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ARM - Review - DML 1/35 scale Neubaufahrzeug Nr. 3-5

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale =9139-=9145 Series Kit No. 669=

0; Neubau-Fahrzeug Nr. 3-5 Rheinmetall-Fahrgestelle und Krupp-Turm Geaender= te MG-Turm; 606 parts (569 in grey styrene, 24 clear styrene, 13 etched bra= ss); pre-order price US$64.95 via Dragon USA Online

Advantages: extensive use of slide molding for the upper hull and details

Disadvantages: No interior or preparatory mounts for an interior provided

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: for =93real=94 German armor fans=20

DML has now released its =93production=94 version of the three armored ver= sions of the Neubaufahrzeug developmental tank as a =93mainstream=94 kit fo= llowing on the heels of the cyber-hobby.com Prototype Nr. 2 kit (No. 6666).

As noted in my previous review, the =93Neubaufahrzeug=94 (new construction= vehicle) =96 Nb Fz for short =96 vehicles used Rheinmetall developed hulls= , first with a Rheinmetall rolled plate turret and then a faceted Krupp one= . Prototype 1 had the former and Prototype 2 the latter design, and all thr= ee pre-production machines used the Krupp design. The Rh-B turret also moun= ted its unique twin gun arrangement (one 3.7 cm antitank gun and one 7.5 cm= support howitzer) one above the other, whereas the Krupp turret placed the= m side by side (7.5 cm on the right). Initially the small turrets mounted t= win MG 13 7.92mm machine guns, but later they changed to single weapons. A = fifth (third) MG 13 was mounted in the mantlet of the main turret as well.= =20

While all of them were built between 1934-35 they were still under test in= 1940 when it was decided to send the three O-series tanks to Norway. One w= as destroyed but the other two were later returned to Germany.=20

This kit is a virtual duplicate of the Prototype No. 2 kit with some diffe= rences in details used. The extra clear styrene viewers of the first kit ar= e not provided nor is the singular =93eyebrow=94 etched brass rain guard fo= r the driver=92s viewer.

The entire upper hull and sponsons are molded as a single piece with many = of their details in place, and it is a spectacular piece of work. The lower= hull is actually a single piece belly and two running strips for the suspe= nsion units; each one consists of a four-piece bogie assembly that attaches= to a spring on the running strip and twin swing arms for alignment (note t= he directions are typically DML in this area =96 e.g. unclear.) Step 2 also= indicates a number of small rivets must be removed from the side sponsons.= A rear section (A30) completes the lower hull in Step 4.=20

Tracks are a unique single link style but one which comes on seven 40-link= sprues - no DS and no =93Magic Tracks=94 here. The tracks are Step 5 and t= he fenders Steps 6 and 8. Exhausts go on the right fender and are part of = Step 8.=20

Step 9 covers the fender tips and Step 10 the rear radiator air exhaust sh= roud (another hidden nub needs trimming here). The vent grilles may either = be styrene or etched brass (the option needing that nub shaved).=20

Step 11 covers the two =93wing=94 turrets but while they come with lovely = clear styrene viewer assemblies there is no breech or ammo for the MG 13 an= d therefore will have to be either built up from the parts box or the turre= t hatch sealed shut.=20

The main turret comes with a four-piece =93dustbin=94 cupola and separate = side hatches but again, no interior. The sight aperture comes with a separa= te flap, but again no sight. Each gun is a single part which cement togethe= r and then to a mantlet rotor with the entire assembly then attaching to a = rotator/peg inside the turret.

Technical credit is given to Notger Schlegtendal, Tom Cockle and Gary Edmu= ndson.=20

As these were the =93combat=94 versions of the tank, the directions provid= e for eight different options that cover the three armored versions. Two ar= e in grey and brown camouflage as with Pz.Abt.z.b.V. 40 in Norway, one is f= or prototypes in Germany in 1940 with turret numbers 8, 9 or 10, and three = are with the numbers painted out. (Note that the modeler has to install the= decals and THEN paint them out, unlike some of the US Army vehicles in the= ETO in 1944 and their markings sheets.) A sheet of Cartograf decals with d= edication markings for vehicle 10 is also included.=20

Overall this is a kit a number of purists wanted but I suspect many modele= rs cannot tell the detail differences among prototypes 2 and 3-5. I can=92t= .

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.=20

Cookie Sewell

Reply to
AMPSOne
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snipped-for-privacy@aol.com wrote the following:

Neubau-Fahrzeug Nr. 3-5 Rheinmetall-Fahrgestelle und Krupp-Turm Geaenderte MG-Turm; 606 parts (569 in grey styrene, 24 clear styrene, 13 etched brass); pre-order price US$64.95 via Dragon USA Online

of the Neubaufahrzeug developmental tank as a ?mainstream? kit following on the heels of the cyber-hobby.com Prototype Nr. 2 kit (No. 6666).

vehicle) ? Nb Fz for short ? vehicles used Rheinmetall developed hulls, first with a Rheinmetall rolled plate turret and then a faceted Krupp one. Prototype 1 had the former and Prototype 2 the latter design, and all three pre-production machines used the Krupp design. The Rh-B turret also mounted its unique twin gun arrangement (one 3.7 cm antitank gun and one 7.5 cm support howitzer) one above the other, whereas the Krupp turret placed them side by side (7.5 cm on the right). Initially the small turrets mounted twin MG 13 7.92mm machine guns, but later they changed to single weapons. A fifth (third) MG 13 was mounted in the mantlet of the main turret as well.

1940 when it was decided to send the three O-series tanks to Norway. One was destroyed but the other two were later returned to Germany.

differences in details used. The extra clear styrene viewers of the first kit are not provided nor is the singular ?eyebrow? etched brass rain guard for the driver?s viewer.

their details in place, and it is a spectacular piece of work. The lower hull is actually a single piece belly and two running strips for the suspension units; each one consists of a four-piece bogie assembly that attaches to a spring on the running strip and twin swing arms for alignment (note the directions are typically DML in this area ? e.g. unclear.) Step 2 also indicates a number of small rivets must be removed from the side sponsons. A rear section (A30) completes the lower hull in Step 4.

sprues - no DS and no ?Magic Tracks? here. The tracks are Step 5 and the fenders Steps 6 and 8. Exhausts go on the right fender and are part of Step 8.

shroud (another hidden nub needs trimming here). The vent grilles may either be styrene or etched brass (the option needing that nub shaved).

styrene viewer assemblies there is no breech or ammo for the MG 13 and therefore will have to be either built up from the parts box or the turret hatch sealed shut.

hatches but again, no interior. The sight aperture comes with a separate flap, but again no sight. Each gun is a single part which cement together and then to a mantlet rotor with the entire assembly then attaching to a rotator/peg inside the turret.

eight different options that cover the three armored versions. Two are in grey and brown camouflage as with Pz.Abt.z.b.V. 40 in Norway, one is for prototypes in Germany in 1940 with turret numbers 8, 9 or 10, and three are with the numbers painted out. (Note that the modeler has to install the decals and THEN paint them out, unlike some of the US Army vehicles in the ETO in 1944 and their markings sheets.) A sheet of Cartograf decals with dedication markings for vehicle 10 is also included.

cannot tell the detail differences among prototypes 2 and 3-5. I can?t.

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willshak

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