Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale =9139-=9145 Series Kit No. 655=
4; U.S. Marines Peleliu 1944 - Gen2 Gear; 117 parts in grey styrene; pre-or= der 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 =93The Pacific=94 can recall their vivid rec= reation 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. Th= is set uses that as box art and provides a nice new set of US Marines in ap= propriate uniforms right before DML releases a kit later this year of the T= ype 95. (We will ignore the fact some sources indicate they were actually T= ype 2 Ka-Mi amphibious tanks less pontoons.)=20
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 pa= ttern carriers), and full landing kit.=20
Each figure comes in the normal six parts (head, torso, arms and legs) wit= h separate helmets. One has the camouflage cover untucked from between the = shell and M1 helmet (think Reginald Owen as the interpreter in =93From the = Halls of Montezuma=94) but the other three are tucked in. Each uniform has = a loose fit as seen in photos.=20
The weapons are the Gen2 Gear discussed on the box and as with all items o= f this class come with open bores and separate bolts for open and closed. T= he BAR has a two-piece bipod as well.=20
Box art is unsigned. The directions are the usual =93Stick Here=94 and fol= low the box art for painting type.=20
Overall this is a very nice new set and should be appreciated by all Pacif= ic fans.=20
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.=20
Cookie Sewell