We don't often see these – figure sets that are of a “less
popular” nature than German troop sets –
Dragon bring us some early soviet troops along with some interesting
Japanese soldiers from Guadalcanal – we have some of the release info for you
if you like to go the route less travelled…
Dragon March Items..
ITEM NO: DRA 6555
SCALE: 1:35
EST ARRIVAL: April 2013
Case Pack: 48 kits
Box Size: 6.4" x 10.2" x 1.5"
The Battle of Peleliu took place on the small Pacific coral
island (its present-day name is Palau) from 15 September to 27 November 1944.
Defending the island were approximately 11,000 Japanese soldiers, primarily
from the 14th Infantry Division. The amphibious assault was initiated by the
1st Marine Division. The commander of the USMC division predicted Peleliu would
be secured within four days, but the dug-in defenders put up fierce resistance
that protracted the operation to 73 gruelling days. In fact, the Japanese
soldiers created the highest casualty rate for US forces in any battle in the
Pacific campaign. The 1st Marine Division lost about a third of its strength on
Peleliu, and this battle set a pattern for future Japanese island defence in
places like Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
Dragon’s newest 1/35 scale figure set portrays Imperial
Japanese Army (IJA) soldiers fighting on Peleliu. In fact, they form the
perfect accompaniment to Dragon’s newly released Type 95 “Ha-Go” light tank.
The combat poses are expertly rendered and moulding is sharp and detailed. The
Japanese infantrymen are fully equipped with weapons like Type 99 rifles, a
Nambu Type 94 pistol and Type 99 light machine gun, items that are brand new
toolings. Worthy of special note is the fact that the soldiers are wearing
traditional footwear and bindings instead of ankle boots, something that was
common in Pacific combat. While the box top title names Peleliu, the figures
could easily be used to portray any other campaign of the late-war period in
the Pacific.
ITEM NO: DRA 6744
SCALE: 1:35
EST ARRIVAL: April 2013
Case Pack: 48 kits
Box Size: 6.4" x 10.2" x 1.5"
Dragon has released Soviet infantry figures in its 1/35
scale series before, but never before has it offered soldiers from the 1941
winter period. Thus the stage is set for this exciting release! Germany mounted
a massive invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, and the powerful
force’s momentum took troops to the very gates of Moscow. However, amidst
stiffening Soviet resistance, freezing weather and badly overstretched supply
lines, the attack slowed and stalled.
Stalin had been transferring fresh troops from Siberia and
the Far East since autumn, and in early December 1941 they helped launch a
counter-offensive near Moscow. These troops were better equipped for
cold-weather operations than the Germans, and as they advanced, Soviet forces
drove a gap between Army Group North and Army Group Centre. It’s from this
desperate period of winter fighting that this figure set emanates.
The box-top illustration shows four Soviet soldiers dressed
for winter combat. They wear uniform gear such as greatcoats, sheepskin
jackets, toques, mittens/gloves and fur boots. The action poses are very
suitable for depicting a combat scene in the snow and ice, and the sculpting of
the plastic is sharp and realistic. The soldiers also wield weapons suitable
for this time period of 1941, including Moisin-Nagant rifles and a DP28 light
machine gun. Of course the figures could also find application in a different
setting (in the winter fighting against Finland, for example) so they will
prove very versatile. This new Dragon set will find a niche amongst modellers
as there is little else available representing this period of the Great
Patriotic War.
Keep an eye out at Dragon’s Site to see more about
these and all of their other kits…