In Box Review of Dragon 1/16th Scale Warrior Series Obersturmführer
Kit no. 1625
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1999
I paid $14.98 for this kit back then.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1999
I paid $14.98 for this kit back then.
HISTORY:
The 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf" (German: 3. SS-Panzer Division "Totenkopf") was an elite division of the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II, formed from the Standarten of the SS-TV. Its name, Totenkopf, is German for "death's head" – the skull and crossbones symbol – and it is thus sometimes referred to as the Death's Head Division.
The division was formed through the expansion of Kamp Gruppe Eicke, a battle group named – in keeping with German military practice – after its commander, Theodor Eicke. Most of the battle group's personnel had been transferred to the Waffen-SS from concentration camp guard units, which were known collectively as SS-Totenkopfverbände; others were former members of Selbstschutz: ethnic German militias that had committed war crimes in Poland.
The division became notorious for its brutality, and committed numerous war crimes, including the Le Paradis and Chasselay massacres. The remnants of the division surrendered on 9 May 1945 to American forces in Czechoslovakia.
SPECIFICATIONS:
3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf
3. SS-Panzer Division "Totenkopf"
Active: 1939–45
Country: Nazi Germany
Branch: Waffen-SS
Type: Panzer
Role: Armoured warfare
Size: Division
Nickname: Death's Head Division
Engagements: World War II, Operation Konrad III, Operation Spring Awakening
Notable commander: Theodor Eicke
The 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf" (German: 3. SS-Panzer Division "Totenkopf") was an elite division of the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II, formed from the Standarten of the SS-TV. Its name, Totenkopf, is German for "death's head" – the skull and crossbones symbol – and it is thus sometimes referred to as the Death's Head Division.
The division was formed through the expansion of Kamp Gruppe Eicke, a battle group named – in keeping with German military practice – after its commander, Theodor Eicke. Most of the battle group's personnel had been transferred to the Waffen-SS from concentration camp guard units, which were known collectively as SS-Totenkopfverbände; others were former members of Selbstschutz: ethnic German militias that had committed war crimes in Poland.
The division became notorious for its brutality, and committed numerous war crimes, including the Le Paradis and Chasselay massacres. The remnants of the division surrendered on 9 May 1945 to American forces in Czechoslovakia.
SPECIFICATIONS:
3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf
3. SS-Panzer Division "Totenkopf"
Active: 1939–45
Country: Nazi Germany
Branch: Waffen-SS
Type: Panzer
Role: Armoured warfare
Size: Division
Nickname: Death's Head Division
Engagements: World War II, Operation Konrad III, Operation Spring Awakening
Notable commander: Theodor Eicke
THE KIT:
Dragon (sometimes named DML) is an old prolific plastic model manufacturer, based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of an Obersturmfuhrer (Totenkopf Division, Budapest 1945), who is standing beside a building and a tank, that are illustrated in black and white.
He is standing and holding a Panzerfaust. He wears a green billed field cap, a white fleece lined jacket, grey gloves and grey trousers that are bloused into high black jack boots. He has a sub machine-gun slung over his right shoulder and a pistol holster and ammo pouches on his belt.
The lower left hand corner of the box art says: This kit contains 36 parts for modelers aged 10 and over. Box contains a model of one figure. Paint and glue are not included.
Dragon (sometimes named DML) is an old prolific plastic model manufacturer, based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of an Obersturmfuhrer (Totenkopf Division, Budapest 1945), who is standing beside a building and a tank, that are illustrated in black and white.
He is standing and holding a Panzerfaust. He wears a green billed field cap, a white fleece lined jacket, grey gloves and grey trousers that are bloused into high black jack boots. He has a sub machine-gun slung over his right shoulder and a pistol holster and ammo pouches on his belt.
The lower left hand corner of the box art says: This kit contains 36 parts for modelers aged 10 and over. Box contains a model of one figure. Paint and glue are not included.
One side panel of the box shows color front and back view illustrations of the figure, the copyright of the kit as 1999 and Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China. Kit was made there and all rights are reserved.
The other side panel shows color illustrations of the box arts of other Dragon 1/16th scale figure kits: Kit no. 1621- A Hauptsturmfuhrer (Otto Skorzeny, Gran Sasso Raid 1943) and Kit no. 1622-A Sturmbannfuhrer Diefenthal (Stoumont 1944).
Below them it says: Not suitable for children under 3 years because of small parts. For modelers over 10 years of age, in multiple languages, including English.
Below them it says: Not suitable for children under 3 years because of small parts. For modelers over 10 years of age, in multiple languages, including English.
The back of the box shows a drawing of the assembled figure on the base with color suggestions called out. On the right side are front and back black and white line drawings of the figure showing the part numbers and where they are located on the figure.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds two light-grey trees of up to 36 parts and one jet-black base-block part and 2 decal sheets, in two sealed cello bags.
The kit holds two light-grey trees of up to 36 parts and one jet-black base-block part and 2 decal sheets, in two sealed cello bags.
The weapons and gear consist of: A bazooka, an MG42 sub machine-gun and two of it's ammo clips, a stick-grenade, a spade in a carrying case, 2 pouches, a revolver and it's holster along with assembly instructions for them.
I have assembled him, all but the weapons and mounting him on the base-block.
The detail is excellent.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.