The 152mm shkH DANA vz.77 was designed and built in the former Czechoslovakia, now Slovakia. The designation, shkH vz.77, means self-propelled gun-howitzer model 77. The DANA was introduced into service in the 1970s. It was the first wheeled 152mm self-propelled artillery gun to enter service. Currently, it is employed by the Czech Republic, Libya, Poland, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, and Ukraine.
Hobby Boss' new 1/72 DANA plastic model kit features fine parts, eight soft vinyl tires with excellent tread, and minimal seams. The main cab, engine compartment, and undercarriage are well-detailed, single parts, and clear, plastic pieces provide the windows. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, with a full-color painting and markings guide that includes diagrams for two camouflaged DANAs and two in overall dark green. The decal sheet provides markings for all four along with dashboard details.
The single-piece main body and frame required little cleanup for such complex moldings, and this greatly decreased the amount of time it took to assemble the model. The fully detailed interior gets hidden, for the most part, and this would be the case even with open windows. A full engine is also included, which is slightly more visible through the openings in the single-piece engine compartment. The scale details captured in these large, slide-molded parts are awe-inspiring.
The stabilizers can be modeled in the stowed or active positions. The only real issue I found with mine was minor: The wheels push onto pegs that lock them in place, but my wheels remained a bit wobbly when attached. I suggest gluing them in place after you finish painting.
The main gun and turret are constructed of many slide-molded parts with hydraulic pistons so you can position them to look like they move in and out. In the instructions, it says not to cement these parts so they remain posable. I'm not sure if mine had a looser fit or if I did something wrong, but they didn't stay in place. I ended up gluing them in so they wouldn't move.
I spent about 15 hours building and painting my HobbyBoss 1/72 scale 152mm ShkH DANA vz.77 plastic model kit. I was impressed with the detail quality and how the parts fit. Any modeler familiar with 1/72 scale armor would have no difficulty building this kit. It would undoubtedly make a fine addition to any collection of modern armor.