The 25pdr SP, tracked, Sexton was a self-propelled artillery vehicle of World War II, based on an American tank hull design, built by Canada for the British Army, and associated Commonwealth forces, and some of the other Allies.

It was developed to give the British Army a mobile artillery gun using their Ordnance QF 25 pounder gun-howitzer. From 1943 it replaced the US built M7 Priest (US 105 mm guns on a M3 Lee tank chassis); these had replaced the British Bishop (25 pdr on Valentine tank chassis) which had been improvised in 1942.

The Sexton I was based on the Canadian Ram tank (a version of the Lee), while the Sexton II was based on the Grizzly (M4A1 Sherman).

Dragon’s kit of the Sexton II, while it bears a striking similarity to the M7 Priest, is a brand new kit. It features a brand new fighting compartment, new armor plates, a new engine deck and an all-new interior. The main armament makes use of the 25-pdr Field Gun kit that Dragon introduced before, although even this had to be modified to allow for the special mount that allowed its installation. The muzzle brake is also a new item. Furthermore, the chassis is starkly different to that used on the Priest. Meanwhile, the bogies and road wheels stem from the Sherman kits that Dragon have recently done.

The kit also includes Dragon's great DS tracks, which are easy to paint and equally easy to assemble so those who do not like individual track links will not need to be concerned about that facet of things. A nicely done photo etch fret is includes for some of the more useful bits and are appropriate for the medium. Here is a full listing of their features.

- Newly molded Sexton II w/intricate detail
- Stowage bins added to the rear fighting compartment
- One-piece slide-molded gun barrel w/hollow muzzle brake
- Gun mount w/hand wheels finely reproduced
- One-piece slide-molded gun barrel w/hollow end
- Vision port accurately molded
- Detailed bolt heads molded on
- Well-defined headlamps reproduced
- Jerry cans reproduced on the rear of Sexton II
- Wire cage rendered w/details
- Transmission realistically produced
- Radio rendered w/fine detail
- Engine deck produced w/astonishing detail
- Engine rear doors assembled
- Detailed instrument panel includes driver’s controls
- Bolts and rivets delicately represented on hull bottom
- Lower hull made by 2-directional slide molds
- Fire extinguishers realistically produced
- Fighting compartment w/accurate interior detail
- On-vehicle tools delicately recreated
- Finely detailed suspension system
- DS tracks reproduced w/refined detail

There are five markings schemes provided. One is the box art vehicle from 147 Field Regiment in Normandy during 1944. In a similar paint scheme is one from the 4th Royal Horse Artillery at Weert in 1945. Another similarly painted one is provided from an unknown unit. In overall  SCC 15 olive drab are two vehicles, one from the 13th Regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery and the other from an unknown unit. The decal sheet is nicely printed and adds a bit of color to these vehicles.

Those who like British armor, even if it is based on a US chassis, will like this one. Thanks to the relatively low parts count (310), it should appeal to a wide range of builders.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexton_%28artillery%29

Thanks to www.dragonmodelsusa.com for the preview kit. You can find this one at your favorite hobby shop or on-line retailer.