The final phases of the Allied advance across France towards Germany and into the Lowlands, saw the gradual introduction of changes in the uniforms of the US infantry engaged in the European Theatre. This new set “Advance to the Rhine, U.S. 1st Army at Remagen, 1945” from Dragon offers six figures wearing late war American uniforms, which differ in several details from those worn at D-Day. As indicated by the set’s name the figures are appropriate for troops advancing through Germany in the spring of 1945. They could also be used to depict soldiers in the late Autumn of 1944 fighting on Germany’s western borders, the later phases of the Italian campaign or possibly from the Korean War.

Contents

The main sprue is all new tooling and has the parts to make six infantrymen. Each figure is sculptured to Dragon’s current high standard as evident in the accuracy of the uniforms and how each figure has his kit arranged individually, but in keeping with war-time photos. All men wearing the brown M1943 ‘buckle boots’ which started to be issued in the autumn of 1944 with their trousers tucked into the boots. Five of the men are wearing the M1943 combat jacket, which had generous pocket space, while first used at Anzio, it did not see service in Western Europe until late 44. All men wear the M1 helmet and three of the helmets have a medium mesh netting which was used throughout the fighting in the European Theatre. Interesting the box art shows a fine mesh netting of a type seen from late 44 onwards. The sprues are free of flash and have the normal seams to remove.

The poses include:

• The officer and the radio operator who are knelling and armed with M1 carbines. The radio operator has a SCR-300 backpack radio with hand piece (SCR stands for Set, Complete Radio), a type commonly known as the ‘walkie-talkie’ with a 5 mile range used at a battalion and company level.
• The medical orderly who is standing holding a cigarette. He carries a pair of medical bags, which correctly are on a yoke harness with the broad rear shoulder piece. A small decal sheet is included providing 7 Red Cross markings for his helmet and armband (the spare(s) will be useful for a first aid box in half-tracks etc). In accordance with the Geneva Convention he is unarmed.
• Three standing riflemen carry M1 Garrands with ammunition stored in pouches on both bandoleers and their web belts. Two of the men are relaxed smoking and would tie in with the medic in a small diorama such as with a Sherman or a small building. One of these men is wearing the issue raincoat.

A pair of identical small sprues from an earlier set provide the small arms. Two spare BAR guns with bipods are included.

The box art by Ron Volstad is first rate and provides a clear painting guide for the spring of 1945, while a colour A4 sheet is included in the box and provides two view assembly and painting guides for each man.

Recommendation

“Advance to the Rhine” offers an affordable set of late war US infantrymen which will be gladly welcomed by many modelers. One strength of this set is the attention to detail with items such as the buckle boots and M1943 combat jackets that distinguish this set from many other US Army figure sets, which contains men typical of the summer of 1944. Well recommended.

Thank you to Dragon Models for the review sample.

Review by Neville Lord.

User Contributed Notes