Dragon

1/35 US Marines - Guadalcanal 1942

Kit Number: 6379

Reviewed by  Tom Moon, IPMS# 43192

MSRP: $14.95 Website: www.dragonmodelsusa.com This set is of 4 figures. The figures are Marines on patrol in the Guadalcanal operation. The first figure is a marine with a BAR, the second is Marine with the standard rifle looking up into the trees, the third is a Marine with a submachine gun, and the last is a Marine crouching with a standard rifle with bayonet in place. These come on two sprues with 47 parts. The box art and instructions are on the back of the box and shows the figures in a completed state. This illustration by Ronald Volstad is an accurate representation of the 4 figures. This set had very minimal flash, and no ejection pin marks. What mold lines that were there were easily removed with a sharp blade. There are no decals, and the painting instructions are just for the major items. The paint colors are coded only for Testors and Mr. Color.

I constructed them using a Tenax type of glue. This softened the plastic enough that as pressure is applied to the join some dissolved plastic will ooze out and after it hardened any excess can be cut or sanded away. I used very little filler. The fit was acceptable and little adjustment was required to get the proper poses. The bandoliers of extra ammunition was the most difficult to put together, and drape on the figure. I added lead strips for the weapon slings and the helmet straps. I painted the figures with the light green as indicated for the uniforms. I tried to add a darker green in the sweat prone areas to depict the high temperatures and humidity that was present at the time. I used oils for the heads and hands. They were finished with a coat of Dullcote and some pigments to show a little dirt. Conclusion - This set is a well-done and welcome addition of figures to the Pacific theater of World War II. They would make a good set of figures accompanying a Sherman in a diorama, or just a small vignette of them on patrol. Highly Recommended. Thanks to Dragon Models USA for the review sample and IPMS/USA for the review space.