Bronco Turan II

Hungarian Medium Tank 41.M Turan II in 1/35...

...new from Bronco Models

A new release from Bronco Models, the Hungarian Turan II, including etch side armour. Based around the Czech Skoda design (used by the German army as the Pz 35(t). The most significant difference to the earlier Turan 1 was the larger turret, enabling it to mount a short barrelled 75mm gun. The suspensions system was still the same as the original Skoda designed tank and both hull and turret are riveted construction. It wasn't built in large numbers, and by the time it came into service in 1943 it was somewhat outclassed by the likes of the T34/85 and IS-2's that they came up against. To try and improve the armour protection they added the additional armour plates, or 'schurtzen' to the hull and the turret but the reality was that this wasn't enough.

As ever with Bronco Models this one is beautifully moulded and has a lot of fine detail, along with etch metal parts as well. The first two stages of the build sequence involve the lower hull and adding the only internal detailing, which is the set and controls for the driver. Steps 3-5 are assembling the road wheels and their suspension units. Four pairs of wheels per unit and a total of 4 units each with double springs, extra single wheel units that fit in front, between the drive sprocket and front suspension unit. Then step 6 has you fit single link tracks to build a length of spare track which is fitted to the glacis plate. Steps 7 through 10 have you fit the drive sprockets, idlers and all the road wheel units and return rollers to the lower hull. Stages 11 to 13 cover the construction of the individual link tracks, 101 links each side., along with the track guards.

Put the lower hull to one side, and stages 14 to 20 all tackle the construction of the upper hull. Stages 21 to 24 has you return to the lower hull and add all the detail fittings to the track guards. You have options to make here, depending on whether you plan to build the early or later version, with the schurtzen armour plates to be fitted. In step 25 you join the upper and lower hull sub-assemblies, which includes adding some etch brass fittings to the back of the hull.

Next you get to the assembly of the turret, and that takes steps 26 to 28. If you are adding the schutzen, then steps 29 through to 31 is adding the etch metal supports and the protective mesh plates for the turret. In stage 32 you do the same for the hull and the larger mesh side skirts, plus adding the tow cable stowed on the right side of the superstructure.

The final pages of the instruction booklet provide the colour and marking schemes for the five options.

Option 1. - 2nd Armoured Division, Hungarian Army 1944, in a plain overall dark green scheme.
Option 2. - 2nd Armoured Division, Budapest Hungary, 1945. Camouflaged with dark green base and tan and red-brown random camouflage, with the mesh armour fittings.
Option 3. - 2nd Armoured Division, Budapest Hungary, 1945. Camouflaged with dark green base and tan and red-brown random camouflage, with the mesh armour fittings as with option 2, though a different vehicle number.
Option 4. - 3rd Tank Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 10th Company, Hungary 1945. Camouflaged with dark green base and tan and red-brown random camouflage, with the mesh armour fittings as with option 2 and 3.
Option 5. - Hungarian Army, Unknown units, Camouflaged with dark green base and tan and red-brown random camouflage, without the mesh armour fittings as with option 2.