Sd.Kfz. 164 Nashorn
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Stock Number and Description | Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6314; Sd.Kfz. 164 Nashorn - Premium Edition |
Scale: | 1/35 |
Media and Contents: | 900 parts (445 parts in grey styrene, 288 "Magic Track" links, 163 etched brass, 3 clear styrene, 1 turned aluminum barrel) |
Price: | price estimated at US $45-47 |
Review Type: | First Look |
Advantages: | "Magic Track" a good idea and helps this kit out |
Disadvantages: | not all state of the art parts that could have been added or should have been added included in kit; even with addition of etched brass some parts still wrong |
Recommendation: | Highly Recommended to all German "Eighty-Eight" and SP fans |
FirstLook
The cheers that went up nearly 15 years ago when DML came out with the first 1/35 scale kit of the popular German "Nashorn" (No. 6001, first of the ‘39-‘45 WWII armor and figure kits) were stillborn when the kit turned out to prove itself a dog, and nearly impossible to assemble. The gun did not fit, the tracks could not be wedged under the fenders, and the interior and exterior air intake vents could not match up.
This reviewer did an in-box of this
kit, which proved to be a major mistake on my part, and ever since I
have been more circumspect or at least indicate the review was "in
box."
But later DML did try to atone for that, DML redid the kit from the
ground up as kit number 6165 (Hornisse, the early model) and 6166 (Nashorn,
the late model). Still, while much was corrected and fixed, there
were still whinges about such items as ammo lockers which did not
hold the correct number of rounds, track fit and fender problems,
wheel details, etc. This is not to say these kits were bad; they
just had a few errors that required replacement or correction.
"Third time is the charm" is an old saying, and now DML has
re-released kit number 6166 with upgrades as a "Premium" version. So
what have they done to upgrade or correct it?
Unfortunately, not much. This is a shame as they could included many
of the new parts for the Panzer IV chassis with the new bogies or
drivers and details from other kits, but this one uses its original
suspension parts with some parts from the Jadgpanzer IV series kits.
No separate wheel centers, no separate tires.
The main two areas which received full upgrades (there are some
"tweaks" in styrene like a new travel lock and new exhaust pipes)
are the tracks and a full set of etched brass, mainly focusing on
the air vents and the ammo lockers.
The tracks are now "Magic Tracks" which are handed due to the
different pin and bolt insertions, so you have to look closely to
see which is which. The directions cheerfully dub them "ZL" and " ZR"
– but then don't tell you which bag is which! But after 10 minutes
with a lighted 10x jeweler's loupe I think the ones on the LEFT side
of the header card are the ZL links and the ones on the RIGHT side
are the ZR links, which makes a sort of sense of them. I cannot be
sure how well they fit under the fender, but they are at least
easier to assemble.
The brass provides for a lot of RP (right puny) details, but its
three big sections are not easy to deal with. The vents are fiddly
and will take time, but provide scale thickness. Surprisingly the
directions don't indicate you have to cut out and remove the ones
molded on the superstructure sides (parts B45 and B46.)
The lockers appear very intricate but are actually just other bits
for the existing lockers. They unfortunately still only provide for
four rounds each when the actual stowage was eight; this means
either close them up or make new ones and scrounge eight more rounds
(or eight more racks) to correct them.
The last part is a new set of radio racks, but it should be noted
that the Nashorn kit does not come with a radio set! Well, at least
it does provide a good looking area for one to go.
New "Slide Molded" Gen2 weapons are provided, two sets of the WB
standard sprue with a pair of MP40 submachine guns, a Gewehr 43
autloading rifle, and an MP44 assault rifle in each set.
The directions are not of much use, as they again show a full color
photo set of a kit under assembly but the one shown is obviously all
styrene, which is not of much help with some of the brass bits. As
noted above it does not indicate that the side louver grilles have
to be removed before the new etched ones are installed, and there is
no photo of the ammo lockers with the new etched brass parts
installed. Once again, DML did a nice job on its bits that is let
down by the kit's instructions.
The kit does provide two nice Cartograf decal sheets and a total of
NINE finishing options. This time all are identified: s.H.Pz.Jg.
526, Italy 1944 (three color); 2./s.H.Pz.Jg.Abt. 560, 1943 (sand
with brown waves); s.H.Pz.Jg.Abt. 519, 1943-1944 (whitewash over
sand); s.H.Pz.Jg.Abt. 88, 1944 (whitewash squiggles over sand); a
second vehicle from s.H.Pz.Jg.Abt. 525, 1944 (same scheme); a third
vehicle from s.H.Pz.Jg.Abt. 525, 1944 (more involved three-color
scheme); 3./s.H.Pz.Jg.Abt. 88, 1944 (green over sand with heart
markings); s.H.Pz.Jg.Abt. 519, Russia 1943-44 (whitewash
superstructure, sand hull, red crest on front left.) A "number
jungle" is included on the sheets.
Overall, this kit is a bit disappointing considering all of the
great new sprues and parts which DML has produced with their "Slide
Moulding" technique. If the modeler has purchased all of the
"upgrades" in the way of brass and tracks for the older kit, there
is no need to purchase this one. But if not, it does give the
modeler great tracks and the majority of brass parts he will use in
one package.
Recommended.
Sprue Breakdown:
A 31x2 Nashorn/Hummel
B 46 Nashorn/Hummel
C 21 Nashorn/Hummel
D 70 Nashorn/Hummel
E 31x3 Jagdpanzer IV
F 7x2 Jagdpanzer IV
(F) 10 ?
L 8 Nashorn/Hummel
M 38 Nashorn
N 39 Hornisse/Nashorn ammo racks
S 3 clear styrene
Y 1 Lower hull
WB 20x2 Weapons B (2 x MP40, 1 Ghw 43, 1 MP44
TF 3 8.8cm muzzle brake
ZL 144 Magic Track left
ZL 144 Magic Track right
MA 163 etched brass
MB 1 turned aluminum barrel
Thanks to
Freddie Leung for the review sample.