U.S. Army Support Weapons Teams
Dragon Kit No. 6198
1:35th Scale
Review by Terry Ashley

Four figures wear the OD Field Jacket (second pattern) with OD field trousers over service shoes and leggings with the other two airborne figures wear the M1943 Field Jacket trousers with the large hip pockets with double stud fasteners over service shoes. They also wear the M1 Steel Helmet with four having no cover while two has the netting cover.

Weapons included are:
1 x M2 60mm Mortar and ammunition
1 x M18 57mm Recoilless Rifle
1 x M1919A4 .30 Cal Machine Gun and tripod mounting
1 x M2 .50cal HB Machine Gun and tripod mounting
1 x M1 Garand
1 x M1A1 Carbine with folding stock
6 x M1911A1 Colt .45 Automatic in M1916 Holster
plus a selection of ammo pouches, water bottles, first aid pouches as well as six bayonets in scabbards and two M1943 folding Intrenching Shovels.

The figures are broken down in the usual Dragon manner with upper torso, arms, heads, helmets and both legs all separate parts which allows for good detail to be included on the parts and there is only the usual moulding seams to be removed.

The detail on the uniforms is excellent with well defined tunic and trouser details and realistic fabric folds including the fabric seams on the trouser legs and tunic arms with nice facial features and realistic posed hands designed to fit around their weapons or rounds but there was a bit of flash to be removed from the hands.

The weapons are nicely detailed with the inclusion of the 60mm mortar and 57mm Recoilless Rifle being a nice addition and come with separate ammo (3 rounds for the mortar and 1 rocket for the RR) while the .30cal and .50cal are designed to fit to the delicate tripods included and include short belts of ammo with ammo boxes made up of separate parts for good definition but the detail on these isn’t quite as good as those in recent kits from the likes of Academy, AFV club and Trumpeter but still should be quite adequate.

The Mortar and Recoilless Rifle teams are designed to go together but you can choose either the .30cal or .50cal for the third team to suit you diorama requirements.

Included is a letter sized page with front and back colour illustrations of the six figures showing the parts that make up each figure as well as some of their personal equipment, there is more equipment included in the set than shown on the instructions so you can equip the teams as you wish for a bit of variety.

Conclusion:
Overall another nicely detailed set of figures that will be very useful for diorama settings with the set poses for support weapons and will be welcomed by Allied fans.

Page created 10 July 2004