Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7506; Sd.Kfz. 171 Panther Ausf. D Late Production; 93 parts (91 in grey styrene, 2 DS Plastic track runs); pre-order price US$22.95 via Dragon USA Online
Advantages: totally new kit shares nothing with past DML 1/72 Panthers; no more screw holes!
Disadvantages: no etched brass parts will disappoint some modelers Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German fans, especially those who hate putting on z immerit
DML has now followed up their very nice early Panther Ausf. D with a late production variant. The difference in the two kits is a new A sprue with se veral new or modified parts from the first kit. It comes with skirts and mo st of the details German armor fans associate with early model Panthers suc h as the gun port in the glacis vice the machine gun ball mount and the ste pped hull side profile.
The hull consists of three parts - upper, lower and stern plate. The road wheel arms are pre-molded into the lower hull and like past DML Panthers th e intermediate road wheels are linked together to speed assembly and ensure accurate fitting to the model. The idler wheel consists of three parts (tw o castings and an outer ring).
The tracks now come as with all recent DML 1/72 scale kits with an indicat or that the tracks are to be 182mm in overall length. These measured out at 179 mm so will need a bit of stretching to fit properly and provide for sa g.
All side details are separate but the pioneer tools and OVM come ?bundle d? into assemblies for simpler installation.
The hull hatches are molded in place and while the ?dustbin? turret cu pola consists of two parts, it is obvious that it was not designed to be op ened so anyone wanting a figure in the hatch has some work on his hands to make changes. Ditto the rear access/emergency hatch.
As there are no etched brass parts modelers wanting them will have to eith er borrow from an earlier DML kit or seek aftermarket parts.
Technical assistance was provided by Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.
Two finishing options are provided: 1./Pz.Rgt. 2, 16th Panzer Division, Ru ssia 1943 (green over sand, red 12); and 1./Pz.Rgt. 24, France 1944 (tricol or with black crosses). A tiny sheet of Cartograf decals is included.
Overall this?Gen 2" Panther kit is a nice effort - hopefully someday DML will revisit its earlier Panthers in 1/72 and give them the same effort.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell