Dragon has already released a 1/35 scale kit of the American M4 Mortar Carrier, and has now backed it up with a new kit of its successor, the M21 Mortar Motor Carriage. The M21 had a number of improvements over the M4, chief of which was the vehicle being based on the longer M3 halftrack chassis. This extended length allowed the mounted mortar to fire towards the front (rather than rearwards as on the M4), and permitted the .50-cal machine gun to be mounted in a pedestal near the rear of the vehicle. The main armament of the M21 halftrack was obviously the M1 81mm mortar, which was supplied with 97 rounds. Another distinctive feature of the M21 was the fitting of stowage racks along the external sides of the fighting compartment. The M21 Mortar Carrier was used by both US and Free French forces during WWII.

Dragons new 1/35 scale M21 kit is well appointed. The new rear door on the hull can be posed open or closed, while the fighting compartment itself is brand new to replicate the M21s unique configuration. The whole of the open-topped fighting compartment is fully detailed, including a brand new M1 mortar with aluminum tube. The internal ammo racks are filled with newly tooled mortar rounds ready for firing. On the outside of the fighting compartment are brand new stowage racks, and here Dragon has come up with a neat solution. The external mine racks come as a pre-molded option with all the mines in place, or alternatively, a full set of individual mines can be affixed as chosen by the modeler. These separate mines come with photo-etched parts to provide heightened detail. To ensure this M21 is ready for action, Dragon also throws in a bonus driver figure. As can be seen, Dragons M21 has an exhaustive set of specifications that allow modelers to create a model full of individual flair!

Features

• Newly tooled Mortar ammo in rack
• New arrangement of M21 fighting compartment cabin w/interior details
• MG w/hollow muzzle produced by slide molds
• Accurate rubber track modeled w/center guide band
• Full drive train assembly complete w/engine transmission, differential housing and suspension units
• One-piece chassis frame w/correct details
• Rear luggage rack can be assembled in folded or open mode
• New rear door can be assembled open or closed
• 81mm mortar gun barrel made from aluminum metal
• Rear panel w/crisp details
• Side armor peculiar to M21
• Radio w/crisp detail
• Super-detailed multi-direction slide-molded sprocket wheels
• Bonus driver
• New ladder is finely reproduced for M21
• Individual mines w/photo-etched parts
• External mine rack for M21
• Optional one-piece external mine rack (w/mines inside)
• Multi-direction slide-molded idler wheels are superbly reproduced
• Tires intentionally shaped to mimic bulging caused by a heavy load
• Road wheels w/crisp details
• Slide-molded wheel couplings
• Hubcaps w/superb details
• Bogie assembly w/internal spring detail
• Differential housing comes w/bolt and rib details
• Steering mechanism in full detail
• Spring suspension is reproduced well
• Engine complete w/radiator and oil sump
• Headlights w/corresponding light guards
• Winch assembly especially for M21
• Armored front grill w/accurate bolt details can be modeled in two modes: bonus individual photo-etched slats available for the open mode
• Engine hood w/detailed bolt and hinges
• Front window armor can be assembled open/closed; includes finely molded struts
• Front windshield made w/clear parts
• Photo-etched windshield wipers in fine details
• Photo-etched visors for armored window covers
• Detailed dashboard instrument panel
• Delicate steering wheel and controls
• Top half of cab doors can be assembled in swing-down position
• Jerry cans w/delicate strap details
• One-piece exhaust and muffler
• Rear tow hook is fully detailed
• Rear mud flaps made from photo-etched parts
• Sharply reproduced on-vehicle tools