Kit, Cyberhobby 6569, Flakpanzer T-34 Smart Kit

CYBERHOBBY

Product Specifications.

6569, Flakpanzer T-34 Smart Kit. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 532 styrene parts (including three clear), two bags of Magic Tracks, one piece of braided metal wire, one photo-etched brass fret, one water-slide decal markings scheme and six pages of instructions in 12 steps.

Introduction.

This is the third kit from DML/Cyberhobby to depict a Soviet T-34 captured and used by the Germans as a so-called Beutepanzer (booty, or captured tank). The twist with this one is that the Germans mounted a complete 2cm Flakvierling 38 anti-aircraft gun in the opening for the standard turret. In addition, the field workshop crafted shields out of scrapped AFVs and added large racks on both sides of the superstructure to house boxes of 2cm ammunition. Finally, a German radio was fitted and a rod antenna and mounting base replaced the original Soviet type.

This unusual vehicle was a one-off and used by schwere Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung on the Ostfront. With this release, Cyberhobby has presented the modeler with the ability to create replicas of all the unusual AFVs used by the unit. These include a Bergepanther with Pz.Kpfw.IV turret (used as a Befehls-Panzer), Bergepanzer Tiger (P), and Befehls-Tiger (P), Elefant and Ferdinand.

Tracks.

The Magic Tracks are supplied as individual links in two bags. These represent a typical 550mm-wide cast type associated with the Gorkiy factory. While no trimming of sprue attachment points is required, these links also have subtle ejector pin marks that the modeler will have to deal with. Although these fit together easily, they must be fixed in place with glue.

Suspension System.

The suspension system features separate road-wheel swing-arms for all stations, as well as Christie-type coil springs and housings for inside the hull. Separate cranked idler wheel axles are also provided; these should not be fixed in place until the track sag and fit has been properly achieved. The road-wheels are the dished types with perforated rubber tires. All-steel idler wheels and a drive sprocket complete the suspension system.

Hull.

The hull pan is typical for every T-34-based DML/Cyberhobby kit. It comes from a slide mold so all details on the side walls and the belly plate can be easily included. The side plates feature openings for the Christie suspension swing-arms as well as their mounting points and various bump-stops; there is also some nicely-rendered bolt detail around the area of the (separate) final drive housings. Inside, there are separate boxes to hold the Christie spring units. A separate circular access plate is supplied as is a second smaller plate, which was seen on all versions; both are attached to the belly plate towards the stern. Molded-on drain plugs, panel lines and recessed access plates complete the area.

There is a separate lower bow plate that fits in a recess at the front end; the same applies for the lower stern plate. The latter also features bulges for the final drive housing and tow hooks that are unique to this version.

Superstructure.

This item features a separate glacis plate that is embellished with tow hook. The head-lamp and a horn are mounted on the superstructure side walls; the former assembly has a clear part for the lens and an optional etched brass mounting bracket. A nicely-detailed cast bow MG mount, with separate internal mantle and delicate machine-gun barrel are attached to the starboard side of the glacis plate. It and the external mantle are sourced form DMLs T-34/85 kit series; one advantage is that the DT machine-gun is slide-molded, so its tiny bore is already opened up for the modeler. A multi-part hatch lid with some internal detail, clear parts for the vision blocks and separate multi-position covers is provided for the drivers station.

Separate engine compartment cooling vent grills with the horizontal pattern are given, while the access hatch lid has been re-tooled and now fits the opening extremely well. There are two included due to the sprue layout, so the extra one will come in handy to upgrade any previous T-34/76 kit the modeler may have in the stash. The main engine compartment access lid comes in two configurations. The first is the original all-styrene part, complete with molded on screen detail. The other option features an opened-up styrene part where the screens and framework are replicated with etched brass, and there are panels and louvers as seen beneath the opening, also in that medium. Other etched brass details include the various clasps seen around the aforementioned access lids as well as an all-styrene or all-brass tail-lamp assembly. Unfortunately, the framework for the screens has rounded corners, when in fact they should be at a 90-degree angle; they will need replacement for the proper appearance.

The superstructure stern plate has the typical mounting bolt pattern and features a separate circular transmission access hatch lid; it will need some tweaking at the hinges to fit into the opening. Slide-molded exhaust pipes are provided, with pre-opened bores. Mounted over these are delicately-rendered armored cowls. There are separate fillets for the areas where the main plates all come together.

The track-guards are molded on to the lower superstructure side plates and feature molded-on tie down loops at their edges (there are optional etched brass replacements in the box). The rear mud-flaps are molded in place and there are optional etched brass replacements for them, too. The front mud-flaps are the type with a rounded end and are also separate styrene parts. Many of the tie-downs feature separate etched brass straps to hold the styrene ice cleats into place on the fenders. Mounting points for the various tool boxes are molded in place, as are some other tie-downs and plate details. The various tool boxes themselves can be enhanced with the included etched brass parts, while the superstructure side plate-mounted tie down points are given as fine separate styrene parts, or as etched brass options. However, photos show that the tool boxes were dispensed with, probably to make room for the 2cm ammunition racks.

The superstructure side plates have mounting points molded in place for the rectangular fuel cells. These must be removed as per the instructions. As mentioned, new ammunition box stowage racks were fitted on both sides. These are made up of styrene and etched brass parts. Two sprues from DMLs Aufklärungspanzer 38(t) kit provide a total of eight such boxes. While this is a start, many, many more are needed to capture the proper appearance of the filled racks. In addition, the German rod antenna, flexible base and mounting bracket, which replaced the Soviet item, is not included in the box. This fit is readily apparent on the few photos of this vehicle, so it is a wonder why it was not included.

2cm Flakvierling 38.

The Germans replaced the original Soviet 76mm turret with a 2cm Flakvierling 38. They also cobbled together a gun shield from wrecked AFVs to protect the crew. The latter are made using several sections produced using DMLs Razor Edge technique. This means they are quite thin, well-detailed and devoid of ejector pin marks. A mounting plate and a pair of girders are provided for the interior. Since no information survived on the precise means used to mount the gun, these are conjectural, but sensible. On this point the modeler must exercise care and patience when fitting the mounting girders to the inside of the hull. There is no marked spot to fit this assembly and the instructions are not particularly clear on this point. Furthermore, the boxes that house the coil springs for the suspension need to be taken into consideration. No other interior details are given, but not very much will be easily visible. The modeler can follow the advice of the Rolling Stones and Paint it Black, or avail himself of a resin after-market interior set.

The gun tube/receiver group of each of the four individual weapons are single parts, produced using a slide mold. This allows for an open receiver as well as pre-drilled muzzle. The muzzles flash suppressors have the proper cooling slots and perforations, while the receiver covers are separate two-part affairs. Separate recoil buffers are also provided, as are the proper 20-round ammunition magazines. The two mounting plates for the four gun tubes are also based on a slide-molded core, which includes the small curved splinter shield sections molded in place, complete with openings for the gun tubes. The guns can elevate on the mount, which itself can be rotated through a full 360-degrees. The gunner is provided with the pendulum and telescopic sights. His seat and mount is an all-styrene assembly. His hand-wheel controls are there as are the parts that connect the sight to the mount.

Racks for the spare 2cm ammunition magazines that are attached to the mount are not to be used; the same goes for the loaders seats. Part A-40 should be fitted from the inside of parts A-17 and A-18; the instructions are un-clear on this point. Parts A-10, A-17 and A-18 create a hole to mount part A48 (the guns elevation axle); the hole will need to be opened up a bit with a round file for everything to fit properly; do this before assembly. The remaining parts consist of the spent shell collection bin in etched brass, gun travel lock, hand-wheels, sight assembly and other detail items.

Molding, Fit and Engineering.

Not withstanding the issue of the placement of the gun mounting girder/base plate and the gun elevation axle, the fit of the parts in this kit is good-to-excellent. No sink marks are apparent and with the exception of the tracks, no ejector pin marks are visible on any external surface of the complete model, including the interiors of the various hatch lids. Flash was non-existent, while mold seams are quite fine and easily dealt with using traditional modeling skills and tools. When fitting the superstructure part to the hull, some attention in the areas of the track-guards will be needed for a tight fit. Super glue and a few moments of manual clamping will do the trick.

Accuracy and Details.

References show the kit to be quite well-done in this regard, with major components matching published 1/35th-scale plans extremely well. The engine decks etched brass frame for the screens will need replacing and it would have been handy if DML included some other German tools and fittings, such as the German antenna and tow cables (both seen in photos).

Instructions.

These are in the typical line drawing style and are adequate for the job at hand. Colors are keyed to Gunze and Testors paints.

Decals and Markings Information.

Water-slide decals are given to mark the one vehicle that existed. These high-quality decals are printed by Cartograf in Italy. They are crisp and in excellent registration; carrier film is thin, matte and cut close to the design edges. Included are Balkenkreuze national insignia as well as s.Pz.Jag.Abt.653s unit insignia. Photos do not show any markings, so these are conjectural.

Conclusion.

This is a unique, one-of-a-kind representation of a field-improvised Flakpanzer. It has limits due to that, but thats also where its greatest appeal lays.

Highly recommended.

Frank V. Curly Stooge De Sisto

References consulted for this review included, but were not limited to:

1. T-34, Stalins Warhorse; AJaKS Military Press, by P. Skulski & J. Jackiewicz.
2. T-34 in Combat; AJaKS Military Press, by Z. Lalek, R. Sawicki & J. Jackiewicz
3. T-34 in Action; Squadron Armor 20, by S. Zaloga.
4. Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of WW 2; Arms and Armour Press, by S. Zaloga & J. Grandsen.
5. Russian Tanks and Armored vehicles 1917-1945, An Illustrated Reference; Schiffer, by W. Fleischer.
6. Russian Tanks 1900-1970; by J. Milsom.
7. Soviet Tanks in Combat 1941-1945; Concord 7011, by S. Zaloga.
8. Russian T-34; AFV Weapons Profile 47, by J.M. Brereton & Maj. M. Norman, RTR.
9. Camouflage of the Tanks of the Red Army 1930-1945; Armada, by M. Kolomiyets & I. Moshchanskiy.
10. T-35/76 Camouflage & Markings; Mushroom Model Publications/Stratus, by P. Skulski & M. Filipiuk.
11. T-34; Wydawnictwo Militaria 259, by M. Baryatinskiy.
12. T-34, Vol.II; Wydawnictwo Militaria 265, by A. Lagutin.
13. T-34, Vol.III; Wydawnictwo Militaria 268, by S. Kirsanow.
14. T-34, Vol.IV; Wydawnictwo Militaria 269, by S. Kirsanow.
15. T-34, Vol.V; Wydawnictwo Militaria 316, by M. Kolomiets.
16. T-34/76 Medium Tank 1941-45; Osprey New Vanguard 9, by S. Zaloga.
17. T-34 Mythical Weapon; Armageddon/Airconnection, by R. Michulec & M. Zientarzewski.
18. Modelling the T-34/76; Osprey Modelling 33, by J. Alvear, M. Jimenez, M. Kirchoff & A. Wilder.
19. T-34 Medium Tank (1939-1943); Russian Armour Vol.4, Ian Allan, by M. Baryatinskiy.
20. Beute-Panzerkampfwagen; Panzer Tracts 19-2, by T. Jentz & W. Regenberg.
21. Combat History of schwere Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 653; J.J. Fedorowicz, by K. Münch.


Reviewers note: Since May of 2005, I have been working on books for Concord Publications, a sister company to Cyberhobby. The reader may wish to take this into consideration. For my part, I will attempt to maintain an objective viewpoint when writing these reviews.

Cyberhbby kits are available from retail and on-line shops; for details visit their web site at: www.cyber-hobby.com.

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