Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ?39-?45 Series Kit No. 673
8; French Infantry Sedan 1940; 66 parts in grey styrene; pre-order price US $16.95 via Dragon USA OnlineAdvantages: first nice new figures in styrene of French WWII soldiers in ov er 30 years; nicely done with good poses and suitable for use with French v ehicles
Disadvantages: weapons look a bit heavy
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all WWII French fans
One of the great surprises in world history was the collapse of the French Army in six weeks during the early summer of 1940. France had a larger arm y than the Germans, as well as more and for the time better tanks, artiller y and aircraft. As such, while the French soldiers themselves did put up a valiant effort, they have not been well represented in model form.
Heller was the only company over the years that did release kits of WWII F rench armored vehicles and also infantry and supporting figures to go with them (including a camel rider) but whereas the vehicles could be made into decent replicas with work, the figures were very static and poorly laid out , making a good job of them very difficult. Until this time the only decent figures to be found were in resin.
Be that as it may, DML has now stepped up with a nice new set of four ?p olius? in overcoats preparing to defend against the attacking Germans. Th ey include a captain (three silver stripes, which I think is a captain unde r the French ranks) observing the enemy, a soldier calling and pointing to their location, and a light machine gun team with one many carrying the gun and the other man with a pipe bringing the magazines.
All figures consist of eight basic parts - head, torso, arms, legs and two piece coat skirts; the enlisted men wear theirs ?retroussie? style or turned back and buttoned up at the rear, and the captain has his down. Each figure comes with a canteen, backpack and relevant ammo pouches and pistol s for the captain and ammo bearer. The other soldier carries a rifle.
The machine gun appears to be the Chautellerault Mle 1924/29 light machine gun, as over-engineered and obnoxious a weapon as I have personally encoun tered. (I accidently disassembled one in Vietnam and it took me six hours t o get it back together, but I digress. It comes with a magazine in place an d a second magazine in the hands of the loader. Each has shoes but whereas the enlisted have cloth leggins the officer has saddle leather uppers over his shoes.
Box art is unsigned but appears to be a combination of painting and Photos hop, albeit better than some recent efforts. Directions for painting are ?follow the box art? type.
Overall this is a welcome effort and one that anyone with a Tamiya Char B or Renault tankette will appreciate.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell