In Box Review of DML Dragon 1/35th Scale
German Sd.Kfz. 131 Panzerjager II Fur Pak 40/2 “Marder II”
Kit no. 6262
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2006
Available at Kit Linx for $55.15 or at Mega Hobby for $62.06 or at 3 place overseas on the web.
I paid $30.00 for this kit back in 2006 at the local Hobby Lobby store when it was discounted down from $41.99.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2006
Available at Kit Linx for $55.15 or at Mega Hobby for $62.06 or at 3 place overseas on the web.
I paid $30.00 for this kit back in 2006 at the local Hobby Lobby store when it was discounted down from $41.99.
HISTORY:
The Marder II ("marten" in English) was a German tank destroyer of World War II based on the Panzer II chassis. There were two versions, the first mounted a modified Soviet 7.62 cm gun firing German ammunition, while the other mounted the German 7.5 cm Pak 40 gun.
Its high profile and thin open-topped armor provided minimal protection to the crew. Nevertheless, the Marder II (and similar Marder III) provided a great increase in firepower over contemporary German tanks during 1942 and into 1943.
Only four Marder IIs remain today.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Tank destroyer
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1942-1945
Manufacturer: FAMO, FAMO-Ursus
Produced: 1942-1943
No. built: ~863 (681 built, ~182 converted)
Mass: 10.8 tonnes (23,809 lb)
Length: 6.36 m (20 ft 10 in)
Width:2.28 m (7 ft 6 in)
Height: 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
Crew: 4
Armor: Front 35 mm, Sides 14.5 mm, Rear 14.5 mm
Main armament: 75 mm Pak 40 gun with 37 rounds
Engine: Maybach HL 62 TRM 6-cylinder gasoline engine of 138 hp (140 PS, 103 kW)
Power/weight: 12.8 hp/tonne
Suspension: Leaf spring
Operational range: 190 km (118 mi)
Maximum speed: 40 km/h (25 mph)
The Marder II ("marten" in English) was a German tank destroyer of World War II based on the Panzer II chassis. There were two versions, the first mounted a modified Soviet 7.62 cm gun firing German ammunition, while the other mounted the German 7.5 cm Pak 40 gun.
Its high profile and thin open-topped armor provided minimal protection to the crew. Nevertheless, the Marder II (and similar Marder III) provided a great increase in firepower over contemporary German tanks during 1942 and into 1943.
Only four Marder IIs remain today.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Tank destroyer
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1942-1945
Manufacturer: FAMO, FAMO-Ursus
Produced: 1942-1943
No. built: ~863 (681 built, ~182 converted)
Mass: 10.8 tonnes (23,809 lb)
Length: 6.36 m (20 ft 10 in)
Width:2.28 m (7 ft 6 in)
Height: 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
Crew: 4
Armor: Front 35 mm, Sides 14.5 mm, Rear 14.5 mm
Main armament: 75 mm Pak 40 gun with 37 rounds
Engine: Maybach HL 62 TRM 6-cylinder gasoline engine of 138 hp (140 PS, 103 kW)
Power/weight: 12.8 hp/tonne
Suspension: Leaf spring
Operational range: 190 km (118 mi)
Maximum speed: 40 km/h (25 mph)
THE KIT:
DML Dragon is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows 2 Marder II’s sitting on a snow covered field. Both are in a wave pattern of sand, dark-green and red-brown with just the German cross on their sides.
One corner of the box art says the kit contains over 700 parts and is for modelers 10 and older.
One side panel has 7 black and white walk-around type illustrations of detail features of the kit: Radio set is assembled in multiple delicate parts for exquisite detail. Fighting compartment with interior fittings: coolant exchange hose and headphone storage box. Fighting compartment periscopes can be assembled in up or down positions. Ammunition boxes truly replicated with interior racks.
These are followed by a color illustration of the decal sheet.
DML Dragon is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows 2 Marder II’s sitting on a snow covered field. Both are in a wave pattern of sand, dark-green and red-brown with just the German cross on their sides.
One corner of the box art says the kit contains over 700 parts and is for modelers 10 and older.
One side panel has 7 black and white walk-around type illustrations of detail features of the kit: Radio set is assembled in multiple delicate parts for exquisite detail. Fighting compartment with interior fittings: coolant exchange hose and headphone storage box. Fighting compartment periscopes can be assembled in up or down positions. Ammunition boxes truly replicated with interior racks.
These are followed by a color illustration of the decal sheet.
The other side panel has 5 more black and white walk-around type illustrations, showing more detail features: Accurate upper hull with fenders and engine deck in full detail. Driver’s hatch can be assembled opened or closed. Photo-etched muffler guard.
This is followed by a CAUTION that if you use paint or cement, stay away from an open flame and be in a well ventilated room. In 6 languages, including English. Kit is not suitable for children under 3 due to sharp parts and it is intended for modelers over the age of 10.
Copyright date is 2006, over DML’s address in Hong Kong, China and their web address.
This is followed by a CAUTION that if you use paint or cement, stay away from an open flame and be in a well ventilated room. In 6 languages, including English. Kit is not suitable for children under 3 due to sharp parts and it is intended for modelers over the age of 10.
Copyright date is 2006, over DML’s address in Hong Kong, China and their web address.
The bottom of the box has 23 more black and white detail features shown, along with 3 color illustrations of the 2 brass PE frets and the aluminum gun barrel.
Features shown are: Driver’ vision port with interior detail. Driver’s visor can be assembled open or closed. Both front and rear gun traveling clamps can be assembled in travel or fighting modes. Driver’ controls recreated in fine detail. Instrument panel is included. Authentic ZF SSGA6 Alpha transmission system components. Authentic transmission housing. Accurate details on hull bottom. New recoil guard for Pak 40 mounted on Marder II. Slide-molded “armor spacers”. Detailed breech can be assembled open or closed. Double-layer ultra thin gun shield with rivets. Three kinds of slide-molded muzzle brakes. Authentic road wheels. Two types of fully detailed drive sprockets. MG34 with detailed feed tray and separate feed covers. Newly tooled Magic tracks are the smallest ever. Both left and right tracks accurately molded. Detailed suspension system. Detailed injection-molded on-vehicle tools and brackets. Additional on-vehicle tool without brackets. Two types of plastic ammunition, shell casing, ammo tubes (open or closed) and wooden ammo cases with lettering detail.
The 3 color illustrations show photo-etched parts for on-vehicle tool brackets and Pak 40 and the turned aluminum main gun barrel.
Features shown are: Driver’ vision port with interior detail. Driver’s visor can be assembled open or closed. Both front and rear gun traveling clamps can be assembled in travel or fighting modes. Driver’ controls recreated in fine detail. Instrument panel is included. Authentic ZF SSGA6 Alpha transmission system components. Authentic transmission housing. Accurate details on hull bottom. New recoil guard for Pak 40 mounted on Marder II. Slide-molded “armor spacers”. Detailed breech can be assembled open or closed. Double-layer ultra thin gun shield with rivets. Three kinds of slide-molded muzzle brakes. Authentic road wheels. Two types of fully detailed drive sprockets. MG34 with detailed feed tray and separate feed covers. Newly tooled Magic tracks are the smallest ever. Both left and right tracks accurately molded. Detailed suspension system. Detailed injection-molded on-vehicle tools and brackets. Additional on-vehicle tool without brackets. Two types of plastic ammunition, shell casing, ammo tubes (open or closed) and wooden ammo cases with lettering detail.
The 3 color illustrations show photo-etched parts for on-vehicle tool brackets and Pak 40 and the turned aluminum main gun barrel.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 20 medium-grey trees and a loose medium-grey hull tub part and individual track links and 2 decal sheets, 3 brass PE frets and a turned aluminum gun barrel in 20 clear cello bags and the instructions,.
The instructions consists of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7 ½” x 13 ½” page format.
This kit holds 20 medium-grey trees and a loose medium-grey hull tub part and individual track links and 2 decal sheets, 3 brass PE frets and a turned aluminum gun barrel in 20 clear cello bags and the instructions,.
The instructions consists of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7 ½” x 13 ½” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art over the parts tree illustrations. A few parts are shown shaded-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION-USEFUL INFO about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations , a suggested color listing of Gunze Sangyo or Italeri brands of hobby paints, in 6 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to the top of page 6 gives a grand total of 22 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 6 is a marking and painting guide. It shows two 2-views of Marker II’s and colors and markings of the ammo rounds and their tube storage containers.
Both are in wave patterns of sand, dark-green and red brown.
The first one is the box art subject. It further shows that the German cross was on the left of its nose too.
The second one has the German cross also in the 2 locations and red number 333 outlined in white on its sides.
Both are said to be from unidentified units on the Eastern Front in 1943 and 1944.
Page 7 is another marking and painting guide. It shows 5 more 2-views of the Marder II.
1. In wide wave pattern of sand and dark green. With the German cross on its side and left side of the rear. I has the number 111 in red, outlined in white on its sides. With a unidentified unit, Russia 1943.
2. In a base of sand with dark green spots, with narrow German cross on sides and left rear. With 10th Pz.Div. Tunisia 1943.
3. In overall Panzer-grey with a heavy coat of winter white-wash, covering all but the German crosses on its sides and left rear. With a unidentified unit, Eastern Front 1943
4. In a wave pattern of tan with wide dark-green wave pattern. Small German cross on its sides and left rear and white 119 on its sides. It also was with Pz.Jg.Abt. 49, Easter Front 1944.
5. In a wide wave pattern of sand, dark-green and red-brown, with large German cross on its sides and left rear and a red 111 outlined in white on its sides. It was with an unidentified unit, Eastern Front 1944.
Page 8 continues with 4 more 2-views.
1. In a large spotted pattern of sand, dark-green and red-brown, with large German cross on its side and left rear and red 131 outlined in white on its side. With unidentified unit, France 1944.
2. In a base of sand with small spots of dark-green and small German cross on sides and left rear. With Panzer Korps “Grossdeutschland”, East Prussia 1944-45.
3. In a squggle pattern of dark-green over sand, with no German cross shown. It has a white number 2 on its sides. With 1st Pz.Div.,Hungary 1945.
4. In a wide wave pattern of dark-green over sand, with small German cross on its sides and left rear. It has white no. 114 on its side. With unidentified unit, Hungary 1945.
At the bottom of the page is the 2006 copyright date, DML’s office address in Austria and the decal applications instructions,
Trees are alphabetized.
There are so many small parts on the trees that I’m going to beg off naming them all. Just what I can name please.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION-USEFUL INFO about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations , a suggested color listing of Gunze Sangyo or Italeri brands of hobby paints, in 6 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to the top of page 6 gives a grand total of 22 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 6 is a marking and painting guide. It shows two 2-views of Marker II’s and colors and markings of the ammo rounds and their tube storage containers.
Both are in wave patterns of sand, dark-green and red brown.
The first one is the box art subject. It further shows that the German cross was on the left of its nose too.
The second one has the German cross also in the 2 locations and red number 333 outlined in white on its sides.
Both are said to be from unidentified units on the Eastern Front in 1943 and 1944.
Page 7 is another marking and painting guide. It shows 5 more 2-views of the Marder II.
1. In wide wave pattern of sand and dark green. With the German cross on its side and left side of the rear. I has the number 111 in red, outlined in white on its sides. With a unidentified unit, Russia 1943.
2. In a base of sand with dark green spots, with narrow German cross on sides and left rear. With 10th Pz.Div. Tunisia 1943.
3. In overall Panzer-grey with a heavy coat of winter white-wash, covering all but the German crosses on its sides and left rear. With a unidentified unit, Eastern Front 1943
4. In a wave pattern of tan with wide dark-green wave pattern. Small German cross on its sides and left rear and white 119 on its sides. It also was with Pz.Jg.Abt. 49, Easter Front 1944.
5. In a wide wave pattern of sand, dark-green and red-brown, with large German cross on its sides and left rear and a red 111 outlined in white on its sides. It was with an unidentified unit, Eastern Front 1944.
Page 8 continues with 4 more 2-views.
1. In a large spotted pattern of sand, dark-green and red-brown, with large German cross on its side and left rear and red 131 outlined in white on its side. With unidentified unit, France 1944.
2. In a base of sand with small spots of dark-green and small German cross on sides and left rear. With Panzer Korps “Grossdeutschland”, East Prussia 1944-45.
3. In a squggle pattern of dark-green over sand, with no German cross shown. It has a white number 2 on its sides. With 1st Pz.Div.,Hungary 1945.
4. In a wide wave pattern of dark-green over sand, with small German cross on its sides and left rear. It has white no. 114 on its side. With unidentified unit, Hungary 1945.
At the bottom of the page is the 2006 copyright date, DML’s office address in Austria and the decal applications instructions,
Trees are alphabetized.
There are so many small parts on the trees that I’m going to beg off naming them all. Just what I can name please.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds the hull top etc. (34 parts)
There are 2 different medium-grey letter B trees.
The first medium-grey letter B tree holds ammo racks etc. (68 parts)
The second medium-grey letter B tree holds the alternate plastic gun barrel etc. (66 parts) 2 parts are shaded out in the parts trees illustrations as being excess.
Medium-grey letter C tree holds: the engine etc. (112 parts)
A second medium-grey tree is labeled as letter C. It holds ammo rounds and their storage containers (35 parts)
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter D trees. They hold road wheels and bogies etc. (14 parts each)
A third medium-grey tree is labeled as letter D too. It holds the gun shields (2 parts)
A third medium-grey tree is labeled as letter D too. It holds the gun shields (2 parts)
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter E trees. They hold drive sprockets and idler wheels (9 parts each)
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter F trees. They hold more road wheels (14 parts each)
Medium-grey letter G tree holds final transfer covers and more bogies (9 parts)
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter F trees. They hold more road wheels (14 parts each)
Medium-grey letter G tree holds final transfer covers and more bogies (9 parts)
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter K trees. They hold little square parts (6 parts each)
Lettering jumps to the medium-grey letter J tree. It holds tools etc (22 parts) 3 parts are excess. A second J tree contains the Notek headlight.
The lower hull is a one piece tub.
Medium-grey letter L parts are the individual track links. They are in 2 separate bags marked LEFT and Right. There are hundreds of them in each bag.
Letter MA is one of the 3 brass PE frets. It holds the engine air intake screen etc. (8 parts) 1 parts is excess)
Letter MB is the second brass PE fret (62 parts)
Letter MC is the third brass PE fret. (24 parts)
Letter MD is the turned aluminum gun barrel. (1 part)
Lettering jumps to the clear letter W tree. It holds periscopes. (3 parts)
Medium-grey letter WB tree holds weapons (18 parts) a whopping 17 are excess.
Medium-grey letter WC tree holds a machine gun and its bipod etc. (3 parts) one part is excess.
I bought Tamiya’s set of brass ammo rounds, no. 35258 and am adding them to this model. They cost me $11.50.
The kit decals.
There is a second sheet with markings for the ammo storage containers.
There are no clear parts or crew figures included in the kit. There should be figures for an open topped vehicle like this I say.
Very great minute detail inside and out. This kit is definitely for advanced modelers and not for novices. It is not a week end project by any means.
Highly recommended.
I accidentally bought two of this kit years ago. I am willing to sell one for a reasonable price. Only the wrap is off the box. Contents are still in sealed cello bags.
Very great minute detail inside and out. This kit is definitely for advanced modelers and not for novices. It is not a week end project by any means.
Highly recommended.
I accidentally bought two of this kit years ago. I am willing to sell one for a reasonable price. Only the wrap is off the box. Contents are still in sealed cello bags.