| Date of Review |
January 2005 |
| Manufacturer |
Unimodel |
| Subject |
SU-100 |
| Scale |
1/72 |
| Kit Number |
334 |
| Primary Media |
Styrene |
| Detail Media |
Styrene & Photo-Etch |
| Clear Media |
N/A |
| Pros |
Nicely detailed kit |
| Cons |
|
| Skill Level |
Basic |
| MSRP (USD) |
$10.98 |
Background
The SU-100 entered production in 1944 as the Soviet's
ultimate self-propelled anti-tank gun. This weapon was
essentially the T-34/85 chassis with a 100mm D-10S gun
sticking out of the front of the hull. The D-10S could
penetrate up to 139mm of armor at a range of 2 kilometers.
Powered by a 12 cylinder diesel engine, the SU-100 could
move its 31.6 tons up to 50 kph. With this level of
mobility, armor and firepower, the SU-100 would routinely
go cat hunting (Panthers, Tigers, etc.) and would serve
in many countries after WW2 well into the 1960s.
The Kit
The kit is molded in green styrene and presented on five
parts trees, plus two additional rubber trees cast in black
containing the rubber road wheels. A small fret of photo-etched
parts is also included which contains an engine deck grille, a
wood saw, and the mantlet for the hull machine gun (not used
in this kit).
The first two trees contain the wheels and suspension parts. The
third tree has the armored crew compartment and main gun barrel.
The fourth tree has the rear engine deck and side fenders. The
fifth tree has the lower hull parts.
The track sections are an interesting touch since they are more
realistic than rubber band tracks and easier to manipulate/assemble
than true track links (especially in this scale). The results
appear to be quite nice.
The rubber road wheels are an interesting touch that will save
lots of time painting the wheels. Since there are ten rubber wheels
on each side of the hull, this would be convenient!
Looking over the instructions, the details of this kit are quite
impressive and the SU-100 should build into a nice scale replica.
Markings are included to represent five different SU-100s:
- Number 526, 5th Guards Tank Army, Baltic 1944
- Number 911, 1st Belorusian Front, Berlin 1945
- Number 740, unit unknown
- Number 61, unit unknown
- Number 424, unit unknown
Conclusion
This is a nice-looking kit that is reasonably priced and not
a difficult build. You can see for yourself at your local hobby
establishment or you can find this kit online at Squadron
Mail Order.
My sincere thanks to Squadron Mail
Order for this review sample!
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