I thought a mini review of the new Trumpeter Strv 103 "S Tank" may be of interest, particularly if you like to model unusual subjects. I bought the kit yesterday and began assembly last night.

The kit is moulded in dark green plastic with crisp details, no flash and no moulding problems. Some of the components I worked on last night required some sanding/drilling to achieve a good fit - mainly the idlers and gun mount. The major components dry-fitted well and I don't think that I'll need putty. I know that Trumpeter's 1/72 JGSDF tank kits were produced in collaboration with Pit Road but I'm not sure whether that's the case with this kit. I couldn't see any difference in quality.

The suspension arms do not have a positive location and can be modelled in various stages of travel or with the hydropneumatic suspension in operation for gun laying. I tried to depict the vehicle with the suspension in normal postion and if the profile in the instructions is correct, I should have it right.

The tracks are vinyl with good detail and scale thickness (I like good vinyl tracks as long as they don't dissolve plastic!). There is very little clearance between the sprocket and hull and it would be difficult to fit link and length track unless you fixed the track to the sprocket before fixing the sprocket to the hull.

No crew figures are provided and that's a negative for me. However, I think that this one will look OK without crew (I did read today that the Strv 103 driver/gunner has large periscopes with high magnification and could fight the vehicle buttoned up more effectively than a buttoned up Centurion).

The kit represents the Strv 103 in its most recent upgraded appearance with armoured skirts and bar armour across the hull front. I don't know enough about the Strv 103 to determine whether it would be possible to backdate the model.

The kit cost AUD15 and that's a few dollars less than Revell and around the same as Dragon.

David

Hi David,
don't be shy ! Submit your review in the Reviews section of the site. You can send some pics of the kit too.
Through your post, I understood the kit is a braille scale one. Am I correct ?

olivier

Thanks for the quick look. Like you, I appreciate a quick in box description from someone who has just popped open the box. Helps me to decide whether or not to pick up the kit.

Oliver, this is the Braille Scale forum, a common nickname for 1/72 or 1/76 scale armor.

Oups,
I should have a look at the page prior to answering

olivier