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Kit Review:
Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale ．39-'45 Series Kit No. 6690; Neubau-Fahrzeug
Nr. 3-5 Rheinmetall-Fahrgestelle und Krupp-Turm Geaenderte MG-Turm;
606 parts (569 in grey styrene, 24 clear styrene, 13 etched brass);
pre-order price US$64.95 via Dragon USA Online - Cookie Sewell Kit,
DML 6690, Neubau-Fahrzeug Nr.3-5, Rheinmetall-Fahrgestell und Krupp-Turm
Geanderte MG Product Specifications. 6690, Neubau-Fahrzeug Nr.3-5, Rheinmetall-Fahrgestell und Krupp-Turm Geanderte MG-Turme. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit. Contains: 598 styrene parts (including 28 clear and 280 individual links), two etched brass frets, eight water-slide decal/markings schemes and six pages of instructions in 15 steps. Introduction. In 1940, Germany deployed four prototype Neubau-Fahrzeuge during the brief campaign to conquer Norway. The first three, which were the 3rd, 4th and 5th vehicles in this exploratory series, went to Norway as part of Panzer-Abteilung Z.b.V.40s initial deployment. The fourth one, an earlier non-armored prototype (Nr.2), was later sent to replace one of the initially-deployed Neubau-Fahrzeuge that was destroyed; that vehicle was kitted as Cyberhobby item 6666, which was recently reported upon here at ToT. In a not surprising follow-up, DML has now released a kit of vehicles Nr.3, 4 and 5. The main visible changes occur in the main turret molding, and the commanders cupola, as well as in the two sub-turrets. Other external items, such as an exhaust muffler for an auxiliary motor are also included. Along with accurate, well-documented markings, the modeler of early war German rarities now has the means to easily create a replica of this unique experimental Panzer. Tracks. These are given as individual links, but in a departure from the usual DML habit of including Magic Tracks in their kits, these are attached to sprues, which will require cleaning three attachment gates from each of them. Perhaps this is why this offering is not designated as a Smart Kit. Regardless, these are a 38cm type very similar to those seen on the early Pz.Kpfw.IV models. The major difference is that the guide horns are solid and the cleat faces are plain, so using any after-market manufacturers 38cm Pz.Kpfw.IV tracks without suitable modification would not be strictly correct. Suspension System. The suspension system is based on coil springs; these come five per side, each of which carried two pairs of steel, rubber-tired road-wheels on pivoting bogies. Each bogie consists of two side plates (inner and outer) as well as a pair of swing-arms. Thus, there are twenty road-wheels to clean-up and paint. In addition another pair of wheels are fitted forward, just below the idler wheels. These are not sprung, being mounted on an A-frame, rigidly attached to a separately-fitted hull side plate, along with a conventionally-molded, front-mounted, two-part idler wheel. On the opposite end of the vehicle, a three-part drive sprocket is fitted, again to a separate hull-side plate. The return rollers are next fitted to the top run of the hull sides. There are four pairs of them on each side and they are all rigidly-mounted to A-frames. Hull. Most kit manufacturers create a tanks hull using a slide-mold, with a separate roof plate added. This kit, due to its configuration, has reversed that process: the belly plate is separate. Both moldings come complete with all bolts, rivets and panel lines molded in place. The hull side walls feature several separate access hatch lids, with an axe mounted on the starboard side plate. The separate rear plate also features a separate access hatch lid, while a pair of separate towing eyes and their associated U-shaped tow clevises are seen fore and aft. Track-Guards and OVM. Typical for a DML kit, the track-guards are separate parts with tread-plate detail on both sides. Also, typically, they are completely devoid of ejector pin marks on both surfaces. The port side mounts a separate axe and track-tensioning wrench, followed by a sledge-hammer, multi-part vehicle jack, fire extinguisher and pry-bar. The starboard side mounts a shovel, another track-tensioning wrench and six mounting brackets for the engines exhaust pipe/muffler assembly. The latter is a two-part assembly with partially bored-out openings at its end. A third part connects it to the engine deck. This variation also had a second single-pipe muffler, presumably for an auxiliary turret traverse motor. The front end of each track-guard has a separate, four-part mud flap assembly, complimented by an etched brass bracket. Superstructure. The superstructure sides and top are, as previously-noted, molded as one piece, with complete details on all sides. Up forward there are weld-beads and a head-lamp mount molded in place. A separate head-lamp, with a separate clear styrene lens can be depicted raised or lowered; behind it is a separate horn. There are also separate plates and brackets associated with the track-guards, fitted on either side. The drivers view-port visor is also separate and features an etched brass rain-guard; a second visor is situated on the superstructure side plate, to his left. His overhead hatch lid is also separate and is complimented by a separate grab-handle. Further aft, on both sides, is another visor as well as what I presume are marker lamps; the port side also mounts a one-piece bore-swab/staff assembly. The engine deck features panel, fastener and filler cap details molded in place. Several separate armored guards are provided for the engine air intakes, as are grab-handles. The engine deck air exhaust is covered with a large, triangular armored guard. It features separate baffles either in styrene or etched brass. Turrets. The sub-turrets are unique to this version, each featuring separate, two-section hatch lids. Movable mantlets each mount a single MG34, which is slide-molded and therefore features proper cooling jacket perforations as well as a pre-bored muzzle. All view-ports are separate multi-part items, including clear parts for the armored glass blocks. The guns can elevate and the turrets rotate after finishing. The main turret shell comes from a slide-mold and it is complimented by a separate base part. The shell weld beads, rivet and some lift-hook details, as well as a false periscope head, all molded in place. Separate grab handles are then added to the roof plate. The turret side hatch lids are separate as are their accompanying view-ports; clear parts are provided for the glass blocks seen inside the view-ports. A third separate view-port flap is fitted on the front face, as is a mantlet part. The commanders cupola is a multi-part assembly with a split hatch lid that can be left open. Next to it is a separate part which I assume is some sort of vision device. A multi-part rod antenna finishes off the assembly, while several etched brass parts detail a few small areas. The main turret features co-axially-mounted 3.7 and 7.5cm KwK main guns and a separately-mounted MG34. All are slide-molded, so they have their bore ends opened up. The MG34 also has proper cooling jacket perforations. It is fixed in one position in its ball mount, while the main guns can elevate when assembled. Molding, Fit and Engineering. Molding is typical for a new DML/Cyberhobby product, which is essentially state-of-the-art. There are no sink marks or visible ejector pin marks, while mold seams are fine and easily cleaned-up. As I proceed with construction, fit overall has been problem-free. The modeler should exercise extra care when cleaning the parts for the commanders cupola, so as not to obliterate some fine rivet detail. Accuracy and Details. The kit hull, main turret and sub-turrets match well with plans in the cited references, for a Neubau-Fahrzeug of the Nr.3, 4 & 5 production variant. Instructions. These are in the common line drawing style and are rather simple compared to some other DML kits. Several corrections have been made. However, Tom Cockle had some comments from his test-build of kit 6666 that are still relevant: In
Step 4, you will need 127 track links if you want to have any sag at
all. Thanks once again, Tom! Decals and Markings Information. The water-slide decals were printed by Cartograf; they are crisply printed with matte carrier film, trimmed close to the edges of each individual design. The color schemes (which are correct) are properly called-out using war-time German paint codes. But, the commercially-available hobby paints that are keyed to the colors may not be correct. The modeler will have to do some research in that regard. Markings allow the modeler to replicate any of the three Neubau-Fahrzeuge, which were deployed under the command of Panzer-Abteilung Z.b.V.40, to Norway, in 1940. Aside from white-outline Balkenkreuze national insignia, the elephant insignia seen on their glacis plates is also included. Close scrutiny of available photographs also provided a number of slight variations in these markings. These include tiny, upper case letters, R and Z, a memorial plate to a crewman KIA during the campaign in Norway and three sets of large white Tac numbers, 8, 9 and 10. These were apparently painted out before deployment to Norway, so this configuration is also shown as an option. Conclusion. This is an excellent kit of a rare, early-war Panzer, which actually saw combat in the 1940 conquest of Norway. The markings options are well-documented and relatively colorful, another plus. It also represents a missing link in the developmental history of the Pz.Kpfw.IV, further adding to its appeal for those interested in the type. With the possible exception of the individual-link tracks, this kit (like its predecessor) will go together quickly and with very little fuss, making for a relatively low-stress project. -
Frank V. De Sisto Neubau-Fahrzeug Nr.3-5 - Rheinmetall-Fahrgestell und Krupp-Turm Geanderte MG-Turme Manufacturer: Dragon Scale: 1/35 Material: Styrene & photo-etch Serial Number: 6690 Price: Unknown
Introduction The Neubau-Fahrzeug was a series of vehicles manufactured by Germany around 1934, in an attempt to produce a heavy Tank. Neubau-Fahrzeug translating into 'New Construction Vehicle'. The tank was multi-turreted, the main turret being armed with a 75mm KwK L/24 main gun, and also a smaller 37mm KwK L/45. Two manufacturers produced examples, Krupp and Rheinmetall, each differing only in the placement of the secondary gun in relation to the main one - Krupp had their 37mm nest to the main gun, and Rheinmetall had theirs above the main gun. In total only five vehicles were produced and used mainly for propaganda purposes, although apparently three of them were used in the invasion of Norway. As far as I can discover two of the vehicles were made from mild steel as prototypes, and the other three from armoured steel.
The Kit Contents You'd think with only five of these vehicles having existed it would be easy wouldn't you? I've given up trying to sort it out however, and will confine myself to describing the differences between this release and the previous Cyber-Hobby version released.
This kit consists of five large sprues, of which two are the same, seven sprues of individual track links, two small tool sprues, two transparent sprues, a large lower hull, one photo-etched fret along with a single PE part on a separate fret, which was missing from the review sample, decal sheet and six-sided instruction leaflet.
Moulding is as near perfect as you could expect from an almost brand new kit with brand new tooling from this manufacturer. Rather than repeat myself, here's the full build of the original release:
FULL
BUILD: CYBER-HOBBY - Neubau-Fahrzeug Plus a link to review of that kit:
REVIEW: CYBER-HOBBY - Neubau-Fahrzeug
The differences between the two kits, as mentioned, are small but spread over a few of the sprues. Sprue C, which is the large sprue consisting of the hull bottom is almost identical but the two front mudflaps now have lips along their front edges which were not present on the ones in the previous release. Sprue F consisting of a jack assembly is actually sprue C, and is still labelled as such on the actual sprue, although the instructions call out the parts as F1 etc., which shouldn't be too confusing as the sprue is only small and holds only the parts to construct the jack.
Sprue D, of which there are two in the kit, is a large sprue, holding mainly the parts to construct the running gear, but does have the two small Pz.I turrets attached. These are different to the ones in the previous release in terms of the hatch shape on each, which is now a large square one as opposed to the smaller semi-circular one on the earlier kit. The hatches for these are obviously different to the earlier release too, and although they were split hatches, each is provided as a single part, so you'll have work to do separating them if you decide to pose them opened. The base of each turret is now supplied in a slightly different form, and the mantlet of each now has two inscribed vision ports instead of the single on in the earlier release.
Sprue B, another large sprue that holds the parts to construct the main turret is now supplied with a slightly different turret minus the screw detail on the turret roof. There are two new parts moulded in place of the previous single piece commander's hatch, and there's also new rivet detail moulded underneath the overhang on the rear of the turret floor part.
The last
difference I can discern is a slightly different transparent sprue from
the previous release.
Conclusion I'm not sure many modeller's will absolutely have to have this one if they already have the Cyber-Hobby one, although as I said, if you don't have that one then this one will most likely be easier to obtain. The model went together with no problems, as you'll see from the build link above. Good engineering, a quick build of an unusual looking rare early war vehicle, and really does add something to a collection of Axis armour models. Recommended! - Vinnie Branigan
6690:
Neubau-Fahrzeug Nr.3-5: Rheinmetall-Fahrgestell und Krupp-Turm Geanderte
MG-Turme 1/35
injection plastic kit with PE - Neville Lord Copyright 1998-2011 Dragon Models Limited. All Rights Reserved |