VK.45.02(P)V

Kit # 7492

Preview by Ken Overby
Edited by Rob Haelterman

Opening the box I see the instructions, 3-4 sets of sprue, the tracks and decals.
Let's start with the instructions....
As with the M10 Ersatz, they are very simplified, but unlike the Ersatz this was not a bad reflection on the kit.
(I'll explain as I reach these points.)














First, let's look at the turret. For those of you that have a keen memory, you will recognize that this comes directly from their King Tiger (P) - Kit 7231. No Changes.
So it suffers from the same defects as when it first came out:
1. The "molded on" MG Ring on the cupola.....



2. and the huge spikes that hold the spare tracks. These of course should be removed for doing this tank variant, mostly because the spare tracks don't match the running gear.




The suspension is also well known to us. This was taken directly from the Elefant kits (and its variants).
This is Sprue "E" from those kits.


The tracks are supposed to be DS (Dragon Styrene), but since they were first used for the Elefant and variants, there seems to be something that looks like a dirty mixing of the black rubber and the DS material.
The outside details are kinda soft,


and the inside is where the channel for the material injection is attached, so during the mold separation some of the guide teeth are ripped out.


They even did a curious thing here.


Here are the outer and inner sides for viewing.


I would have preferred the "hard" tracks that Dragon offers with the

• SdKfz. 181 Pz. VI(P) - Porsche Tiger - Kit 7209
• BergePanzer Tiger(P) - Kit 7227
• SdKfz 184 Elephant Kit - 7253
  

Now let's look at the hull. This being "new" molding, the details are very crisp, and finely detailed. I was actually quite pleased with this (with a few exceptions, which you will see as I get to them).


The details of the engine grills are very nice, although incorrect. I guess this is just their (Dragon's) interpretation.




Now, I was disappointed in the molded on cables and tools. This is because the model was first produced as a "prebuilt/diecast". I wouldn't have been so disappointed if they were a little thicker.



Now at first I was confused by these two "huge" holes in the right side.


Then I realised it was for the only tool not molded on: the shovel.


Now here is my biggest disappointment when it comes to molded on details: the headlights.


But back to the positive...
The armor lap joints are well defined, and with a little extra effort, they can be rendered quite nicely. However, they neglected to carry this through to the lower hull.






Now one thing that I don't understand is why they don't inspect the molds every now and then. Then they could catch problems like this.
It seems that one half of the mold is so worn out that the plastic comes out like a big "blob" surrounding the part.
This is supposed to be the hull mounted MG.



I will look through my stash of kits to see if I still have an MG (nice and clean) on a sprue, and edit this review with a pic of how the part should look.

All in all, I am not too disappointed in this kit, but it should not be under the "Armor Pro" Banner.
The saving grace of the kit is that it uses "good" parts from other kits, to make this one, but even these parts can use a little attention.
When I build mine, I'll use the "Hard Track".

Article Last Updated: 11 May 2013