Home >
Reviews >
Small Scale >
SDV Model 1/87 Scale Military Series Kit No. 87 048;
Obrneny Transporter MT-LB s 85 mm Diviznim Kanonem D-44
(MT-LB Armored Transporter with 85mm D-44 Divisional
Gun)
Obrneny Transporter MT-LB s 85 mm Diviznim Kanonem D-44
(MT-LB Armored Transporter with 85mm D-44 Divisional
Gun)
Reviewed by Cookie Sewell
Summary
Stock Number and Description
SDV Model 1/87 Scale Military Series Kit
No. 87 048; Obrneny Transporter MT-LB s 85 mm Diviznim Kanonem D-44
(MT-LB Armored Transporter with 85mm D-44 Divisional Gun)
Scale:
1/72
Media and Contents:
45 parts (40 in olive green styrene, 4 in
black styrene, and 1 clear styrene)
Price:
price in Czech Koruna Kr 320 or 13 Euros
(US $15.23 from SDV)
Review Type:
First Look
Advantages:
Good pairing of two related items; better
than the white metal offerings from other European manufacturers
Disadvantages:
D-44 may be a bit fragile but is close to
scale
Recommendation:
Recommended to all Soviet/Russian and
Warsaw Pact small-scalers
FirstLook
One of the older – and now out of
production – warhorses which soldier on with the modern Russian
Army is the MT-LB tracked armored personnel carrier. Now more
than 30 years old, these vehicles have been rebuilt to provide
acceptable (e.g. non OSCE or CFE Treaty limited equipment) to
the Russians for use in the "near abroad" or in places such as
the far north or Chechnya. They have also reintroduced (from
deep war reserves) the 85mm D-44 field gun, as it is another
treaty exempt item (CFE requires all guns and mortars over 100mm
caliber to be declared.) The Russians issued both to their MVD
Internal Troops units, who also used them in Chechnya. While the
gun is quite elderly – being a field gun equivalent of the 85mm
ZIS-53 guns used in WWII T-34-85 and IS-1 tanks, it is still
capable of sufficient lethality against terrorists or rebels.
SDV is now offering a "twofer" with both kits in one box. This
is a good idea, as it gives the MT-LB some "purpose" as well as
provide a prime mover for the field gun. Both kits are packed
separately in ziplock bags.
The MT-LB consists of 24 parts and comes with a clear windscreen
as well as optional position armored flaps, so the model can be
shown in march order. However, none of the hatches have options
and the rear doors and roof hatches are also closed, so it will
take a bit of work and ingenuity to fit an interior in the hull.
The model comes with a separate outside ring to the drivers,
which is fine as MT-LBs only had single road wheels and idlers.
The D-44 is very petite but will be somewhat flimsy if assembled
per the directions; if the model is to be wargamed, I suggest
beefing up the trails with either sprue or strip and also using
a heated screwdriver tip to fix the trails in their mounts. Both
the trails will operate and the gun will elevate if care is
taken in assembly.
This kit comes with three different finishing options called
out: Warsaw Pact grey-green, Soviet Army in Afghanistan 1988, or
Iraqi Army, Kuwait 1991. The colors are called out in either
Czech, English or German, but only one is matched to Humbrol
colors – 173, which is "track color." A full decal sheet is
included with six 0-9 sets of numbers, as well as markings for
Finland, East Germany, West Germany, Poland, the CSSR, Rumania,
Soviet and Soviet Guards, Hungary and one other.
Overall this is a handy kit with two items that mutually
complement each other in one box, and should be a nice change of
pace for small-scalers or wargamers.
Recommended
Thanks to Jan Podubecky for the review sample.
Sources:
Stevens International, 706 N.
White Horse Pike, P.O. Box 126, Magnolia, NY 08049;
phone (856) 435-1555 fax (856) 627- 6274; e-mail:
info@stevenshobby.com;