In Box Review of DML 1/35th Scale
Soviet JSU-122 Tank Destroyer
30’-35’ Series
Kit no. 6013
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1993
I paid $29.98 for my kit at a local hobby shop years ago, that went out of business.
Available in later released kit no. 6787 (copyright 2020) at Hobbylinc for $55.59 or at Squadron for $57.00 or at Kit Linx for $56.45 or at Sprue Brothers for $55.99 and at 5 locations overseas on the web.
Kit no. 6013
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1993
I paid $29.98 for my kit at a local hobby shop years ago, that went out of business.
Available in later released kit no. 6787 (copyright 2020) at Hobbylinc for $55.59 or at Squadron for $57.00 or at Kit Linx for $56.45 or at Sprue Brothers for $55.99 and at 5 locations overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
The kit calls itself as a JSU-122, but history on the Wikipedia site says it’s a ISU-122.
The ISU-122 (acronym of Istrebitelnaja - or Iosif Stalin-based - Samokhodnaya Ustanovka 122) was a Soviet assault gun used during World War II, mostly in the anti-tank role. A prototype of the ISU-122 (in Russian ИСУ-122) heavy self-propelled gun was built at the Chelyabinsk Kirov Plant (Chelyabinskiy Kirovskiy Zavod (ChKZ), Chelyabinsk, Russia), in December 1943.
The design shared the chassis of the ISU-152 self-propelled gun and differed only in armament, having an A-19S 122-mm gun as its main weapon instead of the ISU-152's ML-20S gun-howitzer. Towed versions of these guns used the same carriage: 52-L-504A (Russian designation 52-Л-504А), so installation of an A-19 instead of an ML-20 gun was not a difficult task. After completing development of the ISU-152, ChKZ engineers mounted the A-19 gun on the ISU-152 chassis to create "Object 242" — the first ISU-122 prototype. It was successfully tested, but not immediately launched into mass production.
At that time, all ISU hulls were being equipped with the ML-20S gun-howitzer, but the production of hulls increased quickly and there was a lack of ML-20S tubes in the beginning of 1944. State authorities ordered these uncompleted hulls armed with an A-19 gun (specifically with the A-19S variant, slightly modified for the self-propelled gun mount). A further advantage of rearming the ISU was increased direct fire range against heavy German tanks. For these reasons, the State Defense Committee adopted Object 242 for Red Army service as the ISU-122 on 12 March 1944. In April 1944, the first series ISU-122 left the ChKZ production lines.
The A-19S gun had a manual-piston breech, which reduced the rate of fire from 2.5 to 1.5 shots per minute. Soviet designers developed the D-25 by modernizing the A-19S's breech, creating a semi-automatic variant of the 122-mm gun. The D-25 gun was installed in IS-2 tanks as a priority, but in September 1944 became available for self-propelled guns. The prototype ISU vehicle, armed with a D-25S was designated "Object 249" and successfully passed plant and state testing.
the fire rate was improved to 2 to 3 shots per minute and with two strong experienced loaders the rate of fire reached 4 shots per minute. Due to the muzzle brake reducing recoil forces, the D-25 had a smaller recoil buffer than the A-19. This improved the crew's work conditions and allowed for a smaller, lighter gun shield with the same armour thickness.
After testing, Object 249 was immediately launched in mass production as the ISU-122S (ИСУ-122С) self-propelled gun. However, the original ISU-122 remained in production (along with the ISU-152) due to a large stock of A-19 guns (the ML-20 and D-25 came directly from artillery factories). Mass production of the ISU-122 and ISU-122S ceased at the end of 1945. ChKZ produced 1,735 ISU-122 and 675 ISU-122S variants in total.
After World War II, many surviving ISU-122s were rebuilt as rocket launchers, very large calibre gun chassis or supply vehicles. The small number of ISU-122s that kept their original armament were modernized in 1958. This modernization was not as complete as that of the ISU-152. Most ISU-122s did not receive a new engine, only upgraded gun sights and radio sets. In the beginning of 1960, the ISU-122 was withdrawn from Soviet Army service (the ISU-152 served much longer). Some disarmed ISU-122s were transferred to civil organizations, to be used as emergency vehicles on Soviet railways or as tracked transport in Arctic areas of the Soviet Union. However, most ISU-122s (both variants) remained in service longer in Warsaw Pact states and, with unconfirmed reports, in service in North Korea and China, having both variants.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Self-propelled gun
Place of origin: Soviet Union
No. built: 2,410 (all types)
Mass: 45.5 tonnes (50.2 short tons; 44.8 long tons)
Length: 9.85 m (32 ft 4 in)
Width: 3.07 m (10 ft 1 in)
Height: 2.48 m (8 ft 2 in)
Crew: 4 or 5
Armor: front 90 mm (3.5 in), gun shield 120 mm (4.7 in), side 90 mm (3.5 in)
Main armament: A-19S 122 mm gun, with 30 rounds (ISU-122), D-25S 122 mm gun (ISU-122S)
Secondary armament: 12.7 mm DShK AA machine gun, with 250 rounds
Engine: 12-cyl. 4-stroke diesel model V-2IS of 520 hp (382 kW)
Power/weight: 11 hp/tonne
Suspension: torsion bar
Operational range: Road: 220 km (140 mi), Cross-country: 80 km (50 mi)
Maximum speed: 37 km/h (23 mph)
The kit calls itself as a JSU-122, but history on the Wikipedia site says it’s a ISU-122.
The ISU-122 (acronym of Istrebitelnaja - or Iosif Stalin-based - Samokhodnaya Ustanovka 122) was a Soviet assault gun used during World War II, mostly in the anti-tank role. A prototype of the ISU-122 (in Russian ИСУ-122) heavy self-propelled gun was built at the Chelyabinsk Kirov Plant (Chelyabinskiy Kirovskiy Zavod (ChKZ), Chelyabinsk, Russia), in December 1943.
The design shared the chassis of the ISU-152 self-propelled gun and differed only in armament, having an A-19S 122-mm gun as its main weapon instead of the ISU-152's ML-20S gun-howitzer. Towed versions of these guns used the same carriage: 52-L-504A (Russian designation 52-Л-504А), so installation of an A-19 instead of an ML-20 gun was not a difficult task. After completing development of the ISU-152, ChKZ engineers mounted the A-19 gun on the ISU-152 chassis to create "Object 242" — the first ISU-122 prototype. It was successfully tested, but not immediately launched into mass production.
At that time, all ISU hulls were being equipped with the ML-20S gun-howitzer, but the production of hulls increased quickly and there was a lack of ML-20S tubes in the beginning of 1944. State authorities ordered these uncompleted hulls armed with an A-19 gun (specifically with the A-19S variant, slightly modified for the self-propelled gun mount). A further advantage of rearming the ISU was increased direct fire range against heavy German tanks. For these reasons, the State Defense Committee adopted Object 242 for Red Army service as the ISU-122 on 12 March 1944. In April 1944, the first series ISU-122 left the ChKZ production lines.
The A-19S gun had a manual-piston breech, which reduced the rate of fire from 2.5 to 1.5 shots per minute. Soviet designers developed the D-25 by modernizing the A-19S's breech, creating a semi-automatic variant of the 122-mm gun. The D-25 gun was installed in IS-2 tanks as a priority, but in September 1944 became available for self-propelled guns. The prototype ISU vehicle, armed with a D-25S was designated "Object 249" and successfully passed plant and state testing.
the fire rate was improved to 2 to 3 shots per minute and with two strong experienced loaders the rate of fire reached 4 shots per minute. Due to the muzzle brake reducing recoil forces, the D-25 had a smaller recoil buffer than the A-19. This improved the crew's work conditions and allowed for a smaller, lighter gun shield with the same armour thickness.
After testing, Object 249 was immediately launched in mass production as the ISU-122S (ИСУ-122С) self-propelled gun. However, the original ISU-122 remained in production (along with the ISU-152) due to a large stock of A-19 guns (the ML-20 and D-25 came directly from artillery factories). Mass production of the ISU-122 and ISU-122S ceased at the end of 1945. ChKZ produced 1,735 ISU-122 and 675 ISU-122S variants in total.
After World War II, many surviving ISU-122s were rebuilt as rocket launchers, very large calibre gun chassis or supply vehicles. The small number of ISU-122s that kept their original armament were modernized in 1958. This modernization was not as complete as that of the ISU-152. Most ISU-122s did not receive a new engine, only upgraded gun sights and radio sets. In the beginning of 1960, the ISU-122 was withdrawn from Soviet Army service (the ISU-152 served much longer). Some disarmed ISU-122s were transferred to civil organizations, to be used as emergency vehicles on Soviet railways or as tracked transport in Arctic areas of the Soviet Union. However, most ISU-122s (both variants) remained in service longer in Warsaw Pact states and, with unconfirmed reports, in service in North Korea and China, having both variants.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Self-propelled gun
Place of origin: Soviet Union
No. built: 2,410 (all types)
Mass: 45.5 tonnes (50.2 short tons; 44.8 long tons)
Length: 9.85 m (32 ft 4 in)
Width: 3.07 m (10 ft 1 in)
Height: 2.48 m (8 ft 2 in)
Crew: 4 or 5
Armor: front 90 mm (3.5 in), gun shield 120 mm (4.7 in), side 90 mm (3.5 in)
Main armament: A-19S 122 mm gun, with 30 rounds (ISU-122), D-25S 122 mm gun (ISU-122S)
Secondary armament: 12.7 mm DShK AA machine gun, with 250 rounds
Engine: 12-cyl. 4-stroke diesel model V-2IS of 520 hp (382 kW)
Power/weight: 11 hp/tonne
Suspension: torsion bar
Operational range: Road: 220 km (140 mi), Cross-country: 80 km (50 mi)
Maximum speed: 37 km/h (23 mph)
THE KIT:
DML (sometimes named Dragon) is an old prolific plastic model manufacturer based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a color illustration of three ISU-122’s in a column on a dirt field, passing two knocked-out German tiger tanks. They are all over-all olive-drab.
The ISU-122 in the lead has a white letter T on the right side of its front, that has a pointer at the bottom of it. A large white no. 63, followed by a two word slogan on its side. The second ISU-122 also has the pointed white arrow on the right side of its front too.
All three tank destroyers show 2 man tank crews looking out their tops and 5 or 6 Soviet infantry men riding atop them.
The two German Tiger tanks are overall Panzer-grey, with no markings shown.
The lower right corner of the box art says, in white lettering: This kit contains 429 parts. For modelers aged 10 and over. Box contains one model of armoured vehicle.
One side-panel of the box shows one paragraph histories of the ISU-122 in Japanese, French, English, Spanish, German and Chinese. With each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
This is followed with Marco Polo Import Inc’s street and FAX number in City of Industry, CA, over the copyright of the kit as 1993. Made in Hong Kong.
DML (sometimes named Dragon) is an old prolific plastic model manufacturer based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a color illustration of three ISU-122’s in a column on a dirt field, passing two knocked-out German tiger tanks. They are all over-all olive-drab.
The ISU-122 in the lead has a white letter T on the right side of its front, that has a pointer at the bottom of it. A large white no. 63, followed by a two word slogan on its side. The second ISU-122 also has the pointed white arrow on the right side of its front too.
All three tank destroyers show 2 man tank crews looking out their tops and 5 or 6 Soviet infantry men riding atop them.
The two German Tiger tanks are overall Panzer-grey, with no markings shown.
The lower right corner of the box art says, in white lettering: This kit contains 429 parts. For modelers aged 10 and over. Box contains one model of armoured vehicle.
One side-panel of the box shows one paragraph histories of the ISU-122 in Japanese, French, English, Spanish, German and Chinese. With each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
This is followed with Marco Polo Import Inc’s street and FAX number in City of Industry, CA, over the copyright of the kit as 1993. Made in Hong Kong.
The other side-panel of the box shows 3 color walk-around type photos of the model made up in the box art scheme. Followed by a repeat of Marco Polo’s address and Fax no., the copyright date and Made in Hong Kong.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 5 medium-grey parts trees. The medium-grey hull tub part, 2 black trees and the decal sheet in 5 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white copy of the cover art at the top, over one paragraph histories of the ISU-122 in 6 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of paints, in the 6 languages.
The bottom of page 2 shows a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme, over the 1st assembly step
Page 3 through to the top of page 6 gives a grand total of 8 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 6 is a painting and marking guide. It shows a 4-view of an ISU-122 that is overall olive-drab with a white eagle and large 127 on its sides. However, all the markings on the kit’s decal sheet are yellow. You cannot match the cover art with these decals….bad move DML!!
This ISU122 was with the Polish People’s Army, 1945.
Page 7 is another painting and marking guide.
It shows two 4-views.
Both ISU’s are overall olive-drab.
The 1st one is the box art scheme (already described above) It further shows the pointed arrow on the left side of the front of the tank and the no. 63 again on the right rear.
It is shown as it was with the Red Army in Berlin, 1945.
The 2nd one has a white eagle, over small white 720 on the sides.
It was with the Polish People’s Army, 1945.
Page 8 is the parts trees illustrations and decal application instructions, in 6 languages, including English. The copyright of 1993 and printed in Hong Kong.
There is included in the kit a single sheet, in the same size as the pages in the instructions, printed on both sides. The face side has multiple illustrations of the anatomy and detail differences on ISU-122’s. The reverse side gives the development history of the tank.
The kit holds 5 medium-grey parts trees. The medium-grey hull tub part, 2 black trees and the decal sheet in 5 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white copy of the cover art at the top, over one paragraph histories of the ISU-122 in 6 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of paints, in the 6 languages.
The bottom of page 2 shows a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme, over the 1st assembly step
Page 3 through to the top of page 6 gives a grand total of 8 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 6 is a painting and marking guide. It shows a 4-view of an ISU-122 that is overall olive-drab with a white eagle and large 127 on its sides. However, all the markings on the kit’s decal sheet are yellow. You cannot match the cover art with these decals….bad move DML!!
This ISU122 was with the Polish People’s Army, 1945.
Page 7 is another painting and marking guide.
It shows two 4-views.
Both ISU’s are overall olive-drab.
The 1st one is the box art scheme (already described above) It further shows the pointed arrow on the left side of the front of the tank and the no. 63 again on the right rear.
It is shown as it was with the Red Army in Berlin, 1945.
The 2nd one has a white eagle, over small white 720 on the sides.
It was with the Polish People’s Army, 1945.
Page 8 is the parts trees illustrations and decal application instructions, in 6 languages, including English. The copyright of 1993 and printed in Hong Kong.
There is included in the kit a single sheet, in the same size as the pages in the instructions, printed on both sides. The face side has multiple illustrations of the anatomy and detail differences on ISU-122’s. The reverse side gives the development history of the tank.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: the engine air intake panel, gun travel support, rear hull wall etc. (18 parts) Two parts are blued-out in the parts trees illustrations as being excess and not needed to complete the kit.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: the engine air intake panel, gun travel support, rear hull wall etc. (18 parts) Two parts are blued-out in the parts trees illustrations as being excess and not needed to complete the kit.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter B trees. They each hold: drive sprockets, road wheels etc. (101 parts ea.)
Medium-grey letter C tree holds: the main gun barrel, mantle, hatch lid etc. (7 parts)
Medium-grey letter D tree holds: the top, front etc. (20 Parts)
The two identical black letter E trees hold individual track links. (88 parts ea.)
The one piece hull tub.
The decal sheet complete the kit contents.
There are no crew figures included in the kit.
Detail is very good.
Recommended.
Detail is very good.
Recommended.