Dragon takes on aircraft and ballistic missiles with their new PATRIOT PAC-3 kit. Here Gino Quintiliani builds the model and shares his thoughts.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

As to the solid walkways it immediately gives the AM folks something to go for. Nice work as always, Sir!

How does it compare to the Trumpeter/AFV Club Patriot?

Thank for posting it up Darren.




I haven't built the Trumpeter launcher kit. I am in the middle of a conversion using their M983 truck kit though. The truck is very nice. From what I can see, Trumpeter does all the walkways in very nice PE. Their landing legs can not be built in the up position without modifications though. So it is better in some areas, worse in others. I believe Pete "Epi" Becerra is doing a review of the Trumpeter launcher. Hopefully it will be posted soon to compare the two.

The AFV version is the Trumpeter version with some added resin details and cable set. The AFV is more expensive and you also get the radar trailer with Trumpeter.

Rounds Complete!!

The Dragon kit, has extra frame parts in the kit, It looks like parts from the tractor kit, can be used to build the longer frame. It is possible that there will be other versions of the HEMTT from Dragon too!

The Dragon kit has the longer frame pieces because it is the Italeri M977 HEMTT with a few changes and extra parts sprues to make it an M983 tractor. It looks like they have updated it a little and added to it as there are a bunch of left over truck parts and a full truck sprue in the launcher kit. The new sprues do add to the old Italeri truck by adding rear brake cylinders, a steering gear box, a nice recovery winch and guides for it, and a few other pieces. It is still the Italeri M977 kit with its shortcomings and lack of details though. I think the best of the bunch is the Trumpeter kits of both the launchers and trucks.

Hi Gino, that's good info! Let's see what HEMTT goodies trumpeter bring out.

Nice review Gino. I can say, with the Trumpeter Patriot and M983 kits on hand, that they both have better detail. The Trumpeter M983 is also particularly better than the updated/modified Italeri M977 kit, as Gino stated. But...all that great detail comes at a price...parts, some quite small, delicate PE, and the time to build it all nicely. If you want a quicker, easier build, DML is the way to go. As Gino shows, it makes into a decent replica of the most recent iteration of the Patriot that no one else has made yet.

Nice! A PATRIOT is on my wish list.

Hey Gino, my Patriot will/is a photo feature, but it will still show the level of detail compared to the Dragon kit and also show all the extra detail that can be added.

Good deal Pete. Looking forward to seeing it soon.

What other vehicles or troops would you expect to find close or at least in the vicinity of the launcher? Infantry? Short range AA? Engineering vehicles? Would the radar be close, or would they be placed away from each other?

There would not usually be engineers, armor, artillery, or infantry around the launchers. They are usually deep in an airbase or some other rear area. They are not front line vehicles.

Here are typical launch site setups.

Radar and Command and Control vehicles in the center.




Launchers dispersed around the outer ring. Note the tractors disconnected, but close by in case they need to move the launchers quickly. You could see some MPs or other security force near a SAM site, but on the perimeter.



More permanent airbase defense site.


Launcher with disconected truck, but close by at the ready.

Thanks! Great info and great pictures! Hummers, trucks and the radar installation as well then. Will need a large table for a diorama...

Our system is a bit different. We usually have specialized personel to defend installations like this.

I finally got around to painting the PAC-3. It still needs to be weathered, but here it is in paint.

Very nice....love the mix of and and 3 color camo. Now we need cotton smoke with yellow and orange LED lights!!!

Rounds Complete!!

Thanks Mike. I do eventually plan to add the smoke and such...eventually.

Very nice build, Gino!!!

Thanks Jorge.

The PATRIOT PAC-3 launcher is now finished. I weathered the trailer lightly with a dusty/sandy acrylic color. I also did a dark wash on the grates to make then stand out and appear to be deeper or open. I did not weather the missile containers since they look very clean and well kept in pictures. I also added a smoke plume with a plastic rod and a pulled out cotton ball glued to it.

Here it is: