In Box Review of Dragon 1/35th Scale
U.S. Army Airborne (Operation Varsity 1945)
Kit no. 6148
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2001
Available at 1001 Hobbies for $27.99 and at 6 locations overseas on the web.
I paid $7.98 for my kit 20 years ago at a local shop that went out of business.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2001
Available at 1001 Hobbies for $27.99 and at 6 locations overseas on the web.
I paid $7.98 for my kit 20 years ago at a local shop that went out of business.
THE KIT:
Dragon (DML) 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 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 4 U.S. Army Airborne men in a field next to an abandoned German Kettenkrad half-track. In the background there are houses and a hedge that has their glider behind it.
The men are all dressed in khaki uniforms, with dark green steel helmets. Three of the helmets have netting on them and a small tan canvas pouch.
Reading left to right, the 1st man is standing. His trousers are bloused into high black shoes. He has a bayonet in a scabbard strapped to his right leg. He is armed with a M1 carbine. He has a large tan canvas pouch on his back and a smaller one on his belt, along with a canteen, canvas carrying case for his carbine and ammo pouches. He is labeled on the box as letter A and 1.
The 2nd man to the right is standing and is armed with a submachine-gun. He carries the same gear as the 1st man. He is labeled on the box as letter B and 2.
The 3rd man to the right is prone and leaning on his left arm and raising his head. He is armed with a M1 carbine. He has no netting and pouch on his helmet and has the same gear on him as the first 2 men. He is labeled on the box as 3 and C.
The 4th man is kneeling on his right knee. He is armed with an automatic rifle. He has the same gear on him as the other 3 men. He is labeled on the box as letter D and 4.
One side panel of the box says the kit holds parts for 4 figures. Cement and paint are not included. In Japanese, English, German, French, Italian and Chinese. With each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
This is followed by the 2001 copyright date for the kit, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China. Kit was made there.
Dragon (DML) 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 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 4 U.S. Army Airborne men in a field next to an abandoned German Kettenkrad half-track. In the background there are houses and a hedge that has their glider behind it.
The men are all dressed in khaki uniforms, with dark green steel helmets. Three of the helmets have netting on them and a small tan canvas pouch.
Reading left to right, the 1st man is standing. His trousers are bloused into high black shoes. He has a bayonet in a scabbard strapped to his right leg. He is armed with a M1 carbine. He has a large tan canvas pouch on his back and a smaller one on his belt, along with a canteen, canvas carrying case for his carbine and ammo pouches. He is labeled on the box as letter A and 1.
The 2nd man to the right is standing and is armed with a submachine-gun. He carries the same gear as the 1st man. He is labeled on the box as letter B and 2.
The 3rd man to the right is prone and leaning on his left arm and raising his head. He is armed with a M1 carbine. He has no netting and pouch on his helmet and has the same gear on him as the first 2 men. He is labeled on the box as 3 and C.
The 4th man is kneeling on his right knee. He is armed with an automatic rifle. He has the same gear on him as the other 3 men. He is labeled on the box as letter D and 4.
One side panel of the box says the kit holds parts for 4 figures. Cement and paint are not included. In Japanese, English, German, French, Italian and Chinese. With each language labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
This is followed by the 2001 copyright date for the kit, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China. Kit was made there.
The other side panel of the box shows 2 color box arts of other figure kits that Dragon manufactures: Kit no. 6146, German Sturmpioniere (Eastern Front 1942) and Kit no. 6147, 7.5 cm Leichtgeschütz w/crew.
The bottom of the box serves as the assembly and painting instructions. There is a color front and back view of each of the 4 figures, over line drawings by Dragon’s resident artist Ron Volstad of a bag of extra ammo, an airborne pattern M43 trousers and a field-bag M1936.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains 3 medium-gray parts trees in 2 sealed clear cello bags.
Trees are not alphabetized, but each figure is.
The largest tree holds: the figures (divided into separate heads, torsos, arms and legs), 4 large canvas sacks, 4 steel helmets, canvas rifle carrying pouch, ammo pouches, pistol holster, 4 small helmet pouches, bayonet, 4 shovels (one bare and 3 in carrying pouches), 4 canteens etc. ( 90 parts)
The kit contains 3 medium-gray parts trees in 2 sealed clear cello bags.
Trees are not alphabetized, but each figure is.
The largest tree holds: the figures (divided into separate heads, torsos, arms and legs), 4 large canvas sacks, 4 steel helmets, canvas rifle carrying pouch, ammo pouches, pistol holster, 4 small helmet pouches, bayonet, 4 shovels (one bare and 3 in carrying pouches), 4 canteens etc. ( 90 parts)
The medium-sized medium-gray tree holds: a M1 carbine with bayonet attached, a Thompson submachine-gun, 2 automatic rifles (one with wire shoulder stock) and a bazooka. (8 parts)
The small medium-gray tree holds: 3 M1 carbines and an automatic rifle and its bipod. (5 parts)
Detail is excellent. Highly recommended.