Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale =9139-=9145 Series Kit No. 669=
1; RSO/3 w/5 cm PaK 38 - Smart Kit; 506 parts (305 in grey styrene, 144 =93= Magic Track=94 single links, 50 etched brass, 7 clear styrene); pre-order p= rice US$48.95 via Dragon USA OnlineAdvantages: essentially completes the series of RSO chassis; many new parts= from first two releases; thorough chassis detailingd
Disadvantages: single link tracks very small; snow tracks add to complexity
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German WWII =93Ostfront=94 fans
Anyone who went to the 2012 AMPS International Show at the Kruse Victory M= useum in Auburn, Indiana, most likely looked at the 130 odd 1/1 scale vehic= les on display. One thing that was notable was the fact that the museum had= one each of the major versions of the Steyr RSO tracked prime mover and ca= rrier. Now DML has matched them with their own new kit of the RSO/1 Typ 470= with pressed steel cab.=20
Old hands will recognize this version as the one modeled over 35 years ago= by Peerless Max. While the conversions have generally been more popular wi= th modelers over the years, this was the original cargo carrier and light p= rime mover which the Germans adopted (and nicknamed =93Austria=92s Revenge= =94 for its nasty riding habits).=20
Once again DML has redone or reworked the original two kits. The lovely li= ttle 49 piece air-cooled V-8 engine has returned in this, and another =20 =09 Quite a bit has changed. The original kit came with a 49 part air cooled e= ight-cylinder diesel engine as well as more than 50 parts to the new steel = cab. But you will have to leave the cab loose to display any of that detail= , or leave the doors open and leave out the three-section engine access cov= er (parts H10/11/12).=20
As before assembly is straightforward. The chassis takes the first eight s= teps of the instructions (once again, as this is a small and =93clean=94 ve= hicle the directions are easier to read than many DML efforts).
The running gear is simple but nicely done, with the bogie mount and sprin= gs as separate parts. The entire lower running gear forms one giant bogie a= ssembly when done. There is a lower chassis pan all of this mounts on and i= t comes with separate frame risers and crossbars. Note that the drivers and= idlers on an RSO are nearly interchangeable so you must keep them straight= during installation.=20
The steel cab comes with three-piece seats =96 =93lawn chair=94 type slat = frames and a pad which attaches to the assembled frames. The doors each con= sist of inner and outer halves and external handles plus window inserts. Al= l of the primary controls are provided.=20
The body (the same as the RSO/3) is typical for open bodied cargo vehicles= and also gives several options, including folded sides and either metal or= wooden top bows for the canvas. Racks are provided from either styrene or = etched brass for stowing the snow track links on the body sides.=20
The latter items are apparently only for =93show=94 as the directions simp= ly show where they are stowed (the =93bin=94 from the RSO/3 is now missing,= however) with 10 on each side of the cargo body). But these are just the p= lates and need only attachment, not assembly. and are assembled =96 three = parts to each one. But installation is not covered very well, with the dire= ctions seemingly saying the side stowed plates store cleats out with wooden= frames.=20
But once again DML shows the =93Magic Tracks=94 assembled (67 links per si= de) and simply slipped onto the running gear. Not gonna happen. Most modele= rs know there are many ways to skin this mule but this is NOT one of them w= ithout DS plastic one-piece tracks. =20
Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson are cited as the consultants for this kit.= =20
Finishing information is provided for seven different vehicles: Unidentif= ied Unit, Eastern Front 1944 (sand with brown/green overspray, WH-1446987);= 1st Skijaeger Division, Eastern Front 1944 (white over sand, WH-1500128); = Unidentified Unit, 1942 (grey with tactical marking); 19th Volksgrenadier D= ivision, Western Front 1944/45 (sand with green/brown dot pattern, no regis= tration number); Unidentified Unit, Eastern Front 1943 (green over sand, sh= ipping stencils, no registration number); Unidentified Unit, Eastern Front =
1943 (sand, shipping stencils, WH-1446645); Unidentified Unit, Eastern Fron= t 1943 (green over sand, white Mu, no registration number). A sheet of Cart= ograf decals with a =93number jungle=94 is provided for the RSO.Overall this completes the basic =93set=94 of RSO vehicles and is a contem= porary design and production quality kit.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.=20
Cookie Sewell