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Russian 9K330 Tor, SA-15 Gauntlet. 1:35


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Russian 9K330 Tor, SA-15 Gauntlet

Panda Models 1:35

boxart.jpg

History

The 9K330 Tor is a self-propelled SAM system of Soviet origin. It was developed from 1975 to 1985 by Antei as a replacement for the older 9K33 Osa (SA-8 Gecko). The Tor is also well known under its NATO reporting name SA-15 Gauntlet. Since its introduction it is regarded the most capable short range self-propelled SAM system and continuous upgrades The Tor is one of the few short range SAM systems with a high effectiveness against cruise missiles and precision guided munitions.

The Tor is based on a tracked chassis that protects the crew from small arms fire. The three crew members are seated in the front, an unmanned turret is installed in the middle and the engine and drivetrain are located at the rear. Two boxes with four missiles are installed vertically in the middle of the turret and extend into the hull of the vehicle. The tracking radar is installed at the front of the turret and the optical system is fitted next to it. The search radar is fitted at the rear and is lowered behind the turret when not in use. The search radar rotates when in use and can be used on the move. The medium sized missiles use radio command guidance and are fitted with folding fins. Upon launch the vehicle comes to a halt, the missile is propelled upwards by a gas charge, is rotated in the correct direction and then the rocket ignites.

The primary means of engaging targets is by radar guidance. Each Tor system is fitted with a 25 km 360 degree search radar and 15 km 60 degree tracking radar. The Tor has a good ECM resistance but can also engage targets by TV tracking. The TV tracking system has a maximum range of 20 km and is fitted with a laser range finder. The naval version uses a similar two radar setup but has a more powerful search radar.

and was armed with (the then new) 122 mm M-30S howitzer from F. F. Petrov's design bureau. This vehicle also used the same gun bed cover and mountings as the SG-122, to keep costs low and simplify production. It had 45 mm thick frontal armour. The M-30S howitzer could be elevated or depressed between −3° and +26° and had 10° of traverse. The five-man crew consisted of a driver, gunner, commander and two loaders.U-34. Initial design work was completed between July and August 1942. The project emphasized minimizing modifications to the platform and the howitzer. It used the same chassis, superstructure, engine and transmission as the SG-122 and the U-34UZTM then worked on combining features of the

Most Tor systems are based on the GM-355 tracked chassis that allows it to keep up with tanks and other armoured vehicles through any terrain. A towed version is available which has the advantage of reduced costs. The latest systems are also available on a large MZKT-6922 6x6 truck chassis that is cheaper, offers more internal space, has even better mobility and still provides protection to the crew. None of the Tor systems are amphibious.

The Model

All the moulds are beautifully moulded with some very nice detail included and lots of small parts. There are no signs of flash or other imperfections and very few moulding pips, which will help with the cleaning up. The actual kit looks like it will build up into quite a big model, but strangely clean.  Contained in the top opening box, with a nice depiction of a vehicle in action on the front, are eight sprues and four separate parts moulded in a beige styrene, eighteen sprues of brown styrene, one of clear styrene, a small etched brass sheet, small decal sheet and a length of copper wire.

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The build begins with fitting numerous small parts to the lower hull, such as towing eyes, bump stops, and lots of various links. The twelve suspension arms, each made up of four parts, are attached, along with the six return rollers. The twelve torsion arms are attached to the suspension arms, followed by the idler wheels and road wheels are the same and each made up of inner and outer wheels.  The assemblies are then attached to the torsion arms, followed by the two, two piece sprockets.  Each track length is made up of 114 individual links. Unfortunately, the tracks in the instructions bear no relation to what is actually is in the box. The instruction states to glue each link together and attach the separate guide horns. The tracks in the kit show links with moulded guide horns, what look like separate side pieces and pins, but these go together I really can’t work out. You’d be best off just gluing the links together and making up the required lengths, or, alternatively but some aftermarket tracks. The sprues don’t even match up with what has been printed in the contents guide.

 

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Moving onto the upper hull, the front mudguards are attached, along with a two piece vent and four, three piece headlights. The four piece air conditioning unit is attached to the right hand side of the upper glacis plate, along with its 5 piece protective cage, whilst on the  NCBD intake unit is fitted to he left hand side. The hatches on the sides of the hull are then fitted.  The engine decking is fitted out with the various PE grilles, engine and radiator hatches, whilst he rear bulkhead panel is fitted with pioneer tools, shackles, three piece hatch and rear lights before being attached to the upper hull. There is a large intake unit, made up from three parts, is fitted just aft of the turret opening.  The track guards are then attached, and the footplates either side of the turret opening.

 

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The turret is made up from upper and lower sections, which are then fitted with side and front panels. The two long bins on either side of the turret are then assembled, each from four parts, as are the two trunnion mounts for the tracking radar, each from two parts, with one fitted with an eight piece motor unit. The tracking radar itself is made up from four pieces and fitted, unglued to the trunnion mounts, which in turn are glued to the turret front. The search radar is made up from a single piece curved front PE panel fitted to a moulded frame, which is then fitted with four rear frame mounts and a large collector at the front. A curved frame is then fitted to the rear and the nine piece tilting mount is fitted to the rear base. This is, in turn fitted to nine piece mounting pillar. There is an eleven piece secondary radar fitted to the top of the primary search radar.

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Inside the missile two side plates are fitted, one made up from six parts, the other from two. There is a five part panel that is attached to the rear of the turret, whilst on top of the turret the silo bin roof and two doors are fitted, along with two accessory boxes.  Just a shame that the silos aren’t included in the kit, allowing the doors to be posed open and the two piece missiles included in the kit shown in the launch kit. The completed turret assembly is then attached to the hull, completing the build

Decals

The small decal sheet contains markings for two vehicles, the decals themselves have been printed by Pander Models themselves and although looking rather matt, they are well printed, in register and with good colour density. There are just four small decals for the turret roof and numbers for one vehicle, an all over green example, the other being an anonymous vehicle painted in a three colour scheme of dark green, sand, and black.

decals.jpg

Conclusion

It’s not very often I find some serious fault in a kit, but the track problem with this kit was something of an eye opener.  Not only were the instructions completely different to the kit parts, but the kit parts were pretty much unfathomable, even to guess how they are supposed to go together.  There were quite a few other areas in the instruction sheet which didn’t match the order parts should have been assembled. A shame really as the rest of the kit looks rather good and would make for an interesting subject in anyone's collection.

Review sample courtesy

logo.gif and available soon from major hobby shops

 

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The tracks look like a version of Modelkasten links Dave , you have two cut down track pins per link, the guide horns were separate parts on the Panda  Tunguska kit which is based on the same chassis. Wondering if Panda have updated the tracks on the release of this kit but not updated the instructions ? 

 

Looks like they give you the parade ground trackpads often seen on Russian tanks during the big Mayday parades as well? 

 

I thought this this was a Panda release and not a Kitty Hawk release, I think they are the same company but KH for Aircraft ? 

 

Cheers

 

Dan 

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Dan, the thing about the track links is that neither the ones in the kit, or those shown in the instructions match those that are shown on the box art.

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It seems that this is the third type of tracks by Panda - the previous 2S6 workable tracks (released separately from the kit) IIRC snapped together, but you had to glue the guide horns (as with the base tracks supplied with the kit). On the new ones, the pins need to be used to hold the tracks together, but at least there's no guide horns to glue.

 

I really dig the change in plastic from that green stuff they've used in their past kits. Thanks for the review, BTW, I was really waiting for this one.

Edited by Dudikoff
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Also note that the missile supplied is not an SA-15 but is an SA-19 as the C & D sprues are common to the 2S6 kit. The tracks are simply held together by the guide pins although the strange end plates seem completely spurious!

Edited by tarlucan
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