Su-85 with full interior - Soviet Self-propelled Gun - MiniArt 1:35

[Fran]

Su-85

Soviet Self-propelled Gun

(Interior Kit)

1:35

Miniart

Catalogue n.º 35187

Price tag: € 44.95

 

707 grey styrene parts and 10 clear parts
1 decal sheet for 2 schemes
1 photo etch fret with 88 parts

 

 

 

 

The SU-85 (Samokhodnaya ustanovka 85) was a Soviet self-propelled gun used during World War II, based on the chassis of the T-34 medium tank. Earlier Soviet self-propelled guns were meant to serve as either assault guns, such as the SU-122, or as tank destroyers; the SU-85 fell into the latter category. The designation "85" signifies the bore of the vehicle's armament, the 85 mm D-5S gun.

Early in World War II, Soviet tanks such as the T-34 and KV-1 had adequate firepower to defeat any of the German tanks then available. By the fall of 1942, Soviet forces began to encounter the new German Tiger tank, with armor too thick to be penetrated by the 76.2 mm guns used in the T-34 and KV tanks at a safe range.^[1] The Soviet command also had reports of the Panther tank, that was in development then and possessed thicker armor than the Tiger; both represented an advance in German tank design. Although the Panther was not seen in combat until July 1943, the new generation of German vehicles meant the Red Army would need a new, more powerful main gun for their armoured formations.

In May 1943, work was begun on a new anti-tank gun. Military planners directed the design bureaus of both Gen. Vasiliy Grabin and Gen. Fyodor Petrov to modify the 85mm anti-aircraft gun for use as an anti-tank weapon. Petrov's bureau developed the D-5 85mm gun. Though much too large for the T-34 or KV-1 turret, it was thought the gun could be mounted upon the chassis of the SU-122 self-propelled gun to give the weapon mobility. The version of this gun intended to be mounted upon the SU-85 was called the D-5S, with the "S" standing for self-propelled. Initially the production factory at Uralmash rejected the proposed design. Nevertheless, the administrators at Uralmash were persuaded to proceed, and the new design was put into production. The weapon was later modified to include a telescopic sight and a new ball gun mantlet. This vehicle was retitled the SU-85-II.

The SU-85 was a modification of the earlier SU-122 self-propelled howitzer, essentially replacing the 122 mm M-30S howitzer of the SU-122 with a D-5T high-velocity 85 mm antitank gun. The D-5T was capable of penetrating the Tiger I from 1000 m.^[2] The vehicle had a low profile and excellent mobility. Initially given an armored commander's cap on the first batch, the SU-85's observational optics were improved by the introduction of a standard commander's cupola - the same as on the T-34-76 model 1942. In addition to the already existing prismatic observation sights installed in left side and rear. On later vehicles, the same optics were added, almost allowing all-around observation.
SU-85 production started in mid-1943, with the first vehicles reaching their units by August. When the up-gunned T-34-85 medium tank entered mass production in the spring of 1944, there was no point in continuing production of a tank destroyer without superior firepower,^[4] so SU-85 production was stopped in late 1944 after 2,050 vehicles had been produced. It was replaced on the production lines by the SU-100 tank destroyer, armed with the more powerful 100 mm D-10S gun.

There were two versions: the basic SU-85 had a fixed commander's cupola with a rotating periscope and three vision blocks; the improved SU-85M had the same casemate as the later SU-100, with a commander's cupola as used on the T-34-85.

The SU-85 entered combat in August 1943. It saw active service across the Eastern Front until the end of the war. Though a capable weapon, it was found that its 85 mm weapon was not adequate to penetrate the armour of the larger German armoured fighting vehicles. It was replaced by the SU-100.

The SU-85 was withdrawn from Soviet service soon after the war, and was exported to many Soviet client states in Europe and elsewhere. Some SU-85s were converted to use as command and recovery vehicles. In places such as North Korea and Vietnam, it remained in service for many years - from Wikipédia.

 

 

**

 

Miniart for the past few year, have been developing a series of model kits with interior with great success. Even it’s a tank (so no many canopies to look into it) modellers are keen for detail and interiors, giving Miniart the beat and courage to advance with all these detail. The AM parties are having a hard time with this fashion now also follow by many others IM manufactures.

This time and follow their SU-series, MiniArt launched the Su-85 with full interior.

We know that it´s was release a in the middle of last year (2016) and Everything went quite smooth from MiniArt Factory to our hands excepted the fact the customs retained this little baby more than 4 months.

So it´s better late than never! J

 

The MiniArt marketing team has been making a hell of a job in the past two years especially with announcement videos of the upcoming release.

 

Here`s the one from the Su-85

 

 

 

The model comes in the typical MiniArt box, with a fantastic box-art and full of plastic.

 

 

 

 

 

The design of the box is really good, its one of my favourie, when we talk about AFV box art.

On the side its several 3D renderings of the Su-85.

It’s a medium box, full of plastic.

717 plastic parts (in more of 75 sprues) and 88 PE parts? Oh dear God… well for sure it´s not a weekend project.

 

We already review the Su-122 (without interior) so the main parts are the same as in real life the both come from the same base: T-34.

 

Here´s the sprue index:

 

Ab (engine)
B (hull)
C (driver’s compartment);

Ca (parts of the engine deck)
Da (transmission and engine)

E (engine)

Ea (suspension, small parts)

Eb (drive wheel)

Ef (ammo, small parts for the interior);

Eg (clear parts)
F (Christie suspension)

Fa (ammo)

Fi/Fg (roadwheels)

Fj (tracks)

Fk (Christie suspension, external fuel tanks) 
H and Ha (gun, ammo racks)
J (fighting compartment sides and top)
Je (box on the back of the engine compartment)
K (tracks).
 

 

The detail is humongous and that is well seen in the pictures and the gigantic quantity of parts and sprues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the interior details are very well reproducing alongside the fantastic engine.

 

The engine compartment is really impressive with tons of details. Yes, there`s still place to super detail a little (for example, some wires) more but for that you really should think in left the upper hull un-glue

 

 

The fighting compartment is quite busy with enhance to the driver location. Not in particular but I really like all the details on that, all the handles and pedals and seat structure. Being an area that could have an open hatch, it’s a really nice detail area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the model kit is a detail itself. Another example are the springs. It’s an amazing detail

 

Here´s the MiniArt renderings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The instructions are in a booklet format, being now a usually A4 format and design from MiniArt.

 

 

The instructions drawings are quite clear and modeller friendly, with the parts attachment points well indicated

The color guide gives colors of AMMO references. Its curious to see that in the Su-122 there was a table code with several others color references. In this case you have colour name and AMMO Mig color references and that it.

 

Its probably a join collaboration between these two companies.

A small decal sheet is provide with good colour registration and thin film carrier that will provide a very good adaption to the surface. I never found out which is MiniArt manufacture so I wonder if it is a MiniArt fabrication and if it is, is a quite good one.  

 

 

The two profiles colour are also from Mig, one from an unidentified unit of the Red Army, Winter 1943-44 and a “Kapitan Otacar Jaros”, 1^st Czecho-slovak Armored Brigade, 1944-1945.

 

 

The only low on this fantastic kit is in fact about the decals options… not option but the quantity of options.

 

 

The only PE fret is packed between two cardboard sheets and contains 88 parts. Of course, here you will find some typical elements like engine meshes, straps as well as some parts for interior.

 

 

The gun barrel is always a point to check. In this case, just like the T-44, its in a single piece so I don’t think that you will need a replacement. However it´s not perfect… It has no rifling on the inside. If you need it, or you scratchbuild it (I bet it won´t be an easy task) or you get an AM one.

 

(all the plastic out of the plastic bags after the review – It’s a quite amount of plastic)

 

 

Conclusion

The injection moulding is top noch and the quality of the plastic is very good. MiniArt is on the op of AFV manufactures in term of quality/price.

With this model you can have a good direct replica box and you can leave open, destroyed, maintenance, anything that you not need to go to AM.

This one is even more complete than the last one I reviewed (the T-44)

The kit is very well done and show that MiniArt know what is doing! J

 

Very Highly Recommend

 

 

My truly Thanks to Miniart for the review sample.

 

Fran

 

 

[JeroenPeters]

Wow...

[Wingco57]

Oww...

[rverissimo]

Hello!

 

That's a lot of sprues and details!