DML 1/35 Sexton II w/CDP Tracks First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

During the North African campaign, the British Army hastily adapted available obsolete Valentine tanks into mobile artillery pieces using the 25 pounder gun. This new system was designated 'Bishop' but the elevation limitations within the turret limited the effectiveness of the gun which led to crews firing from hillsides and obstacles to achieve proper gun elevation. The Bishop was quickly replaced with the M7 Priest, but a new set of logistics problems arose trying to acquire and route American-made ammunition for the Priests in the field. The British turned to the Canadians.

The Canadians had developed a mobile artillery mount using the Ram (M3 Lee) tank chassis paired with the 25 pounder gun. The British Army ordered this new artillery system into production and the the combination of the 25 pounder on the Ram chassis was designated Sexton I. An alternative chassis option came from the Canadian Grizzly (M4A1) chassis paired with the 25 pounder gun and this combination became the most widely used Commonwealth self-propelled artillery system, designated as Sexton II.

DML has mixed a little old and new tooling to render this distinctive Commonwealth artillery system, the Sexton II. Molded in light gray styrene, this kit is presented on 12 parts trees plus four runs of DS track and one small fret of photo-etched parts (duplicate trees not shown). Like the Priest, the Sexton is an open-top vehicle so there should be plenty of details to be seen inside the vehicle. Among the features and options in this kit:

• Detailed M4A1 suspension
• Detailed driver's station
• Detailed radio communications station
• Detailed 25 pounder gun
• Range/elevation computer
• Nice details on the hull exterior including ammo stowage

Markings are provided for the following examples:

• 86 Field Regt (SP) RA (Herfordshire Yeomanry), 2nd Army, NWE, 1944
• 5 Field Regt (SP) RHA, 7 Armoured Div, NWE, 1945
• 1 Artillery Regt, Motorized, 1st Polish Armoured Div, France, 1944
• 23 Field Regt (SP) RCA 4, Canadian Armoured Div, NWE, 1945

This is another nice release from DML which will provide a distinctive subject for your shelf. With the details and open top of this vehicle, it will also serve as a great basis for a vignette or diorama with the addition of some figures and whatever else would set the stage for your project.

Thanks to DML for this review sample.