Dragon 1/35 SU-76i with cupola
KIT #: 6856
PRICE: $85.00 SRP
DECALS: Generic insignia
REVIEWER: Scott Van Aken
NOTES: Smart Kit

HISTORY

Germany and the USSR employed a large number of captured enemy vehicles during WWII because of shortages in their inventories. Sometimes they also created hybrids by combining domestic and foreign components, and one example of this approach was the SU-76i self-propelled gun (SPG) used by the Soviets. Of interest, ‘i’ denotes Inostrannaya (or ‘foreign’). This vehicle based on the chassis of the Panzer III or StuG III featured a Soviet 76.2mm F-34 main gun. The Russians captured a large number of Panzer III/StuG III armored vehicles, many at Stalingrad, and Factory No.38 added an enclosed superstructure to the hulls. They were first issued to units in the fall of 1943, with a couple of hundred being fielded. Ironically, some captured SU-76i vehicles were re-employed by Germany, marking a full circle of service for the original chassis. 
THE KIT

Not surprisingly, most of this kit is based on the earlier Soviet boxing from about 7 months or so ago. This is, however, not simply a rebox, but there are bits added to the upper superstructure so that you can model the version with the cupola.

You might expect to have to do some modification to the base StuG/Panzer upper hull and fenders and you will. There are a myriad of mounting holes that will need to be filled in as well as some small details that will need to be removed. The biggest section that will have to be removed is a section out of the area where the turret would fit on the StuG III. Dragon provides precise directions on just what has to be cut away for the new bits to fit in place. As is the norm, many of the various hatches can be posed open if one wishes. Since the 76mm gun is complete with breech, you may wish to leave one of the fighting compartment access hatches open to show this off. As usual, you do get a photo etch fret, mostly for the hull, and not quite as large as what you'd get with the standard panzer.

Instructions are quite well done and a it is busy in places. One needs to pay particular attention to these during the build to get all the modifications required to build this version. Markings are for three vehicles. One is the box art vehicle with upper whitewash and a panzer grey lower chassis. Another has a full white upper and lower section while a third is in Soviet green with a few brown splotches. The decal sheet is simply generic insignia of different dimensions.


CONCLUSIONS

Here is a chance for both the Soviet and German armor fan to build the same kit. This kit uses Magic Tracks, which are the individual links and this set has the extended winterketten option. In all, a nice addition to any WWII armor collection.

March 2017

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Thanks to www.dragonmodelsusa.com for the preview kit. This one is currently available at your favorite retailer.

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