Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 01:56 PM UTC
Although previously announced, Dragon Models Limited have now published images of their forthcoming Marder III in 1/35th scale...
DRA 6331 - Marder III Ausf.H (Smart Kit)



The new kit is the latest in their 'Smart Kit'series which means that much of the building process has been simplified. However, by using advanced moulding technology, no detail has been lost. It also signifies less dependance on photo-etch parts.

The new kit has many listed features:

Turret & Gun

- New gun shield and recoil guard for PaK 40/3 gun that traverses and elevates (New)
- New lower gun carriage mount for PaK 40/3 (New)
- Muzzle brakes are reproduced from slide mold
- Workable breech
- Gun sight cover plate can be positioned open or closed


Upper Hull

- Front armor with interior details
- Side armor shields with overhang detail are reproduced by slide molds
- Periscope and vision blocks made from clear parts
- Movable hull MG with hollow muzzle
- Front gun lock is finely reproduced with crisp details
- Handrail is accurately reproduced
- New radio and rack (New)
- Rear basket frame is finely reproduced - grill made from preformed metal part
- Perforated lateral sheets for rear basket made by slide molds
- Roof of fighting compartment comes with different bolt details
- Perforated storage box is well produced by separated parts


Engine Deck

- Engine deck is newly tooled (New Tooling)
- Movable rear gun lock
- Rear and lateral basket supports made from photo-etched parts
- Side opening access doors with slide bolt details


Interior

- Full interior detail for fighting compartment
- Box for flares included
- Shell racks are finely made
- New seats included for gunner and radio operator (New)
- Transmission system is finely detailed


Chassis

- New one-piece lower hull made by slide molds (New)
- lower hull bottom with accurate details
- New side fenders can be realistically modeled bent like on the real vehicle (New)
- Drive housing in fine detail
- New tail light rack is finely reproduced (New)
- Muffler and exhaust pipe are new
- Rear panel has crisp details
- Sprocket wheel and idler wheel are accurately reproduced
- Two kinds of sprocket wheels are available
- Road wheel and suspension with crisp details


Other

- Magic tracks; serial number detail etched on track link
- Bonus aluminum gun barrel (Bonus)
- Cartograf decals


The new kit will be available in February 2007
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Comments

I may do the same
JAN 26, 2007 - 02:34 AM
Although a Smart kit, there is an awful lot of PE in this one, more than in any Smart kit so far, so it would seem reduced PE is not a pre-requisite! :-) Vinnie
JAN 26, 2007 - 02:39 AM
According to Michael Rinaldi on Missing links, who is showing images of the build in progress, the bend does happen as dragon advertised, when the upper hull is pushed into place. See full thread here
JAN 26, 2007 - 03:29 PM
Got to agree. I've read all the posts. The engineering of that kit is superb. Although I'm not happy about the profile of one of the sprues.........it needs to be 'rounder'. Vinnie
JAN 26, 2007 - 03:45 PM
Bill, on Missing Links Michael Rinaldi is building the sdkfz 140 and he says that when the upper hull is fitted it causes the kink in the fenders so it looks like that is not so much of a problem. Regards, Roger Oops, sorry Frank I didn't see your post about this!
JAN 26, 2007 - 03:51 PM
Here is a thread from ML: LINK
JAN 26, 2007 - 03:59 PM
With respect guys, may I suggest you have a look at the images that accompany Mike’s build in regards the fenders as they clearly show that the proposed solution doesn’t actually represent the straight fender kink seen in many photos but is more a “dent” where there is a pronounced deforming of the outer edge of the fender while leaving the inner edge straight in the hull side channel. The real fender has a straight line from the back to the kink and then another straight line from the kink to the front of the fender, the images clearly show this is not what happens when forcing the outer edge of the fender down with the superstructure but leaves a distinct dip in the fender line. With the straight hull side fender channel it is physically impossible to force the whole fender down to form the kink and so with respect there is an issue here as acknowledged by Cookie Sewell in his review of the Marder III kit. Cheers Terry A
JAN 26, 2007 - 05:21 PM
I read the post/thread on M-L yesterday after digging around and while it's a "workaround" solution (a common occurrence in model kits and part of the hobby, right?) that Michael Rinaldi came up with in respect to the 140/1, I don't know that the III-H hull structure would or wouldn't lend itself to the same type of work-around solution, hence my question to Vinnie who has the actual kit to hand and is planning a review. I'm not bashing the DML III-H, just wondering if the fender question is something to be aware of as a carry-over from the 140/1 since the Tristar 38(t) hulls use a different approach to the fenders and their III-H would conceivably maintain that approach vs. the DML design approach. I've no doubt the DML III-H is up to the usual standard of DML design engineering with their latest kits, just reading about the rear basket being made out of pre-formed metal parts is intriguing all by itself, and every kit regardless of the manufacturer, will always have their own quirks/differences. As mentioned in Jim's thread about diversity/competition, it's all good in promoting higher quality and choice for the modeller/buyer in the end.
JAN 26, 2007 - 10:21 PM
This looks like a really nice kit that is accurate and looks like the original. The fender issue is not really that important to me. I would definently be ready to invest in one despite a big stash already
JAN 28, 2007 - 08:23 PM
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