Model Forum / General / Models / January 2009

Kit Review: Dragon Model Limited 1/72 Scale Armor Pro Kit No. 7373;
Beutepanzer M4A2; 225 parts (217 in grey styrene, 6 etched brass, 2 DS
plastic track runs); retail price US$14.50

Advantages: another nice new mold variant of the Sherman family; nice
selection of optional parts

Disadvantages: lots of leftover parts; one single decal and finishing
option

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: to German (and Russian fans with a decal warchest) and
Sherman fans

    I have to say up front I do not find “captured” kit variants of
either Axis or Allied vehicles very impressive, as they usually forego
good markings options for a very limited application item and rarely
one which was so iconic in its adaption or modification it justifies a
separate kit.

    So it is with this kit, which is of a late production M4A2 75mm tank
with wet stowage and which could have been offered with Soviet
markings as well as the “captured” German set. Unfortunately it does
not, which somewhat limits the appeal of the kit to those without deep
decal chests or access to 1/72 scale Soviet decal sets.

    That being said, this kit provides some nice new mold items not seen
in DML’s excellent “small scale” Sherman kits before, such as the
welded “dish” type wheels and T49 “three bar cleat” steel tracks. The
latter were very popular with the Soviets and also with the diesel
engines in the A2 variant gave them great service. The kit provides
six extra bogie sets (wheels attached to the rear suspension carrier
as in past kits) so you have an option between the “pressed/welded”
type and the “dish” type.

    The sprue also provides the three big sections of applique armor for
the hull used on some of these tanks.

    The kit comes with a late-model “high bustle” turret with loader’s
hatch and several sprues of different details with different hatches
and other details, but as noted above you will have a lot of bits left
in the box when the model is completed. It has a new-mold hull and
other useful details as well.

    As noted only a single finishing option with a set of targeted
Cartograf decals is provided: 14th Panzer Division, Eastern Front 1944
(three-color scheme on top over olive drab with black/white crosses
and divisional markings).

    Overall this could have been nicer with some Soviet markings to go
with it, but so it goes. The kit itself is nice and will find favor
with “Shermaholics” nonetheless!

    Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell