Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale '39-'45 Series Kit No. 6684; German RSO/3 w/5 cm PaK 38 - Smart Kit; 518 parts (327in grey styrene, 144 “Magic Track” single links, 44 etched brass, 3 clear styrene); pre-order price US$47.95 via Dragon USA Online

Advantages: virtually new kit compared to initial DML release; thorough chassis; PaK 38 kit included

Disadvantages: single link tracks very small; snow tracks add to complexity

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: for all German WWII "Ostfront" fans

As I noted when the initial DML release of the armored RSO tractor came out, the Germans were no stranger to the concept of "run what you brung". This meant they had to use what was being produced in their new satellite companies and that meant the Czech Skoda and Praga tanks plus various Austrian armored and tracked vehicles. One of the handier ones - if so incredibly noisy for the crew that it was nicknamed "Austria's Revenge" - was the Steyr Raupenschlepper Ost. The Germans used it in three versions: one with a pressed steel cab, one with an armored front end and a 7.5 cm PaK 40 mounted on it, or later in the war the equivalent of an "Einheits" cab made from wood. This kit is of the latter - RSO/3 - variant.

Even from the days of the old Peerless Max RSO with pressed cab version this has been a popular conversion, and now DML offers it as a full kit. Only five generic sprues are retained from the original RSO release (Kit No. 6640) as this one requires nearly a totally new cab, body and other details.

Quite a bit has changed. The original kit came with a 49 part air cooled eight-cylinder diesel engine but this one comes with a much smaller (and less complex) supercharged four-cylinder diesel with water cooling. No radiator is included nor are the radiator shutters positionable on the forward cowl (part E2). You will have to leave the cover (part E1) loose to display the engine, however.

As before assembly is straightforward. The chassis takes the first six steps of the instructions (as this is a small and “clean” vehicle the directions are easier to read than many DML efforts). There were some comments above drive wheels and brake drums, and this kit now offers a new sprue with modified brake drums and backing plates.

The running gear is simple but nicely done, with the bogie mount and springs as separate parts. The entire lower running gear forms one giant bogie assembly when done. There is a lower chassis pan all of this mounts on and it 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.

The wooden cab offers a choice of either metal or wooden top bows for the canvas (not supplied, albeit the side curtains are provided as clear styrene parts to mask and paint). All of the primary controls are provided as well as two canvas "sling" seats.

The body 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.

The latter items are apparently only for "show" as the directions take great pains of showing where they are stowed (either 10 forward in a bin at the front of the body, or 20 with 10 on each side of the cargo body) and are assembled - three parts to each one. But installation is not covered very well, with the directions seemingly saying the side stowed plates store inside out with metal frames and cleats out with wooden frames.

The Pak 38 is a familiar item and comes on a single sprue with no etched brass. It may be displayed set for firing or towed behind the tractor.

But once again DML shows the "Magic Tracks" assembled (67 links per side) and simply slipped onto the running gear. Not gonna happen. Most modelers know there are many ways to skin this mule but this is NOT one of them without DS plastic one-piece tracks.

Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson are cited as the consultants for this kit.

Finishing information is provided for six different vehicles and three different guns; the tractors are called out but not the guns, but most modelers can probably match the colors to the tractors. The six are: Unidentified Volksgrenadier Division, Eastern Front Autumn 1944 (sand overall, WH 1655861); Unidentified Unit, Eastern Front 1944 (whitewash over sand, WH 5204247); Free French Army, France 1944 (whitewash over sand, Cross of Lorraine, WH 1566838); 21st Panzer Division, Normandy 1944 (sand with brown and green stripes, no license plate); 21st Panzer Division, Western Front 1944 (sand with brown and green patches, WH 21516); Unidentified Unit, Western Front 194/45 (sand with brown patches, WH-295503). The guns are sand with whitewash, sand with green and brown stripes, or sand brown overall. A sheet of Cartograf decals with a “number jungle” is provided for the RSO.

Overall this again should be a popular model as it comes "pre-converted" and it is contemporary design and production quality. All that is left is a new pressed steel cab version.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

- Cookie Sewell

German RSO/3 w/5cm PaK 38

Manufacturer: Dragon models

Scale: 1/35

Material: Styrene & PE

Serial Number: 6684

Price: TBA

Introduction

The RSO or 'Raupenschlepper Ost' was designed and built as a result of German experiences during the winter of 1941/42 demonstrating the need for a fully tracked prime mover. Steyr came up with the RSO, deliberately designing the high ground clearance to counter deep snow. There were two principal types manufactured by four different manufacturers, although Steyr remained the principal. In 1944 87 RS/01 and RSO/02 were adapted to mount the 7.5cm PaK 40 to fulfil the role of unarmoured tank destroyer, and the RSO/3 sometime after to mount the 5cm PaK 38.

Kit Contents

The kit contents consist of eleven sprues of light grey styrene, one transparent sprue, a separate lower hull, bag of Magic tracks, a photo-etched fret and small decal sheet.

If you managed to obtain or even build the earlier release of this kit (#6640), then you'll be surprised at the contents of this one. Despite arriving with a full engine and transmission, the only parts that both kits have in common are the running gear and lower hull. As far as I can tell this version not only has completely different bodywork, but also had a different diesel air-cooled engine fitted, although I've few references on these vehicles and stand to be corrected on this. You can still expect superb moulding of course, and if to the same standard as the earlier releases, you can of course expect a superb fit of the parts too.

As with the other release, assembly begins with the construction of the engine, the main block provided in two halves, onto which various components are added. Once the engine is complete, the drive axle is added and threaded though various structural members and added to the one-piece lower hull onto which the new sidewalls are added. At this point the choice also has to be made as to whether to build a wooden or metal framed version, as the parts at either end of the lower hull differ for each.

Construction then moves onto the roadwheels and suspension bogies. These are constructed essentially the same as in the other version, although there are a couple of new parts. With experience gained from building the earlier release, this assembly is best constructed by building a simple jig from some waste plasticard. It's essential that all four roadwheels on either side are constructed absolutely straight, and without a jig this will prove difficult.

Construction of the cab is next, the version on this vehicle being completely different from the earlier release. This version actually had a 'proper' cab, with sides and windscreen. Full dash, driving levers and internal detail is provided as you would expect, and the windscreen is provided on the transparent sprue. Again, there are alternative parts provided for either the metal or wooden framed version, although both are fairly similar. The doors to the cab are provided as separate parts and can be modelled opened or closed. There are upper panels for the doors provided which are optional and are provided as transparent mouldings again. The small transparent panels in each can be masked off therefore, prior to painting.

The instructions at this point become a little confusing and will need careful study in order not to install an incorrect option. The confusion arises because of the choice between metal and wooden framed versions and also the instructions trying to indicate another choice between open and closed sides etc. As far as I can tell, without actually building it - the differences between wooden and metal framed refers to the addition of parts to the side panels on the cargo bed. The instructions indicate that the additional parts highlighted in blue represent the wooden framed version, yet further on in the instructions it can be seen that the additional parts actually represent the metal framed version. As I said....careful study before assembly!

Once the rear load bad is complete, the parts for constructing a storage rack for Winterketten tracks is provided, along with the separate track links. This is located immediately behind the cab area, and enough track links are provided for stowing in this rack and along both sides of the cargo bed. Without building it - yet - I've no idea if these can actually be fitted to the supplied Magic Tracks? Although it should be possible, there's nothing indicated on the instructions to say one way or the other, so further references would be necessary in order to determine spacing and to see if there are enough provided?

Once the vehicle has been finished, the towed PaK 38 can be built. This is obviously the previously released kit, and is supplied more or less on one complete sprue. It's a simple build, although being of slightly older vintage than the vehicle may require a bit more work to bring it up to modern standard, such as the gun slide and muzzle brake being provided in halves.

Markings provided in the kit are for six illustrated schemes, although three of these are of 'unidentified units'. There are some divisional and tactical markings provided on the decal sheet, along with four sets of prepared number plates and individual numbers to make any according to whatever references you can find. See below for full details.

Conclusion

I've been waiting for this! Well...okay. I was really waiting for the pressed steel cab version, but I've no doubt we'll get one of those eventually! In the meantime, this will do nicely! Beautifully engineered and moulded, should go together a treat...I can't wait to get started. I'll even keep it away from the window blinds! Highly recommended!

- Vinnie Branigan

DR6684: German RSO/3 w/5cm PaK 38
1/35 injection plastic kit with PE, accessories and decals

By 1944, the German had simplified the design of the RSO by fitting a simplified drivers cab which was built from largely flat metal panels and had a canvas roof. The RSO which stood for Raupenschlepper Ost, was used often as a tractor for light artillery, and was well suited to hauling loads in the snow and mud. The later production RSO/3 was fitted with a Deutz diesel engine, which while offering a low top speed of 31km/hour was robust in adverse conditions and under heavy loads.

This new release from Dragon provides both the RSO/3 with a choice of frames over the cab, and Dragon’s existing 5cm Pak 38. The Pak 38 anti-tank gun was widely used by the Germany Army throughout WWII.

The RSO/3 is largely new Smart Kit tooling and includes new spues for the cabin, cargo platform and Deutz engine. It borrows much of the chassis and running gear from Dragon’s 2011 RSO with Pak 40/4 (kit 6640). Initial examination of the RSO, combined with the absence of visible sink marks and experience with Dragon’s previous RSO, indicates that this kit fits together nicely.

The RSO features Magic Tracks and a small PE fret for the hinges and other detail on the platform’s drop sides, centre detail on the road wheels and the ends of the suspension struts.

The gatefold instructions have 12 steps of line drawings for the RSO/3 and a further 11 for the PaK. Given the choice of a metal or wooden frame impacts several steps including construction of the chassis, I would use a highlighter to mark out the necessary options in advance.

NEW CAB & PLATFORM

The cab is new tooling and depicts the later simplified design which saw an increasing use of flat metal panels and deletion of the truck like pressed steel roof. Instead the RSO/3 had an open top with framing over which a tarpaulin could be placed (tarpaulin not included).

This kit includes a detailed driving compartment with control levers, foot pedals and seating with realistic creases. The exterior sheet metal nicely captures detail for louvers, hinges and stiffeners. There is a crisp Notek light mounted in a recess on the front. The doors are detailed on both sides, can be modeled open and have the option of fitting metal shutters above the waist line which would have been used as protection against bullets in the front line. The front windscreen is clear plastic and while not shown on the instruction sheet could be assembled down. Surprisingly, the kit does not include the windscreen wipers seen in archive photos and depicted in the box art.

The kit includes the option to make the RSO’s cab with either wooden or metal frames. The metal frames were built from tubes that were cut, bent and then welded together; while the other frame was built from thin framing wood screwed together using metal brackets. If you select the metal framing you should also add the metal racks for stowing spare winter tracks on the sides of the platform.
This RSO has an open cargo platform with wooden drop sides. The sides can be modeled up or down, have detail on both faces and are free of sink marks. PE and plastic detail captures the hinges, latches and bracing. An open frame sits above the platform (no cover included, but a stowed cover can be easily made from metal foil such as that found on wine bottles). At the front of the platform there is an open bin for storing the wider winter tracks. These links are each built from three parts (body plus two guide horns) and are the same as those fitted on the sides for the metal cab version.

REVISED RUNNING CHASSIS

This RSO has a revised running chassis which is crisply tooled and includes alternative chassis parts for the wooden and steel cab frames. The wooden framed version had a front towing point and a more complex where the rear towing point/pintle is mounted on a towing frame.

The lower hull is based around a detailed one-piece tub, which includes detail on the belly. The hull is then built up by adding separate upper side plates (revised tooling for this new release) and some cross members and other fittings. The muffler which has hollowed exhaust pipe is crisply tooled.

Fitted inside the hull is a newly tooled Deutz diesel engine which has separate parts for the pump, filter, manifolds, common rail, fan belt, mountings, crankshaft etc. Attached to the engine is the transmission shaft with new transmission cover, these have realistic detail for the joints and runs to the drive sprockets which have al the workings of the new gear box behind them.

The eight road cast wheels (four per side) are detailed on both faces (e.g. bolt heads and rims) and have PE detail over the hubs as well as on the ends of suspension arms. The pre-cut Magic Tracks capture the sag typical of the RSO’s tracks nicely and are, in my view, the right tracks to include.

5cm PAK 38

The gun will be familiar to many modelers having been previously released as a separate kit. It is made from approximately 60 parts most of which are for the carriage. The chassis includes the castor or dolly wheel, which was used to help with moving the gun and was attached to one of the spades on the carriage’s trailing arms. The wheels are the typical solid cast profile with raised ribs and the tyres feature the twin groves and a worn appearance which is in keeping with their being solid rubber.

The kit correctly has the double skinned gun shield (spaced armour saved weight) and both skins are made from plastic with the bolt heads cast in place. The barrel is a single piece tube with a two part muzzle break. The kit does not include any shells or ammunition crates for the PaK.

PAINT SCHEME & DECALS

The instruction sheet and the colour plates on the box, profile six RSO with a variety of paint schemes typical of those seen in wartime photos. The Cartograph waterslide decal sheet includes unit and tactical markings, shipping stencils as well a four sets of targeted registration plates. The sheet also includes generic decals to build your own registrations for both Wehrmacht and Waffen SS (split runes).

The RSO are:

* Unidentified Volksgrenadier unit on the Eastern Front 1944 which is solid dark yellow (box art)

* Unidentified Wehrmacht unit on the Eastern Front 1944 which is white washed.

* Free French in France 1944 which is white washed and has the Cross of Lorraine painted on it.

* Two RSO from 21 Panzer Division in Normandy 1944 which are both dark yellow but with different patterns for the red-brown and green camouflage.

* Unidentified Wehrmacht unit on the Western Front 1944/45 which is dark yellow but with red-brown and green patches.

No decals are provided for the PaK (which is consistent with photos) and the painting guide suggests three schemes which match those suggested for the RSO.

RECOMMENDATION

Dragon’s latest RSO is a crisply tooled model which will please the many modelers who have been looking forward to a newly tooled cargo version of the RSO. It depicts a late war version of the RSO as seen in frontline photos and benefits from the inclusion of the 5cm Pak 38 and PE which add to its value for money. Definitely recommended.

- Neville Lord