1/35 SU-76i

[Bryan Krueger]

I was pretty excited when Dragon released their SU-76i. I was pretty underwhelmed when I finally got it. The new tooled parts that make this vehicle unique are pretty bad. Soft details, poor or nonexistent alignment features, incorrect roof, blobs for hinges, terrible fuel tanks, etc. It was like Dragon had a late 1980s Eastern European model company tool and mold the parts. To rectify this, I switched gears mid build and used the MasterClub resin conversion. The detail is crisp, the features are accurate and the casting is flawless. Unfortunately, it is designed for use with the old school Imperial series Dragon kits and suffers some fit issues with the casemate and accuracy issues with the fuel tank brackets. I was willing to overlook these just so I could get something built.

Since it was never going to be as accurate as I would have liked with out a complete redo, I decided to have some fun with this and model a re-captured SU-76i pressed back into German service. The Pz.Jg.Abt. 128 had at least one where they added two antenna mounts which I assume was for field command.

I added some extra details to spruce this one up.

Fenders and buckets - ET Model
White metal tracks - Master Club
Barrel - RB Model
Cast Drive Sprocket ModelKasten
Stamped Drive Sprocket - Dragon StuG III Ausf A
Cast Return Roller and Damaged Road Wheels - Panzer Art
Stowage - Value Gear and misc
Cable clips and Jack Mount - ModelKasten
Ammo Box - MiniArt
Anything white is styrene

Still need to work on the headlight and the side stowage boxes will eventually be replaced with PE.

[Philipp Gross]

Outstanding work Bryan! I was very excited about the SU-76i as well, but judging from your comments, I'd probably take my chances with a resin conversion too....

Philipp

[Steve Hutchinson]

Lovely build Bryan

I guess Dragon have their reasons for such a poor showing

Perhaps one of the " New kids on the block" will do the job properly?

Great work on the build though

What paint scheme do you envisage?

Regards

Steve H

[Vincent Power]

Really nice Bryan.

Vincent

[Raoul Kunz]

Very nicely done Bryan!

Evidently Dragon has gone all hyperlazy... the only halfway decent things that came out of the company recently (as in: the past 3-4 years...) seem to be things that are minor modifications to kits they did in the mid of the last decade...


Best regards

Raoul G. Kunz

[Bryan Krueger]

Thank you all. Appreciate the comments. I started assembling the tracks last night.

Philipp - If you use the MC conversion, make sure to use the older/Imperial series PzIII ausf J/L kit. Maybe you can cross kit with a newer one for better details. I'm not exactly sure where the dimension discrepancy lies.

Steve - WOT is the answer. The Su-76i is apparently a sought after rare tank in the game. I think Dragon is chasing the easy dollar now that there a so many high quality model companies are out there. They are releasing the SU-76i "commanders" version with winterketen next - which is made up. And I won't be surprised when an SU-85i (proposed but never prototyped) is announced.

Raoul - Agree. 2007 to 2012 seems to be the apex for Dragon. Now it's kits that are 92% accurate or repops trying to steal the market from another manufacturers release.

[Philipp Gross]

I've had my eye on the conversion by MR Modellbau, not sure how good it is as I've never seen one in person.

Philipp

[Shawn Ramsey]

Bryan- That is one impressive build. MY only complaint is the fact you did not share your progress with us here on PA.

Shawn

[Bryan Krueger]

Philipp - I can't comment on the MR conversion. There are a couple of others that pop up.

Shawn - Thanks! I haven't taken many in-progress shots of this one. My photobooth area is out in the garage and it's been too freezing cold to take photos. I took a couple of phone shots but they didn't turn out too well. I'll try to do better next time.

[Bryan Krueger]

I've replaced the resin stowage boxes with ABER PE. The set is for the MiniArt T70 Early, but the same factory was responsible for the SU-76m and SU-76i conversion.

I beat them up real good. This was my first time soldering such tiny parts. There's no CA used on the boxes.