Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - 10:41 PM UTC
Dragon Models have just announced a re-issue/update of their British Paras & S.A.S. Troopers in 1/35th scale
The two sets are:

6585 - Red Devils with Welbike and Drop Tube Container

6586 - 2nd S.A.S. Regiment with Welbike and Drop Tube Container


Curiously enough, both these announcements have caused a fair amount of comment. Whilst not (usually) an enthusiast of either the 'instant' Review or heavy-handed editorials, some comment on both these sets is perhaps justifiable...

Firstly, on a strictly historical note, the S.A.S. have (to the best of my knowledge) never been documented using the Welbike in combat deployment.

Regarding the figures, both of these sets are previous releases with the Paras having been somewhat overtaken by more modern releases from other manufacturers. That ISN'T to say that they can be discounted, they DO provide a good basis for upgrading. It is also worth bearing in mind that any manufacturer has to maximise the resources they have and there is nothing inherently wrong with re-issues. The S.A.S. figures again, provide a useful basis for conversion and upgrading...

On the debit side, the dimensions of the drop container, which portrays the Mark I, is, if the images are to be believed, dimensionally off. It appears to be both too short and not wide enough. A Welbike (in its folded) position, would easily fit in a Mark I with around 60cm of space remaining. It WASN'T a snug fit and was known to be padded with straw or blankets to protect the bike..

Finally, the decision of one of DML's competitors to release a similar set, may have, in large part contributed to this announcement?
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Comments

Kudos to DML for releasing a wellbike, but when you look at the first set, would you be wheeling your mini bike forward while your mates are blatting away with Stens, Brens and a PIAT? I just can't see any context to the figure with the bike that relates to the other three ... at best, the bike could be incorporated into the rubble of a vignette. Perhaps it indicates that the Wellbike, as a battefield vehicle, was perhaps instead best heaved at a German King Tiger as a deadly projectile! "Hey guys ... I know you're sort of busy right now, but I can't wait to do a lap of the perimeter on this way cool mini bike!" Regards the SAS ,,, why would they need the bike when they all ready have a Willys Jeep? "Oh, crap ... I thought this container would be chock full of Hershey bars and nylon stockings!" I welcome the Dragon Wellbike, but am bemused at the half-hearted response to a compeitior. All that said, I thought the original figure offerings were great because they weren't yet another seemingly interminable German WWII sub plot. How about some Indians, Gurkhas (with the correct diminutive stature) or Brits in the Far East? Australians in the Pacific?
SEP 23, 2009 - 03:17 AM
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