With the widespread use of artillery in WWII, there is considerable potential use for crew sets for both towed and self-propelled artillery. This new set from Dragon is based on the artillery figures included in Dragon’s recent release of the 88mm Flak 36 figure and includes a new sprue containing a new head or limbs for each figure as well as ammunition and ammunition cases. The new posses allow modellers to have a full gun crew with a man performing each phase involved in handling the rounds when in action.

Contents

The main sprue contains the parts to make six soldiers serving an in-action gun from the earlier Flak kit. Each figure is sculptured to Dragon’s current high standard as evident in the accuracy of the uniforms, the subtle differences in how each figure wears their heavy clothing and that each face is lifelike. All men are wearing the M1942 reversible winter parka with matching padded trousers and winter boots introduced for the winter of 42/43 and used until war’s end with crew neck sweaters underneath and standard issue steel helmets as worn by Luftwaffe and Wehrmacht Heer gun crew. Early versions of the hooded parka were white on one side with field grey or blue for many Luftwaffe troops on the reverse, while later versions had camouflage patterns such as the splinter pattern on the reverse. The trousers are the early pattern as evident by the four-button fly and cut around the ankles. Ron Volstad’s box art accurately depicts how the muddied appearance of this uniform in the field, the range of colours it was initially produced in and how the reverse pattern was visible around the collar and hood.

A small new sprue contains alternative heads for two of the figures and new limbs for the other men:

• The standing men holding binoculars and the Em. R 1m range-finder each receive a new head which is tilted backwards allowing the option of having the figures observing aircraft instead of ground targets (as per the figures in the Flak 36)
• The man bent over removing ammunition from a box, has an alternative pair of arms allowing him to be positioned handling an ammunition box.
• The standing man holding a round receives new arms so that he can hold a downward facing round which is being placed on the fuse setter.
• The standing man holding a round waiting to load it, receives new arms to depict a man loading the round into the Flak’s breech.
• The seated gunner can now be positioned at ease courtesy of a new pair of legs and a relaxed right arm.

Several of the figures could also be used in conjunction with other versions of the 88mm, such as the Pak 43/41 (or with a change of rounds other larger guns), or alternatively in a winter scene with vehicles armed with the 88mm such as an in-action Nashorn or a Tiger or Jagdpanther being reloaded.

Ammunition

This release contains a good supply of munitions including 6 plastic shells (no metal shells are included), 6 spent cases, 2 injection plastic wooden ammunition boxes with internal detail, which can be modeled either open or closed, and four wicker ammunition boxes which also can be modeled either open or closed. Rather thoughtfully two of the wicker boxes contain 3 rounds, one contains 2 rounds and 1 empty spot, and the third is empty. A Photo etch fret has 15 assorted end pieces for the shells and the small writing indicates the shell type and production year of 1944.

Recommendation

The “German Flak Artillery Crew” provides a detailed and versatile gun crew which can be used with a range of popular kits in a winter diorama. When combined with Dragon’s 88mm Flak 36 this set will enable modellers to build a diorama that shows the size and extent of team work displayed by the gun crew. The inclusion of the ammunition boxes and rounds is a really useful extra. Definitely recommended.

Thank you to Dragon Models for the review sample.

Review by Neville Lord.

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