In Box Review of Dragon 1/35th Scale
Hedgerow Tank Hunters (Fallschirmjager, Normandy 1944)
Kit no. 6127
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2000
Available at 4 locations overseas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2000
Available at 4 locations overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
The Fallschirmjäger (German: [ˈfalʃɪʁmˌjɛːɡə] (listen)) were the paratrooper branch of the German Luftwaffe before and during World War II. They were the first German paratroopers to be committed in large-scale airborne operations. Throughout World War II, the commander of the branch was Kurt Student.
During the interwar years the rapid development of aircraft and aviation technology drew the attention of imaginative military planners. The idea of aerially inserting a large body of troops inside enemy territory was first proposed during World War I by Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, commander of the U.S. Army Air Corps in France. However, the Allied High Command was forced to abandon the idea, as it was unprepared for such an undertaking, both logistically and in materiel.
Among the first to recognize the potential of airborne forces were Italy and the Soviet Union. The first effective means of supporting massed infantry airborne operations came with the development of the static-line parachute in Italy in the 1920s, whereby parachutes are attached to the inside of the aircraft and deployed automatically upon departure. This technique used in the German Rückfallschirm, Zwangablösung (backpack parachute, static line) rig allowed jumps at lower altitudes, limiting exposure to enemy fire and providing a tighter drop zone grouping than individually deployed rip-cord type parachutes.
The word Fallschirmjäger is from the German Fallschirm "parachute" and Jäger "hunter", the light infantry of the Prussian Army.
The Fallschirmjäger (German: [ˈfalʃɪʁmˌjɛːɡə] (listen)) were the paratrooper branch of the German Luftwaffe before and during World War II. They were the first German paratroopers to be committed in large-scale airborne operations. Throughout World War II, the commander of the branch was Kurt Student.
During the interwar years the rapid development of aircraft and aviation technology drew the attention of imaginative military planners. The idea of aerially inserting a large body of troops inside enemy territory was first proposed during World War I by Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, commander of the U.S. Army Air Corps in France. However, the Allied High Command was forced to abandon the idea, as it was unprepared for such an undertaking, both logistically and in materiel.
Among the first to recognize the potential of airborne forces were Italy and the Soviet Union. The first effective means of supporting massed infantry airborne operations came with the development of the static-line parachute in Italy in the 1920s, whereby parachutes are attached to the inside of the aircraft and deployed automatically upon departure. This technique used in the German Rückfallschirm, Zwangablösung (backpack parachute, static line) rig allowed jumps at lower altitudes, limiting exposure to enemy fire and providing a tighter drop zone grouping than individually deployed rip-cord type parachutes.
The word Fallschirmjäger is from the German Fallschirm "parachute" and Jäger "hunter", the light infantry of the Prussian Army.
THE KIT:
Dragon (sometimes called DML) is an old prolific plastic model manufacturing company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art shows a color illustration of 4 Fallschirmjager troops next to a hedge (thus the name of the kit). They all wear paratrooper type steel helmets and dark-grey trousers, bloused at the bottom over low black shoes.
Trees are not alphabetized. Instead each figure is.
Reading left to right:
The 1st man (letter A) is walking and holding an ammo case in each hand. He wears a camouflaged jacket.
The 2nd man (letter B) is walking and carrying a Bazooka (rocket launcher) in both hands. He has full field gear on his belt and a 98K carbine slung on his back.
The 3rd man (letter C) is bent at the waist and holding a submachine-gun in both hands. He wears a camouflaged jacket.
The 4th and last man (letter D) is kneeling and holding a smaller version of the bazooka. He too wears a camouflaged jacket.
One side panel of the box is bright red with: Contains parts for 4 figures. Paint and glue are not included. In Japanese, English, German, Spanish, French and Chinese. With each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language. Followed by the 2000 copyright date for this kit, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China. Kit was made there.
Dragon (sometimes called DML) is an old prolific plastic model manufacturing company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art shows a color illustration of 4 Fallschirmjager troops next to a hedge (thus the name of the kit). They all wear paratrooper type steel helmets and dark-grey trousers, bloused at the bottom over low black shoes.
Trees are not alphabetized. Instead each figure is.
Reading left to right:
The 1st man (letter A) is walking and holding an ammo case in each hand. He wears a camouflaged jacket.
The 2nd man (letter B) is walking and carrying a Bazooka (rocket launcher) in both hands. He has full field gear on his belt and a 98K carbine slung on his back.
The 3rd man (letter C) is bent at the waist and holding a submachine-gun in both hands. He wears a camouflaged jacket.
The 4th and last man (letter D) is kneeling and holding a smaller version of the bazooka. He too wears a camouflaged jacket.
One side panel of the box is bright red with: Contains parts for 4 figures. Paint and glue are not included. In Japanese, English, German, Spanish, French and Chinese. With each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language. Followed by the 2000 copyright date for this kit, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China. Kit was made there.
The other side panel shows 2 color box arts of other figure kits that Dragon manufactures: Kit no. 6124, Panzergrenadier Division “Grossdeutschland” (Karachev 1943) and Kit no. 6122, Approach to Stalingrad (Autumn 1942). Followed by: Not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts. Importer for Europe: Italeri SPA. For modelers aged 10 and over. In multiple languages, including English.
The bottom of the box serves as the assembly and painting guide.
The front and back of each of the 4 figures is illustrated in color.
Gunze Sangyo brand paint colors are called out by their numbers, but not what the colors are. You are forced to go on the web and look up what those colors are. This is a task that I wish model manufactures would not force on modelers.
At the bottom there are 4 line drawings by Dragons resident artist Ron Volstad.
A water bottle, gas mask case, KAR 98 ammo pouch and a RPG 4322 ammo box.
The front and back of each of the 4 figures is illustrated in color.
Gunze Sangyo brand paint colors are called out by their numbers, but not what the colors are. You are forced to go on the web and look up what those colors are. This is a task that I wish model manufactures would not force on modelers.
At the bottom there are 4 line drawings by Dragons resident artist Ron Volstad.
A water bottle, gas mask case, KAR 98 ammo pouch and a RPG 4322 ammo box.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX;
This kit contains 3 light-grey parts trees and a small decal sheet in 2 sealed clear cello bags.
The largest light-grey tree holds: the parts of the four figures (divided into separate heads, torsos, arms and legs), sub machinegun, ammo pouches, RPG 4322 ammo boxes, 4 canteens, 4 canvas sacks, 4 mess kits, 4 steel helmets, 3 potato masher type grenades etc. (72 parts)
This kit contains 3 light-grey parts trees and a small decal sheet in 2 sealed clear cello bags.
The largest light-grey tree holds: the parts of the four figures (divided into separate heads, torsos, arms and legs), sub machinegun, ammo pouches, RPG 4322 ammo boxes, 4 canteens, 4 canvas sacks, 4 mess kits, 4 steel helmets, 3 potato masher type grenades etc. (72 parts)
The larger of the 2 small light-grey trees holds: the 2 types of bazookas, 2 submachine-guns, a bazooka round etc. (9 parts)
The smaller of the 2 small light-grey trees holds: two 98K carbines and a MP40 and its wire shoulder stock (4 parts)
The small decal sheet completes the kit's contents. It holds markings to go on the sides of the RPG 4322 ammo cases.
The detail is very nice.
Recommended.
Recommended.