US Army T-28 Super Heavy Tank - 1:35 ET Models

[Mike]

T-28 Super Heavy Tank Update Set
1:35 ET Model

The T-28 from Dragon is a monster kit, and includes some nice detail from the box, not to mention a LOT of wheels! This set is designed to capitalise on that detail and improve it to give a more realistic depiction of various aspects. It comprises three sheets of Photo-Etch (PE) brass, sized 14.5cm x9.5cm, 9.5cm², and 9.5cm x 5.8cm, the square sheet being of a thicker gauge to the others. Additionally, there is a replacement mantlet for the kit part, with a more realistic depiction of the cast texture, and six smaller resin parts that build up into a .50cal Browning M2 for the commander's cupola.

The PE sheets contain parts for a complete replacement set of tie-downs on the vehicle, including all of the pioneer tools, which will need their chunky moulded on tie-downs cut away and sanded back before use. The spare track links also get a new rack, with tie-downs for each of the links, and various brackets on the hull and sponsons are replaced with PE alternatives. The light-cluster is covered with a PE cage, and various lifting lugs are added on the rear deck. The periscopes are all upgraded with PE detail parts, and the commander's M2 machine gun is replaced completely with a resin barrel, breech and cooling jacket, which is augmented with a PE mount and a highly detailed ammo box with sections of link included, plus the bracket into which the box is mounted. There are even short lengths of PE chain attached to the retaining pins, and a pair of handles for the gun, with one spare in case you lose one. The mechanism attaching it to the C-shaped rail is complex, and replicates the mechanism faithfully.

On the large removable additional track sponsons that are used to spread the immense weight of the T-28 when it is on soft ground, sets of stowage boxes are built from PE sheets, with hinge and handle detail included. On the underside of the sponsons, a large box is added, which will improve the look of the sponsons if they are to be modelled detached for transport, which allowed the tank to get places that it otherwise wouldn't be able. In order to remove these sponsons, the crew used a pair of mini-cranes that were attached to the hull at the front and rear and could be moved around six points on the tank as the need dictated. These are supplied with the kit as 6-part assemblies, but are replaced entirely by a mixture of PE and short lengths of rod. The frame of the crane is built up from parts on the thicker gauge fret, with the block and tackle laminated from a number of linked circles to give the required thickness and the impression of the cable-ways build into the rollers. The use of rod is crucial to the task here, so don't assume you'll be able to muddle through, and I'd suggest investing in some brass rod to give the assembly some extra strength. A pair of scrap diagrams show how the cable is routed, and as only tow cable is provided in the kit, you'll need to source some braided cable of a suitable thickness from somewhere - perhaps some picture framing wire?

Some spare 0.2mm, 03mm, 0.5mm, 0.6mm, and 1mm rod or wire will be required to complete some of the assemblies, so make sure that you have some to hand before starting, and as mentioned above, perhaps some brass rod would be advisable.

Conclusion
Another great set from ET Model, who continue to produce fabulous looking sets remarkably soon after the release of new kits. The green instruction booklets are sometimes a little difficult to fathom (I hate that word), but with a short scan of the kit parts, instructions and kit instructions, it all falls into place soon enough. You will need skill with the folding and gluing of PE parts to be able to do this set justice, but the quality of the resin cast parts is almost enough to warrant the entry price alone. The texture on the mantlet part is highly realistic.

Highly recommended.

Available soon from White Ensign Models in the UK.

Review Sample courtesy of