Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 37 1st Panzer Division Leningrad 1941
Manufacturer: Dragon models
Scale: 1/35
Material: Styrene
Serial Number: 6651
Price: TBA

Introduction

Dragon need no introduction, having been a steadily improving manufacturer of injection moulded kits for many years now. Their figure range is enormous and has included release in their '39-'45 series, and 2nd Generation series, to '39-'45 with 2nd Generation weapons. This release, representing four soldiers of the Pioneer battalion 37 1st Panzer Division during the advance to Leningrad in 1941 just before they were pulled from the front line in September of 1941 and sent to join the drive towards Moscow, is back to the '39-'45 Series.


Kit Contents
The kit consists of four sprues of light grey styrene of varying size. The largest sprue contains the parts for the actual bodies of the four figures, being conventional in breakdown, i.e. separate upper torso, arms, heads and legs. In addition the headgear of each of the figures is supplied as a separate part, and there are also some items of figure specific tools and equipment on this sprue.

The next largest sprue is a generic one that contains items of personal kit such as bread bags, gasmask cylinders, canteens, helmets, flasks and ammunition pouches. If the figures are built as modelled on the box artwork, then most of these items will be added to your spares box. The next sprue contains a selection of weapons, including three MP40's, two of which are moulded with wire stock folded, and one with a separate wire stock that can be modelled opened. There are also four Kar 98K rifles, an MG34 and MG42, one open and one closed bipod mount, one Gewehr 43 and one Sturmgewehr 44. In addition there are a number of various magazine clips and drums on the sprue for these weapons. The last small sprue contains three ammunition belts for the MG34 or MG42 along with an open ammunition box and Kar 98K fitted with grenade launcher.

Most of the figure sets that Dragon manufacture can be classed as either action figures or 'relaxed' figures, and this set sits firmly in the action pose camp. Two of the figures are posed standing, one lying down and the fourth kneeling. Two of the figures are posed wearing an M36 field tunic, whilst the two standing figures are wearing panzer crew tunics, one of which is shown as field grey on the box art, the other black, but both can be painted as either. The sculpting on each of the figures is what we've come to expect from Dragon, i.e. sharp, well moulded and free from flash. There's some tiny amount of flash on for example the ammunition belts, which are showing their age a bit, but the newer sprues have none.

The first standing figure is posed wearing a helmet, in the act of detonating a charge. He's shown wearing a breadbag on the boxart, but that doesn't seem to fit with his panzer tunic, and the beauty of these Dragon figures, is that they're more or less mix and match, and if you've been making them for a while then by raiding the spares box you can make up almost any figure you need. I would personally leave off the bread bag and canteen that are shown, and just leave him with the pistol holster, probably changing his headgear too. The other standing figure is wearing a side cap, and is posed leaning slightly forward, as if around a corner etc. He's carrying an MP40, and has magazine pouches on his belt. Interestingly, the boxart shows both standing figures with the Totenkopf on their collar tabs, yet the photographic instructions show these absent...but they actually are moulded onto the figures? Anyhow, if you want to shave these off and use these figures as something else it's easily done!

The third figure is shown lying down, holding the Kar 98K grenade launcher. He's carrying full kit, i.e. gasmask cylinder, bread bag, canteen etc. The fourth figure kneeling and is the only figure to actually be wearing any engineering equipment. He has a Kar 98K rifle plus backpack presumably containing some sorts of explosives.


Conclusion
Excellent figures once again from Dragon. Nice mix of poses, a variety of uniforms, and loads for the spares box which is always nice! Recommended.

- Vinnie Branigan