Kit Review: cyber-hobby.com (Dragon Models Limited) 1/35 scale Upgrade Package Kit No. 3879; U.S. Army Fire Support and Accessories; 72 parts in grey styrene; retail price US$8.95
Advantages: weapons sprues from recent kits permit upgrading older DML or other manufacturers=92 kits; good selection and reasonable numbers make for a good mix
Disadvantages: some complaints about recent DML kits not providing these weapons with the kit
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all US or Allied modelers
Recent DML M4 medium tank kits, both US and Commonwealth versions, have caused a bit of disappointment as they did not come with either an M2HB .50 caliber machine gun and mount or in lieu of that an M1919A4 .30 caliber machine gun and mount. Modelers with rather skimpy or threadbare parts chests may rejoice here as now DML=92s cyber- hobby.com affiliate is releasing a weapons set to compliment their other kits.
Basically composed of the =93weapons=94 or J sprue from the M2 and M3 halftrack kits and the weapons sprue from Kit No. 6198, US Army Support Weapons Teams, it provides the following weapons and mounts: 1 x M2HB machine gun with =93slide molded=94 bore, 1 x M2HB machine gun with =93you drill it=94 bore, 1 x .50 caliber vehicle mount, 1 x open .50 caliber tripod, l x closed .50 caliber tripod, 2 x .50 caliber ammo boxes, 1 x .50 caliber belt, 1 x 57mm recoilless rifle, 1 x 57mm round, 1 x 60mm mortar, 3 x 60mm mortar bombs, 2 x M1919A4 machine guns with =93slide molded=94 bores, 1 x M1919A4 with a =93you drill it=94 bore, 1 x open .30 caliber tripod, 1 x folded .30 caliber tripod, 1 x .
30 caliber ammo belt, 2 x .30 caliber rocker mounts, 2 x .30 caliber ammo boxes, and an axe, shovel and pick.This set thus gives the modeler a state-of-the-art .50 caliber for the DML kits that are missing one or a .30 caliber for the Commonwealth tanks, or upgrades of extra weapons for any other American armed vehicle. The parts are well chosen to provide the largest possible amount of flexibility and use to the modeler.
Overall, while some may argue that DML should have included a weapons sprue with several of its recent kits, this upgrade set does permit modelers to provide better weaponry to older DML or other manufacturers=92 kits for a reasonable amount.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell