Any thoughts on the Zvezda 1/35 kit,can't find reviews anywhere.also I think Dragon makes one in 1/35 also but I can't find it anywhere,not even Dragon online,does it exist and is it a good kit ?

Thanks

I prefer the kit from Dragon for simple quality and detailing reasons. Have one myself, but didn't get to build it yet. The Dragon kit has been out of production for a long time. But you still can get one on e-bay and cheap enough. That is where I got mine.

Anthony,

I bought my Dragon 152 on ebay a few months ago.

Thanks guys..............I will have to keep checking

Anthony, I forgot to mention: if you decide to go with DML kit, you will need to raise the bottom hull. I don't remember off the top of my head, how much exactly you will need to add, but you can check against blueprints. Actually, all IS (JS) series from DML need bottom hull to be raised.

You have to raise it about 2mm. Some where on this forum there was an article on how to do that.

The Dragon 1/35 kits all have that hull heigth problem that has to be fixed, otherwise they don't look good at all when built IMVHO. The roadwheels are also slightly undersized in diameter. On the plus side, the indy tracks are excellent and easy to build.

Personally I find the Zvezda/Italeri kits are very nice (except the tracks), if you can find them cheap. They don't have the hull heigth problem but you have to change the tracks because they are horrible two-piece per side vinyl affairs... Most of the detail is softer than Dragon's, but some of it is actually better.

My advice would be if you're going to buy aftermarket tracks and photo-etch anyway, go for the Zvezda kit but shop around to get it at a reasonable price.

If you're an experienced modeller and don't mind the extra scratchbuilt modifications to rectify the hull heigth problem, and don't want to buy aftermarket tracks, go for one of the Dragon kits.

Cheers,

Christophe

For what it's worth, I did this article many moons ago for Track-Link :


Cheers,

Christophe

Dragon's IS series also seems a few mm short in the engine compartment.

David

I had a lot of fun with this kit but it did involve a lot of work to make the provebial silk purse from a sow's ear.

I put together an article covering the project which is available at:

http://ampsnz.hobbyvista.com/articles/Modelling/WWII/Russia/SPG/ISU152/italisu.htm

I got these Zvezda kits (JS-2, JSU-152 and Su-100), the tracks were awful, the kit details were ok, no major issues.
For the JSU-152 I got some Modelkasten tracks, tedious and long task with all those little pins... anyway great looking after finishing. Also got a Jordi rubio metal gun barrel (recommend it too..)

I personally recommend these kits with AM tracks, they have no major issues, good detail and they are cheaper than the average Dragon kit.
I got mine for 18 € , the tracks were 32 € ...

I was so keen on that 152 that last time I went to my LHS I was considering getting another one...