DRAGON 1/35 Scale - M7 Priest Mid Production Plastic Model Kit

Feature:
- Newly tooled M7 Priest Mid-Production w/authentic details
- Newly tooled one-piece slide-molded transmission cover w/realistic cast detail
- Newly tooled air filters
- Newly tooled glacis plate finely produced w/weld seams
- Newly tooled fighting compartment armor w/accurate detail on both sides
- Newly tooled vehicle tools have clasp detail
- New rear-hull armor plate w/air filters
- Brand new M7 105mm howitzer w/complete breech
- Newly designed engine deck w/photo-etched ventilator covers
- Newly designed M7 machine gun pulpit provides 360? field of fire for the MG
- Hatches and periscope cover can be assembled open/closed
- Aluminum gun barrel w/finely reproduced rifling
- Transmission system w/excellent detail
- Intricately reproduced gun elevation system
- Fully detailed gun cradle mount w/bolt and support-brace details
- Gun breech made by slide-molds
- Shield supports connected to gun also included
- Gun trails w/hand wheels finely reproduced
- Fighting compartment w/accurate interior detail
- Floor pattern realistically produced
- Anti-aircraft MG w/gun mount
- Detailed instrument panel
- Includes driver's controls
- Engine-compartment rear panel is sharply detailed
- Chassis made by 2-directional slide-molds; bolts and rivets delicately represented on hull
- Idler wheels have delicate detail
- Realistically reproduced suspension system
- Towing eyes included
- Suspension bogies w/realistic cast detail
- DS T48 tracks w/great details

In the new era of modern mobile armored warfare, the USA recognized the need for a self-propelled howitzer that could keep pace with tanks and lend rapid fire support. Out of the quest for such a vehicle, the American M7 Priest was born. Originally based on the chassis of the M3 Lee tank, the Priest received its name owing to the distinctive pulpit-like mount for the machinegun. A 105mm howitzer was fitted in the open-topped superstructure, and production of the new weapon commenced in the USA in April 1942. Priests began equipping the US Army, but some were also diverted to the British Army which was fighting in North Africa at that early stage. The Priest served with the US Army throughout the war. In all, 3490 Priests were produced, and such was their success that they served in US and other Allied armies well after WWII had concluded.

Dragon has served fans of German self-propelled howitzers well, and now it's the turn of Allied proponents to add artillery pieces to their collections! In fact, this new kit of a Mid-Production variant of the M7 Priest is something of a milestone since it is Dragon's first ever open-topped Allied AFV with interior detail. This obviously required completely new designs and tooling for the upper hull and fighting compartment. All the necessary details such as ammo storage are present in the fighting compartment, which itself features finely honed walls to give a true-to-scale thickness to the upper-hull armor plates. The gun is highly detailed and is based on the successful towed 105mm howitzer previously released by Dragon. Interestingly, the lower hull is also a brand new tooling, having nothing in common with existing Sherman kits in Dragon's range. When combined with the existing high standard of Sherman tracks and running gear, this M7 Priest is most definitely the most accurate version of this artillery piece available on the market.