The DML's Maus/E-100 crew is the first try of reviewing figures included in vehicle kits. As I wrote and inside the review, such kits represent an important source of German army troopers, completing any collection with nice and useful poses. In taking the decision to write this review counted and the fact that there is plenty of resin sets of figures with two or three soldiers (sets that I also want to start reviewing sooner or later).
Of course, my intention is to continue to review and other figures enclosed in various vehicle kits, but I promise you that the next set will be a soft plastic one with tens of soldiers, just in order to compensate these two ones...:)
In addition, due to the fact that there were only a couple of figures I have not to post many photos with them and for this reason I thought that here is a nice occasion to ask you something.
My question is how do you prefer to see figures in a photo, much increased size or not? Definitely both ways have advantages and disadvantages, for instance in the increased ones all the details that I try to paint are easily seen while the smaller ones are more clear and hide eventually mistakes.
Hope you will enjoy this crew and any remarks regarding review or painting as well to the question on size of photos are more then waited.
Cristian Florescu
DRAGON MODELS LIMITED 1/72
"Maus and E-100 Crew"
Manufacturer | Dragon Models Limited |
Scale | 1/72 |
Set Code | 7255/7256 |
Year | 2004 |
No. of Figures | 2 |
No. of Poses | 2 |
Aspect | Medium |
Material | Soft Plastic |
Optimal Period | 1939 -1945 |
Review
As it is well known, on the market there is numerous Braille scale plastic or metal kits from different manufacturers related to WWII German Army including along the vehicle and several figures. Such companies must be highly appreciated due to the fact that in this way satisfy as well the clients who do not want to depict a tank or truck without crew. Definitely, this kind of kits represents a major source for the increment of German soldiers and it must be seriously taken into consideration by collectors or wargamers.
In most cases, there are one or two soldiers, but still exist good examples of sets having three, four or even eight figures in a vehicle kit, exceeding from this point of view a regular resin figures set which contain only few troopers.
Unfortunately, the percentage of kits without versus kits including figures is by far in the favor of the first ones, important producers deciding not to complicate their life and with this issue. On the list should be also enclosed Dragon, which with the exception of the hereinafter reviewed crew, it does not provide in their kits other ones. The thing is really annoying, bearing in mind that Dragon is one of the main German vehicles provider, not only their amazing quality, but also the large number of models featured in their catalogue enhancing this feeling. If it is also corroborated with the fact that the same company is one of the most prolific creator of 1/35 scale WWII Germans, the exasperation reach maximum heights. Rumors that the issue of moving the 1/35 scale vehicles into 1/72 will happen and with the figures range are hardly waited to become true.
In spite of existing several sets dedicated to Panzer troops, like Preiser's „German Tank Crew 1939-45" and „German Tank Crew", the offer in plastic is extremely limited, especially comparing with the large number of tanks, assault guns andother vehicles requiring soldiers dressed in the specific Panzer jacket. This could reperesent and other main advantage of kits with figures, giving some answers on the topic, Hasegawa and Esci excelling from this point of view.
As it was stressed above, the only figures included in Dragon kits are two crew members, the same ones being integrated in two kits, respectively Mouse and E100 sets.
In most cases, tank crews are made of hard plastic, white metal or resin, but here we have a premiere in the scale, surprisingly these troops are made of soft plastic, even if for the kit it was decided to be used the hard one. Not only the interesting and gluable combination of rubber and plastic strongly remaind about Pegasus Hobbies' soft plastic sets, but also the quality of figures and the same country of manufacturing (China) represent other common points.
According to their destination, dressed in Panzer wrap tunic (Feldjacke) over a nicely seen shirt, Panzer trousers and ankle boots, with heads covered by officer and overseas caps, they are appropriate for any period of WWII. Furthermore, they match any season, on the one hand taking into account that there are lots of reference pictures featuring these units in winter only with tunic and on the other hand, another key detail is that Panzer uniforms were inspired by a 1934 en-vogue skiing outfit.
In the same time, they may be used as Waffen SS or Wehrmacht troops, their garment being suitable for painting in various ways such as black for Panzer, grey for artillery or in camouflage patterns with pea dot as the most often seen in photos after 1943 when it was for the first time introduced (lighter shades while the 1944 pea dot pattern was darker).
Both figures have belts, but a draw-back of the set is the lack of pistol holsters, pistols being in the standard endowment of any Panzer soldier, as a specialized unit. If it is desired, the deficiency may be easily solved through gluing a Preiser pistol holster, this soft plastic accepting extremely well the gel super glue.
The poses have nothing special, quite common for 1/72 Panzer crews, but realistic and very well done, specially designed for being emplaced on an armored vehicle though they match and other types of means of transportation. While the officer stands with his palms holding the hips, the trooper is in a sat pose and can be placed in various spaces on a vehicle. Both figures enter without modifications a German heavy tank turret, but this location is not very recommended due to the lack of speakers.
The accuracy of the uniforms is simply perfect, featuring a lot of specific small details like badges, eagles, collar and shoulder boards which is the merit of Dragon sculptors, showing their great skill in the field of 1/72 figures. Anatomy is terrific, with expressively faces and there are no disparities between the sizes of bodies at these poses. Flash is almost inexistent, easy to remove while excess of plastic does not exist at all. The material accepts very well the paint, though it is advisable to use primer first in order to prevent any tendency of gloss aspect of the paint.
As it is normal for their role, the soldiers come without bases, neither needed by the sat one nor by the commander which has a great balance, effortlessly standing with no supplementary device.
The present reviewed figures match very good with other offers in the field, except the above mentioned sets from Preiser and other figures enclosed in various kits, the list can be completed, through others, by two sets in white metal from Miniatures Alemany, respectively German Tank Crew and German Assault Gun Crew. In addition, several poses dressed in Panzer wrap tunic are comprised in Odemars's German Commanders set, also manufactured in soft plastic.
For first try, Dragon Models Limited Maus/E100 crew demonstrates the full potential of the company in the field of 1/72 soldiers and we are looking forward to seeing released not only vehicles, but also sets of figures, their 1/35 catalogue constituting a real source of inspiration for its sculptors as well aspiration for Braille scale fans.
Historical Accuracy | 9 |
Anatomy | 10 |
Poses Quality | 9 |
Details Quality | 10 |
Mould Quality | 9 |
Sculpture | 9 |
Recommendation/Utility | 9 |
TOTAL | 9 |
