Kit, DML 7287, Challenger 2 w/Bar Armor

DRAGON MODELS LIMITED


7287, Challenger 2 w/Bar Armor. 1/72nd-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 126 styrene parts, two etched brass frets, four DS-100 parts, one water-slide decal/markings scheme and six pages of instructions in eight steps.


Introduction.

Released almost simultaneously with the Challenger 2 mounting the Pearson Bulldozer Blade Kit (just reviewed here on ML’s “ToT” forum), DML now offers the same base kit (minus the ‘dozer blade), but with the so-called “Bar Armor” upgrade, as seen in service in Iraq in recent times. This fit consists of additional Chobham armor blocks for the flanks of the turret as well as a screen for its rear, plus another screen for the rear flanks and rear end of the hull/superstructure. These “screens” consist of an open framework made of metal strips and bars spaced closely enough together (but far enough away from the hull or turret), which are designed to defeat the warheads of man-portable anti-tank missiles, of which the very prolific Soviet-designed RPG series is the most well-known.


Tracks.

These come in one length for each side, in the now-familiar DS100 flexible styrene material. The detail is crisp on both faces of the links and they can be joined together with standard styrene cement.


Suspension System.

The road-wheels are conventionally broken down into two halves each, as are the drive sprockets and idler wheels. Separate return rollers are also included.


Hull.

The hull pan is from a slide mold; its sides feature bump stops, suspension swing arms, final drive housings and axles; the belly plate has panel details molded in place as well. The separate lower front plate contains the idler wheel mounts. The rear plate has a number of separate fittings such as a tow bar, jerry can rack (nicely replicated for this scale using a slide-mold), communication wire reel, tow clevis mounts, mud-flaps and fuel drums. Everything else is molded in place including the main tow bar mount, lunette, spare track links and the tail lamp housings. Much of the molded-on detail is crisp enough and will repay careful painting. However, it will be difficult to properly finish tail lamps beneath their guards.


Superstructure.

The slide-molded main superstructure part has fine molded-on surface detail to include panel lines, filler ports, gun tube protection rail and engine deck grills; some of the latter are complimented by etched brass screens. Separate stowage boxes and a gun tube travel lock add some fine touches. Aside from the standard molded-on exhaust ports, new TECs (Thermal Exhaust Cowls) are provided; these are open on their bottoms and should be closed off with appropriately-sized styrene. Up front, a separate driver’s hatch lid is provided as are side-view mirrors, mud-flaps and fire extinguisher/head-lamp combinations. The splash plate molded in place is rather thick and could very well have been replaced with a more-to-scale etched brass part.


The sides of the superstructure have some very fine details for the various appliqué armor panel mounts and also have the standard “peace-time” side skirts molded in place. These can be used as is, or augmented by separate, multi-part Chobham armor appliqué arrays; the latter also includes the multi-part module seen on the bow. The only major item not present here is the canvas skirts that were hung below the appliqué arrays. These serve two purposes: the obvious one of keeping the dust down, and the less well-known purpose of concealing the radar signature of the road-wheels from prying weapons sensors. Missing from the previous kit, but included here are a pair of tow cables molded in flexible DS100 styrene; this is a rather good use of this particular medium.


Turret.

The upper turret shell is produced using a slide mold and is presented loose, in a bag. As a result of being “factory-trimmed” from its mold gate by DML, very small sections of its lower and rear edges have been slightly “distressed”; some filling will be required to fix things up. The main gun, its mantlet and the commander’s rotating sight housing are all created using a slide-mold for maximum detail. The commander’s cupola features a separate hatch lid and periscope head guard plate, while the loader’s hatch lid comes with a two-part machine gun attached to a separate pintle mount. A number of antenna and sensor masts as well as Combat Identification Panels (CIPs) complete this assembly.


Bar Armor.

Since photo-etched brass is used to replicate these arrays, there is some compromise in the detail department, particularly the precise depiction of the “bars” themselves. However, in this scale the only other alternative would be to create an unusually over-engineered and highly complicated assembly, which is more than likely impossible to produce by the manufacturer, and construct by the average modeler. In essence, the choice made here by DML’s designers was the best under the circumstances. As part of this armor upgrade package, Chobham armor modules are also supplied in the kit to be fitted to the turret side walls.


Molding, Fit and Engineering.

Overall, molding is very fine, but there is a certain lack of crispness on some of the parts. There were no visible ejector pin marks to clean; there were no sink marks on my sample.


Accuracy.

I have no 1/72nd-scale plans to compare this kit to; photos and larger scale drawings indicate that the kit is properly rendered.


Instructions.

These consist of the not very well-accepted photographic-style illustrations; regardless, they are easily followed, especially since they only contain eight main steps. The fitting of the Bar Armor screens are depicted using traditional line drawings. The single paint scheme for a minimally-marked tank is illustrated by four photos of a finished and painted model. As usual, colors are keyed to Gunze and Model Master paints.


Decals and Marking Information.

Unlike the previously-reviewed Challenger 2 with ‘dozer blade kit, this offering does have water-slide decals included for one vehicle. However, they are unusually nondescript, consisting of a pair of registration plates, two small “green cross” markings and two tiny tank silhouettes. Surely, DML could have done better in this regard.


Conclusion.

Like the previous C2 kit from DML, I can’t help thinking that modelers may be disappointed at the lack of attention paid to providing an interesting selection of markings in the box. On the other hand, since this tank is currently seeing action in Iraq with this unique armor configuration, there should be considerable interest in this kit amongst modelers of modern AFVs.


Recommended with reservations.


Frank V. “Curly Stooge” De Sisto


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

1. “Challenger 1 & 2, Spearhead of the British Royal Armoured Corps”, Concord 7505, by W. Böhm, P. Siebert & H. Cance.
2. “Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank 1987-2006”, Osprey New Vanguard 112, by S. Dunstan & T. Bryan.
3. “British Armoured Battle Group”, Concord 7520, by T. Mätzold, D. Nowak & L. Lecocq.

In addition, various issues of Concord’s “Assault” and “Special Ops” series’ have photos of the Challenger 2, as do some other Concord titles dedicated to the current war in Iraq.


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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