[Gort]

Thanks, MoMo! Good to be back!

Hey, I’ve got a proposition ...

You and I are Dragon Armor fanatics, so whaddaya say we start a Draggin Appreciation Thread? We’d snap photos of our own models—the ones we like the most—and post them with comments.

Of course, everybody could join in. And considering that a bunch of MHII members love these magnificent miniatures as much as we do, this could turn into a real soul-stirring tribute.

[MoMo]

Hi Gort,

I'm not kitted up for pixel-shots, I still like emulsion...my trusty Pentax. However, your idea still has ways to be realised. The " Best Dragon Ever " thread has about everyone's favourite Dragon + comment. Check it out.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by MoMo

Hi Gort,

I'm not kitted up for pixel-shots, I still like emulsion...my trusty Pentax. However, your idea still has ways to be realised. The " Best Dragon Ever " thread has about everyone's favourite Dragon + comment. Check it out.

Cool!!!

[MoMo]

I was in our local hobby shop the other day and spotted one of Dragon's new kits. It looks as if the next 251 from Dragon could be a 251 D with metal framed rocket launchers, if Dragon would get off its butt and followed the demand from collectors. We could have the Stuka zu Fuss with metal rocket launcher frames instead of the wooden ones which are represented on the FOV version.

Oh, wait, yes, we've yet to see the first two 251s with rockets from Dragon! Come on Dragon, start catching up with your collectors and give up looking for new ways to flog off those Jagdtigers in many coats of colours! Get more 251s moving.

1/72 German Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf.D mit 28cm Rocket 7348
The Dragon 1/72 German Sd.Kfz.251 Ausf.D mit 28cm Rocket is a plastic model kit in the Dragon 1/72nd WW2 Military Plastic Model Kits range.

Germany's Sd.Kfz. 251 halftrack series proved highly versatile throughout WWII, and numerous variants were produced over the course of its life. One version was the Stuka zu Fuss mounting the Wurfrahmen 40 rocket launcher system, ideal for providing a heavy bombardment capability to panzergrenadier units. Dragon is now going to release such a vehicle in Ausf.D version. The Ausf. D hull featured a simplified construction, thus making production easier for Germany's overstrained industry.
This 1/72 scale Sd.Kfz. 251 halftrack model is highly detailed with accurate dimensions. The six rocket launcher frames mounted on the hull are reproduced by new photo-etched parts. The Stuka zu Fuss offered a heavy weapon to German motorized units, and Dragon's offers modelers an excellent new choice in halftracks! This existing release provides some serious firepower to modelers.

Features:
- New photo-etched rocket crates
- 28cm incrediary projectiles (x6) included
- Three mounting plates accurately reproduced in different pattern
- Delicate launcher frames with subtle details
- Road wheels injected as a unit - convenient to assemble and saves time
- Photo-etched parts upgrading details
- Cartograf decal offers accurate marking
- DS one-pieces tracks

[MoMo]

Look, Dad, it's got two eyes ! Yes, the latest 251 has both front visors OPEN ! This has to be a first.

I'll be adding it to my collection of 251s and, as a consequence, to my sub-collection of winter camo AFVs. I bet Legio LXXll will be doing the same.

1/72 Sd.Kfz.251/10 Ausf.D, Unidentified Unit, Eastern Front 1943

This impressive new Sd.Kfz.251/10 Ausf.D has a fully detailed PaK 36 carefully fitted with its low-profile shield onto the halftrack. The open-topped model has a full interior, while externally it is coated in a winter camouflage scheme. The chassis has been made in die-cast metal to give it a pleasing weight and robustness. Weathering has been carefully applied to such components as the body, wheel and etc. This finely detailed model with 3.7cm PaK will add extra firepower to any model collection!

[Legio LXXII]

Most definitely, I really like the winter paint scheme.

[MoMo]

Quite a nice little collection of winter scheme armour now. Collect 'em all ! But, of course, you'll have to look for a cheap model of Wittman's Tiger, model 60001 ! Ouch ! I remember legio informing us that he was lucky enough to have picked up a few on ebay, ex-wargammer's vehicles.

Keep your eyes peeled for another opportunity !

[dboulais]

Question, has anyone in the UK run across Dragon's 60140 251/1 Ausf. C in field grey? I haven't seen one here in the States and am wondering if it ever got released or if I just went brain dead and missed it.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by dboulais

Question, has anyone in the UK run across Dragon's 60140 251/1 Ausf. C in field grey? I haven't seen one here in the States and am wondering if it ever got released or if I just went brain dead and missed it.

You think you're brain dead, dboulais? Where in the heck was I--??? I didn't even know this little beauty existed until you mentioned it. I Googled my brains out trying to find one, but nobody has it. Antics Online shows one, but they list it as "available soon" (whatever that means). I really missed the boat apparently.

[MoMo]

I don't think that we'll ever see this one as a pre-built. I just bought the kit and it has three metal frets with millions of pieces to build the six rocket cages. It's unbelievable in this scale! I'll have to put this one aside until I have practised on a few, less complex, Dragon 251s which I have in the pipeline. I'll need jeweller's tweezers too ! This kit is a beauty but, unless Dragon make a special effort to make a simpler, plastic construction for the rocket cages, we'll never see it as a pre-built offering.

Which brings me to dboulais' vehicle. Yes, the hybrid model 60140 has come and gone. Strangely, it did not suffer from the same problems as the kit above. Despite having photo-etched metal hull plates which replicated this 251 C's riveted top hull plates which are designed to be located on top of the top plates of the normal 251 C' s body, Dragon wisely included an alternative, entire top hull which has the riveted top plates. This is the top hull assembly which Dragon used for the pre-built issue. I initially thought that the beautifully detailed photo-etched overlay plates were used in this pre-built, but I now recognise, and am now convinced that, Dragon must use plastic where this is available. The time and skill needed to use the photo-etched parts must be very costly. Still, the shell-case frames at the rear fighting compartments of those 251s which have 37mm AT guns are metal, photo-etched parts, I believe.

So, the short answer to the question is that model number 60140 has come and gone.

Some'll turn up, I'm sure.

MoMo