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This conversion of the DML E-100 super heavy tank (kit no. 7256) substitutes the kits Krupp turret (fielding a 150mm gun) with an alternative upper
hull superstructure sporting a particularly impressive 17.0cm Pak anti-tank gun thus creating the tank destroyer version of the E-100 sometimes
referred to as the “Krokodil”. Since this version of the E-100 was only a concept this kit belongs firmly in the ‘paper panzers’ division of any
German armour modellers collection.
The Kora offering comes in a small sturdy cardboard box with a simple hand drawn instruction sheet. The kit appears to present a relatively
straightforward assembly process and consists of the upper hull, recessed gun mantlet, mantlet cover, front hull armour plate, anti-aircraft
turret, two crew hatches, gun cradle extension, muzzle brake, gun barrel lifting lug, AA gun barrel and main gun barrel.
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The resin moulding is generally acceptable but not outstanding, with small amounts of flash on the parts but no signs of casting air bubble holes.
There are however significant moulding plugs on most parts except for the upper hull and anti-aircraft turret all of which will need to be removed
with some care.
Having no references or plans with which to confirm the scale size I can only say the upper hull looks right and a quick fit check with the DML
upper hull confirms it appears to be a good fit. A simple fit check of the other parts revealed the probable need for some sanding and filler
during assembly as unlike most plastic kits the various parts are not precision made. This is particularly the case between the upper hull and
the front hull armoured plate and recessed gun mantlet which do not appear to fit particularly well together.
Whilst the main gun barrel and anti-aircraft gun barrel are reasonable attempts at moulding in resin neither contains a metal rod stiffener nor
in my copy were they particularly straight. Over time these may either warp further or, with heavy handling snap, so one might want to consider
a couple of replacement scratch built or turned aluminium barrels as a necessary addition for this kit.
The upper hull is a hollow resin moulding and is therefore quite light. Grab handles moulded on the cupola hatches and rear access hatches are
much simplified and one might consider replacing with suitably sized fuse wire. The upper hull is relatively bare of detail such as additional
track link stowage, or the armoured side skirt crane attachment points, though the later could be taken directly from the Dragon E-100 kit (parts B13).
On the turret roof two of cupola hatches come as separate parts so can be modeled open for crew figures with a third hatch (gunners?) being
cast with the hull. Not represented in this Kora version is any infra-red night fighting equipment for commander, gunner or driver which in my
opinion would have been a nice touch. Note that the overall finished vehicle is very much different in shape to that offered in the Cromwell
models ‘Combat Ready’ version.
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In summary, the kit is a reasonably moulded and detailed example of a conceptual vehicle. An out-of-the-box build will provide an interesting alternative
E-100 configuration, though additional effort to improve on existing features or add additional detail would not go amiss.
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