James Bella takes a peek at the Rheinmetall-Borsig 8.8cm Pak 43 Waffenträger newly released by Dragon Models.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

James;

GOOD review!

I have to confess both a long fascination with these oddities and paper panzers and a sort of growing anticipation over what the D would do with his foray into this genre. My fascination remains (and is well-served by Trumpeter right now), but having read your review, I feel somewhat let down by the D.

It seems to me both lazy and rather retro of Dragon to have jumped into this sandbox with a new kit of yet another version of "Waffentrager" (Exciting!) with old - OK really old Hetzer wheels and links on sprues. Blah. And that's too bad, as it does look enough different that some of us Panzer '46 types would look - I did. But this one I will pass by, as I just acquired a Trumpeter 10.5cm LeFH 18 waffentrager kit, and it comes with ModelKasten-style pinned links. REALLY nice tracks. And a nice gun, too. And the money is the same or less.

The D, who has taken perhaps 75% of my kit budget over the past 3+ years and has impressed me left, right, and all over the center with kit quality up to this point, just is not keeping up to his standards with this kit. IF the D is looking to sell waffentragers, he'll have to do better, far as I'm concerned. I would counsel getting into new-tool wheels and correct MagicTracks (I'm a fan - others would say "GO DS)- these would open the door for other waffentragers and also for some new DML Hetzers - which I'm sure would be appreciated and would sell well.

Bob

Nice review, James!

I thought the same when I open the bos and find lotzs of old stil parts. Well I try my best to get it into a nice kit.

Ola James

Thanks for giving an insight in this kit. Allthough I like paper panzers and prototypes but I think I will let this one slip by my house silently. It is a bit lazy and not with good effect.

You might want to ask yourself whether "Tons of leftover parts for my spares box" is a High or a Low. If they don't supply usable wheels for the model you're building, I know how I'd regard such "leftovers."

Thanks guys

Bob, yeah, I was pretty disappointed to find the Hetzer parts not newly tooled. DML most definitely would get their money's worth out of them with future releases of the other variants of the Waffentrager along with the Jagdpanzer. Then Cyber-Hobby could have made that special Hetzer for a white box kit...oh, well, it was a good dream while it lasted...

Fred, the only 're-used' sprues I'm unhappy with are the Hetzer ones (which are the ones that most of the parts are used). All the others are excellent, especially for the spares box; extra 38(t) wheels, an engine that would look good in the back of a cargo truck, pretty much a full gun...so yeah, I'd consider that a high. As far as the Hetzer parts...they'll go in the 'other bin'

Ordered some Hetzer wheels from LZ...it was a good excuse to check out some of Libor's stuff. Just need a set of friuls and I'll get building this one!

I bought the kit and was disappointed by the geriatric Hetzer parts too. The rest of the kit is outstanding though, and I've gone Waffentrager groupie, buying all 5 antitank versions. If Dragon would spring for new tooling and Magic tracks, they could do the Hetzer, the Hetzer Starr, the Bergehetzer, the SiG33 Hetzer, the mortar Hetzer, the Hetzer 38D, the 38D with the Kugelblitz turret, the Hetzer PAW gun tank, the BMM 38t Katchen, and the Maresal M-05.
Quite a crop of interesting and desirable vehicles that would all share half the sprues needed for the kit.

Matt;

I'm with you all the way! You ID'd quite the "Hetzer" wish-list and yes, I think DML would have potential for both many desired kits and lots of sales. I know I would be in line for at least a few, as the 38 and Hetzer stuff is pretty close to my modeling heart. Which makes this lazy old-stuff approach burn all the more.

So... given as the running gear and tracks are geriatric but the rest of the kit is good, what could be a "reasonably-priced" builder's solution? Would it make sense, for example, to buy one of those new Academy Hetzers and use those wheels and tracks for a styrene fix-up? Is the Academy stuff a substantial improvement? If so, this could be cost-effective at the modest evilbay shipped price of ca $25.

Even so, it leaves one a little unhappy to have to pay new Dragon kit prices AND have to buy substantial basic parts just to get a kit into nice shape. And we haven't got to the other AM which would usually be added for "pop factor".

Bob

DML supplies a complete Tatra 38(t) engine. Just wondering if it could be installed in the space provided beside the driver. Funny how Dragon supplies the part and the space but omits the small amount of engineering to mount the part in place. They also could have detailed the ammo panniers located under the rear platform - the two doors are moulded shut.

I am building this kit now. You are correct, the tracks are really bad with lots of flash and sink holes. I was disappointed that it did not come with Magic Tracks, since it is a "Smart Kit"

Hopefully you'll share some pictures when its done, Tim. I'm taking the easy way out with Friuls and LZ Models wheels

Building this Kit right now, this review is pretty helpful, im willing to do a nice tank. thanks!