Dragon 1/72 Ersatz M10
| KIT #: | 7491 |
| PRICE: | $23.50 SRP |
| DECALS: | Two options |
| REVIEWER: | Scott Van Aken |
| NOTES: | Armor Pro |
| HISTORY |
One of Germany’s last desperate gambles of WWII was its offensive in the Ardennes on 16 December 1944. Known today as the Battle of Bulge, the aim was to split British and American forces in half and drive all the way to Antwerp. Panzer Brigade 150 had a role in this plan. This formation was supposed to create surprise and confusion with clandestine armored vehicles! It included five Panther Ausf.G tanks physically disguised and painted to resemble U.S. Army M10 tank destroyers. Modifications included removal of the Panther cupola and stowage boxes on the rear of the hull. Sheet metal on the hull front, turret and turret overhang was fabricated to disguise the form of the Panther.
The transformation was completed with an olive drab paint scheme and Allied stars painted on the turret and glacis. This handful of vehicles was designated Ersatz (i.e. ‘substitute’) M10.
| THE KIT |
This is another nice Dragon 1/72 variant. As you would expect, there are quite a few parts that are in common with their normal Panther tank, however, there are also a considerable number of bits that are not the same and that included a modified upper hull along with an all new turret and disguise pieces to go around it. This still has all the individual road wheels of the earlier kits and it includes Dragon's excellent DS track pieces.
Below is a list of items from the Dragon PR folks
- Ersatz M10 is accurately presented
- One-piece 7.5cm Kw.K 42 L/70 gun barrel
- Hollow muzzle brake
- One-piece upper hull accurately replicated
- Engine deck w/detail parts
- Track links have guide horns for maximum accuracy
- One-piece DS tracks
- High-qualityCartograf decals
Instructions are well done with Gunze paint references. Two markings options are provided, both overall OD paint. One has a turret star in the circle and the other does not. The small decal sheet is well printed.
| CONCLUSIONS |
For those with a tank collection, this one should fit right in and be something a bit out of the ordinary from what most folks tend to build.
May 2013
Thanks to www.dragonmodelsusa.com for the preview kit. You can find this kit at your favorite hobby shop or on-line retailer.
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