Barcode: 0 89195 87492 4
Case pack: 48 Pieces per carton
Box Size: 6.4" x 10.2" x 1.9"

Features:

• Newly tooled VK.45.02(P)V
• Newly tooled upper hull w/details
• Set of on-vehicle tools come w/clamps
• Hooks added on front of hull
• Delicate turret reproduced
• Slide-molded lower hull w/bolt details
• Interlocking plates realistically rendered on both hull and turret
• Delicate engine deck reproduced
• Road wheels accurately reproduced
• Highly detailed sprocket wheels
• One-piece DS tracks
  

Dragon previously released an impressive 1/72 scale kit of the VK.45.02(P)H prototype, which had the Krupp turret mounted well to the rear of the hull. Now Dragon is offering its partner, the VK.45.02(P)V, with the ‘V’ in the designation denoting Vorwarts. This alludes to the fact that the turret was mounted further forward on the hull (i.e. in front of rather than behind the engines) in a more conventional manner than occurred with the H type. One example was to see combat. The one-piece upper hull on this kit is a brand new molding suitable for this variant. The unique deck layout depicts the accurate engine deck details. The hull also carries the Porsche turret later assigned to the Tiger II, and there are also easy-to-assemble DS tracks. The ‘V’ version of this Porsche prototype allows modelers to move forward onto something new and special!

Reviews:

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 scale Armor Pro Series Kit No. 7492; VK.45.02(P)V;
93 parts (91 in grey styrene, 2 DS Plastic track runs); pre-order price via Dragon USA Online US$22.95

Advantages: nice new kit of the other prototype variant in styrene

Disadvantages: no major ones noted

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: to all “Panzer ‘46" and Tiger II fans

As I noted when the 1/35 scale version of this vehicle came out, one of the problems with very long tank guns is that they tend to cause problems when crossing rough terrain or moving in cities. Studies by all armor producing nations show that too often a long gun barrel digs into the ground with unpleasant results for the crew and the tank.

The solutions were either use a shorter gun – which then tended to limit the firepower and armor penetration capabilities of the tank - or move the turret farther back on the chassis. This solved the problem of overhang but also caused problems with balance and visibility, creating larger “dead ground” spots in front of the tank that the crew could not protect with turret armament.

Towards the end of the war when the Germans had moved to bigger and longer guns they began to experiment with rear-mounted turrets. The two design iterations of the VK.4502(P) prototype tank looked at both versions dubbed “V” (for “vorwarts” - forward ) and “H” (for “heckwarts” - rearward). While neither version ever appears to have gotten into more than early production and testing, it shows the design evolution of these tanks (and why the “Maus” and “Loewe” tanks used the rear mounted turret).

DML has now followed its recent H version of this prototype in 1/72 scale with the “V” version and it too is a neat little kit. Other than the hull parts the same parts from the H kit are found here.

The turret is based on the Tiger II turrets but has a pistol port on the commander’s side as well as built-in hangers for the eight spare track link sets. The model comes with two plastic barrels and partial internal gun components, but no interior to speak of. This kit has the commander’s cupola integral with the turret shell (it only has 20% of the parts of the big one, so something had to give!)

The kit has no etched brass which is debatable as it was only a prototype and no final production variants were produced. The tracks are similar to the Elefant tracks and are noted as being 203mm long; the ones in this kit were right at 203mm.

No consultants are listed, but Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson were the ones for the 1/35 scale kit.

Your choice of finishing is simple: “Unidentified Unit” in either overall sand brown or a two color green/sand finish, both of which are presumptive. Eight crosses in two sizes are provided on a tiny Cartograf sheet.

Overall if displayed with the first variant it provides an illustration of the direction German tank design was taking in the latter half of the war. As it compliments the first one, it also should fit in with a collection of Tigers very well.

- Cookie Sewell -