Zvezda 1/72 BM-13 'Katyusha'
| KIT #: | 6128 |
| PRICE: | $4.95 SRP |
| DECALS: | None supplied |
| REVIEWER: | Scott Van Aken |
| NOTES: |
| HISTORY |
Katyusha multiple rocket launchers (Russian: Катюша) are a type of rocket artillery first built and fielded by the Soviet Union in World War II. Compared to other artillery, these multiple rocket launchers deliver a devastating amount of explosives to an area target quickly, but with lower accuracy and requiring a longer time to reload. They are fragile compared to artillery guns, but inexpensive and easy to produce. Katyushas of World War II, the first self-propelled artillery mass-produced by the Soviet Union, were usually mounted on trucks. This mobility gave Katyushas (and other self-propelled artillery) another advantage: being able to deliver a large blow all at once, and then move before being located and attacked with counter-battery fire.
Katyusha weapons of World War II included the BM-13 launcher, light BM-8, and heavy BM-31. Today, the nickname is also applied to newer truck-mounted Soviet (and not only Soviet) multiple rocket launchers—notably the common BM-21—and derivatives.
| THE KIT |
This is another of Zvezda's war gaming kits and this time it is a 1/100in kit, which seems to be the standard they are using for vehicles. This is, by far, the most complex of the kits I've seen in this series requiring two sprues and a total of 26 parts. The rocket rail mechanism is well done and while things are understandably simple, it is still still sufficiently detailed. There are no clear parts and it seems that the blast cover is molded over the windscreens. There is also an ID flag that fits under the chassis to help move it and identify it during the war game. As with others in this series, there is a movement card (though it is not shown in the parts scan).
Instructions are provided and there is some painting information on the back of the box, which basically shows several views of a completed kit. As with many of these items, there are no decals. I should also note that these are snap kits. No need for glue, and while the parts are rather small, it should make an acceptable kit for the youngsters in the house.
| CONCLUSIONS |
This kit is part of a number specially done for Zvezda's 'Art of Tactic' game system. It should make into a very nice and quickly built model in its own right and is really perfect for new modelers thanks to its snap construction.
| REFERENCES |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BM-13
July 2011 Thanks towww.dragonmodelsusa.com for the preview kit. Get yours at your local retailer. If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact the editor or see other details in the Note to Contributors.