1:72 S-59 Heavy SPG

S-59 Heavy SPG 1:72 — a kit of a heavy self-propelled gun

Zebranomodel has long devoted itself to unusual types of military hardware that cannot be found in the ordinary range. This set is one of them: a heavy self-propelled gun in 1:72 scale, that is in a size in which even a bulky machine can be built and displayed without demanding a large cabinet. The number of parts, the material of the castings and the extent of the extras are given in the instructions and on the box.

The real subject

The designation S-59 refers to a heavy self-propelled gun of the Second World War period, that is to the category of vehicles that carried a heavy barrel weapon on a tracked chassis derived from a tank. The caliber of the armament, the chassis used and whether the type remained at the prototype stage are given differently in the specialist literature; anyone building the model with an ambition to period accuracy should look the subject up in the literature.

Building and painting tips

With large self-propelled guns the running gear decides the result. Assemble and paint the wheels and the tracks before you close the hull — afterwards you will practically not reach them with a brush. Try the parts dry first; if the set contains resin parts, wash the mold release agent off them, cut the casting blocks away with a saw and sand with respiratory protection. A base coat of primer holds on both materials better than paint applied directly. The large surface of the hull easily looks flat on a heavy vehicle, so it pays to bring the shade to life — lighten the horizontal surfaces slightly, darken the shadows under projections and add a thin wash. Dust and mud belong on the underside and on the track runs rather than over the whole model.

Who the model is for

• Collectors of heavy self-propelled hardware of the 20th century in 1:72 scale
• Modelers looking for an unusual subject outside the mainstream
• Builders who like to look the subject up in the literature themselves
• More experienced modelers — short-run sets call for preparation of the parts

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.