Product Specifications.

6329, M2A1 Half-Track 2-in-1 Smart Kit. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit. Contains: 329 styrene parts (including seven clear), 24 etched brass parts, one piece of chain, one piece of string, five decal/markings schemes and ten pages of instructions in 19 steps.

Introduction.

Much like the Char B1 bis, the US M2/M3 Half-Track series has been high on modeler's "want lists" for years. There have been numerous (and quite well-done, BTW) after-market attempts at making the old Tamiya kits more accurate, particularly in the area of the suspension system. But, a new kit featuring the latest in styrene molding techniques has been needed, and DML is first off the mark, with a new series that will also see an M3/M3A1 kit released shortly.

Recent news from the Tokyo Hobby show (late October 2006) indicates that other manufacturers are taking up the challenge of marketing new Half-Track kits in 1/16th, 1/35th and 1/72nd-scale; when it rains it pours!

Tracks.

Since this is a so-called "Smart Kit", DML's designers have been mandated to come up with creative solutions in order to provide for an unprecedented level of accuracy and fidelity. The tracks show that these guys are taking their "marching orders" quite seriously. The track assemblies for each side are split into two injection-molded styrene parts, longitudinally; this provides for crisp tread detail on the faces of the continuous "rubber-band" tracks that the prototype was equipped with. The inner surface also has nicely-rendered guide chain details. In short, the kit's designers have succeeded extremely well in this area.

Suspension System.

The suspension system of the M2/M3 series features drive sprockets and idler wheels with delicate "skeletal-style" rims and hubs; accurately reproducing these items are not conducive to the traditional styrene plastic injection-molding process. But, using an old technique (slide-molding is nothing new!) in an extremely innovative manner has resulted in drive sprockets and idler wheels that accurately mirror the prototype to a remarkable degree. The remaining road-wheels and return rollers are traditionally-rendered as inner and outer halves and include crisp tire, rim and rim-bolt details.

The bogie units assemble from about ten more parts each and this break-down allows for an excellent amount of finesse and detail. The modeler may wish to add the oval-shaped hole to part D-32, a round hole to part D-21 and some bolt-head details to part D-34, as per reference photos. The idler wheel adjustment arms and other items are separate parts, while the spring mount unit represents the later style with a large outer coil-spring unit over a tube that housed a smaller inner coil-spring unit; drive shafts and associated hubs finish the assembly. The final item in this area is the exhaust pipe and muffler assembly; a separate end to the pipe is fitted in order to properly depict the opening.

The conventional front wheels feature tires that are "weighted"; they include complete inner and outer wheel-hub details, brake unit details, drive shaft, axles, steering linkages and leaf spring units.

Chassis Frame.

This is a single-piece item that has some nice bolt detail on the lower face, as well as the bottom of the engine/transmission unit molded in place. There is a very basic, multi-part White 160AX engine and radiator that gets fitted to this as well as the front and rear suspension system, drive train, rear bumper and the associated tow pintle. The front bumper is available as two options: with roller or with winch. The winch features parts for the drive line connection, a metal chain and styrene hook, as well as the associated cable (represented with nylon string); the roller is movable. The frame for the roller is topped by etched brass plates and styrene hooks; the same hooks are fitted to the winch-equipped bumper.

Superstructure.

The front end of this vehicle features a multi-part cab enclosure. It has optional opened or closed wind-shield armor view-ports rendered in etched brass (the entire assembly can be shown raised or lowered as well, to include the rods that keep it in place); a clear styrene wind-shield and frame as well as etched brass wiper blades completes this assembly. The separate doors feature separate upper parts, also with etched brass view-port covers. The door opening handles are (unfortunately) molded in place, both on the inner and outer surfaces; naturally these assemblies can be depicted opened or closed.

The engine access lids are molded closed, although they have scribed lines on their inner faces to aid the modeler who wants to open them up and detail the engine. The characteristic "T"-shaped closure handles are also molded in place and seem to my eye to be rather anemic. There are four distinct styrene parts that are to be used to depict the armored nose section with the radiator cooling slats. H-1 and H-2 are for the M2 and do not have either the hole for the winch drive-shaft or the so-called "combat" head-lamp mounts; H-2 is opened up and is designed to receive the etched brass slats. Parts H-3 and H-4 are designed to mount the combat head-lamps and have an opening for the winch drive-shaft; H-4 is opened to receive the etched brass slats.

All of this gets attached to the main driver's cockpit floor/fender unit, which includes a separate battery housing. There are some ejector pin marks under the fenders that the modeler may wish to address, but under normal viewing conditions they won't be seen; I will texture the area with some Liquidtex gel to depict a mud build-up. The floor of the driver's cockpit features molded-on non-skid texture as well as his foot pedals; certainly in this day and age they should be separate parts.

Externally, there are a pair of multi-part jerry cans that include molded-on strap details, separate handles and two styles of caps; both apparently represent the types that carried water, as opposed to fuel or lubricants. Optional head-lamp configurations are provided for the "early-style" or the "combat-style" mounts, both of which feature clear lenses; the early one actually has a bulb depicted inside! A shovel and pick finish the area on the driver's side.

The remainder of the three main exterior body panels is provided in two options in order to depict the M2 or M2A1. Neither of the two side panels comes with separate ammunition stowage compartment lids, although these items have interior detail and there are scribed lines inside to assist the modeler who would open them up. The M2 panels have fittings to mount the internal skate rail for the machine-guns. The M2A1 panels are configured to allow the mounting of stationary .30 cal. MG pintles as well as the "pulpit" ring-mount for the .50 cal. M2 HMG; the latter also has the ability to mount the one-piece external mine racks. These are very well-done and include the mines already molded in place; the mines themselves are nicely-detailed and positioned at odd angles for a natural look. There are no empty mine racks, but using some styrene strip and sheet, the modeler should easily be able to make his own if wishing to alter the appearance. It should be noted that the M2 was also retrofitted with the mine racks (and the winch!), so the modeler is advised to check references related to the specific vehicle that is being depicted

The rear body panel features crisply-molded tail lamp details as well as multi-part "steps" that include etched brass mud flaps. There are two folded tripods for the .30 cal. M1919A4 MGs, as well as one for the .50 cal M2 HMG (duplicate sprues provide an extra tripod for the latter); all include etched brass mounting straps.

Interior.

Returning to the driver's cockpit, there is a nice instrument panel/dash-board unit as well as separate control levers, steering wheel, and a small fire extinguisher. The seats in this area have nice cloth texture, as do those in the crew compartment. However, the bases for the driver's cockpit seats do not precisely match reference photos, while the cushions themselves do not overhang the bases as they should. There are two radio fits (SCR-510 for M2 and SCR-508 for M2A1), each with its own antenna mount (the modeler must add the antenna mast itself, using references). Additionally the SCR-508 includes a tailored enclosure that replaces the port-side ammunition stowage locker; this configuration does not match available reference photos.

While we are on the subject of these lockers, it should be noted that although their internal access lids are separate parts, they cannot be depicted opened up with the parts provided, unless they are extensively modified by the modeler. This is rather puzzling. In addition, photographs show that when the M49 ring-mount for the M2 .50 cal. HMG was fitted, the starboard side ammunition locker was re-configured. This is not catered to in this kit.

The various machine-guns, their ammunition boxes and their mountings, as well as the radio sets, are supplied on two identical sprues. This gives the modeler plenty of spare items for his stash. The machine-guns themselves are created using slide-molds; this means that the bore-ends are already opened up, with the .30 cal. MGs also having the slot at their bores, and the .50 cal. MGs having detailed interiors to their receiver housings. The .50s also have separate receiver covers, but these are marred by having the cocking handle molded with them, which is inaccurate, especially if they are to be depicted opened up; separate grips finish these assemblies. There are two styles of cradles and ammunition boxes for the .30 cal MGs, as well as spare "clamp-less" shovels, axes and picks on the two sprues marked as "J".

Molding, Fit and Engineering.

A dry fit of the major components revealed no major (or minor) fit issues. Anywhere it mattered, there were no visible ejector pin marks; there were no shrink marks whatsoever.

Accuracy and Details.

With the exceptions as noted above, this kit accurately depicts the subject matter. I have no completely reliable 1/35th-scale plans to compare the parts to, so I had to rely exclusively on photographs.

Instructions.

These are in the traditional line drawing format; a check indicated that there were no issues in this regard.

Decals and Markings Information.

The decals, as usual supplied by Italy's Cartograf, are well-printed with crisp edges and fine color registration. The US national flags included contain the correct number of stars, 48. The markings are mostly generic and include four full sets of the alphabet as well as four extra sets of "A, B and C", as well as eight sets of numbers (1 to 0). Stenciled and solid Armored Division triangles are provided as are seven "ringed" stars and 13 plain stars (each in several different sizes). A single set of serial numbers is provided for an M2A1 of XX Corps in the ETO. Photos indicate it should also have bumper codes (HQ-65 on the port side), but these are not called out in the instructions; they can certainly be constructed with what's included in the kit. Of course, references will show what else can be done with the kit in regards to markings.

Conclusion.

This kit, although it has (in my opinion) some minor shortcomings, is certainly what "the doctor ordered". The omissions or detail glitches can all be easily addressed by any modeler, while those with proper references will certainly be able to come up with an outstanding display piece.

Highly recommended

- Frank V. De Sisto