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DR6359:
Russian SU-100 Tank Destroyer: Premium Edition
1/35 injection plastic kit with multimedia accessories and decals
Following the introduction of the T-34/85, the Soviet Army decided to
up-gun the related SU-85 self propelled gun. This lead to the fitting
of the 100mm D-10S gun in place of the 85mm gun, an improvement that
gave the SU-100 the ability to confidently take on the heavy German
Panzers such as the Panther and King Tiger II. The large breech of the
100mm gun required the commander・s station to be moved to the right
resulting in a protruding side extension underneath the cupola. The
SU-100 entered production in September 1944 and saw considerable post
war use, with later versions also being built in Czechoslovakia.
CONTENTS
This model is of a WWII SU-100 built in the USSR by UTZ and is typical
of those used in the last months of the War in Europe. It is from Dragon's
Premium Edition range and contains numerous improvements over Dragon・s
earlier release of the SU-100 including photo etch, Magic Tracks, retooled
mantlet, and a metal barrel.
The layout is familiar, with a large single piece for the hull and a
main superstructure shell onto which the side armour veneers and cupola
parts are attached. The tooling for many parts has been enhanced, such
as the slide-molded exhaust pipes. The weld seems have been improved
those on the newly tooled upper hull as well as the join between the
upper and lower hulls.
This release has improved engine deck with PE air intake louvers. The
louvers and each a single PE part that slot into a cavity in the retooled
upper hull. A mesh screen is fitted to an open plastic frame (which
does not need any rework), and then placed over the louvers. However
there is the option of a second plastic frame with the mesh effect cast
on to it to simplify assembly.
The four side fuel tanks have the choice of factory fresh or nicely
detailed dents tanks and the option of PE straps.
The road wheels have a plain cast profile, as seen in wartime photos
and integrated rubber tyres, which have the segmented mold lines on
the sides and outer face. The SU-100 shares the T34 Premium Edition・s
hull, which has separate parts for the vertical suspension towers that
are fitted inside the hull with exposed (but obscured by the road-wheels)
large coil springs.
Other Premium Edition features include:
One-piece
turned metal barrel that is a drop fit into the enhanced mantlet. This
barrel has the barrel end drilled out and there is the option of a one-piece
slide molded plastic barrel.
Magic Tracks, which come loose and will save considerable time. The
tracks alternate between links with and without guide-horns, so make
sure you have an even number of links on each track. There are two slight
injection marks on the inner face of each link, which could be sliced
off or simply ignored.
A new driver・s hatch with clear plastic periscope.
Metal tow cable, which has plastic cable ends.
Clear plastic lens for the headlamp and PE guards.
PE toolbox which as it is in-scale is ideal for being left open) and
has PE latches
Nine plastic ice grousers with PE straps and tie-downs, which are stored
on the right fender.
PE for small detail including small brackets, interior detail for the
cupola hatches, handles on the rear hull access cover and crew hatches,
side engine vents, detail on the base of the cupola, and the hand-saw
(which looks great in PE).
DECALS
A decal sheet by Cartograf has markings for five SU-100. The painting
guide illustrates each with four views and the box has a colour side
profile of each tank destroyer.
The SU-100 are an overall green gun from Bohemia/Prague Czechoslovakia
1945, a green postwar SU-100 from Czechoslovakia 1954, 7th Mechanized
Corps in Hungary 1945 which is whitewashed; Vienna 1945 which is green
with red stars; and 1st Guards Mechanized Corps in Hungary 1945 which
is partly covered in whitewash.
RECOMMENDATION
With the Premium Edition upgrades and additions Dragon・s SU-100 is now
a very comprehensive kit which provides everything most modelers will
want all in the one box. The improvements both add detail and refinement
while also saving time through the addition of the metal barrel and
Magic Tracks. Highly recommended.
- Neville Lord
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