Jon Arnold shares with us a review of the Dragon Models M752 LANCE Tactical Ballistic Missile Launcher in 1/35th scale.

Read the Review

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

With all the omissions, simplifications and some shape errors - 90%? Really?... Very generous... I wouldn't give it more than 70% (yes, I do have the kit).

I'm hoping some aftermarket company is working on a correction set (Legend, are you listening?). What do you think about the road wheels Pawel? I haven't had a chance to look that closely at them yet...

Jim

Roadwheels are very basic, not

Sorry typo, there is no detail on the backside of the roadwheels. Would love to see an aftermarket correction set but won't hold my breath, just not sure how big a seller this kit will be.

General corrections for this kit could be used on any of the other M113 based kits coming from DML, like the recently announced M727 HAWK kit.

I would love to see the corrections for the Lance kit as well, if not a resin company, then can someone do them on shapeways for 3D parts?

Sad to see something so easily verified and they still get it wrong. We shouldn't have to fix kits that cost this much due to sloppy design & research.

My Blog soon!
My opinion of the kit 'may' change when I build it.... I will dig out my old M577 US Armoured Command Post (1975)

I look forward to seeing your build Pawel, & will welcome any input as post-WW2 US Armour really isn't my thing.

I know I'm flogging a dead horse here, but 90% for a kit with so many awful lows?

Maybe it's a counterweight to this review where the kit was penalized for a mistake by the builder.

KL

Pt.2 the Build Starts here

I can conclusively report the wheels have as much detail on the rear side as the (1975) Tamiya wheels and less on the front as well

Comparison: in MM not including axle stubs

Dragon Tamiya
Roadwheel
Dia 17.33 17.34
Width 5.98 5.86

Idler
Dia 11.96 11.89
Width 5.64 5.57

Sprocket
Dia 15.23 15.25
Width 6.86 6.64

Not much in it, visually.

The Track is a different matter, some 40+ years seperate the kits, I like how the dragons look, with seperate rubber bits, they should be easier to paint, letts see how they build though.

Width 10.97 10.53
Pitch* 4.378 3.852

*Pitch defined as the length of 1 track shoe, (5 measured divided by 5).

Visually the Sprockets look a similar level of detail, but the Dragon sprocket has much finer width teeth, & curiously does fit the Tamiya track, but not vice-versa.
The Tamiya track wouldn't be long enough for the M752 though.

The Dragon Idlers are missing 4 bolts for the centre cap.

The Roadwheels are another matter, though visually a similar size, the Dragon wheels have poorly defined centre bolts & are missing the outer rim rivets entirely, but does have a sharply defined raised rim separating the rubber from the wheel.

The Tamiya Roadwheels, for 1975, have sharply defined bolts & rivets, but would require serious fettling to fit the Dragon axles.

Both sets of wheels have centre bosses that are not tall enough.

I'll wait for my refs to arrive before I pronounce further, and posting some decent photos would be welcome.

My Pt.2 The Build Follows here.

Any further pics will pe posted there.

Thanks to the Editors for amending my %age rating, reasons are explained in page 2 of my part 2.