Dragon Models Premium Edition

1/35 "Totenkopf" Division Budapest 1945

Kit Number: 6307

Reviewed by  Mark Aldrich, IPMS# 39295

MSRP: $11.95 www.dragonmodelsusa.com I have always liked Dragon's line of figure kits. They have been well detailed and offer a variety of poses and equipment that allow the model builder a vast array of options without having to resort to massive alterations. Their Premium Edition line keeps expanding on this and continues to get better. The "Totenkopf" Division kit comes in the standard, sturdy cardboard box with an artist's painting of the four figures in an urban setting with the sides of the box showing the improvements included with the kit. Insides the box, the builder is greeted by eight sprues of flash free plastic, a color one-page instruction and assembly sheet, a small decal sheet, and a small etched brass sheet. The parts count in this set totals 232 (that is without the brass). There are also virtually no ejector pin marks to contend with. The breakdown of the equipment is really impressive. The figures themselves only constitute 25 pieces. That means there are 207 parts associated with equipment in the kit. You get 14 different helmets and one cold weather cap. For weapons, you get 12 stick grenades, eight palm grenades, six personal weapons, and two panzerfausts. You also get six canteens with separate caps, eight fanny packs, four bed rolls, seven bayonets, 28 ammo pouches, six closed and two open mess kits, 6 shovels and five pistol holsters. The barrels on the weapons have been slide molded and actually have the tips of the barrels already have holes in them! You can also see through the front sight units. The entire small decal sheet is used for the panzerfausts and the box they come on. The brass sheet provides four slings and two grenade pull pins. The only visible downside is that two of the figures are carrying stick grenades in their belt loops and Dragon sculpted them this way. They have indents in their clothing, I think that with some putty and sanding, the average modeler could easily change this. I would like to thank Dragon Models for continually updating their earlier releases and providing modelers with a great product. I would also like to thank IPM/USA for allowing me to review this fine set. HAPPY MODELING!

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