In Box Review of Academy 1/35th Scale
British Tank Destroyer “Achilles”
Kit no. 1392
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2001
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2001
Out of production
HISTORY:
In 1942, to meet the urgent demand for a more powerful tank destroyer, the U.S. Army put the M10 series in production. The M4A2 medium hull was used with a semi-open turret.
To minimize weight, the armor was reduced and the top of the hull shortened. Due to the thin armor protection and the open turret configuration, the M10 was vulnerable to enemy fire.
Despite this weakness, the M10 proved to be a strong asset to the Allied forces because of its speed and agility.
The Achilles was powered by a GM 6046 12 cylinder, twin diesel inline engine and had a crew of five and weighed 32 tons. The Achilles version, developed while under Lend-Lease to the British, featured a British 17 pound Mark V to replace the American 3” gun, and a direct sighting telescope in the gun shield on the left side.
The 17 pound gun carried 50 rounds of ammunition and stored 6 rounds in ready-rack in the turret and the remainder in the hull sponsons. Two versions of the Achilles were produced: the earlier and less common “Ic”, fitted with the 17 pound gun, and the “IIc”, fitted with the final production turret with revised counterweights. Fittings for the extra armor plate was not on the latter version.
In 1942, to meet the urgent demand for a more powerful tank destroyer, the U.S. Army put the M10 series in production. The M4A2 medium hull was used with a semi-open turret.
To minimize weight, the armor was reduced and the top of the hull shortened. Due to the thin armor protection and the open turret configuration, the M10 was vulnerable to enemy fire.
Despite this weakness, the M10 proved to be a strong asset to the Allied forces because of its speed and agility.
The Achilles was powered by a GM 6046 12 cylinder, twin diesel inline engine and had a crew of five and weighed 32 tons. The Achilles version, developed while under Lend-Lease to the British, featured a British 17 pound Mark V to replace the American 3” gun, and a direct sighting telescope in the gun shield on the left side.
The 17 pound gun carried 50 rounds of ammunition and stored 6 rounds in ready-rack in the turret and the remainder in the hull sponsons. Two versions of the Achilles were produced: the earlier and less common “Ic”, fitted with the 17 pound gun, and the “IIc”, fitted with the final production turret with revised counterweights. Fittings for the extra armor plate was not on the latter version.
THE KIT:
Academy is an old prolific model company based in Seoul, South Korea.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
The kit comes in a large, tightly-packed, shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of two Achilles, moving through rubble on a city street, with buildings in the background and a large flame.
Both tanks are dark green.
The one in the foreground has a shield that is divided into white at the top and black at the bottom with a white no. 11 on it, on the front of its left front fender. On its nose there is a rectangle divided into vertical sections of red, white, red. On the front of the right front fender there is a insignia of a white Viking ship with a black cross on its sail.
No markings are seen on the Achilles in the background near the flames. One crewman is looking out the top of its turret.
There are 2 men looking out of the top of the turret of the Achilles in the foreground. They both wear khaki uniforms with berets on their heads. One is looking through a pair of binoculars and the other crewman is holding an ammo round.
One side panel of the box shows 7 walk-around type color photos of the model made up in the box art scheme. Four photos are of the exterior, one photo is of the engine deck and two photos are of the interior.
Academy is an old prolific model company based in Seoul, South Korea.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
The kit comes in a large, tightly-packed, shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of two Achilles, moving through rubble on a city street, with buildings in the background and a large flame.
Both tanks are dark green.
The one in the foreground has a shield that is divided into white at the top and black at the bottom with a white no. 11 on it, on the front of its left front fender. On its nose there is a rectangle divided into vertical sections of red, white, red. On the front of the right front fender there is a insignia of a white Viking ship with a black cross on its sail.
No markings are seen on the Achilles in the background near the flames. One crewman is looking out the top of its turret.
There are 2 men looking out of the top of the turret of the Achilles in the foreground. They both wear khaki uniforms with berets on their heads. One is looking through a pair of binoculars and the other crewman is holding an ammo round.
One side panel of the box shows 7 walk-around type color photos of the model made up in the box art scheme. Four photos are of the exterior, one photo is of the engine deck and two photos are of the interior.
The other side panel begins with a repeat of one of the color photos shown on the other side panel, followed by features of the model in 10 languages, including English. These are: Contains one unassembled model kit and easy to follow pictorial instructions. Paint and cement required to complete model as pictured on the box art. Kit suitable for ages 10 to adult. Scale 1/35th. Copyright is 2001 and Academy’s web address is provided. Kit made in South Korea.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 9 tan parts trees, a loose tan roof and hull tub, black vinyl rubber-band type treads, a length of white string (to use for tow cables) and the decal sheet in 6 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consists of a staple-bound booklet o 16 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ½” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the history of the “Achilles” in 4 languages, including English and READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions in 5 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with international assembly symbol explanations in 8 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 14 gives a grand total of whopping 31 assembly steps.
Page 15 is a painting and marking guide. It shows a front view of the cover art scheme (already described above) It is as it looked with the British Army, at the River Savio, Italy, October 1944.
At the bottom of the page there is a side and front view of a “Achilles”. It is overall dark green. It has a small squared that is blue with a red upper right corner and white C2 on it on the front and sides of the hull. Also on the sides of the hull there is a white serial no. S235102 and a white nick-name “Caribou”.
This is how the tank looked with the British Army in Holland, May 1945.
No unit is named for these 2.
Page 16 is the parts trees illustrations, over a paint color listing in 5 languages, including English. There is a listing of parts that are excess and not needed to complete the model. Academy’s street address in Seoul, South Korea, their telephone and FAX numbers and the copyright date of 2001 given,
Trees are alphabetized.
There are 2 identical tan letter A trees. The hold: bogies, road wheels, drive sprockets, idler wheels, return rollers etc. (55 parts ea.) 9 parts are excess.
This kit contains 9 tan parts trees, a loose tan roof and hull tub, black vinyl rubber-band type treads, a length of white string (to use for tow cables) and the decal sheet in 6 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consists of a staple-bound booklet o 16 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ½” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the history of the “Achilles” in 4 languages, including English and READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions in 5 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with international assembly symbol explanations in 8 languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 14 gives a grand total of whopping 31 assembly steps.
Page 15 is a painting and marking guide. It shows a front view of the cover art scheme (already described above) It is as it looked with the British Army, at the River Savio, Italy, October 1944.
At the bottom of the page there is a side and front view of a “Achilles”. It is overall dark green. It has a small squared that is blue with a red upper right corner and white C2 on it on the front and sides of the hull. Also on the sides of the hull there is a white serial no. S235102 and a white nick-name “Caribou”.
This is how the tank looked with the British Army in Holland, May 1945.
No unit is named for these 2.
Page 16 is the parts trees illustrations, over a paint color listing in 5 languages, including English. There is a listing of parts that are excess and not needed to complete the model. Academy’s street address in Seoul, South Korea, their telephone and FAX numbers and the copyright date of 2001 given,
Trees are alphabetized.
There are 2 identical tan letter A trees. The hold: bogies, road wheels, drive sprockets, idler wheels, return rollers etc. (55 parts ea.) 9 parts are excess.
Tan letter B tree holds: idler wheel axles, hull tub extensions, floor, fire wall, transmission, engine, another floor, shift levers, foot pedals, seat, hull nose, fender extensions, Thompson & .50 cal. machine guns etc. (89 parts) 11 parts are excess)
Tan letter C tree holds: dash board, upper floor, rear wall, radio, return rollers and their mounts, rear wall, ammo rack parts. engine air intake grills etc. (87 parts) 2 parts are excess.
Tan letter D tree holds: .50 cal. machine gun, tools, knap sacks etc. (48 parts) 9 parts are excess.
Tan letter E tree holds: turret sides, main gun, ammo, mantle etc. (65 parts) 2 parts are excess.
There is no letter F tree.
There is no letter F tree.
Tan letter G tree is co-joined to the tan letter K tree. Letter G holds the turret base and sides (3 parts)
Tan letter G holds tiny circular parts (22 parts)
Tan letter G holds tiny circular parts (22 parts)
Tan letter H holds extra track sections, tow hooks, boxes, road wheels, etc. (83 parts)
The length of white string and the decal sheet completes the kits contents.
There are no clear parts or any crew figures included. This is sad, because an open-topped tank needs figures.
Detail is great inside and out.
Highly recommended.
Detail is great inside and out.
Highly recommended.