Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6554; U.S. Marines Peleliu 1944 - Gen2 Gear; 117 parts in grey styrene; pre-order price US$16.95 via Dragon USA Online
Advantages: nice new set coming out before DML releases a Type 95 Ha-Go
Disadvantages: none of note
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Pacific War fans
Anyone who saw the HBO series “The Pacific” can recall their vivid recreation of taking the airfield on Peleliu in early 1944 and the attempts by the Marines to stop Hollywood recreations of Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks. This set uses that as box art and provides a nice new set of US Marines in appropriate uniforms right before DML releases a kit later this year of the Type 95. (We will ignore the fact some sources indicate they were actually Type 2 Ka-Mi amphibious tanks less pontoons.)
The four figures in this set cover a wounded marine being attended to by a Navy corpsman and a BAR team working their way around the knocked-out tank. All of the troops have leggings and shoes, two canteens (two different pattern carriers), and full landing kit.
Each figure comes in the normal six parts (head, torso, arms and legs) with separate helmets. One has the camouflage cover untucked from between the shell and M1 helmet (think Reginald Owen as the interpreter in “From the Halls of Montezuma”) but the other three are tucked in. Each uniform has a loose fit as seen in photos.
The weapons are the Gen2 Gear discussed on the box and as with all items of this class come with open bores and separate bolts for open and closed. The BAR has a two-piece bipod as well.
Box art is unsigned. The directions are the usual “Stick Here” and follow the box art for painting type.
Overall this is a very nice new set and should be appreciated by all Pacific fans.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Disadvantages: none of note
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Pacific War fans
Anyone who saw the HBO series “The Pacific” can recall their vivid recreation of taking the airfield on Peleliu in early 1944 and the attempts by the Marines to stop Hollywood recreations of Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks. This set uses that as box art and provides a nice new set of US Marines in appropriate uniforms right before DML releases a kit later this year of the Type 95. (We will ignore the fact some sources indicate they were actually Type 2 Ka-Mi amphibious tanks less pontoons.)
The four figures in this set cover a wounded marine being attended to by a Navy corpsman and a BAR team working their way around the knocked-out tank. All of the troops have leggings and shoes, two canteens (two different pattern carriers), and full landing kit.
Each figure comes in the normal six parts (head, torso, arms and legs) with separate helmets. One has the camouflage cover untucked from between the shell and M1 helmet (think Reginald Owen as the interpreter in “From the Halls of Montezuma”) but the other three are tucked in. Each uniform has a loose fit as seen in photos.
The weapons are the Gen2 Gear discussed on the box and as with all items of this class come with open bores and separate bolts for open and closed. The BAR has a two-piece bipod as well.
Box art is unsigned. The directions are the usual “Stick Here” and follow the box art for painting type.
Overall this is a very nice new set and should be appreciated by all Pacific fans.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell