Dragon 1/35 ZSU-23-4V1 Shilka 3521

The Dragon 1/35 ZSU-23-4V1 Shilka is a plastic model kit in the Dragon Modern Military range. The ZSU-23-4 undertook operational trials in about 1964 and entered service in about 1966. The early ZSU-23-4 Shilkas were plagued with fire-control problems, mainly connected with the onboard electronics. A major source of the difficulties was the density of vacuum tubes and other relatively dated electronic components that gave off considerable heat. Various attempts were made to improve heat dissipation, but problems continued to plague the ZSU-23-4 Shilka throughout the next decade. The troubles were made manifest in the many small modifications carried out to the turret venting systems. A tactical offshoot of the electronics problems was that the Shilka crews had to restrict the amount of time using the radar in the surveillance mode. The Shilka turret was substantially redesigned in an endeavour to solve some of these problems. This version emerged in about 1972 as the ZSU-23-4VI.


Manufacturer: Dragon
Model: 3321 ZSU-23-4V1 Shilka
Scale: 1/35