In Box Review of Dragon 1/35th Scale
Soviet SU-85M Tank Destroyer
Kit no. 6096
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1998
Out of production
I paid $27.98 for my kit at a local shop that went out of business.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1998
Out of production
I paid $27.98 for my kit at a local shop that went out of business.
HISTORY:
The SU-85 (Samohodnaya ustanovka 85) was a Soviet self-propelled gun used during World War II, based on the chassis of the T-34 medium tank. Earlier Soviet self-propelled guns were meant to serve as either assault guns, such as the SU-122, or as tank destroyers; the SU-85 fell into the latter category. The designation "85" means the bore of the vehicle's armament, the 85 mm D-5S gun.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Tank destroyer
Place of origin: Soviet Union
In service: 1943-1950s (USSR)
Wars: World War II
Designer: Lew S. Trojanow
Designed: 1943
Produced : 1943-1944
No. built: 2,650
Mass: 29.6 tonnes (65,256 lbs)
Length: 8.15 m (26 ft 9 in) overall, 6.10 m (20 ft) hull only
Width: 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in)
Height: 2.45 m (8 ft)
Crew: 4 (commander, driver, gunner, loader)
Armor: 45 mm(1.77 in)
Main armament: 85 mm (3.34 in) D-5T gun
Secondary armament: none
Engine: Kharkiv model V-2 V-12 diesel engine of 493 hp (500 PS, 368 kW)
Power/weight: 16.7 hp/tonne (12.43 kW/tonne)
Suspension: Christie
Ground clearance: 0.40 m
Fuel capacity: 460 L, 810 L - 900 L (with additional fuel tanks)
Operational range: 200-280 km (248 mi) (road), 500 km (248 mi) (with additional fuel tanks)
Maximum speed: 55 km/h (34 mph) (road)
The SU-85 (Samohodnaya ustanovka 85) was a Soviet self-propelled gun used during World War II, based on the chassis of the T-34 medium tank. Earlier Soviet self-propelled guns were meant to serve as either assault guns, such as the SU-122, or as tank destroyers; the SU-85 fell into the latter category. The designation "85" means the bore of the vehicle's armament, the 85 mm D-5S gun.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Tank destroyer
Place of origin: Soviet Union
In service: 1943-1950s (USSR)
Wars: World War II
Designer: Lew S. Trojanow
Designed: 1943
Produced : 1943-1944
No. built: 2,650
Mass: 29.6 tonnes (65,256 lbs)
Length: 8.15 m (26 ft 9 in) overall, 6.10 m (20 ft) hull only
Width: 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in)
Height: 2.45 m (8 ft)
Crew: 4 (commander, driver, gunner, loader)
Armor: 45 mm(1.77 in)
Main armament: 85 mm (3.34 in) D-5T gun
Secondary armament: none
Engine: Kharkiv model V-2 V-12 diesel engine of 493 hp (500 PS, 368 kW)
Power/weight: 16.7 hp/tonne (12.43 kW/tonne)
Suspension: Christie
Ground clearance: 0.40 m
Fuel capacity: 460 L, 810 L - 900 L (with additional fuel tanks)
Operational range: 200-280 km (248 mi) (road), 500 km (248 mi) (with additional fuel tanks)
Maximum speed: 55 km/h (34 mph) (road)
THE KIT:
Dragon is an old 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 a color illustration of a SU-85M on a grassy field. It is overall Soviet dark-green, with a white target insignia and -7A on its side, below a white no. 119 in the center of the hull side.
One side panel of the box has six one-paragraph histories of the tank, including English, labeled with color illustrations of the flags of the countries that speak the language. Followed by a CAUTION that when you use paint or cement do not be near an open flame and be in a well ventilated room, in the 6 languages. Kit is not suitable for children under 3 due to sharp parts. It is intended for modelers over 10 years of age, in multiple languages, including English.
Dragon is an old 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 a color illustration of a SU-85M on a grassy field. It is overall Soviet dark-green, with a white target insignia and -7A on its side, below a white no. 119 in the center of the hull side.
One side panel of the box has six one-paragraph histories of the tank, including English, labeled with color illustrations of the flags of the countries that speak the language. Followed by a CAUTION that when you use paint or cement do not be near an open flame and be in a well ventilated room, in the 6 languages. Kit is not suitable for children under 3 due to sharp parts. It is intended for modelers over 10 years of age, in multiple languages, including English.
The other side panel shows three color walk-around type photos of the model made up in the box art scheme. Followed by the copyright date of 1998 for the kit, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China and the kit was made there.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds a whopping 21 medium-grey trees, a clear tree, a loose medium-grey hull tub part, a length of white string (missing in my kit) and the decal sheet in 8 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consists of a single—sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8 ¼” x 14” page format.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over one-paragraph histories of the SU-85M in the 6 languages, including English.
Page 2 has CAUTIONS about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of either Gunze Sangyo or Italeri brands of hobby paints.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 6 gives a grand total of 10 assembly steps.
Page 7 is a painting and marking guide that shows a 5-view of the SU-85M in the cover art scheme (already described above).
Page 8 holds the parts-trees illustrations. A few parts are shown blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model. The 1998 copyright date for the kit is repeated and printing was done in Hong Kong, China.
The bottom of the page has decal application instructions in the 6 languages, including English.
Trees are alphabetized.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter A trees. They hold: bogies, final transfer covers etc. (12 parts ea.) 1 part is excess.
This kit holds a whopping 21 medium-grey trees, a clear tree, a loose medium-grey hull tub part, a length of white string (missing in my kit) and the decal sheet in 8 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consists of a single—sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8 ¼” x 14” page format.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over one-paragraph histories of the SU-85M in the 6 languages, including English.
Page 2 has CAUTIONS about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of either Gunze Sangyo or Italeri brands of hobby paints.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 6 gives a grand total of 10 assembly steps.
Page 7 is a painting and marking guide that shows a 5-view of the SU-85M in the cover art scheme (already described above).
Page 8 holds the parts-trees illustrations. A few parts are shown blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model. The 1998 copyright date for the kit is repeated and printing was done in Hong Kong, China.
The bottom of the page has decal application instructions in the 6 languages, including English.
Trees are alphabetized.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter A trees. They hold: bogies, final transfer covers etc. (12 parts ea.) 1 part is excess.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter M trees. They hold spare track straps and grab handles (8 parts ea.) 3 parts are excess.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter N trees. They hold channels with springs inside them (4 parts each).
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter N trees. They hold channels with springs inside them (4 parts each).
Trees A, M & N are co-joined.
Medium-grey letter B tree holds: the hull front wall, a 2-handed saw, the engine compartment roof etc. (27 parts) 6 parts are excess.
Medium-grey letter C tree holds: the hull top, mantle parts etc. (25 parts).
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter D trees. They hold road wheels (15 parts ea.).
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter K trees. They hold: the main gun barrel parts, external fuel tanks (11 parts ea.) 1 part is excess. Trees D & K are co-joined.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter E trees. The hold grab handles (9 parts ea.) 5 parts are excess.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter F trees and they are co-joined to Tree E . They hold: idler wheel, drive wheels, tow cable ends etc. (24 parts ea.) 1 part excess.
Medium-grey letter G tree holds the hull front wall etc. (8 parts).
Medium-grey letter H tree holds: the engine air intake panels and hatches (6 parts).
Medium-grey letter I is the hull tub part (1 part).
Clear letter J tree holds the headlight lens. (1 part)
There are 3 identical medium-grey letter L trees. They hold individual track links. (66 parts ea.) 3 parts are excess.
There are no figures included in the kit or any interior details.
Highly recommended.