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"...
Yet again, another winner ..." <full
review here> |
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"DR6282:
Hohenstauffen Division Normandy 1944 Following the D-Day invasions the Germans transferred many divisions already stationed in France to Normandy. The 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen was sent as part of the II SS Panzer Korp to the region and fought against British, Canadian and Polish units around Caen and Falaise. Badly mauled in the Normandy fighting, the unit was transferred to Holland for reorganisation, but found itself opposing the Allied airborne landing at Arnhem. FIGURES This Dragon Generation 2 set contains four figures of Waffen SS infantrymen wearing mid to late war uniforms, as were often seen worn during the Normandy campaign. All men are wearing the M42 reversible camouflage smocks (Tarnjacke) over their M1943 field blouse. This smock can be identified by the presence of foliage loops near the shoulders and the cut of the pockets. Ron Volstad・s box art accurate depict the uniform・s appearance and the two sided colour instruction sheet has four clear examples of suitable camouflage patterns. All men wear standard issue plain M1942 trousers Keilhosen" as evident by the reinforced seat (a feature which Dragon have accurately depicted, but which is often missing in scale figures) and the three riflemen have ankle length lace up boots with canvas gaiters. Their helmets are fitted with camouflage cloths with foliage loops and each man carries his personal equipment such as gas mask containers and bread bags from his belt, which is connected to his Y-straps. The standing squad leader is armed with an MP 40 submachine gun with folding metal stock and holds a pair of binoculars in his other hand. Unlike the others he wears a pair of calf length leather marching boots, a desirably item which he is likely to have acquired in the past and which is in keeping with his having worked his way up to NCO. One kneeling rifleman is holding a Kar 98k rifle in one hand, and pointing with the other arm while talking to the other men. This animation and interaction makes him well suited for a diorama or vignette. The other kneeling rifleman is armed with a panzerfaust and a Kar 98k. The last rifleman is lying down with a grenade in one hand and a Kar 98k in the other. He is a natural companion for the man with the panzerfaust. The complimentary poses makes the figure very well suited for being used together in a diorama, such as that suggested by the box art of the men waiting in ambush behind a wall. As with other Generation 2 figures the sculpturing is of a high standard with crisp details, such as life like faces and realistic folds in the camouflage smocks. Each pose has about a dozen key parts with separate pieces for the feet, hands, faces, lower sections of the jackets and collars features which offer benefits when painting. Optional photo etch parts are included for the belt buckles and the guns・ slings.
This set・s bonus items are four panzerfaust shipping crates. Each crate can be modelled either open or closed and has the woodgrain reproduced on both the inside and outside. For the crates・ carry handles there are PE parts which reproduce the platting of the rope. Two boxes are for the larger Panzerfaust 60 and two for the Panzerfaust 30. Decals are included for the crates, along with the alternative of using PE templates, which is a really useful extra. Two of each type of Panzerfaust is included; the Panzerfaust 60 having a choice of 3 positions for the firing/sighting mechanism. Decals, such as the operating instructions and the warnings to avoid the back-blast, are provided for the Panzerfausts, are also provided. GUNS AND EQUIPMENT Most of the gun and field equipment sprues are from earlier releases, and there are plenty of useful spares. A new sprue provides six of the helmets with camouflage covers. The four standard issue Kar98K rifles (one is spare) have separate bolts, which give the option of having the bolt mechanism pulled back or not; or alternatively stripped for use in say a diorama. The muzzle end of these rifles has been hollowed out. Two dozen 5 round ammunition clips are provided. The second gun sprue provides a pair of MP40 sub-machine guns, with separate upper detail and one separate folding stock, plus several spare magazines. Also one this sprue is a Sturmgewehr 44 assault rife with two spare magazines and a Gewehr 43 semi-automatic rifle. Two
sprues contain assorted personal field equipment for 6 to 8 men leaving
plenty of spares for improving other figures. One sprue is in a softer
plastic and contains assorted ammunition pouches of which some have
open pouches, bread bags, pistol holders, map case, clothing bag and
rolled blanket. The second sprue is in the same hard plastic as the
figures and contains helmets without any camouflage covers (should you
want to change the men・s appearance), six M1931 canteen (cook pot) and
lid of which two are hollow, gas mask cases with hollowed out centre
and separate lids, entrenching tools, binoculars and flask with separate
cap.
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