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DML Type 2 (Ka-Mi) Amphibious Tank

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Philippines
DML Type 2 (Ka-Mi) Amphibious Tank
Posted by constructor on Thursday, August 4, 2011 5:01 PM

While in the process of building this japanese tank I noticed mistakes in the instruction sheet.  For the benefit of those who will be making this model, I have scanned pages of the instruction sheet where I found errors. The tank is easy to build because of the simplicity of its design but many details were included in the interior which when done will not or be hardly seen, I find it a fun build, making my first japanese tank ever.

 

On the first page of the manual, (K) ,the handles of the grilled doors were interchanged and basing it from the drawing, D16 and D20 should be switched in location.

On page 2, the box on the upper right hand corner, all the parts marked D except D25(D26) should have been marked as parts A because the parts can be found on Sprue A.

In step 9, in the turret hatches, part A35 is nowhere to be found, Parts in sprue A does not have A35 nor could it be found in the other sprues. I had to make the handles from brass wires.

On step 7, assembling the gun mount, there should have been a warning not to cement parts C15(16) and C18 to C44. Otherwise the gun will not elevate.

These are the corrections I made on my build. I hope it can be of help to others. In fairness, the tank looks good, deails are DML sharp and fit is good.

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Thursday, August 4, 2011 7:00 PM

Not my build, but here is a link to a finished kit for inspiration. It looks very nice indeed.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/409173/thread/1310481980/1-35+Dragon+Japanese+Type+2+Amphibious+Tanks+finished-

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Texas
Posted by wbill76 on Saturday, August 6, 2011 3:44 PM

I've yet to finish a single DML kit in the 10 years I've been building them that didn't have at least one error in the instructions...it continues to be one of the areas where they could really improve on but don't seem to be particularly interested in. Big Smile To their credit they do often correct mistakes when they release another version of the same vehicle but to have those kind of mistakes in a brand-new kit just makes me shake my head in wonderment. Propeller  

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Northern Va
Posted by psstoff995's lbro on Saturday, August 6, 2011 4:01 PM

Those kits don't come with the pontoons, do they?

-Will young modeler Test fit master
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Philippines
Posted by constructor on Saturday, August 6, 2011 6:52 PM

psstoff995's lbro

Those kits don't come with the pontoons, do they?

Nope it was not included. I think modellers were hoping it is included. In fairness to DML, the kit builds into a very nice tank. Fit is very good and details are sharp.

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Dublin Rep Of Ireland
Posted by terry35 on Sunday, August 7, 2011 9:26 AM

This is one of the kits That I really fell in love with the idea of owning when announced, it looks Sao cool, I think I will be offering one this week.

I look forward to seeing how you progress on this one, knowing your work I know it will be brilliant.

 

 

Terry.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Sunday, August 7, 2011 2:20 PM

It could be a marketing strategy; release the kit without the pontoons now, and a special limited edition (maybe CyberHobby?) with pontoons later and at a premium price. You can get the folks who have to have it now buy two kits instead of just one.

Other companies did something similar; like the Hobby Boss M4 High Speed Tractor. It was released in the 90mm AAA towing version (strange choice since there's no gun to tow) and later the artillery towing version.

Tamiya did it with the M26 Dragon Wagon and FAMO, each one with and without trailer.

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Sunday, August 7, 2011 3:29 PM

WOW< a pretty neat looking tank. Thanks for pointing out the instructions errors.

It amazes me that DML does these full interiors and puts in parts that will never be seen. In the German halftracks, there are numerous details under the fighting compartment that are literally impossible to see, yet they're there--I guess to allow you to do a cutaway version?

Pe4rsonally, I don't even build them if they can't be seen.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Philippines
Posted by constructor on Sunday, August 7, 2011 4:32 PM

the doog

WOW< a pretty neat looking tank. Thanks for pointing out the instructions errors.

It amazes me that DML does these full interiors and puts in parts that will never be seen. In the German halftracks, there are numerous details under the fighting compartment that are literally impossible to see, yet they're there--I guess to allow you to do a cutaway version?

Pe4rsonally, I don't even build them if they can't be seen.

Doog, The turret I would say has a complete interior but the chassis has some details but not a complete interior. They did something around the engine compartment but no engine, They did something in the forward compartment but no drivers seat and controls, just the front plate with the machine gun and details on the viewing slot. All this are practically not visible even without the turret. We can say  "There is and there is none".

Noli

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Philippines
Posted by constructor on Monday, August 8, 2011 12:40 AM

[quote user="terry35"]

This is one of the kits That I really fell in love with the idea of owning when announced, it looks Sao cool, I think I will be offering one this week.

I look forward to seeing how you progress on this one, knowing your work I know it will be brilliant.

Terry.

[/quote

Here are some pictures of what I have done so far. As you can see, the interior isnt much. They have some stuff here and there.

The top of the hull is almost complete.

The inside of the hull

This is the front portion of the hull interior

Some sub assemblies

I have several of this compartmentalized plastic boxes where I keep parts.

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Monday, August 8, 2011 3:06 PM

Thanks for posting your photos. I'm going to have pick up one of these but am willing to wait till I can get it somewhat cheaper, plus I'll see what they do concerning the pontoons.

Still looking forward to seeing how your kit comes out.

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Philippines
Posted by constructor on Monday, August 8, 2011 4:18 PM

Gamera

Thanks for posting your photos. I'm going to have pick up one of these but am willing to wait till I can get it somewhat cheaper, plus I'll see what they do concerning the pontoons.

Still looking forward to seeing how your kit comes out.

I agree with you. I think it is a little expensive for what is inside the box and for what is not inside

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Monday, August 8, 2011 8:41 PM

The price still pales in comparison to how much Fine Molds IJA tank kits initially went for in the late 90s-early 2000s; $150 for a kit that builds (nicely) into a 1/35 scale tank that can sit on a stand the size of an average smart phone.

As to the interior, you know that if a rudimentary interior wasn't included, folks would complain about that too. I bet they figured it was so small a vehicle that they ought to include as much plastic as possible to justify the price.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Philippines
Posted by constructor on Tuesday, August 9, 2011 5:02 AM

Rob Gronovius

The price still pales in comparison to how much Fine Molds IJA tank kits initially went for in the late 90s-early 2000s; $150 for a kit that builds (nicely) into a 1/35 scale tank that can sit on a stand the size of an average smart phone.

As to the interior, you know that if a rudimentary interior wasn't included, folks would complain about that too. I bet they figured it was so small a vehicle that they ought to include as much plastic as possible to justify the price.

Fine Molds is an entirely different banana. I still cannot understand them. With his tank, instead of adding stuff in the back portion, they should have concentrated on the driver area at least more can be seen from there. But I love this tank. Completely different from anything I have built so far.

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: GERMANY
Posted by Melchior on Saturday, August 27, 2011 4:38 PM

Don't worry about mistakes in the assembly instruction of this kit.There are much more and let me say heavier mistakes made in the instruction of kit-no. 6657 "VK 45.02 (P) H". DMLhas forgotten the whole interior drawings for the turret, esp. mounting of gun ... and marked those parts as not for ue !!!

However this and several mor mistakes, typically for DML ?

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Philippines
Posted by constructor on Sunday, August 28, 2011 7:13 PM

Melchior

Don't worry about mistakes in the assembly instruction of this kit.There are much more and let me say heavier mistakes made in the instruction of kit-no. 6657 "VK 45.02 (P) H". DMLhas forgotten the whole interior drawings for the turret, esp. mounting of gun ... and marked those parts as not for ue !!!

However this and several mor mistakes, typically for DML ?

I cannot understand how they (DML) can be so thorough in their research for details in producing a kit and be equally sloppy in their instruction sheet.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: On my kitchen counter top somewhere in central North Carolina.
Posted by disastermaster on Monday, August 29, 2011 9:03 PM

constructor

 

 Melchior:

 

Don't worry about mistakes in the assembly instruction of this kit.There are much more and let me say heavier mistakes made in the instruction of kit-no. 6657 "VK 45.02 (P) H". DML has forgotten the whole interior drawings for the turret, esp. mounting of gun ... and marked those parts as not for use !!!

However this and several more mistakes, typically for DML ?

 

 

I cannot understand how they (DML) can be so thorough in their research for details in producing a kit and be equally sloppy in their instruction sheet.

 http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQUrTUlACR9djxBbzn_t1zs6rGMCPABnfeIOH0sIXL_4Xb2mWsb Yeah, I know what you mean.

   I'm presently working on Dragon kit-no. 6613 "VK 45.02 (P)V" which has the very same issues.

It might be a challenge for newbies http://planetsmilies.net/not-tagged-smiley-2020.gif

                     but most of us should be able to handle it.

                                                         http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b232/gluetank/Animated/th_1-Animated-Disastermaster.gif?t=1296616998

 https://i.imgur.com/LjRRaV1.png

 

 

 
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Monday, August 29, 2011 9:10 PM

Other than their first Shermans and earlier modern Soviet kits, I hadn't built a lot of Dragon kits until they stepped into the 1/72 scale market back in the early 2000s. Boy, did those instructions have a lot of problems. Even the instructions that used color photos of the assembled kit in stages were so confusing and inaccurate.

Here we are, nearly a decade later, and a company that makes many of the top kits still has issues with instruction sheets.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Texas
Posted by wbill76 on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 10:37 AM

While it boggles the mind as to why they don't do something about the instruction quality in general (and they can't say they don't know about it as they actively and routinely peruse online forums such as this one), they at least make attempts to correct them in later versions of the same kit. The ironic thing about even that half-measure though is that they often introduce NEW errors in the process! Big Smile I've yet to build a single DML kit in the 10+ years I've been building their stuff where the instructions didn't include at least one error. The all-time winner has to be their Sdkfz 251/17 Luftwaffe version kit...it had errors (sometimes more than 1) in EVERY SINGLE step in the instructions from start to finish. Propeller

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: GERMANY
Posted by Melchior on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 4:29 PM

@ disastermaster and constructor,

right you are ! I'm presently finishing the DML "VK 45.02 (P) H" and those errors made in the assembling instruction are a "no no" at all.

However since more than 32 yrs I'm a modeller again ( except time as student ) ...I'm now 61 yrs old... I' m able to  solve those problems. Nevertheless the above statements are clearly true, a beginner in modellig will have several assembly-troubles to solve.

Maybe someone knows the resin-made kits of a German producer named "FRANK_MODELLBAU / airmodel" ? He offered 20 yrs ago 1/35 scaled AFV resin made kits, i.e. Maus, Sturmtiger, T-72, 15cm sIG 33 etc., etc. !

I have had the opportunity to help an create for Mr. Richard Frank the designs ( layout ) of several  assembling instructions. Errors or any faults should never be doneand we were good, never done such.

So, never mind, you wouldn' t change those guys I suppose. They are too quick, they don't have enough time or they have to fulfil too much tasks. Isn't it anywhere in another way done on world ?

So, best wishes to you all and have a nice day.  

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: GERMANY
Posted by Melchior on Sunday, November 6, 2011 3:32 PM

@ constructor, presently I'm assembling the Ka-Mi DML-kit and thanks for your advices. However there are some more, I' ve found.

Step "D" the numbering of idler-wheels should read A18 instead of A17 and A17 instead of A16. Also seems to change sides for mounting of cap A22. Doesn't fit the slightly bigger hole in a better way on the axle of part A10 (printed as D10) in step 2 (right upper corner) ???

May be I'll find more ...

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Philippines
Posted by constructor on Monday, November 7, 2011 6:57 AM

Melchior

@ constructor, presently I'm assembling the Ka-Mi DML-kit and thanks for your advices. However there are some more, I' ve found.

Step "D" the numbering of idler-wheels should read A18 instead of A17 and A17 instead of A16. Also seems to change sides for mounting of cap A22. Doesn't fit the slightly bigger hole in a better way on the axle of part A10 (printed as D10) in step 2 (right upper corner) ???

May be I'll find more ...

You're right about he D17 and 16 parts. Also, I forgot to mention that they did not indicate that D10 should not be cemented when placed in the box of D25.It should slide forward or backward when trapped by D7 because it is the track tensioner. But then again it is a little too tight so I had to sand it a little all around to make it go forward or backward. In step 7, take note of Q where I indicated that C18 and C14 should not be cemented to C44. They should be cemented to each other trapping C44. If it gets cemented, the gun will not elevate.

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: GERMANY
Posted by Melchior on Saturday, November 12, 2011 5:32 PM

indeed

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: GERMANY
Posted by Melchior on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 11:33 AM
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Philippines
Posted by constructor on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 11:37 PM

Melchior

Looks very good Melchior. Which japanese figures did you use? They look good too.

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: GERMANY
Posted by Melchior on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 10:51 AM

Thanks for your statement. Nice to read.

The tank-crew-member belongs to Tamiya's item no. 35075, i.e. Japanese medium Tank Type 97 (CHI-HA) ... an older kit I suppose. The officer standing on the deck behind the turret was made by Verlinden, very long time ago. I don't know if this Verlinden-kit will still be available.

However there are new figures' kit annonced by ICM, showing 4 or 5 Japanese soldiers of WWII. Unfortunately it's unknown when those figures will be ready to be sold.

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Philippines
Posted by constructor on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 8:20 PM

Right, I knew we we've met somewhere before. BTW. maybe you could fix the broken antenna.

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: GERMANY
Posted by Melchior on Thursday, December 22, 2011 4:00 PM

I'm sorry, the right figures' kit wouldn't be produced by ICM, it's "MiniArt" who will offer those Japanese Tank Crew, see:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.131837663579244.26228.100002590329984&type=1#!/photo.php?fbid=184792811617062&set=a.131837663579244.26228.100002590329984&type=3&theater

Antenna was repaired and broken again, repaired again ... may be I would become to old or my eyes don't work as they should  Confused

The trial-period is over, may be I'll find also some other backgrounds what would be better ... but I#m presently satisfied ... yr opinions ?

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.126852840744393.24730.100002590329984&type=1#!/photo.php?fbid=185342334895443&set=a.126852840744393.24730.100002590329984&type=1&theater

 

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