DRAGON MODELS LIMITED
7266, T-34/76 Model 1942. 1/72nd-scale injection-molded styrene kit containing 103 styrene parts, one etched brass part, two DS-100 track lengths, six decal schemes and four pages of instructions comprised of six steps.
DML is slowly working through several series’ of AFVs in its 1/72nd-scale “Armor Pro” range, including the redoubtable T-34. This is their third version, a Model 1942 with the hex-shaped turret and 76mm gun.
From the ground up, the hull is the common molding from this entire series with nice belly and suspension details molded on. Some of the finer details may not be strictly accurate on this version, but will not be seen under normal viewing conditions. The drive sprockets, idlers and road-wheels are each molded in one piece due to innovative use of slide-molds. They include steel-rimmed idlers and drive sprockets as well as eight steel-rimmed road-wheels. There are also four rubber-tired road wheels to provide for the commonly seen mixed configuration. All have rib and hole details, but the holes do not pass entirely through the part. They can be easily drilled out of accented with black paint. The wheels are all cleanly molded and require no clean-up. The tracks are in DS-100 soft styrene and can be fixed with styrene cement. They are of the pattern appropriate for this and other later T-34s.
The upper hull features later details such as revised upper glacis plate with new fittings such as machine gun blister and gun, driver’s hatch, single head-lamp and “hammerhead” tow points. Likewise, the rear plate features the circular transmission access hatch and revised tow points. There are two engine deck air intake parts; one is solid styrene with molded-on screen detail while the other is opened up and is fitted with the provided etched brass screen and frame. The superstructure side and engine deck top air intake slots are also the later style. The exhaust pipes have pre-bored ends, while there are two different armored cowls for them. Use only the type shown in the instructions (A17) as the second type (A10) is for later production versions, a possible indication of things to come. Fittings such a shovel, tool boxes, spare tracks and two cables (made from braided wire and styrene end loops) as well as new rear-mounted fuel boxes compliment the model. There are also some stowage items such as rolled canvas tarps, wood ammo boxes and log un-ditching beams (some of which are marked as not for use…use ‘em anyway!).
The hex-shaped turret features two different roof plates, each of which depicts a large periscope, but in a different location. The two hatches are separate and there is a basic gun breech to be seen, as well as internal periscope details. The 76mm gun tube is pre-bored due to the use of a slide mold and with careful assembly can be movable. Grab handles and lifting hooks finish the turret assembly.
Overall, molding is quite crisp with nice detail throughout. I test-fitted the major components and with proper clean-up, I encountered no problems; but care will be needed for the glacis plate (A13) and the lower rear plate (A15) to get them to sit properly in place. The instructions are clearly drawn and I did not notice any errors, except one. They seem to indicate that the steel rims of certain road-wheels as well as the drive sprockets and idlers should be painted the same as the rubber tires seen on only some road-wheels. Use common sense here and you’ll be OK. Paints are keyed to Gunze and Testors Model Master colors and the six schemes are rather colorful, to include five Red Army and one Waffen-SS tank. The decals are the usual high-quality Cartograf items and are crisply printed with excellent color saturation.
This is altogether a fine entry in the 1/72nd-scale “derby” and sure to be appreciated by small-scale T-34 fans.
Recommended.
Frank V. De Sisto
Reviewer’s note: Since May of 2005, I have been working on books for Concord Publications, a sister company to DML. The reader may wish to take this into consideration. For my part, I will attempt to maintain an objective viewpoint when writing these reviews.
DML kits are available from retail and mail order shops. For details see their web site at: www.dragonmodelsltd.com.
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