Dragon Military 1/35 Ersatz M10 Tank Smart Kit

One of Germany’s last desperate gambles of WWII was its offensive in the Ardennes on December 16, 1944. Known today as the Battle of Bulge, the aim was to split British and American forces in half and drive all the way to Antwerp. Panzer Brigade 150, commanded by Otto Skorzeny, had a role in this plan. This formation was supposed to create surprise and confusion with clandestine armored vehicles! His force included several Panther Ausf.G tanks physically disguised and painted to resemble U.S. Army M10 tank destroyers.

Modifications included removal of the Panther cupola and stowage boxes on the rear of the hull. The sheet metal on the hull front, turret and turret overhang was fabricated to disguise the form of the Panther. The transformation was completed with an olive drab paint scheme and Allied stars painted on the turret and glacis. This handful of vehicles was designated Ersatz M10.

Dragon has produced an amazing 1/35 scale kit of these Ersatz M10 vehicles. This is the first time this unique tank has been created in plastic in this scale. The kit is logically based on Dragon’s Panther Ausf.G Smart Kit, but the original Panther incorporates a host of new items to suit this Ersatz M10. The turret is brand new, and all the sheet metal plates are included in plastic to a true-to-scale thickness. Dragon has produced various items stemming from the Battle of the Bulge – Kingtiger, Fallschirmjager figures, Volksgrenadier figures and U.S. Airborne figures – but this is the ultimate Ardennes accessory! This kit possesses all the convenience of a Smart Kit, but has a distinctive and jaw-dropping appearance. This long-awaited item is an icon of the Battle of Bulge, and will surely produce an authentic Ardennes diorama!

• - Extra turret panels realistically represented to scale thickness
• - Two types of mantlet newly produced
• - Newly tooled turret
• - Newly tooled glacis panel can be assemble in two styles
• - Newly tooled panel on lower hull front
• - New step and detail on lower panel
• - Newly tooled fender w/great detail
• - Two types of rear fender provided
• - Newly tooled extra rear armor
• - Newly tooled exhaust pipes
• - Multi-part slide-molded muzzle brake in great detail
• - One-piece plastic gun barrel
• - Upper hull realistically reproduced
• - Rear hatch with interior hinge detail can be positioned open/closed
• - Commander hatches can be assembly open or closed
• - Weld lines and already built in - minimum touch-up for the modeler
• - Engine deck hatch with interior details can be modeled open/closed
• - Turret-top pilzen authentically modeled
• - Accurate toothed ring for turret
• - One-piece slide-molded hull bottom with superb detail
• - Armored deflector for rear deck air intake
• - Gun assembly recreated in detail, complete with breech
• - Driver's and radio operator's hatches with interior details and support arms
• - Brand new U-shaped tow shackles
• - Track links for sprocket section have guide horns as separate pieces for maximum accuracy
• - Idler wheel in maximum detail
• - Detail tooled idler wheels
• - Full suspension assembly with road wheel and idler arms that can be positioned on uneven terrain
• - Slide-molded headlight assemblies with maximum detail
• - Optional MG ball mount plug
• - MAGIC TRACKS with slide-molded guide horn details
• - Road wheels exhibit fine detail
• - Armored guard for cooling air outlet grills
• - Authentically recreated armored guards for cooling air intake grills
• - Engine radiator details with 2 types of fans