In Box Review of Dragon 1/35th Scale
German Engineers w/Goliath Demolition Vehicle
35-39 Series
Kit no. 6103
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1999
Available at Sprue Bros. for $18.99 and 2 locations overseas on the web.
Kit no. 6103
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1999
Available at Sprue Bros. for $18.99 and 2 locations overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
The Goliath tracked mine (German: Leichter Ladungsträger Goliath, "Goliath Light Charge Carrier") was a series of two unmanned ground vehicles used by the German Army as disposable demolition vehicles during World War II. These were the electrically powered Sd.Kfz. 302 and the petrol-engine powered Sd.Kfz. 303a and 303b. They were known as beetle tanks by the Allies.
They carried 60 or 100 kg (130 or 220 lb.) of high explosives, depending on the model, and were intended to be used for multiple purposes, such as destroying tanks, disrupting dense infantry formations, and the demolition of buildings or bridges.
Goliaths were single-use vehicles that were destroyed by the detonation of their warhead.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Demolition vehicle
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1942–1945
Used by: Nazi Germany, Romania
Wars: World War II
Designed: 1942
Manufacturer: Borgward and Zündapp
Unit cost: 3,000 ℛℳ (1942) (€11,621 in 2017)
Produced: 1942–1944
No. built: 7,564
Mass: 370 kg (820 lb.)
Length: 1.5 m (4.9 ft.)
Width: 0.85 m (2.8 ft.)
Height: 0.56 m (1.8 ft.)
Crew: One remote operator
Armor: 5 mm (0.20 in)
Main armament: 60 kg (130 lb.) explosive charge
Engine: Two Electric Motors of 2.5 hp. (1.9 kW)
Ground clearance: 11.4 cm (4.5 in)
Operational range: 1.5 km (0.93 mi) on-road; 0.75 km (0.47 mi) off-road.
Maximum speed: 6 km/h (3.7 mph)
The Goliath tracked mine (German: Leichter Ladungsträger Goliath, "Goliath Light Charge Carrier") was a series of two unmanned ground vehicles used by the German Army as disposable demolition vehicles during World War II. These were the electrically powered Sd.Kfz. 302 and the petrol-engine powered Sd.Kfz. 303a and 303b. They were known as beetle tanks by the Allies.
They carried 60 or 100 kg (130 or 220 lb.) of high explosives, depending on the model, and were intended to be used for multiple purposes, such as destroying tanks, disrupting dense infantry formations, and the demolition of buildings or bridges.
Goliaths were single-use vehicles that were destroyed by the detonation of their warhead.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Demolition vehicle
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1942–1945
Used by: Nazi Germany, Romania
Wars: World War II
Designed: 1942
Manufacturer: Borgward and Zündapp
Unit cost: 3,000 ℛℳ (1942) (€11,621 in 2017)
Produced: 1942–1944
No. built: 7,564
Mass: 370 kg (820 lb.)
Length: 1.5 m (4.9 ft.)
Width: 0.85 m (2.8 ft.)
Height: 0.56 m (1.8 ft.)
Crew: One remote operator
Armor: 5 mm (0.20 in)
Main armament: 60 kg (130 lb.) explosive charge
Engine: Two Electric Motors of 2.5 hp. (1.9 kW)
Ground clearance: 11.4 cm (4.5 in)
Operational range: 1.5 km (0.93 mi) on-road; 0.75 km (0.47 mi) off-road.
Maximum speed: 6 km/h (3.7 mph)
THE KIT:
Dragon is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a very blousy shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box is 2 ½” too long and 2 ¾” too wide.
The box art shows 2 German operators standing in a hole, surrounded by rubble , a knocked-out German tank and a damaged building.
Both men are dressed in field-grey uniforms and are bare-headed. I find this very strange for where they are and what they are doing. They should be wearing steel helmets and field gear on their belts and suspenders and have weapons. However, on the instructions they are shown this way.
The man on the left is looking through a pair of binoculars. The man on the right holds the control box for the Goliath in his hands.
The Goliath is overall sand yellow.
One side panel of the box has 3 color walk-around type photos of the Goliath and the 2 man team made up. These are followed by the copyright of the kit being 1999, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China. Kit was made there.
Dragon is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a very blousy shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box is 2 ½” too long and 2 ¾” too wide.
The box art shows 2 German operators standing in a hole, surrounded by rubble , a knocked-out German tank and a damaged building.
Both men are dressed in field-grey uniforms and are bare-headed. I find this very strange for where they are and what they are doing. They should be wearing steel helmets and field gear on their belts and suspenders and have weapons. However, on the instructions they are shown this way.
The man on the left is looking through a pair of binoculars. The man on the right holds the control box for the Goliath in his hands.
The Goliath is overall sand yellow.
One side panel of the box has 3 color walk-around type photos of the Goliath and the 2 man team made up. These are followed by the copyright of the kit being 1999, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China. Kit was made there.
The other side panel shows 2 color box arts of other 1/35th scale figure kits that Dragon manufactures: Kit no. 6087, German Naval Troops (Dieppe 1942) and Kit no. 6098, German Feldgemdarmerie (Field Police) with dogs.
This is followed by a CAUTION that when you use glue or paint, do not use near open flame and be in a well-ventilated room, in 6 languages, including English.
Kit is for modelers 10 and over. It is not suitable for children under 3 due to small parts. Importer of Dragon kits to Europe is Italeri and their address in Italy is provided.
This is followed by a CAUTION that when you use glue or paint, do not use near open flame and be in a well-ventilated room, in 6 languages, including English.
Kit is for modelers 10 and over. It is not suitable for children under 3 due to small parts. Importer of Dragon kits to Europe is Italeri and their address in Italy is provided.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 4 medium-grey parts trees in a sealed clear cello bag and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet folded in the center to create 4 pages in 5 ½” x 8 ½” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the parts trees illustrations.
Page 2 and 3 gives a grand total of 6 assembly steps. Steps 1 to 4 are for the Goliath and 5 and 6 are painting and assembly steps for the figures.
Across the bottom of pages 2 & 3 is decal application instructions in 6 languages, including English, and a suggested paint color listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of hobby paints.
Page 4 is the marking and painting guide for the Goliath. A 3-view showing it in the box art's overall sand yellow scheme with no markings. Below this is decal-application instructions again in the 6 languages. This is a waste of time as there are no decals in the kit and the Goliath did not have any markings ever.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter C trees. They hold all the parts for the Goliath. (45 parts ea.)
This kit holds 4 medium-grey parts trees in a sealed clear cello bag and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet folded in the center to create 4 pages in 5 ½” x 8 ½” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the parts trees illustrations.
Page 2 and 3 gives a grand total of 6 assembly steps. Steps 1 to 4 are for the Goliath and 5 and 6 are painting and assembly steps for the figures.
Across the bottom of pages 2 & 3 is decal application instructions in 6 languages, including English, and a suggested paint color listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of hobby paints.
Page 4 is the marking and painting guide for the Goliath. A 3-view showing it in the box art's overall sand yellow scheme with no markings. Below this is decal-application instructions again in the 6 languages. This is a waste of time as there are no decals in the kit and the Goliath did not have any markings ever.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter C trees. They hold all the parts for the Goliath. (45 parts ea.)
According to information I found on the web, the Goliath in the kit represents the electric driven version. This was the first , or A model, Sd.Kfz.301. The later B model is driven by a 703 cc motorcycle gas engine and was capable of carrying a larger charge.
There are 2 more identical medium-grey trees that are not alphabetized as a tree, but have the two figures alphabetized. The figures are posed kneeling. They are divided into separate heads, torsos, arms and legs. Also on each of these threes is 2 Mauser 98K carbines, 4 98K ammo pouches, a mess kit, pair of binoculars, 2 steel helmets, 2 canvas bread bags, 2 bayonets in scabbards, 2 Goliath control boxes and 2 canteens (30 parts ea.)
In the assembly steps the figures are illustrated wearing the field gear and helmets.
In the assembly steps the figures are illustrated wearing the field gear and helmets.
I have put together most of one of the Goliath’s provided. All but a few of the link and length type tracks and put it in a clear small plastic box for protection.
This is a diorama waiting to happen for sure.
This is a diorama waiting to happen for sure.
Highly recommended.