge either side of the apex of the sloping lower hull plate - refer to a photo or even the box art, but not the painting guide. Being separate parts has the effect of making them stand out noticeably more from the body than the access hatches, while photos show that both should be similarly only very slightly proud of the plate they are set in to. This raises the issue of which version of the 263 the kit represents; according to Hilary Doyle and Thomas Jentz in Panzer Tracts no.13-2, this cover was deleted from May 1941, so if modelling a later vehicle you could leave the covers off completely, and just remove the locating marks. This is not shown as an option in the instructions, but may perhaps be the reason for these parts being separate."
Armorama is absolutely correct that the covers must be shifted. However, the comment that the cover can be deleted is not right because the deletion is not part of Serie 1.

Interestingly enough, because Dragon represented Serie 3 of SdKfz 232 and 231, Dragon's SdKfz 232 and 231 are not direct competitors of Roden's. But because Dragon represented Serie 1 of SdKfz 263, Dragon's SdKfz 263 is a direct competitor of Roden's.

1. The first decal option is for this vehicle. WH 522808 is a 4.Serie, not a 5. Serie.
2. The second decal option is for this 2. Pz.Div. vehicle. It is a 4th serie vehicle. Kit 7447 includes the parts of 7420 (Sd.Kfz. 223). According to the review of that kit, the 7420 antenna is the 4. serie antenna. So maybe it is possible to build 7447 as a 4th serie vehicle. Still, I am not entirely sure what needs to be fixed with the hull to make it a proper 4th serie vehicle.
   Maybe the 2. Pz.Div. decals are useful on the ICM 72441, which is a true 4th serie kit.
3. Because the kit represents the 5th serie, yellow paint should be used, not grey.
4. I noticed that many 4th serie 261s had some box in the front: Neither ICM nor Dragon have the part.

-  Timothy Lau

-  Timothy Lau

Timothy Lau adds: There is a problem because the base kit represents a Serie 3 vehicle with the new vision ports on the hull and on the turret. According to kfzderwehrmacht.de "21 Sd. Kfz. 231 of the third series were made from February to Mai 1941 [sic]. Because the new armoured superstructure of the third series was delivered by Boehler beginning in May 1941, these vehicles had most probably the armoured superstructure of the second series. For the third series, the turret was completely changed. The front was broadened and heightened. The gun mantled was modified and offered more protection. Now all vision ports were Einheitssehklappen. Officially, no Sd. Kfz. 231 were produced after May 1941. Therefore, the shown vehicle of 13. Panzer Division was most probably a converted Sd. Kfz. 232. The photo was made in Ponomarew in early summer 1942 just before the beginning of the new offensive."

So if you want to use this kit (or kit 7429) to represent the SdKfz 231, you can only represent vehicles that theoretically were produced in May 1941. I cannot for my life find any picture of an SdKfz 231 with the new vision ports on the hull and on the turret, except for that converted 13. Pz.Div. vehicle mentioned above. Until more historical documentation is found, the SdKfz 231 kit should be avoided in favor of the SdKfz 232. Any person trying to model the SdKfz 231 in particular could consider Roden's kit.

On that note, because the Dragon SdKfz 231 and 232 kits represent Serie 3 vehicles, the armored cover over the grille (C16) is NOT optional as the instructions suggest. If I am not mistaken, the flag staff (B18) should also NOT be installed as directed by the instructions.

According to Timothy Lau, the tower (parts A3, A4, A13, A14) was very rarely fitted to the real vehicle.

Inside the box:
If you expect a kit similar to Dragon’s excellent PzIV Ausf. F/G kits then do not buy it. Compared with these kits a lot of details were simplified and the number of parts is reduced. There is also some flash on the sprues which is very unusual for Dragon.
Driver’s and radio operator’s hatches are molded shut in the upper hull, but still have details on the inside. The fit between the upper hull, air inlet and the new lower backplate needs some patience and filler. The lower hull with a flat bottom is from their Brummbär kit. Wheels are the well known late type while the idler is the cast version. All tools on the hull and fenders are molded on. The turret now has integrally molded side doors (with casting faults), door stoppers (which are flat to the sidewalls) and handles. The excellent early cupola from the Ausf. F/G is replaced by a 2 part late cupola with flat engraving, molded on hatch and missing shot deflector ring. The nice gun and front plate are similar to the Ausf. F/G Kit. The Rommelkiste also has an integrally molded hatch. The turret skirts are nice, the hull skirts are of the lowest quality with molded on rails and without any skirt holders around the triangles. (Why did Dragon not use their better Brummbär skirts?)
The skirts (Schürzen) are molded with the holding rail at the bottom instead of the top. To correct this mistake you have to sand down the skirts and scratchbuild a new rail.
The DS tracks were not only warped but also twisted because of inattentive packing.

Version
The missing Filzbalg Luftfilter, antenna rail and the cover for the close defense weapon date this vehicle in my opinion to (approximately) February 1944 , which is the middle of the Zimmerit period.

Historical inaccuracies
- No spare tracks at all (upper/lower hull, right sidewall, back wall and fenders) even though the box art shows a lot of them.
- Missing shot deflector on cupola
- S hooks instead of C hooks
- No towing ropes
- No skirt holders on the skirts and no hooks on the fenders as on the Stug IV/Brummbär kit.
- Close the KFF openings above driver visor
- No Zimmerit

Conclusion
In relation to the higher kit price (in Europe double the price of a Revell Pz IV) I would recommend to buy the Revell Pz4H kit instead and add some smaller details there. With the saved budget you at least have some money for one PE- or Zimmerit set.

To backdate either Revell or Dragon kit to the pre-Zimmerit area will be another story:
- rubber return roller
- angled bow plate at the back
- Schürzen early version
- earlier oval muzzle break
- mid/late hubcaps on wheels (?)
- …

- Robert Kru

It was first thought that perhaps later releases of this kit have corrected Schürzen rails, as a ready made Dragon Model (60656) can be seen with them. It seems that this is not the case. However, it is apparently selling the coorect Schürzen parts as part of kit 7551.

The ready-made 60656 is therefore based on a never-released version that represents the best of the combined 7497 and 7551.

- Timothy Lau

The model features decals for "Te Aroha," which, in real life, is "Te Aroha III." (There was a "Te Aroha" but the decals weren't meant to represent that one.) The builder should consult the numerous threads about the Tamiya 1/35 kit which prsents the same flaw or this link.
It should be noted that, even though both 7504 and 7439 have decals for "Te Aroha," the actual "Te Aroha III" probably was not armed with either the Lewis or the 2cm Cannon. Still, as the kit represents a radio truck and as "Te Aroha III" is the only marking option that corresponds to a radio truck, this marking is the most accurate. - Timothy Lau

- Piotr Pyrczak

This is not entirely correct : the wheel sprues are different. Early Panther D comes with a sprue of 16 bolts wheels, while late D comes with the 24 bolt ones for the outer wheels, the inner roadwheels (facing toward the hull) are still 16 bolts.

- Kevin Liang

The kit is missing the rudder. - Timothy Lau

Stephen Brezinski

Stephen Brezinski