Dragon 1/35 SdKfz 167 StuG IV (Final production)
| KIT #: | 6647 |
| PRICE: | $70.00 SRP |
| MARKINGS: | Five options |
| REVIEWER: | Scott Van Aken |
| NOTES: | Smart Kit |
| HISTORY |
| THE KIT |
The StuG is one of my favorite armor types. It is also a type of vehicle that did not go much past WWII as it was a bit of a dead end when it comes to armored vehicles. Much better to have a turret with enhanced crew protection. However, the StuG was a perfect ambush vehicle and most tank encounters were just that.
As one expects from Dragon, the kit is superbly molded using extant sprues from similar vehicles as well as a number of newly tooled bits and pieces. I particularly like the etched metal side skirts that this one offers. I also like that the other photo etch fret that is included is not too extensive. This isn't a kit for a beginner, thanks to the small bits. The DS tracks reduce the parts tally down to 535 from those kits with the individual track links. The schurzen seems to be made from aluminum. Just to give you a rundown on its various features, I'll let Dragon's PR folks loose:
- Newly tooled side skirts and brackets
- MG gun shield accurately reproduced w/bolt details
- MG 34 gun included w/authentic detail
- Optional butt stock realistically reproduced
- Easy-to-assemble upper hull
- Multi-part upper hull offers maximum detail
- Fighting compartment armor w/accurate weld seams
- Optional rain guard on fighting compartment
- Multi-directional slide-molded superstructure
- Radio set and seat included
- Realistically reproduced lower hull made by 2-directional slide mold; bolts and rivets delicately represented on hull bottom
- One-piece gun barrel
- Slide-molded muzzle brake
- Cannon can be elevated up/down
- Gun breech and recoil guard fully reproduced
- Gun sight and hand wheels w/delicate detail
- Recoil and recuperator cylinders accurately represented
- Muffler at the rear w/great detail
- Roof armor w/accurate weld seams
- Screw heads finely reproduced
- Driver's hatch w/interior detail can be assembled open/closed
- Slide-molded engine deck w/bolt detail
- Hatches can be assembled open/closed
- Commander's hatch w/interior details can be assembled open/closed
- Fuel tank is included
- Fenders w/tread pattern on both sides
- Two types of fender frontal segment provided
- Engine hatches can be assembled open/closed
- DS tracks
- Slide-molded periscope sight made from clear parts
- Commander's cupola periscopes made from clear parts
- Spare-track rack on frontal armor of lower hull
- Duct flaps reproduced w/photo-etched parts
- Detailed idler wheels w/cast texture
- Photo-etched parts for idlers to accurately represent undercut detail
- Road wheels, sprockets, idlers and return rollers authentically reproduced
As you can see, this is a superbly detailed kit and so the instructions are equally complex. However the build illustrations are superbly drawn and if one takes one's time, no real problems should ensue. There are two camouflage schemes shown with both being unidentified units on the Eastern Front in 1944. One has the schurzen and the other does not. Both camo schemes are similar. the small decal sheet (not shown) consists of three crosses.
| CONCLUSIONS |
I'm sure that this kit will sell as well as all of Dragon's offerings. This is at least the fourth StuG IV that Dragon has done and makes one wonder if they will ever run out of variants!
| REFERENCES |
May 2014
Thanks to www.dragonmodelsusa.com for the preview kit. It is available now at your local shop or on-line retailer.
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