Why is Dragon doing this???

It's a guess, but I'd say it's because the MP40 was usually stored inside the vehicles without magazines. If you get a Dragon infantry set with the MP40 in the kit you do get them moulded with magazines.

Without the magazine? But whay would they do that? To prevent accidental discharge, maybe?

I'd say it's quite likely for that reason, and maybe also so there isn't that long magazine sticking out somewhere.

Is this one of the Dragon 251 kits by any chance. I have noticed this. But given how the weapon is stowed, the magazine isn't in the way. It would make more sense to include weapons both with and without magazines on them and give you the option.

Bish, sorry, I don't know what the 251 referes to. The kit number is 6258. But I had other Dragon models in the past 3 or 4 yrs and the MP-40 was all the same.

Cheers...

Sorry, should have said SdKfz 251, the German halftrack. But that was me jumping to conclusions. I was forgetting about other open topped vehciles that would have an MP 40. I have quite a few of the Dragon 251 kits, and ye they are all the same as well. I reckon Dragon just have one set of weapons that they put in every kit. Its just them being lazy and saving money.

My guess would also be for safety reasons.  Same idea of driving your car to a hunting trip or shooting range, wouldn't want loaded weapons laying around.

Some quick pics found of a stug interior:

regards,

Jack

I have to agree, even on example photo's as mentioned and movies made during the era as training films, the ammo mag is added only when needed. It is quite "normal" to stow them unless they are on your person without the mag. However, when going into battle perhaps they added a clip to repel anyone attempting to attack from above. One such German training film actually shows the driver or radio operator added a clip and then stowing it on the channeled ledge near him within the skin of the vehicle. Your choice i suppose. I believe this is the correct link below but you can also Google it as "German tank training".  Who knows, might be useful.

http://youtu.be/xB_FDpT8et8

sorry, also noticed this useful training film, hope it works for you.

http://youtu.be/yBThvkdzW00

I swear this is the last one, I cannot merge or edit the posts so here is the last in the series of movies that you can find on Youtube. ...http://youtu.be/7SU3flZmeB0

castelnuovo

Without the magazine? But whay would they do that? To prevent accidental discharge, maybe?

Likewise on US M3 submachine guns (aka "Grease Gun"). They were stored inside without a magazine in place. The magazines were in a canvas ammo pouch (three magazines per pouch) that was stored adjacent to the gun's location. If you took the gun, you grabbed a magazine or the entire pouch if you were dismounting for any length of time.

Maybe they didn't have a subscription to the magazine. 

Eric

They said their subscription ran out.

Thad

It kinda makes since to prevent the gun from discharging if going over ruff terrain that might jar them around a lot at the same time if you knew you was going into an engagement you would want to make sure it is loaded just in case and you always have your side arm if you get surprised and need close range protection  

Most of the photos i have seen seem to come from training manuels, so of course these are not the same as combat photos. I know the MP 40 had no real saftey catch, but if stowed without a round in the spout there would be little risk of a misfire.

We used to carry our SA 80's in Warriors with a mag on. And as a driver, mine was stowed in a braket behind me. It just makes common sense to me that the troops would carry there ready to go. If your vehcile is about to be over run, the last thing you want to do is be fumbiling around for a magazine.

But IIRC, the MP-40, like the M3, fires from an open bolt. The SA 80 is like a M16 and fires from a closed bolt.  It would definitely be a safety issue to have either one of those SMGs stowed with a magazine in the well, especially if the bolt somehow is opened (ready to fire).

Ye, there is that issue. I don't know how easy it would be to accidently open the bolt. Given the position the weapons were stowed in, i would say its not likely a crew man would brush past it and open the bolt.

But not haveing seen a photo of one with a Mag fitted, its hard to say for sure.

No, but you know any private could easily put the weapon in there with the bolt open already. Add a magazine in the well and that is one step closer to a bad day.

Given that these weapons were for the driver and commander, and if they were needed then the proverbial really had hit the fan, i can't imagine these were weapons were taken out, used and put back on a regular basis.

I know if it was me, i would rather have the mag on than risk my vehicle being disabled and i had to get out with the Red horde advancing on me while trying to fumble about getting a mag on.

But who knows.