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Dragon should be a little more careful...
M4A2Sherman
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Canada
Joined: December 29, 2008
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Posted: Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 01:35 PM UTC
Hi everyone,

I just bought the DML 1/35 figure kit titled british eighth army infantry el alamein 1942, looking at the Bren gun on the back, I was surprised how much detail it had on it. So I bought it and brought it home. I took a look at the bren in the kit and noticed that the detail is far worse than the detail shown on the back of the box. The back of the box looks "generation 2", while the supplied gun is not. Also, the bren gun on the back is shown with the magazine pointing the wrong way! I am just wondering, does DML make larger scale figures for the back photos? Do they put far more detailed pieces on the back to make it look like a better kit? Not to say that it is a bad kit, it is pretty nice.
Thoughts, comments? I could be wrong, but I am just sharing this.
M4A2Sherman
youngc
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Western Australia, Australia
Joined: June 05, 2007
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Posted: Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 02:51 PM UTC
I don't know enough, or pay much attention to the inner workings, conspiracies, dishonesties surrounding Dragon to comment on the validity of their box-art. It may be just a careless person operating the CAD machine, hence the Bren magazine on backwards and the puttees around the wrong way. How they could make such careless mistakes when they have Ron Volstad's excellent and well-researched box-art right in front of them, I do not know.

I believe the Bren and the other weapons (apart from perhaps the Thompson?) are just re-issues of those they made back in the 1990's, or something.

If you are looking for Commonwealth Gen 2 weapons, there is the Thompson provided in their Commonwealth infantry Italy kit. If you are looking for SMLEs and Brens, you will just need to be happy with the provided parts or look to the resin market.

Chas
jimbrae
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Provincia de Lugo, Spain / España
Joined: April 23, 2003
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Posted: Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 08:27 PM UTC
Here are the weapsons in the New Allied Assault Cassino 1944:



jimbrae
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Provincia de Lugo, Spain / España
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Posted: Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 09:29 PM UTC
In a partial answer to your original question, I think you've identified a really important lack/problem with DML's Allied figures. With the German figures, not only are the GenII weapons superb, the equipment, is, in my opinion, the best on the market.

Apart from their USMC set (first Gen II Allied figures) the weapons and equipment in THAT set, is absolutely sublime. Unfortunately, they haven't, as yet done the same for the Commonwealth sets.
CMOT
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ARMORAMA
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: May 14, 2006
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Posted: Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 12:43 AM UTC
Sorry Q these faults were highlighted when (I believe) Pat did a review of the product.
acav
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Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: May 09, 2002
KitMaker: 517 posts
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Posted: Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 03:33 PM UTC
Not wanting to rain on Dragon's parade, but I don't actually like their renderings of British/Commonwealth WW2 kit, the waterbottles are especially poor.

However, the much maligned 'British Infantry On Patrol' figure set from (the much maligned) Tamiya includes a standalone sprue of weapons and personal gear that is the equal of Dragon if not better in some respects.

Given that Tamiya have released their weapons and equipment sprues for US and Germany (x 2 = early to mid war, and late war), one would hope that they would have the sense to get the Brit/CW set to market Real Soon Now.

Not holding my breath though.

acav out
05Sultan
#037
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California, United States
Joined: December 19, 2004
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Posted: Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 04:28 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Not wanting to rain on Dragon's parade, but I don't actually like their renderings of British/Commonwealth WW2 kit, the waterbottles are especially poor.

However, the much maligned 'British Infantry On Patrol' figure set from (the much maligned) Tamiya includes a standalone sprue of weapons and personal gear that is the equal of Dragon if not better in some respects.

Given that Tamiya have released their weapons and equipment sprues for US and Germany (x 2 = early to mid war, and late war), one would hope that they would have the sense to get the Brit/CW set to market Real Soon Now.

Could not have said this better. Long overdue in the styrene realm and an easy hit for big money by Mr. Tamiya-san.

Not holding my breath though.

acav out


Could not have said this better. Long overdue in the styrene realm and an easy hit for big money by Mr. Tamiya-san.
Rick
gremlinz
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Hamilton, New Zealand
Joined: February 07, 2009
KitMaker: 795 posts
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Posted: Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 05:43 PM UTC
I really like the Tamiya British Infantry on Patrol set, particularly the two sets of weaons so you end up with two Brens, two Stens and Six smellies.
ALBOWIE
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New South Wales, Australia
Joined: February 28, 2006
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Posted: Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 06:57 PM UTC
If you want really good SMLE III's then take a trip back in time and get the old Italeri Accessory kit from the 70's which has a really good couple of SMLE III, Brens and even Boyes AT rifles.
One of the most useful sets of accessories on the market and better quality (those weapons listed above) than DML's brit stuff.

The deceptive practice of the box pictures NOT showing the actual kit parts is pretty sad. It certainly makes a mockery of this statement but then again anything the blogger says is a mockery of something:

"Simply speaking with design process by CAD and tooling process by CAM, all details in the CAD drawings will be truly replicated in the plastic parts without loss, and fitting is done by computer……….very fit. In other words, full CAD-CAM means what you see is what you get."

Apparently that doesn't apply to figures.

Cheers
Al
jimbrae
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Provincia de Lugo, Spain / España
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Posted: Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 09:19 PM UTC

Quoted Text

If you want really good SMLE III's then take a trip back in time and get the old Italeri Accessory kit from the 70's which has a really good couple of SMLE III, Brens and even Boyes AT rifles.


Indeed it does - an excellent set. Fortunately I got around a dozen of them really cheap in a Hobby Store in Portugal which was closing down..

Regarding the NEW set, having built it and about to post the Review, the equipment issue aside, it really is an excellent set overall. DML have REALLY put some serious thought into this one and while there ARE shortcomings, they are MORE than compensated for by the positive aspects.
youngc
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Western Australia, Australia
Joined: June 05, 2007
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Posted: Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 09:46 PM UTC

Quoted Text

If you want really good SMLE III's then take a trip back in time and get the old Italeri Accessory kit from the 70's which has a really good couple of SMLE III, Brens and even Boyes AT rifles.

Please tell me the name of this kit! I am looking for some Boyes rifles for a future diorama.

Chas
ALBOWIE
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New South Wales, Australia
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Posted: Monday, June 01, 2009 - 12:47 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

If you want really good SMLE III's then take a trip back in time and get the old Italeri Accessory kit from the 70's which has a really good couple of SMLE III, Brens and even Boyes AT rifles.

Please tell me the name of this kit! I am looking for some Boyes rifles for a future diorama.

Chas


It is Italeri Accessories set 1 and looks like this:


It is kit 407 in the current range and a set well worth acquiring in qty. They typically sell for less than $10.

http://www.italeri.com/product.aspx?item=0407S

happy Hunting
youngc
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Posted: Monday, June 01, 2009 - 11:21 PM UTC
Thanks for the info Al.
Kastanova
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: May 10, 2008
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Posted: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 12:06 AM UTC
Dragon likes being the biggest seller on the market and they only realease what sells 'German'. but a Desert rats Set would out sell panzergrenadeirs if tooled like the GEN II Germans, i would pay for a Well tolled allied set anyday but commonwealth troops are neglected which is a shame as they played a vital role in stoping the Axis forces. (Tobruk, el Almeain normandy, dieppe and the entire pacific front until the Americans chipped in but i can ramble forever. many Thanks to the Americans for ther contributions )
Just a flaw in the market.

MY $0.02
Mat
jimbrae
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Posted: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 12:27 AM UTC

Quoted Text

but a Desert rats Set would out sell panzergrenadeirs if tooled like the GEN II Germans, i would pay for a Well tolled allied set anyday but commonwealth troops are neglected


Not again? Firstly,German sells much better than Alled. Not a supposition - fact.

While there WERE problems with DML's mentioned-set, 8th Army. I'm working at the moment on 6515 - Allied Assault, Monte Cassino 1944 and frankly, before you complain about DML's Allied releases, just listen to this...

It is NOT without a few issues, but, IMO, it's probably the BEST British/Commonwealth set that DML have done. Animation is amongst the best i've seen from Dragon, detail is good. Beyond that, you'll have to wait for the Review..

More than anyone else on this Network, i've probably got the MOST (personal) reasons to go against DML. However, in the interests of balance, they HAVEN'T neglected Commonwealth figure sets (this will be around the 4th or 5th). Also, while they CAN (like) everyone else make mistakes, usually, at some point in the future they do correct them...
jimbrae
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Provincia de Lugo, Spain / España
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Posted: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 10:14 AM UTC

Quoted Text

However, the much maligned 'British Infantry On Patrol' figure set from (the much maligned) Tamiya includes a standalone sprue of weapons and personal gear that is the equal of Dragon if not better in some respects.


Well, having just finished the review of DML's New set (Allied Assault) I took the advice above and checked out the Tamiya set. Guess what? Yep, the equipment IS better. Personally, I feel the Tamiya set is a little on the small side, but the attention to detail in both equipment and weapons is much better...

O.K., all together now: 'I Told You So!'
ALBOWIE
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Posted: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 10:57 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Dragon likes being the biggest seller on the market and they only realease what sells 'German'. but a Desert rats Set would out sell panzergrenadeirs if tooled like the GEN II Germans, i would pay for a Well tolled allied set anyday but commonwealth troops are neglected which is a shame as they played a vital role in stoping the Axis forces. (Tobruk, el Almeain normandy, dieppe and the entire pacific front until the Americans chipped in but i can ramble forever. many Thanks to the Americans for ther contributions )
Just a flaw in the market.

MY $0.02
Mat


Actually Matt I believe they would sell really well but it is a fact that german still sells really well. DML's Brit/C'wealth sets get better and better as they go with the latest Cassino set being really good but not without the problem weapons listed above.

As to the Americans "Chipping In" in the Pacific I think you need to rethink that. The US were in combat in the Pacific before the Commonwelath Forces who were basically confined by Macarthur to the SWPA / Dutch East Indies whilst the US conducted most of the pacific campaign by themselves. In fact the whole Pacific campaign started on US soil.

Just putting things right for our US Cousins

Al
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