In Box Review of DML Dragon 1/35th Scale Soviet SU-100 Tank Destroyer
Kit no. 6359
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $49.95
Copyright: 2007
I won my kit in a raffle at the IPMS contest in Madison, WI.
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $49.95
Copyright: 2007
I won my kit in a raffle at the IPMS contest in Madison, WI.
HISTORY:
The SU-100 (Samokhodnaya Ustanovka 100) was a Soviet tank destroyer armed with a 100 mm anti-tank gun in a casemate superstructure. It was used extensively during the last year of World War II and saw service for many years afterwards with the armies of Soviet allies around the world.
The SU-85 was developed from the chassis of the T-34 tank replacing the turret with a larger, fixed superstructure that allowed a larger gun to be fitted: the 85 mm D-5 gun, providing dramatically upgraded firepower compared to the T-34's 76.2 mm models. Introduced to service in 1943, the SU-85 was quickly rendered obsolete as a new tank design featured the same gun on the T-34-85.
This prompted the design of a more advanced turretless tank destroyer with an even more powerful cannon. Development was conducted under supervision of L. I. Gorlitskiy, chief designer of all medium Soviet self-propelled guns. The work started in February 1944 and the first prototype of the SU-100, "Object 138", was delivered in March.
After intensive testing with different models of 100 mm gun Soviet engineers approved the D-10S gun for mass production. This gun was developed in Constructors Bureau of Artillery Factory No. 9 under the guidance of F. F. Petrov. After the Second World War this gun was installed on T-54 and T-55 tanks; these vehicles and their derivatives were in service forty years after initial development.
It was built at the UZTM (Russian abbreviature УЗТМ for Уральский Завод Тяжелого Машиностроения – Ural Heavy Machinery Factory, also called Uralmash) in Yekaterinburg. The SU-100 quickly proved itself to be able to penetrate around 125 mm (4.9 in) of vertical armor from a range of 2,000 m (1.2 mi) and the sloped 80 mm (3.1 in) front armor of the German Panther from 1,500 m (0.93 mi)
The hull of the SU-100 had major improvements over the SU-85; the thickness of the front armour was increased from 45 to 75 mm (1.8 to 3.0 in), and the commander's workplace was made in a small sponson on the right side of the hull; combined with the commander's cupola this improved the commander's effectiveness.
Its German Jagdpanzer-family counterparts — the Jagdpanzer IV, Jagdpanther and Jagdtiger, by comparison, lacked this key piece of observational equipment. For better ventilation two ventilator units were installed, instead of only one as in the SU-85. Mass production began in September 1944.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Tank destroyer
Place of origin: Soviet Union
No. 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), sides: 45 mm (1.77 in), rear: 45 mm (1.77 in), roof: 20 mm (.78 in)
Main armament: 100 mm D-10S gun
Engine:Klimov Model V-2 V-12 diesel engine of 500 hp (370 kW)
Power/weight: 15.8 hp/tonne
Suspension: Christie
Operational range: 320 km (199 mi)
Speed: 48 km/h (30 mph)
The SU-100 (Samokhodnaya Ustanovka 100) was a Soviet tank destroyer armed with a 100 mm anti-tank gun in a casemate superstructure. It was used extensively during the last year of World War II and saw service for many years afterwards with the armies of Soviet allies around the world.
The SU-85 was developed from the chassis of the T-34 tank replacing the turret with a larger, fixed superstructure that allowed a larger gun to be fitted: the 85 mm D-5 gun, providing dramatically upgraded firepower compared to the T-34's 76.2 mm models. Introduced to service in 1943, the SU-85 was quickly rendered obsolete as a new tank design featured the same gun on the T-34-85.
This prompted the design of a more advanced turretless tank destroyer with an even more powerful cannon. Development was conducted under supervision of L. I. Gorlitskiy, chief designer of all medium Soviet self-propelled guns. The work started in February 1944 and the first prototype of the SU-100, "Object 138", was delivered in March.
After intensive testing with different models of 100 mm gun Soviet engineers approved the D-10S gun for mass production. This gun was developed in Constructors Bureau of Artillery Factory No. 9 under the guidance of F. F. Petrov. After the Second World War this gun was installed on T-54 and T-55 tanks; these vehicles and their derivatives were in service forty years after initial development.
It was built at the UZTM (Russian abbreviature УЗТМ for Уральский Завод Тяжелого Машиностроения – Ural Heavy Machinery Factory, also called Uralmash) in Yekaterinburg. The SU-100 quickly proved itself to be able to penetrate around 125 mm (4.9 in) of vertical armor from a range of 2,000 m (1.2 mi) and the sloped 80 mm (3.1 in) front armor of the German Panther from 1,500 m (0.93 mi)
The hull of the SU-100 had major improvements over the SU-85; the thickness of the front armour was increased from 45 to 75 mm (1.8 to 3.0 in), and the commander's workplace was made in a small sponson on the right side of the hull; combined with the commander's cupola this improved the commander's effectiveness.
Its German Jagdpanzer-family counterparts — the Jagdpanzer IV, Jagdpanther and Jagdtiger, by comparison, lacked this key piece of observational equipment. For better ventilation two ventilator units were installed, instead of only one as in the SU-85. Mass production began in September 1944.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Tank destroyer
Place of origin: Soviet Union
No. 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), sides: 45 mm (1.77 in), rear: 45 mm (1.77 in), roof: 20 mm (.78 in)
Main armament: 100 mm D-10S gun
Engine:Klimov Model V-2 V-12 diesel engine of 500 hp (370 kW)
Power/weight: 15.8 hp/tonne
Suspension: Christie
Operational range: 320 km (199 mi)
Speed: 48 km/h (30 mph)
THE KIT:
DML Dragon is a prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows 2 SU-100's moving down a dirt alleyway that is lined with wood fences. Behind the fence at the rear are trees and houses.
Both tanks are overall dark Soviet green with no markings shown. The 3 man crew of the lead tank are looking out of the upper hatches.
One side panel has 5 small profiles of schemes for the SU-100:
1. Overall Soviet dark green with winter white-wash mostly rubbed off. It has Russian wording and number 23 on it's side.
2. Overall Soviet dark green with white number 433 on it's side.
3. Overall Soviet dark green with white number 482 on it's side.
4. overall Soviet dark green with a heavy coat of winter white-wash. One area left dark green has a white K-17 on it.
5. Overall Soviet dark green with a Soviet red star outlined in yellow on it's side.
These are followed by illustrations of the decal sheet and the 2 brass PE frets in the kit and CAUTIONS to not use glue or paint near a flame and to be in a well ventilated room when you do use them.
Model is for modelers 10 and over and is not suitable for children under 3 because of sharp parts, in 6 languages, including English.
DML Dragon is a prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows 2 SU-100's moving down a dirt alleyway that is lined with wood fences. Behind the fence at the rear are trees and houses.
Both tanks are overall dark Soviet green with no markings shown. The 3 man crew of the lead tank are looking out of the upper hatches.
One side panel has 5 small profiles of schemes for the SU-100:
1. Overall Soviet dark green with winter white-wash mostly rubbed off. It has Russian wording and number 23 on it's side.
2. Overall Soviet dark green with white number 433 on it's side.
3. Overall Soviet dark green with white number 482 on it's side.
4. overall Soviet dark green with a heavy coat of winter white-wash. One area left dark green has a white K-17 on it.
5. Overall Soviet dark green with a Soviet red star outlined in yellow on it's side.
These are followed by illustrations of the decal sheet and the 2 brass PE frets in the kit and CAUTIONS to not use glue or paint near a flame and to be in a well ventilated room when you do use them.
Model is for modelers 10 and over and is not suitable for children under 3 because of sharp parts, in 6 languages, including English.
The other side panel has 7 walk-around type photos of the model made up showing features like: accurate joint between fighting compartment and engine deck, weld seam between upper and lower hulls authentically reproduced, new engine deck cover, PE engine deck grills and air intake louvers, newly tooled mantlet, new driver's hatch with clear periscope.
WHAT'S IN THE KIT:
The kit contains 33 medium-gray trees, the medium-gray hull tub part, 3 PE frets, 100 mediuum-gray individual track links, a turned metal main gun barrel in 10 sealed cello bags, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8" x 12 1/2" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over credits to 3 guys for their help designing the kit, and the parts trees illustrations.
Some parts are shown blued-out in these illustrations. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the kit.
Page 2 begins with CAUTIONS, international assembly symbol explanations, suggested paint color listing of GSI and Model Master brands of paints, in 5 languages, including English, over the first 3 assembly steps.
Page 3 to the top of page 6 have a balance of a total of 18 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 6 has marking and painting instructions of two SU-100's as 4-views:
1. A SU-100 in overall Soviet dark green with a white number 433 on it's side. It is with a unknown unit, Bohemia 1945.
2. A SU-100 covered in winter white-wash, with a small area left dark green with a white K-17 on it. It is with the 7th Mechanized Corps, Hungary 1945.
Page 8 has three more 4-views of schemes:
1. A SU-100 in overall dark green with a Soviet red star outlined in yellow on its side. It is of an unknown unit.
2. A SU-100 in overall dark green with remnants of winter white wash on it and white Russian words, number 23 and a white square with a number 8 on it. Itis with the 1st Guards Mechanized Corps., Hungary 1945.
3. A SU-100 in overall dark green with a white 482 on its side. With an unknown unit, Czechoslovakia 1954.
The bottom of page 8 has the copyright date 2007 and decal application instructions in 6 languages, including English.
There are 3 identical medium-gray letter A trees. They hold: bogies, engine deck hatch, final transfer housing etc. (12 parts per tree) One part is excess.
The kit contains 33 medium-gray trees, the medium-gray hull tub part, 3 PE frets, 100 mediuum-gray individual track links, a turned metal main gun barrel in 10 sealed cello bags, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8" x 12 1/2" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over credits to 3 guys for their help designing the kit, and the parts trees illustrations.
Some parts are shown blued-out in these illustrations. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the kit.
Page 2 begins with CAUTIONS, international assembly symbol explanations, suggested paint color listing of GSI and Model Master brands of paints, in 5 languages, including English, over the first 3 assembly steps.
Page 3 to the top of page 6 have a balance of a total of 18 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 6 has marking and painting instructions of two SU-100's as 4-views:
1. A SU-100 in overall Soviet dark green with a white number 433 on it's side. It is with a unknown unit, Bohemia 1945.
2. A SU-100 covered in winter white-wash, with a small area left dark green with a white K-17 on it. It is with the 7th Mechanized Corps, Hungary 1945.
Page 8 has three more 4-views of schemes:
1. A SU-100 in overall dark green with a Soviet red star outlined in yellow on its side. It is of an unknown unit.
2. A SU-100 in overall dark green with remnants of winter white wash on it and white Russian words, number 23 and a white square with a number 8 on it. Itis with the 1st Guards Mechanized Corps., Hungary 1945.
3. A SU-100 in overall dark green with a white 482 on its side. With an unknown unit, Czechoslovakia 1954.
The bottom of page 8 has the copyright date 2007 and decal application instructions in 6 languages, including English.
There are 3 identical medium-gray letter A trees. They hold: bogies, engine deck hatch, final transfer housing etc. (12 parts per tree) One part is excess.
There are 2 identical medium-gray letter H trees. These are co-joined to A tree. They hold: small engine intake grills, hatch (6 parts per tree) 1 tree is excess.
Medium-gray letter B tree holds: the hull rear wall and hatch, engine air intake, 2 man saw, tool box etc. (27 parts) 5 parts are excess.
Medium-gray letter C tree holds: the hull top, mantle parts etc. (23 parts)
There are 2 identical medium-gray letter D trees. They hold: road wheels with their end caps (15 parts per tree)
There are 2 identical medium-gray letter K trees. They hold: fuel barrels, main gun, tow hooks (11 parts each) The main gun parts are excess as a turned metal barrel is included in the kit. This is co-joined to D tree.
There are 2 identical medium-gray letter E trees. They hold: grab handles (9 parts per tree) 5 parts are excess.
There are 2 identical medium-gray letter F trees. They hold: drive and idler wheels, tow cable ends, exhaust shield etc. (24 parts each) 2 parts are excess.
There are 2 identical medium-gray letter F trees. They hold: drive and idler wheels, tow cable ends, exhaust shield etc. (24 parts each) 2 parts are excess.
Medium-gray letter G tree holds: the front hull wall, glasis plate etc. (8 parts)
There are 2 identical medium-gray letter M trees. They contain more fuel drums exhaust pipe etc. (9 parts per tree) 7 parts are excess.
There are 2 identical medium-gray letter N trees. They hold torsion springs in boxes etc. (18 parts per tree) All of these trees are joined together
There are 2 identical medium-gray letter N trees. They hold torsion springs in boxes etc. (18 parts per tree) All of these trees are joined together
Letter I is the medium-gray hull tub that I have partially assembled (1 part)
There is no letter J tree.
There is no letter J tree.
Letter L is the individual MAGIC TRACKS track links (96 of them)
Letters MA & MB are brass PE frets. They hold many parts such as the air intake screens, tool straps etc.
Letter MC is another brass PE fret. It has two holes in it that are obviously to use for masking purposes, but what for I cannot determine??
J tree contains the clear parts that are also used in the T-34 kit.
MD is the metal main gun barrel
P tree contains the rear case mate wall, driver's hatch etc. (9 parts)
Letter Q is not shown anywhere in the assembly instructions. (12 parts)
Letter S in the length of metal wire for the tow rope.
Letter S in the length of metal wire for the tow rope.
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents.
I have started to assemble this kit and only got up to assembly step 5.
The model has nice external detail, but no internal detail and no crew figures.
The model has nice external detail, but no internal detail and no crew figures.
Highly recommended.
