6357 - 10.5cm K.Pz.Sfl.IVa "Dickermax Max"

"... it's a superb offering from Dragon. They seem to have done their homework and offered us a highly-detailed kit of a rare variant. Got to be a winner! "

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- Vinnie Branigan

"...first kit of this vehicle on the market; fighting compartment interior complete..."

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- Cookie Sewell

"...Once again a box packed to the lid with high quality, beautifully detailed components, what ever your level of modelling this will be delight to build and paint. Highly recommended..."

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- A J Greenland

DR6357: 10.5cm K.Pz.Sfl. Iva Dicker Max
1/35 injection plastic kit with multimedia accessories and decals

Designed to destroy bunkers and heavy tanks, the Dicker Max was heavily armed with the substantial 10.5cm K 18 gun from Krupp. This early war panzerjager, was open topped and built on a modified Panzer IV chassis. Only two pilot production Dicker Max were built and both were assigned to Panzerjager Abteilung 521 (tank destroyer unit 521), who when assigned to the 3rd Panzer Division, used them on the Eastern Front where one vehicle is reported to have been quite successful against Soviet tanks.

Overview

The Dicker Max contains numerous new parts for the K 18 cannon, frontal armour, fighting compartment's superstructure and the crew compartment to service the gun. A mix of new parts, and others from Dragon short barrel Panzer IVs make the running chassis. Like with many other recent Dragon releases the kit includes photo etch, a pair of metal tow cables with slide-molded head ends, Magic Tracks and clear plastic parts for optics.

The gatefold instructions have 24 steps of line drawings, and a small "Inside Story" booklet highlights the kit's features and explains some of the research, which went into this model. One feature worth noting is that the researchers identified differences between the factory fresh Dicker Max and a gun as used by the combat troops in terms of the muzzle break profile and the later addition of a travel lock. This kit includes parts to make both options.

New Gun and Superstructure

The new superstructure and fighting compartment body are based on a single slide molding which integrates the side armor and forward overhead plate. The fighting compartment's rear panel is separate and the rear access doors can be modeled open or closed. The weld seams are accurately rendered and differ according to the position. The transmission and steering brake are also nicely reproduced.

The fighting compartment is comprehensively detailed and is based around a one-piece tub that incorporates the lowered floor areas where some crewmen stood when loading the gun. The ammunition boxes have interior detail and can be assembled open or closed and injection plastic several rounds are provided with the kit. The radio set and rack are well detailed and made from about a dozen parts. Other fittings include a new signal pistol, PE internal support brackets, ammunition box for the signal pistol and grenades, scissor periscope for the roof with a battery box and roof lid which can be modeled closed or open. A generic sprue from the Gen-2 figures provides a diverse range of personal equipment for the crew include gas masks (PE securing straps provided), water bottles and canteens, while leaving the modeler with plenty of spares such as helmets and entrenching tools. Several spare Panzer IV on vehicle tools are also included and would also be useful for other modeling projects.

The newly tooled Kanone 18 is an impressive example of up to date tooling. It has the choice of muzzle breaks (factory or field profile) and the option of a turned metal barrel or one-piece plastic tube. The gun sleeve is slide-molded to provide fine detail. The gun cradle and breech are both thoroughly detailed with numerous small fittings including the recoil guard, hand wheels and sight. The Kanone's mount is of a sturdy profile, reflecting the guns weight and the kit's parts have detail for the bolts. A metal frame has the gunner and commanderˇs seats attached to it before being fitted to the gun. The assembled can traverse and be raised or lowered.

Unique Hull with Workable Suspension

The hull has many new parts including a one-piece hull tub with a new fuel filler hatch (can be modeled open or closed) on each side plate and considerable detail on the underside. Overall the hull follows the format of recent short barreled Dragon Panzer IV kits and reflect all the improvements introduced on later Panzer IV releases such as the enhanced final drive housing with detail on both sides. This kit has new front and rear hull plates. The upper front hull is new and features a driver's compartment with separate access hatch, armored visor with clear plastic vision block and small detail such as the screw heads and recesses on the hinges around the separate brake inspection hatches. Opposite the driver's compartment is a dummy bay which features the tell tale marks seen in photos to show that it is not structural to the main armor. An optional gun travel lock, which has crisp small detail for the securing chain, is included for building the combat version of the Dicker Max. Other features on the glacis are a newly tooled box shaped headlamp with PE detail, Notek and Bosch style lighting, and PE track adjusting tool. On the rear the horizontal exhaust has PE support brackets that add realism.

The side fenders have predrilled holes for the tools and an anti-skid pattern on both the upper and lower surfaces. The fenders are fairly thin for injection plastic and have the lip (fold) on the outer edge. The rear fenders are separate pieces and can be modelled folded up, while a pair of fender support brackets are PE. The on-vehicle tools have the clamps moulded on for easy of assembly. PE is provided for the brackets securing the spare tracks and small detail on the rear convoy light. There is a new barrel-cleaning rod for the Dicker Maxˇs 10.5cm gun.

The suspension parts are the multipart design from the Dragon short barreled Panzer IVs with the separate tyres and separate armoured covers for each bogey. Each tyre has its parting line (seam) finely reproduced, a feature that will work particularly well if you build the Dicker Max in the factory configuration. The 'Continentau' (you can slice of half the ¨U〃) logo is on the sidewalls. The earlier style hubcaps, are for the road wheels, while the later style one (recessed screw holes) is for the one spare wheel.

For the rear idler there is the choice of a straight forward two part plastic option or the more complex and detailed option with a slide-molded center hub and PE faces. The accurate drive sprocket is built from two crisp parts.

Tracks

The pre-cut injection plastic magic tracks have open guide horns and are "handed" in that separate left and right side tracks are provided with the track pin facing out accordingly. To avoid mix-ups each set has its own plastic bag and is in a different shade of gray. The links snap together for quick assembly and a whole run can be assembled in minutes; before you apply the glue. A small injection mark is on the inner face of each link and can be removed with a hobby knife if you wish.

Decals

A Cartograf decal sheet by containing markings for three schemes. Each scheme has an overall dark grey base and white markings. The first is of a Dicker Max in the factory (Balkan Cross), the second is with Panzerjager Abteilung 521 on the Eastern Front in 1941 (Balkan Cross with tactical markings), and the last after the gun returned to Juterbog (location of a self-propelled artillery training school) in 1942. Each scheme is supported by for view outlines.

Recommendation

The combination of the Dicker Max's having a definitive profile, and Dragon's attention to detail and finesse ensures that this new release will make an impressive model. The Magic Tracks, photo-etch and metal parts add to the kit's appeal. I am pleased to see this kit added to Dragonˇs line up. Highly recommended.

- Neville Lord