Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6654; Ghost Division Tank Crew Blitzkrieg 1940 - Gen 2 Gear; 114 parts (106 in grey styrene, 8 etched brass); price US$12.95 via DragonUSA Online

Advantages: four more nice single figures for use with models; nice selection of casual poses

Disadvantages: not a “set”

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: for early war German fans

The latest set of “vignette” figures from DML are four early war German soldiers from the 11th Panzer or “Ghost” Division, which was one of the better known units from the early war campaign in France. Advertised as produced for the 70th Anniversary of the 1940 Blitzkrieg, this new set follows recent DML format and is more along the line of four individual standing figures. Two of them, a wounded tanker and an officer with a pistol, can be posed together as shown in the Ron Volstad artwork.

Three of the figures are panzer crewmen in the early war uniforms with the floppy berets. One is wearing a headset cocked up to hold conversation with anyone outside the tank, and the other two are the wounded man in a beret and officer with pistol and sidecap. The fourth figure is an infantryman with rifle shouldered; the box art again shows them both smoking cigarettes.

Each figure is typical DML in that it consists of six parts – head, torso, arms and legs. The main sprue includes their headgear, headset cups, and even cigarettes for the two smokers.

One of the generic “Gen2" kit sprues is provided with all of the usual accessories, albeit only the infantryman needs them. Weapons are the one-piece “Gen 1" type but without etched brass slings provided for them. (All it is for is the headband for the headset wearer.)

It should be noted that DML Kit No. 6631S is a special edition of their new Pzkw. III Ausf. E kit and includes this figure set with it for US$52.95 via DragonUSA Online.

Overall it is a nice set and again provides up to four single figures for use with models on bases.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

Sprue Layout:

6654 32 Four figures and basic kit
G 60 German generic kit - helmets, bread bags, canteens, sidearms, etc.
W 14 German small arms - 4 x Kar 98K, 3 x MP-40
MA 8 Etched brass

- Cookie Sewell