Kit Review: cyber-hobby.com 1/35 scale Kit No. 57 (Dragon Models
Limited =9139-=9145 Series Kit No. 6667) 8.8 cm Flak 37 Auf Pz.Kpfw. IV
Ausf. H - Smart Kit; (793 in grey styrene, 216 =93Magic Track=94 links, 71
etched brass, 18 clear styrene, 7 aluminum, 1 twisted steel cable, 1
length of steel chain); estimated price US$69.95
Advantages: probably only kit of this combination that will ever be
released
Disadvantages: =93Magic Track=94 not popular with some modelers; another
=93one off wonder=94 from cyber-hobby.com
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: for collectors and anyone modeling singular vehicles
At the very end of the war the Germans were absolutely frantic to
find weapons to oppose the Allies on both fronts and as such would try
to mount any useful weapon on any functioning chassis. This particular
combination, of which at least two may have been converted, is typical
of that fervor. Mounted high on the chassis and without any stabilizer
jacks or spades, this could only have been used in head-on firing and
even then would probably start breaking suspension components after a
few rounds. (Note that the similar concept of the =93Nashorn=94 at least
had a purpose-built chassis and a very narrow arc of fire as well.)
This latest effort from DML=92s boutique subsidiary cyber-hobby.com is
another low rate oddity which always strikes me as focused more on
collectors than modelers. Forgive my cynicism, but model companies
that kit one-off models of the very exotic, strange and marginally
useful armored vehicles when they have no real place in the history of
armored vehicles are something I find puzzling. I understand things
like the Maus and E=96100 =96 one of the former actually being completed
and one of the latter being nearly built - but frantic field
conversions such as this kit are something we modelers used to prefer
to do on our own.
Granted, in today=92s market if I wanted to model this one-off vehicle
it would cost me about $50 for the Pzkw. IV chassis and another $40
for the 8.8 cm gun, but I would at least have a spare turret and
Sd.Ahn. 202 carriage and mount base to show for it and which could be
used for other projects.
What this kit comprises is =96 to paraphrase Dan Aykroyd on =93Saturday
Night Live=94 =96 is =93Box O=92 Parts=94. It provides most of the componen=
ts
from the initial DML Pzkw. IV Ausf. H kit (No. 6300) with those from
the 8.8 cm Flak 36/37 kit (No. 6287) with a single sprue of six new
parts and a new engine deck element. These parts basically seal off
the casemate section where the turret used to mount, add a hole for
the pedestal of the Flak 37, and provide some accessories from the 8.8
cm kits.
Technical assistance and support for this kit come from Notger
Schlegtendal, Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.
Finishing directions are either for =93Unidentified Unit Germany
1945" in a three color patch scheme with hard edged painting or three
color patch scheme using a softer sprayed on effect. A tiny sheet of
Cartograf decals (two black crosses) is provided but no markings are
shown in the painting directions.
Overall the constituent parts are up to DML=92s high standards =96 it=92s
just the concept which leaves me cold.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
- posted 11 years ago