In Box Review of DML Dragon 1/16th Scale
German SS-Sturmbannfuhrer, Ardennes 1944
Kit no. 1602
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $17.80
Kit has a copyright date of 1995. I paid $7.00 for my kit back then.
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $17.80
Kit has a copyright date of 1995. I paid $7.00 for my kit back then.
HISTORY:
Sturmbannführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank equivalent to major that was used in several Nazi organizations, such as the SA, SS, and the NSFK. Translated as "assault (or storm) unit leader" (Sturmbann being the SA and early SS equivalent to a battalion), the rank originated from German shock troop units of the First World War.
The SA title of Sturmbannführer was first established in 1921. In 1928, the title became an actual rank and was also one of the first established SS ranks. The insignia of a Sturmbannführer was four silver pips centered on a collar patch.
The rank rated below Standartenführer until 1932, when Sturmbannführer became subordinate to the new rank of Obersturmbannführer. In the Waffen-SS, Sturmbannführer was considered equivalent to a major in the German Wehrmacht.
The rank was held by Wernher von Braun, who developed the V-2 rocket, and later designed the Saturn V rocket for the U.S. space program. Also, Eberhard Heder, Otto Günsche and war criminals, such as Otto Förschner.
Sturmbannführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank equivalent to major that was used in several Nazi organizations, such as the SA, SS, and the NSFK. Translated as "assault (or storm) unit leader" (Sturmbann being the SA and early SS equivalent to a battalion), the rank originated from German shock troop units of the First World War.
The SA title of Sturmbannführer was first established in 1921. In 1928, the title became an actual rank and was also one of the first established SS ranks. The insignia of a Sturmbannführer was four silver pips centered on a collar patch.
The rank rated below Standartenführer until 1932, when Sturmbannführer became subordinate to the new rank of Obersturmbannführer. In the Waffen-SS, Sturmbannführer was considered equivalent to a major in the German Wehrmacht.
The rank was held by Wernher von Braun, who developed the V-2 rocket, and later designed the Saturn V rocket for the U.S. space program. Also, Eberhard Heder, Otto Günsche and war criminals, such as Otto Förschner.
THE KIT:
DML Dragon is a prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Sturmbannfuher in a camouflaged uniform, with a grey officer's hat. He has low shoes. There is a brown ammo case for a MP44 that he is armed with and a pistol holster on his belt, a pair of binoculars and a grey scarf around his neck. He holds a field map in his right hand and is pointing with his left arm. He is posed against a map behind him.
The box art says the kit holds 19 parts and is for modelers over 10 years of age. It contains a model of one figure and paint and cement are not included.
One side panel of the box has color box arts of 2 other 1/16th scale figure kits that DML manufactures: kit no. 1603, a German Falschimjager (Monte Cassino) 1944 and kit no. 1604, a German SS-Sturmmann (Ardennes) 1944.
DML Dragon is a prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Sturmbannfuher in a camouflaged uniform, with a grey officer's hat. He has low shoes. There is a brown ammo case for a MP44 that he is armed with and a pistol holster on his belt, a pair of binoculars and a grey scarf around his neck. He holds a field map in his right hand and is pointing with his left arm. He is posed against a map behind him.
The box art says the kit holds 19 parts and is for modelers over 10 years of age. It contains a model of one figure and paint and cement are not included.
One side panel of the box has color box arts of 2 other 1/16th scale figure kits that DML manufactures: kit no. 1603, a German Falschimjager (Monte Cassino) 1944 and kit no. 1604, a German SS-Sturmmann (Ardennes) 1944.
The other side panel has 2 color photos of the kits figure made up, showing the front and rear of him. This is over Marco Polo Import INC's street address in City of Industry, CA and their FAX number and MADE IN HONG KONG.
Marco Polo was importer and distributor for DML in the past.
Marco Polo was importer and distributor for DML in the past.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains a large and a small light-grey parts tree, a black base cube in 3 sealed cello bags and the instructions.
The large light-grey tree holds the figures parts. He is divided into seperate body (form neck to ankles), arms, head, hands, shoes, hat and pouches (15 parts)
This kit contains a large and a small light-grey parts tree, a black base cube in 3 sealed cello bags and the instructions.
The large light-grey tree holds the figures parts. He is divided into seperate body (form neck to ankles), arms, head, hands, shoes, hat and pouches (15 parts)
The smaller light-grey tree holds the MP44.
The other even smaller Light-grey tree holds binoculars and a ammo case (2 parts)
The black base cube completes the kits contents.
There are no decals in the kit.
There are no decals in the kit.
The instructions consist of a slick-coated sheet printed on one side in color. It is 8" x 11" format. It shows the figure on the base in color. There is a field map to cut out with scissors and pose in his right hand and a line drawing of his front and rear.
The box is blousy with a letter L void around the parts. The instructions do fit the box, but if they were folded they would only take up the same area as the parts.
This is a nicely detailed figure, but I dread trying to pull off that cammo scheme on his clothing.
His jacket and pants are 2 different patterns...sigh.
Otherwise highly recommended.
His jacket and pants are 2 different patterns...sigh.
Otherwise highly recommended.
I bought my kit back in the 90's at my local hobby shop.