Dragon Models have announced a new figure set in the shape of DRA6490 - German Panzergrenadiers, Cherkassy 1944. The initial images of the new set can be seen:



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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Cherkawhere?!
They don't look too bad Jim. I really like the boxart pose of the bloke on the far left, but APU the actual pose is a little different; not as dynamic. The face looks good on the boss man though. Is a slide moulded log going to be included?
Brad

Not a bad selection of winter gear, and if up to DML's usual high standard will be a nice and easy way to populate a vingette/diorama.

Poses are pretty unamaginative though which means there is nothing very different about these than 50 other german figure sets already out there.

James

Just what we need - another German officer pointing!!

I'll probably still end up buying a set though, on a "might come in handy" basis.

- Steve

My thoughts exactly. I'm sure it'll be competently done, probably will include GenII weapoms and equipment, but, at the end of the day - Oh, ANOTHER German set...

You know, there are so many support personnel that would be perfect for dioramas, why this endless stream of marching soldiers with 1,000 yard stare expressions or crouched over heading forward? Why not more tankers gassing up? Yes, there's one set. One. And nothing in winter garb. What about some men relaxed beside their vehicles playing soccer/football?

The surviving photographs and newsreel footage show such a wide variation of human activity, whereas the photos/films of combat in most cases have men hunkered down or running. Seems like a lost opportunity.

Fussball you mean....

Ja, natuerlich, Fussball!

Skat spielers!
Oh wait... there's already set out there in the market...

But, as it was previously stated on this thread. the set will come very useful to populate a softskin vehicle diorama.

Cheers!

That's a darned good point. Casual poses such as eating, reading, dozing, playing would be a very nice change of pace. In all honesty, I just can't get excited about another pseudo-in-action German figure set. I'm pretty much covered with what's out there already, thanks.

Matt

Why another set of an "officer pointing "thousand yard stare"? Because we keep buying it.

It has been a really trying day for me so please forgive me if I don't recognize any sarcasm in what I've read here. having had a hand in designing more than 150 figure sets (translates to 600 plus individual figures) for Dragon I do like to hope that a few of them have touched a cord with some of you. I know that they can't all be winners (not too many of us bat a thousand) but it isn't for lack of effort. Obviously there is bound to be some repetition (usually unknowingly on my part...thus revealing my degree of density).

In any event, I must ask which modelers should we listen to? The ones that post in even months wanting more action in the figures or the fellows who post in odd months who would rather have more casual poses? Actually, at a major show some dozen plus years ago I did a semi-official survey regarding this same question and found that it was divided almost equally.

Now, having begun this effort with Dragon some 20 years ago, there weren't so many figures for a modeler to choose from. My initial philosophy was to ensure that the modeler got at least the basics to work with so any measure of conversion could be done. (Little did I know that such modelers were few and far between). Since one never quite knew if the next figure set might be the last one, I kept up with such a plan of action, thus very little in the way of worn, ratty and mismatched uniforms nor not a lot of extreme poses (the talent of the sculptor tends to be of major importance in the latter) So knowing that, why did I have so much faith in the modeler's abilities? I like to think optimism guided me but those who know me say that I don't have an optimistic bone in my body; thus I must chaulk it up to foolishness ( I know I have such a gene).

Now as a modeler myself, I sincerely wish i could deliver the exact figures that everyone wants
and do so in a timely manner (There's still many that I wish I could have myself). However since I'll never really know just what those figures are, I'll just keep trying my best to do what Dragon
will allow me to do and continue to try to decypher whatever it is you're trying to say.

Personally, I think the "alternate team" did a nice job on this one and I quite like the work that my friend Carlos Chagas has done with the illustration.

But gee, I sure wish it was a US or British officer's group instead.

With my greatest respect,
Ron Volstad

I would like to see more Allied figure kits from dragon. But on the same token, I appreciate anything new and I quite like the look of the figures. A recce from a halftrack perhaps.
Its the same story, "you can't please everyone all the time, pass the beernuts"

Ron, that was my point. If we truley didnt like it we wouldnt buy it. For whatever reason, myself included we seem to complain about ever kit,figure set ect that comes out. It seems as a whole we are never satisfied. Like stated before on this site i believe we are in the "golden age of our hobby".

That's a VERY fair point. Going by the Page-Views for this story (2756 +) , I have to draw one of the following conclusions:

a) People are genuinely interested

b) People may be looking for something to jump up and down in indignation at.

c) What i've felt for a while now - German actually IS in demand?

The hat on the pointing figure is something else again - I LOVE it!

I've been trying to reply on this post for a few days now... and I must admit not to having read many of the above posts, as posts regarding DML figure release tend to be fairly predictable (IMO).

I'm obviously going to be going against the grain on this one, but I actually like the kit! Yup, that right: I like it. Yes, fine, it has much of the seemingly same from DML, but hey, what can I say... something about the figures appeals to me (don't know quite what), probably more as a figure modeller, but hey, so be it.

From a painting option, it looks like there are plenty of variations to be had here, and of course the officer's pelt cap is pretty cool, although it'd probably get turfed by most due to resin head changes because of the limitations of plastic molds to keep decent facial details.

Rudi

Yeah, that seems to sum it up for me as well...

Alternatively, it's that hat again...

I have a large stock of DML figures in my stash and others on the "must get" list. The move to "2nd Generation" is a welcome one and I salute what you're doing collectively. There is no reason styrene figures can't approach the quality and detail of resin ones. In fact, I think your figures are better than many resin figures I've seen with their wildly distorted faces. I like the fact that DML figures are subdued emotionally.

That being said, there is a similarity with these to the Wiking set recently on the market. Different uniforms (more winter white here), but troops in action with nothing to support other options. While Panzergrenadiers will work well with tanks and soft skins, I have had to go to your competition for artillery riders and Stug and other Selbstfahrlafette crews. DML has 2 fine 88 models out, but only one crew (Winter). A sFH crew out, but early war and warm weather. What if I want to do a Winter dio with gun? If I want a crew for a limbered 88 firing (and I do), I have only Hobby Fan's $45 set. A crew for my Demag 10? Again, resin at $50 +/-. Both are on my "wish list" currently because of the cost.



Well, both actually. Why can't there be a balance, even a 70-30 split "tooth" to "tail." Right now, the support troops options ("tail") have been ceded for the most part to other companies while Dragon concentrates on the action ("tooth"). Balance in all things, my friend.


You're making my case.


Having just returned to the hobby after a long absense, I can say that choice is now almost a bewildering process: you can get good styrene figures, good to fantastic resin ones, arms, hands, heads, hats, accessories (I have a sprue of slings and straps coming from a specialty manufacturer), all in 1/35th scale! Amazing.

But I'd still rather have a set of figures that I can assemble OOB and put in place. It sometimes makes me want to buy a set and come up with a use for it later (Tristar's new Waffen SS 20mm crew).


Having seen only the illustration, it's hard to judge the figures, but if recent releases are a clue, they will be excellent. No one, though, is knocking the quality of DML. Some of us are asking for more NATIONAL variety (hard to find much for the new Tasca and DML Sherman M4 kits, and Russian? Try TANK). Others (myself included) would like to see more variety of subject. Skat players may be too esoteric for a major company like Dragon, but crews for the guns, tanker support (all that research into Winter uniforms should make it easy to do a crew gassing up and loading ammo for the Zimmerit Tiger DML has been promising for months), or God forbid, some accurate dead. I guess that's too gruesome for the hobby, though several resin companies are putting out skull heads. Still, getting the drape of fabric on a corpse doesn't work if you take a walking figure and lay it down.


Amen.

You're doing a great job overall. If you weren't doing such a good job, we wouldn't be asking you to give us other offerings. I, for one, won't touch a Tamiya or Italeri figure set. But I look at every DML announcement of new figure sets. That should say something to you and Dragon. I hope my comments are taken as earnest suggestions and not criticism.

As i have all ready said ,got the non Gen 2 Kursk officers and these are some of the best plastic figs i've ever seen!., Dragon have risen the bar again. I buy all manufactors kits, if these are the same we are in for a treat. Only need Gen 2 weapons

Hi Ron,
Personally I like the stuff you have done. The figure sets art is first rate, and I do like the different way you do things. I appreciate non-combat soldiers and ones also just marching along. I support the fact that not all figures should be in action, because then people would complain that all the sets were combat and none were of people being at ease. The late war figure sets are some of my favorite, especially the SS ones. Thank you for art, your integrity and I support what you do. I hope to see more of your box and book art soon.

Chris

when I started in 1975 (I was very very young, I WAS! ), there were Tamiya, Italaerei, maybe Heller...quality was good for the times...you had Germans, a couple of US and Brits, then some Frenchies and Italians...

Today we have hundreds of different choices (I know I stack them up), we have different theaters whereas 30 years ago we had basically North Africa and Europe...we have late war, early war, mid war, mixed matched uniforms, tropical uniforms, winter uniforms,ground troops, AFV crews, elite troops, paratroopers,etc...and that's just plastic!!!

I am just grateful we now have this kind of choice, although I must admit I can't keep up with the flow of new issues and had to become choosy about the sets I buy...

But all in all a big THANK YOU to DML, MB, Tamiya, Ital, and all the others for the amazing choice they offer...and a very special thank you to the illustratos of Tamiya and especially to RV for the amazing quality of the box art they produce...90% of my inital desire to buy a set comes from the box art...

now, if i had more time to build all those figures it would just be perfect...

my 0.02 worth...keep up the good work everyone, it is appreciated

J.

When I saw this set in a modelling mag I knew I had to have them. When I saw them in the model store I was not disappointed. They are fantastic. I too started modelling in the late 60s so maybe I am easy to please. You may not like the pose so I say get off your !@#$ and change them! The figures faces are great and the equipment superb! Quit whining and enjoy this fabulous hobby! If you want more allied sets tell the manufacturers.
R. Hall

Contrary to what some others have said, I think this is potentially a very useful set. The Special Winter Clothing featured on the figures gives the modeller a great deal of scope with how he wishes to finish them, as it was fully reversible, & the generic poses allow them to fit into many different scenes. The choices are:
1) Paint them white, they can represent any unit, Heer, SS or Luftwaffe.
2) Splinter or water pattern camo for Heer troops
3)SS oak leaf either spring green or autumn orange/yellow, both of which I've seen applied to this clothing.
4) Mouse grey, once again for any unit.
So you see, a lot of choices & options. Don't be misled by the Cherkassy label, you can use them virtually anywhere.