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SgtRam
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#197
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 06, 2011
KitMaker: 3,971 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 - 10:06 AM UTC
An announcement from Dragon Models has another US figure set making a return to production.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
Me109G10
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Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Joined: November 24, 2013
KitMaker: 107 posts
Armorama: 91 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 - 06:15 PM UTC
No... sry no. I have one of them lying around. They are 20 years old. I dont like Dragons new thing in releasing stoneaged kits. Thats just LOW. I bet every Modler would be so happy if there were some new allied figures aviable in the Normandy section: I already have an idea: Dragon likes to put senceless Figures together so do 4 different allied Figures which were fighting in Normandy for the anniversary. Das ist so ein bullshit von Dragon. Allmählich gehe ich auf abstand weil die Preis- und überhaupt die Politik einem auf die Eier gehen. Its not worth the money guys. hit Ebay and buy the set for 2€ and ur good. Dont support this. This is so low. So sad, Dragon was my fav all the years. It changed.
RECON22
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Queensland, Australia
Joined: February 10, 2012
KitMaker: 665 posts
Armorama: 652 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 - 10:13 PM UTC
Max....take a breath mate...I hear your frustration with Dragon and their figures. Yes I too have several boxes of these Rangers from the old days, would be nice if Dragon released a part "two" of the Rangers with 'New Poses'... I think we have to rely on other Manufacturers to look after us. My bet is on Masterbox for listening to what the modeller wants as they have released several kits after listening (looking) at the posts on their company website. Either way mate, I hope we see some new Rangers come out for this coming D-Day Anniversary..!
Modelfreak04
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Lisboa, Portugal
Joined: November 10, 2013
KitMaker: 54 posts
Armorama: 54 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 - 11:41 PM UTC
I also have that box laying around for 20 years. The detail is too soft.
Modelfreak04
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Lisboa, Portugal
Joined: November 10, 2013
KitMaker: 54 posts
Armorama: 54 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 - 11:43 PM UTC
See no reason for the re-issue of this one (besides the Normandy anniversary) when Dragon has some really good old sets (better even than the new ones) that you can't find anywhere for years.
nikon1
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Kansas, United States
Joined: April 11, 2005
KitMaker: 622 posts
Armorama: 605 posts
Posted: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 03:25 AM UTC
Count yourselve's lucky. We brailler's can't even get Dragon to release all of their 1/35 figures in 1/72. Yeah we have some allied troops in soft plastic and 6 different sets of Germans that come with either 3 different tanks, an anti tank sent and an SdKfz 251.
Biggles2
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Quebec, Canada
Joined: January 01, 2004
KitMaker: 7,600 posts
Armorama: 6,110 posts
Posted: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 03:49 AM UTC
DML has gotten lazy, and is taking the easy way out by filling their 'new releases' with old and sometimes sub modern quality kits (at least, so far only figures). And that's the long slippery slope to losing. They need a new R+D department with imagination and better figure sculptors. Of course, they're too busy producing action figures, licensed Disney stuff, and girly toys ! If they put half as much effort in their 1/35 figure sets as they do in their Marvel and DC Super Hero figures it would be a whole new game for Dragon.
bill_c
Staff MemberCampaigns Administrator
MODEL SHIPWRIGHTS
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 04:05 AM UTC
Not exactly a thriller, Dragon.
M4A1Sherman
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New York, United States
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 04:55 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Not exactly a thriller, Dragon.


I'll agree that DRAGON has gotten too fat and happy with themselves. In DRAGON's mind-think, lazy is good and makes great big hooptie-dooptie piles of money for them. Good for them, bad for us...

About the only new DRAGON kit that I'm somewhat enthused over is their up-coming U.S. M6 Tank. Given that their first Black Label kit, the M103A1, is found wanting in several ways, I'm not going to rush out and buy that M6 before reading a few reviews. DRAGON CAN do better, but they choose not to. Instead of loading up their kits with a bazillion extra parts that belong on different versions of the same vehicle, which we'll never use unless we go out and buy an additional kit, in which case we'll wind up with even MORE extra parts. DRAGON should concentrate on achieving better fit and better accuracy thru better engineering. But what do I know- I'm just another disgruntled modeller...

The last time I bought a DRAGON kit was about 8 months ago; a T-34/76 1940 Production...
jrutman
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Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 05:46 AM UTC
I can think of better sets to re-release. Like the Hohenstaufen set! Best plastic helmets with covers I've seen as well as the cammo smocks.
Also why not a Gen II set of American WWII equipment? That stuff is kind of hit and miss in all the GI sets.
J
Me109G10
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Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Joined: November 24, 2013
KitMaker: 107 posts
Armorama: 91 posts
Posted: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 06:21 AM UTC
Well >I wrote it in an gruntled modellers english... I mean what you guys say. Its getting quiet around dragon. And whats new is most of the time disappointment or just 20 + years old. Also on D Day were also germans,brits,canadiens and so on.. The rangers are one of the "cheapest" and not good looking sets they did. I wish they would have chosen the US Airborne Figures.. or - and I am nearly giggeling because of this - produce a new one I mean the last new allied Figure in the european theater feels ages ago. I still miss regular italian troops as they were fighting in italy or greece. whatever. lets get the 5000x ss officer. sry dragon i dont build ss. also I bet the figures will now cost 15€+.. hundred years ago when they were new i think they were about 8€. miss that time. as i sad: have a look at ebay to get it for 2/3€
Nate_W
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Missouri, United States
Joined: April 13, 2012
KitMaker: 395 posts
Armorama: 391 posts
Posted: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 06:22 AM UTC
Exactly, if they're keen on bringing back a Normandy set, for God's sake bring back the Hohenstaufen kit! I honestly think their 29th infantry division at Omaha Beach and their Hohenstaufen sets were the last ones that really made me say "Yes!" It's been years.
jimbrae
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Provincia de Lugo, Spain / España
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 06:32 AM UTC
One thing's for sure - the Price iSN'T gonna be that of 20 years ago.
Trisaw
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California, United States
Joined: December 24, 2002
KitMaker: 4,105 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 06:40 AM UTC


I would have liked DML to have continued their "1/35 Modern Elite Force Series" since the last kit was made in 2003 ("U.S. Modern Marines"). Dragon has all the references and contacts to make modern figures what with their Concord "Special Operations Journals" and 1/6 dolls. The DML 1/6 dolls appear very accurate in terms of uniforms, weapons, and gear---just shrink that down to 1/35 scale.

Imagine all the missed figure opportunities for Dragon over the past decade by not making modern plastic figures. Dragon could always hire a new box artist to draw and research modern figures.

And even to this day, no official answer as to why the 1/35 SEAL DPV was never made.

While the resin market has answered the call for modern military figures, the plastic figure market still lags behind.
bill_c
Staff MemberCampaigns Administrator
MODEL SHIPWRIGHTS
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 07:05 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I can think of better sets to re-release. Like the Hohenstaufen set! Best plastic helmets with covers I've seen as well as the cammo smocks.

Jerry, you were reading my mind!

TERRIFIC set. They formed the bulk of the 2nd SS in my Normandy diorama.
nikon1
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Kansas, United States
Joined: April 11, 2005
KitMaker: 622 posts
Armorama: 605 posts
Posted: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 02:57 PM UTC

Quoted Text

:[]--

I would have liked DML to have continued their "1/35 Modern Elite Force Series" since the last kit was made in 2003 ("U.S. Modern Marines"). Dragon has all the references and contacts to make modern figures what with their Concord "Special Operations Journals" and 1/6 dolls. The DML 1/6 dolls appear very accurate in terms of uniforms, weapons, and gear---just shrink that down to 1/35 scale.

Imagine all the missed figure opportunities for Dragon over the past decade by not making modern plastic figures. Dragon could always hire a new box artist to draw and research modern figures.

And even to this day, no official answer as to why the 1/35 SEAL DPV was never made.

While the resin market has answered the call for modern military figures, the plastic figure market still lags behind.


I've sent many e-mails to Dragon and only received the we have forwarded your suggestions to our marketing department. My impression is that Dragon really doesn't care any more. It's as if the money they make on their military range is used to produce the superhero and mickey ranges.
Charlie
Trisaw
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California, United States
Joined: December 24, 2002
KitMaker: 4,105 posts
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Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2014 - 06:04 AM UTC

Quoted Text



I've sent many e-mails to Dragon and only received the we have forwarded your suggestions to our marketing department. My impression is that Dragon really doesn't care any more. It's as if the money they make on their military range is used to produce the superhero and mickey ranges.
Charlie


Someone on Missing-Lynxs said that Concord SOJs don't sell well (another modeler told me DML was once giving them out free with each online order). I do know that the Concord SOJ authors have since split up with some starting their own online journals and others publishing their own SWAT books. None of the former SOJ authors have really came back together in a book as in SOJ though.

I even asked FineScale Modeler to investigate on if DML will ever resurrect SOJs, "Armed Forces Journal International" books, and 1/35 "Modern Elite Force Figure Series," but FSM doesn't really take marketing questions for their Q&A. FSM did say that they believe the lack of sales is what made DML ditch its modern product lines, but that's not an official DML answer.
dioman13
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Indiana, United States
Joined: August 19, 2007
KitMaker: 2,184 posts
Armorama: 1,468 posts
Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2014 - 11:53 AM UTC
I still have 108 sets of Dragon figures, 2 of the rangers. I have the feeling that Dragon has gotten lazy in the devlopment of new sets. Rereleasing figures with some P/E or decals just stinks. They concentrate on German and leave out many allied figures that would sell if they put more energy into the reaserch and getting them right. I know that German stuff sells like a wild fire raging up hill but come on Dragon. How many German sets can you come up with. We could use more allied sets of American, British, Canadian, Greek, French, African, Russian just to name a few. And they could even do some navy and airforce sets. We have a lot of P.T. boats and landing craft and aircraft that could use some regular Joes. Support personal would be fine too. But do a better job on the figures looks, posses and make the equipment correct. But that just may be asking too much. If they had bad sales from the French set they did, maybe it was because they just stunk. So if they figure that that set did not sell that we don't want more and better sets, it's only thier fault. If you prduce garbage then expect crappy returns for junk. I am still waiting for them to send 2 sets of ammo pouchs for the Peleliu set they did. The U.S.M.C. did not have assitant bar gunners. But they claim that they did and don't want to correct it. They said to me that when sets of the ammo pouchs are available they would send they to me. They sent 1 set and never got around to the rest as I P/U 3 sets. The ammo pouchs are available from most of the American sets they have available. So, since last summer I believe, I am still waiting. Thiere loss as I refuse to buy any more sets from them because they don't value custommers. just the almighty buck. Incorrect sets, lazyness with doing them right and crapy custommer service has made me search for a new company. Now I look and buy MasterBox. They at least care about custommer happiness. When I let them know about the lack of pistols and cap pouchs, and a few broken parts, they sent me 1 and 1/2 sets to correct it, and posted it on Christmass day no less. Dragon should shake the cob webs out of the heads of marketing dept. and custommer service.
jrutman
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Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Friday, February 28, 2014 - 02:19 AM UTC
I still like Dragon and hope they do get their act together. They remind me of the way Trumpeteer works. Some set they release are outstanding and then there are also the duds. Different production teams?? I don't know. What I do know is that there are now other plastic companies standing by to take up the slack from Tamiya and Dragon.
New kids on the block,MB and Miniart are releasing some very unique and useful sets and are not afraid to take chances with subjects,IE the Civil War and Frontier sets. And the quality has been increasing all the time.
Capitalism and competition at its' best,I recon.
J
M4A1Sherman
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New York, United States
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
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Posted: Monday, March 03, 2014 - 03:08 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I can think of better sets to re-release. Like the Hohenstaufen set! Best plastic helmets with covers I've seen as well as the cammo smocks.
Also why not a Gen II set of American WWII equipment? That stuff is kind of hit and miss in all the GI sets.
J


I whole-heartedly AGREE! DRAGON would do very well for themselves to release an expanded set of GEN 2 WWII US Infantry weapons. And that doesn't mean a single sprue of one or two M1 Garands, two 1903 Springfields, two M1911 .45cal Sidearms of one each- holstered and un-holstered, two M1 Carbines, and one each of the M1 Thompson and M1928 Thompson with the "Gangster-style Fore-grip and 50-Round and/or 100-Round Ammo Drums, and two M3 "Grease Guns" either.

We could use a boxing of these GEN 2 WWII US Infantry weapons containing perhaps six sprues of each.
jrutman
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Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Monday, March 03, 2014 - 08:01 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

I can think of better sets to re-release. Like the Hohenstaufen set! Best plastic helmets with covers I've seen as well as the cammo smocks.
Also why not a Gen II set of American WWII equipment? That stuff is kind of hit and miss in all the GI sets.
J


I whole-heartedly AGREE! DRAGON would do very well for themselves to release an expanded set of GEN 2 WWII US Infantry weapons. And that doesn't mean a single sprue of one or two M1 Garands, two 1903 Springfields, two M1911 .45cal Sidearms of one each- holstered and un-holstered, two M1 Carbines, and one each of the M1 Thompson and M1928 Thompson with the "Gangster-style Fore-grip and 50-Round and/or 100-Round Ammo Drums, and two M3 "Grease Guns" either.

We could use a boxing of these GEN 2 WWII US Infantry weapons containing perhaps six sprues of each.


Yes,exactly!! But also with some decent canteens with and without covers,ammo pouches closed and open,etc etc. Just like the existing set for the German gear. E-tools,map cases,the whole nine yards.
J
J
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