Dragon Models have just announced their latest, 1/35th scale figure set. Scheduled for release in June 2009, this is DML's latest figure offering: DRA 6513 - Winter Tank Riders 1943-44. The News Report can be seen:

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Looks like a nice set of figures. I think they would fit in well with the korsun pocket set # 6273. Enough of these sets and I think parts can be used to make new poses.
Joe

Ho-Hum, another boring set of German figures. Why can't we get a set of Commonwealth tank riders from this manufacturer? I mean, every other manufacturer is taking care of the Allied forces much better than Dragon/DML.

Just my nickels worth of thoughts......

Art

Firstly, I rarely do anything Axis (apart from the Tiger I), and perhaps i'm not the most indicated to defend DML but i'll give it a try.

1) It's Not a 'boring set' of figures at all, IMO, it's possibly one of the most useful sets DML has announced for a while. Good mixture of uniform types etc.

2) With their new Pz IV series, it makes sense to maximise their appeal - doing a 'dedicated' set is a good idea. Did anyone criticize AFV Club when they produced appropriate sets for their Churchillls?

3) The animation of these figures is a HUGE step in the right direction for DML.

4) German sells...

5) Allied Tank Riders? You should use the News Section on this network. MiniArt announced a set back in february.

6) There ARE shortcomings in DML's approach to Allied figures - however, their recent Commonwealth Infantry set is going to fill a lot of gaps. They aren't being as 'proactive' as others but they aren't ignoring Allied either..

This can't be from Dragon - where's the pointing officer..?

I was wondering if these are Gen 2 standard figures?

Hasn't DML done most of the allied figure releases? At least, that's how it seems in my LHS...

This set looks like one of their most useful in a while. Gary, If it was Gen2, theyd probably be bragging about it more.

SCOTT

No, the set ISN'T Gen2. If it was, it would have been mentioned. The weapons and equipment though WILL almost certainly be those which were developed for the German Gen2 sets. It now seems to be standard practice to include these in ALL German sets..

Looks a good set, uniforms have a different mix
they should sit well on a mark 4 or panther.

This is awesome stuff i only wish that Taesung from Alpine would have come up with this .

I can understand Taesung's reluctance to do figures like these. Whilst ideal for those with armoured vehicles who wish to go one step further and add figures, there are an awful lot of straight figure painters who just do that, figures only and never venture into AFV's. He has to cater for as big a market as possible.

He recently passed a comment about how he was advised a certain figure set was required and would do really well. According to him it's turned out to be one of his poorest sellers and understandably now goes with his own gut feeling and judgement based on previous releases sales figures.

Back to this set, if the actual plastic on the sprue turns out as good as these images then this set will be a firm favourite for many. I know I'll get some sets in the future.

If you want tank riders and wish to go to the better detail of resin(although that gap is getting narrower with Dragons latest sets) then have a look at the Russian figure producer Tank, they do a few tank riders.

http://tank-model.ru/catalogT2.htm

Alan

Why? I know Taesung does great work but here you have a set in plastic for a fraction of what 4 figures from Alpine would cost.

Dragons latest Gen 1 figures are nearly if not as good as the Gen 2 Ive got the German Officers at Kursk 1943(6456) and IMHO give alot of Resin Figures a run for they're money! If this set is as good then they will be a top seller. With the two different sets of uniforms, they will be able to be modified to go with just about any Pz IV Ausf. Looking forward to seeing the plastic in the Flesh or should i say the flesh in the plastic. Bet there will be plenty of Gen 2 weapons and equipment. Good news, nice one Dragon. How about some summer ones to go with my Kursk officers?

You could possibly use this set although I'd check on the uniform accuracy. Not sure when they started to issue gaiters and short boots rather than the "jackboot". They are not current issue but I've seen them come up for sale from time to time. Got my set on ebay a while back.



Reckon you'll need to consider a few Hornet heads though.

Alan

From '43 onwards. It would make them more accurate for Late-War figures though. Too many manufacturers tend to overlook this change...

thanks good to know!!

The Jack boot was still mainly used at Kursk, The gater and short boots were sometimes nicknamed the "Retreating Boots" on the Eastern front. They only walked West in them

I can't really make out the figure details from the box-art, but I suspect these lads are better suited to '44 than '43. It looks like they may be wearing the later field tunics - but I can't be 100% certain.

Regarding the lace-up ankle boots, they were actually issued as early as '37/'38, but seem to have been issued in greater volumes from about '41/'42. The gaiters, or canvas anklets, were issued in '41. That said, most reference material seems to indicate that it could take about 2 years before troops received supplies from initial and official issue dates.

Of course many veteran troops, officers and the WSS in particular, preferred the older style gear, and pictures taken in '44/'45 often show them wearing early war gear.

HTH

Rudi