In Box Review of Tamiya 1/35th Scale
Soviet SU-100 Tank Destroyer
Remote Control-motorized kit
Kit no. MT217-650, Series no. 17
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $76.99 for the non-motorized kit from Sprue Bros. My kit has a copyright date of the 1970's.
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $76.99 for the non-motorized kit from Sprue Bros. My kit has a copyright date of the 1970's.
HISTORY:
At the end of 1942, the Soviet Army placed the SU-76 self-propelled anti-tank gun at the fronts to oppose the advancing German tanks. This 76 mm gun had been an effective anti-tank gun in the posession of the Soviet Forces at the time. However, in 1943, when the new German tanks appeared at the front, it was increasingly evident that the fire power of the SU-76 was not enough to counter them. Besides, other defects such as high hull and thin defensive armour - without ceiling - could not be ignored. The Soviet Army therefore asked the industry to produce a much more effective and spot-less anti-tank weapon. To satisfy the demand, the SU-85 anti-tank gun was introduced in the latter half of 1943 to replace the SU-76.
The SU-85 was an assault gun tank. It used a T-34 tank hull, onto which an 85 mm anti-tank gun was mounted. However, it was a tank without a revolving gun turret of the usual tank. This unusual tank had proved highly effective in attacking enemy tanks. A little later, the T-34/85 tank too made its appearance in the battlefield. Despite these new anti-tank weapons, the demand for a more powerful one persisted, as enemy tank armour had become much stronger.
In 1944, the SU-85 reappeared at the scene of the war, mounted with a new 100 mm anti-tank gun, replacing the former 85 mm one. This remodeled assault gun tank was the SU-100 therefore and was quite similar in outward appearance to the SU-85, excepting for its more powerful anti-tank gun. Another structural feature that sharply distinguished the SU-100 from the SU-85 was the commander hatch and the section around it, which perculiary projected outside the right hull. In contrast, the commander hatch section of the SU-85 was completely fixed inside the hull.
Although the 100 mm anti-tank gun of the SU-100 is much less powerful than those of either the German 75 mm gun or the British 17 pound gun in the point of armour-piercing power, its twice-heavy shell had a far more effective destructive power than that of the German tanks. One merit of the SU type tank without the usual gun turret was its low hull weight, owing to its gun, turretless structure. Since it was without a gun turret, it could be mounted with a more powerful gun when compared to a usual tank of the same weight. Also, its simple construction allowed the labor and cost of production to be reduced by 20%.
However, these advantages were considerably discounted by the inability to revolve its gun due to lack of a gun turret. This inability made its range of attack largely dependent on the conditions of the location. The drawback was especially exposed when the SU-100 was fighting on a slope or in a narrow city street. During World War II, the Soviet Forces therefore tried to make full use of its advantages by concealing it inside a building or under the trees to trap the enemy. Thus, when the SU-100 was employed for a specified firing to support infantry, it displayed its splendid performance.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Tank destroyer
Place of origin: Soviet Union
Production history: Number built 2335+
Weight: 31.6 tonnes (69,665 lbs)
Length 9.45 m (30 ft)
Width 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in)
Height 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in) Crew 4
Armor front: 75 mm (3 in), side 45 mm (1.77 in) rear 45 mm (1.77 in), roof 20 mm (.78 in)
Main armament: 100 mm gun D-10S
Secondary armament: 7.62 mm DT machine gun (720 rounds)
Engine: V-2 12-cylinder diesel of 500 hp (370 kW)
Power/weight: 16 hp/tonne
Suspension: Christie
Operational range: 320 km (199 mi)
Speed: 48 km/h (30 mph)
At the end of 1942, the Soviet Army placed the SU-76 self-propelled anti-tank gun at the fronts to oppose the advancing German tanks. This 76 mm gun had been an effective anti-tank gun in the posession of the Soviet Forces at the time. However, in 1943, when the new German tanks appeared at the front, it was increasingly evident that the fire power of the SU-76 was not enough to counter them. Besides, other defects such as high hull and thin defensive armour - without ceiling - could not be ignored. The Soviet Army therefore asked the industry to produce a much more effective and spot-less anti-tank weapon. To satisfy the demand, the SU-85 anti-tank gun was introduced in the latter half of 1943 to replace the SU-76.
The SU-85 was an assault gun tank. It used a T-34 tank hull, onto which an 85 mm anti-tank gun was mounted. However, it was a tank without a revolving gun turret of the usual tank. This unusual tank had proved highly effective in attacking enemy tanks. A little later, the T-34/85 tank too made its appearance in the battlefield. Despite these new anti-tank weapons, the demand for a more powerful one persisted, as enemy tank armour had become much stronger.
In 1944, the SU-85 reappeared at the scene of the war, mounted with a new 100 mm anti-tank gun, replacing the former 85 mm one. This remodeled assault gun tank was the SU-100 therefore and was quite similar in outward appearance to the SU-85, excepting for its more powerful anti-tank gun. Another structural feature that sharply distinguished the SU-100 from the SU-85 was the commander hatch and the section around it, which perculiary projected outside the right hull. In contrast, the commander hatch section of the SU-85 was completely fixed inside the hull.
Although the 100 mm anti-tank gun of the SU-100 is much less powerful than those of either the German 75 mm gun or the British 17 pound gun in the point of armour-piercing power, its twice-heavy shell had a far more effective destructive power than that of the German tanks. One merit of the SU type tank without the usual gun turret was its low hull weight, owing to its gun, turretless structure. Since it was without a gun turret, it could be mounted with a more powerful gun when compared to a usual tank of the same weight. Also, its simple construction allowed the labor and cost of production to be reduced by 20%.
However, these advantages were considerably discounted by the inability to revolve its gun due to lack of a gun turret. This inability made its range of attack largely dependent on the conditions of the location. The drawback was especially exposed when the SU-100 was fighting on a slope or in a narrow city street. During World War II, the Soviet Forces therefore tried to make full use of its advantages by concealing it inside a building or under the trees to trap the enemy. Thus, when the SU-100 was employed for a specified firing to support infantry, it displayed its splendid performance.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Tank destroyer
Place of origin: Soviet Union
Production history: Number built 2335+
Weight: 31.6 tonnes (69,665 lbs)
Length 9.45 m (30 ft)
Width 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in)
Height 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in) Crew 4
Armor front: 75 mm (3 in), side 45 mm (1.77 in) rear 45 mm (1.77 in), roof 20 mm (.78 in)
Main armament: 100 mm gun D-10S
Secondary armament: 7.62 mm DT machine gun (720 rounds)
Engine: V-2 12-cylinder diesel of 500 hp (370 kW)
Power/weight: 16 hp/tonne
Suspension: Christie
Operational range: 320 km (199 mi)
Speed: 48 km/h (30 mph)
THE KIT:
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
Unlike Tamiya's usual proceedure of doing the box art with an all-white background, this kit has a scenic one.
It shows a SU-100 leading a T-34 down a dirt road next to a knocked out German train. Two crewmen are looking out of the roof hatches. They wear black uniforms with leather tankers helmets. Another crewman is looking out of the front hatch. An infantryman is standing on the roof and firing a machine pistol. On top of the T-34 there is a crewman on the flexable machine gun. He has been hit and is falling backwards.
The SU-100 is in overall dark green with a heavycoat of mud on it and a white serial no. 321 on the sides of the hull.
One side panel has a color illustration of a SU-100 as a semi-head on shot, this is followed by a one paragraph history of the SU-100 in English and a 4-view color illustration of the SU-100, plus Made in Japan.
The other side panel show 5 other armor kits that Tamiya markets. They all show scenic box arts, rather than the usual all-white background type. Shown are: a King Tiger German Army Heavy Tank, a Panther German Army Medium Tank, a Hunting Tiger German Army Heavy Tank, a Leopard West German tank and a T-34 Soviet Union Tank.
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
Unlike Tamiya's usual proceedure of doing the box art with an all-white background, this kit has a scenic one.
It shows a SU-100 leading a T-34 down a dirt road next to a knocked out German train. Two crewmen are looking out of the roof hatches. They wear black uniforms with leather tankers helmets. Another crewman is looking out of the front hatch. An infantryman is standing on the roof and firing a machine pistol. On top of the T-34 there is a crewman on the flexable machine gun. He has been hit and is falling backwards.
The SU-100 is in overall dark green with a heavycoat of mud on it and a white serial no. 321 on the sides of the hull.
One side panel has a color illustration of a SU-100 as a semi-head on shot, this is followed by a one paragraph history of the SU-100 in English and a 4-view color illustration of the SU-100, plus Made in Japan.
The other side panel show 5 other armor kits that Tamiya markets. They all show scenic box arts, rather than the usual all-white background type. Shown are: a King Tiger German Army Heavy Tank, a Panther German Army Medium Tank, a Hunting Tiger German Army Heavy Tank, a Leopard West German tank and a T-34 Soviet Union Tank.
No kit numbers are provided for these 5 kits.
No kit numbers are provided for these 5 kits.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 2 dark green parts trees, a dark green hull tub and hull roof part, a light tan remote control battery box, motorization hardware, 2 electric motors,vinyl treads, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 6 3/4" x 10 1/4" page format.
Page 1 has 3 black and white photos of a actual SU-100 that is restored in the Roya Armoured Corp Tank Museum at Bovington, Dorset in England down the left side of the page. Down the right side is the history of the SU-100.
Page 2 to the top of page 4 gives 9 assembly steps. The first 5 steps are mostly for the motorization.
The bottom of page 4 has the part trees illustrations and a listing of the names of the parts in the kit.
Page 5 has a 4-view of a SU-100 with just red stars on tis sides, left front fender and a white 364 on the right front fender. No unit is mentioned. Below this is side profiles of a SU-76, SU-85, SU-100 and a T-34/85.
There are markings shown that are on the decal sheet for a Soviet tank (red star), Order of the Red Banner (for Soviet tanks), Polish checkerboard insignia, Polish Eagle insignia and U.A.F. insignia, that you can opt from to decorate your model.
Page 6 has 6 black and white photos of other Tamiya tank models made up: a M4 Sherman (kit no. MT-118), a T10 Stalin (kit no. MT-109), a JagdPanther (kit no. MT-124), a U.S. M40 "Big Shot" (kit no. DTW-102), a Pz.kpfw. III (kit no. DT-105) and a T-34/85 (kit no. DT-109).
MT kits are 1/35th scale and DT ones are 1/21st or 1/25th scale.
A listing of all MT and DT kits are at the bottom of the page.
Tamiya's address in Shizuoka City, Japan is provided too.
Dark green letter A parts tree holds wheels. (28 parts)
This kit contains 2 dark green parts trees, a dark green hull tub and hull roof part, a light tan remote control battery box, motorization hardware, 2 electric motors,vinyl treads, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 6 3/4" x 10 1/4" page format.
Page 1 has 3 black and white photos of a actual SU-100 that is restored in the Roya Armoured Corp Tank Museum at Bovington, Dorset in England down the left side of the page. Down the right side is the history of the SU-100.
Page 2 to the top of page 4 gives 9 assembly steps. The first 5 steps are mostly for the motorization.
The bottom of page 4 has the part trees illustrations and a listing of the names of the parts in the kit.
Page 5 has a 4-view of a SU-100 with just red stars on tis sides, left front fender and a white 364 on the right front fender. No unit is mentioned. Below this is side profiles of a SU-76, SU-85, SU-100 and a T-34/85.
There are markings shown that are on the decal sheet for a Soviet tank (red star), Order of the Red Banner (for Soviet tanks), Polish checkerboard insignia, Polish Eagle insignia and U.A.F. insignia, that you can opt from to decorate your model.
Page 6 has 6 black and white photos of other Tamiya tank models made up: a M4 Sherman (kit no. MT-118), a T10 Stalin (kit no. MT-109), a JagdPanther (kit no. MT-124), a U.S. M40 "Big Shot" (kit no. DTW-102), a Pz.kpfw. III (kit no. DT-105) and a T-34/85 (kit no. DT-109).
MT kits are 1/35th scale and DT ones are 1/21st or 1/25th scale.
A listing of all MT and DT kits are at the bottom of the page.
Tamiya's address in Shizuoka City, Japan is provided too.
Dark green letter A parts tree holds wheels. (28 parts)
Dark green letter B parts tree holds: the switch lever (for motorization), hooks, stoppers, tools, stowed tow cable, muffler shields, tool box, spare tread, commander's hatch lids, main gun barrel halves, mantle, figure (full bodied from knees up), external fuel tank halves (29 parts)
Next is the dark green hull tub and hull roof parts. I added some brass screen to the engine air intake grill on the rear deck.
The two runs of black vinyl rubber band type treads dried out over the years and shattered.
I purchased a set of MB Models brand white metal individual track links to replace the vinyl ones in this kit that got old, dried out and shattered in a hundred pieces like an egg shell.
The light tan remote control battery box, the hardware and motors completes the parts in the kit.
The decal sheet and instructions complete the kits contents.
Other than the tread problem, the only other problem is if you don't want to motorized the kit. For opting for just a static shelf model, you will have to putty up several holes in the hull tub.
Not a bad kit for how old it is. I assume that the later re-release of it, sold at Sprue Bros. and not motorized maybe has a hull tub in it without the holes??
Otherwise recommended. It looks to be an easy build for a static model. Not that many pieces.
Not a bad kit for how old it is. I assume that the later re-release of it, sold at Sprue Bros. and not motorized maybe has a hull tub in it without the holes??
Otherwise recommended. It looks to be an easy build for a static model. Not that many pieces.
I purchased my kit back in the 70's at my local hobby shop.