In a rather startling development, Dragon announced today plans to move into the 1:35 scale pre-assembled market with no less than three different versions of the world-famous SAS desert raiders jeep. Each is a slight variation on the other, with the twin Vickers machine gun positioned towards the front of the vehicle in two examples and aft in the passenger compartment in the third. Jerry cans are abundant throughout as are spare tires and other paraphernalia that were utilized in the harsh desert sands of North Africa during WWII. Each vehicle is being sold separately, although no word as yet if figures will eventually be offered. Thus far, pricing and release dates are up for grabs. Its unclear if other 1:35 scale pre-built soft-skinned replicas are in the offing, such as Kubelwagens or Dodge light trucks, and whether or not the series will eventually encompass larger vehicles including heavier trucks, half-tracks and tanks, although a Jagdtiger was hinted at previously.
No longer content to offer up a handful of new items at a time, Dragon uploaded a collage of new products that are purportedly in the pipeline, demonstrating once and for all that they’re back in the pre-assembled game. Initially, we thought these were model kits languishing on the drawing board but after taking a closer look realized these were some of the newest pre-assembled replicas intended to grace everyone’s curio cabinets over the course of the next year or so. Of particular note is a Patrol Boat, River, or PBR, which was the United States Navy designation for a small rigid-hulledpatrol boat used in the Vietnam War from March 1966 until 1975, and used with great effect across the Mekong Delta in the southern region of South Vietnam. No scale was listed, so we’re assuming it’ll be headed downstream in 1:35 scale since Tamiya, their principal competitor, already makes a kit of the PBR in that size.
We’re not certain if this new branch will retain the Neo Dragon Armor moniker or be christened with a more naval sounding sub brand in line with what they are modeling. If they decide to bring back their Dragon Warbirds or Space ranges, the same can be said for these categories.
Getting back to their armor subjects, two Calliope rocket-launching tanks were shown, along with a vast array of modern era armored fighting vehicles too numerous to list here, many of which have seen action on the field of battle in the Russo-Ukrainian War. For now, we’ll hold off posting each new vehicle to our site since no pricing nor other pertinent information was alluded to in the image. Bear in mind that each vehicle type shown in the accompanying collage typically means that Dragon is developing two-four models, all in differing schemes, variants and other markings. That said, 2024 is looking like a strong year for armored fans, many of whom have been picking and choosing from amongst a handful of new releases for the last several years.
It would appear as if Dragon will once again be selling fully assembled 1:35 scale models. Unfortunately, pricing hasn’t been established, so we’re probably looking in the neighborhood of $200 a pop for a new vehicle, if pricing for their 1:72 scale vehicles can serve as the basis for conjecture
In another related development, it would appear as if Dragon will be starting up a new range of pre-assembled models, this time around in 1:35 scale. A few days ago, Dragon posted this image of a 1:35 scale model sitting alongside a 1:72 scale replica to their Facebook account. Initially, it wasn’t clear if the larger replica was simply a model kit used for size comparison purposes. However, Dragon typically uses a four-digit SKU code for their kit range and a five-digit code for its pre-assembled vehicles. If true, this would certainly come as welcome news, since its been some years since Dragon offered up their larger scale models in fully assembled form. While not exactly the same size as Forces of Valor’s slightly larger 1:32 scale vehicles, they are close enough to be used in dioramas and military-themed vignettes.
Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale German Late Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank – SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann, “212”, schwere SS Panzerabteilung 101, Normandy, France, Summer 1944
We were patiently awaiting an image for the upcoming Tiger I tank commanded by famed ace, Michael Wittmann – a model that was announced two weeks ago, only to discover an additional pair of Tigers are in the offing as well as a couple of Jagdpanther tank destroyers. This makes three Tiger I tanks that were fielded by Wittmann during the fierce fighting for Normandy in the summer of 1944; a familiar pattern by Dragon when it comes to pumping out models based upon famous aces. No doubt, an Otto Carius Tiger I will eventually put in an appearance along with other panzer aces previously depicted in their standard Dragon Armor series.
Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale German Late Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank – SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann, “222”, schwere SS Panzerabteilung 101, Normandy, France, Summer 1944
The two Jagdpanthers shown on the Dragon web site are equally appealing even though they do not represent vehicles commanded by known tank aces. Still, they fill in a conspicuous hole in the Neo Dragon Armor lineup, which will no doubt be bolstered by other versions of the Jagdpanther.
Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale German Late Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank – SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann, “007”, schwere SS Panzerabteilung 101, Cintheaux, France, Summer 1944Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale German Early Production Sd. Kfz. 173 Jagdpanther Ausf. G1 Tank Destroyer – Unidentified Unit, Summer Camouflage
While we’ve opened up the pre-order window for all of their latest models, we do not as yet have a firm release date for all of their latest introductions.
Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale German Early Production Sd. Kfz. 173 Jagdpanther Ausf. G1 Tank Destroyer – Panzerkorps “Grossdeutschland”, Memel, Prussia, Germany, Winter 1944
Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale US M1A2 SEP Abrams Main Battle Tank– NATO Woodlands Camouflage
Now that we are fully stocked with all of Panzkerkampf’s Abrams tanks, it makes sense that Dragon would select it as their next Neo Dragon Armor subject. [sic] Be that as it may, Dragon announced a pair of M1A2 SEP Abrams are in development, both of which are likely due out before the end of this year.
In 1998, a program was launched by the US Army to increase upgrade protection of its M1A2 Abrams tanks. The System Enhancement Package (SEP) added improved armor protection, improved system components, improved computer components, and some other improvements. The first M1A2 SEP tank was delivered to the US Army in 1999. A total of 240 M1A2 SEP tanks were newly built. Another 300 M1A2 tanks were upgraded to M1A2 SEP standard from previous versions. Notably 400 oldest M1A1 tanks were upgraded to M1A2 SEP standard. Also unknown number of the basic refurbished M1 tanks were upgraded to this standard. So the US military operated at least 900 M1A2 SEP main battle tanks. These formed the backbone of the US military armored forces. This tank has not been exported in its original form.
Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale US M1A2 SEP Abrams Main Battle Tank– Desert Camouflage
Like the rest of the Neo Dragon Armor line, the Abrams will be made of plastic instead of metal, which typically affords finer detailing since its far easier to work with plastic over metal, especially at this scale. Both are up on our web site and ready for pre-order.
Whether you’re a modeler, collector or avid historian, the name Wittmann resonates like none other in the annals of armored warfare. Praised by the German Propaganda machine and held in high regard by both his comrades as well as his adversaries, Michael Wittmann became a highly decorated tank ace on both the eastern and western fronts, a feat few tankers from World War II could ever hope to match.
That said, Dragon today announced plans to replicate one of his most famous mounts: “007”, which represented his last Tiger tank he would ever ride into battle. Also shown for the first time is “112” — an equally famous tank that was commanded by SS-Oberscharfuhrer Heinrich Ernst, who saw extensive action in the fields of Normandy during that fateful summer of 1944. Both vehicles feature Zimmerit anti-magnetic mine paste slathered along the hull and turret as well as historically accurate camouflage schemes painted along their exteriors.
The pair are now up for pre-order and we hope to have them in hand for the holiday season.
Neo Dragon Armor 1:72 scale Soviet Late Production T-34/85 Medium Tank with Bedspring Armor – Unidentified Unit, Eastern Front, 1945
Apparently, we have to think twice about when we are planning our next vacation. Over the weekend, Dragon debuted eleven new 1:72 scale subjects as part of their ever-expanding line of Neo Dragon Armor military vehicles. Most of the new introductions were either German Panther medium tanks or Ferdinand tank destroyers, but one new piece caught our eye – a Russian T-34-85 medium tank with bedspring armor and clad in a winter white camouflage scheme. We’re guessing that most of these new pieces won’t be available until the latter half of the year. That said, we’ve posted them to our June Additions section, completed their addition to our product portfolio and are now entertaining pre-orders.
As we await the next wave of Neo Dragon Armor vehicles, the Company debuted yet another pairing of 1:72 scale armored subjects. Like their previously announced Hummel tank destroyers, the Hornisse was developed to provide a mobile anti-tank antidote to the growing array of Allied armor they were facing towards the latter half of the Second World War. As a stop gap measure, the Waffenamt saw the need to develop a special weapons-carrier vehicle based on the PzKpfw IV chassis, which was adapted to take the 8.8cm PaK 43 gun. The first of these so-called Nashorns (“Rhinocerous”) entered service in 1943. Later knows as Hornisse (Hornet), the vehicle had an unusually high profile that was difficult to conceal, a problem increased by poor armor with only the driver being fully protected. It was therefore used as a long-range weapon, in contrast to most other tank destroyers. The powerful gun made the Nashorn a potent battlefield weapon, but it was too bulky for its prescribed role and only the lack of anything better kept it on the production line as long as it did. Some 433 were built before production ceased in 1944.
Featuring a fully detailed fighting compartment, elevating gun and superbly painted exterior, look for Dragon’s Hornisse to rumble onto the diecast battlefield later this year.
Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale US M4A3E8 Sherman Medium Tank – Creighton Abrams’ “Thunderbolt VII”, 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division, Germany, 1945
Technically, 2023 marks the start of the Year of the Rabbit in Chinese mythology, however, with the deluge of Neo Dragon Armor subjects expected this February, we’re going to characterize it as the Year of the Dragon. According to a recent announcement made by our distributor, no fewer than 20 new products are expected in the second month of 2023, far outstripping our first shipment that arrived back in October. The list of upcoming releases is too numerous to list here, so we’re going to point everyone to our February Release section, which shows each item and, where applicable, each variation currently on the docket. We advise everyone to go through the section as soon as possible and pre-order those items you’d like to nab before some sell out.
Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale German Initial Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. H Heavy Tank – “White 100”, schwere Panzerabteilung 502, Mga, Russia, 1942
Going forward we will likely see more of these larger-than-normal shipments arriving every quarter or so. The reason for this is that ever since Dragon Models USA closed its doors well over a year ago, our distributor must bring in a container load of new product at a time to make it worth their while and lower the per unit trans-oceanic cost associated with importing goods from the Pacific Rim. That means the next shipment is probably pegged for this coming spring, and will likely include those items that are currently showing a “2023” estimated release date. Its also hoped that with shipping costs slowly decreasing as compared with the 2021-2022 period, that the retail price for many of their soon-to-be-released items will drop somewhat as well.
Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale Chinese Volunteer Army T-34/85 Medium Tank – Korea, 1950
After secretly crossing the Yalu River on October 19th, 1950, the Peoples Volunteer Army (PVA) 13th Army Group launched the First Phase Offensive on October 25th, attacking the advancing UN forces near the Sino-Korean border. This military decision made solely by China changed the attitude of the Soviet Union. Twelve days after PVA troops entered the war, Stalin allowed the Soviet Air Force to provide air cover and supported more aid to China. After inflicting heavy losses on the ROK II Corps at the Battle of Oniong, the first confrontation between Chinese and US military occurred on November 1st, 1950. Deep in North Korea, thousands of soldiers from the PVA 39th Army, encircled and attacked the US 8th Cavalry Regiment with three-prong assaults—from the north, northwest, and west—and overran the defensive position flanks in the Battle of Unsan. The surprise assault resulted in the UN forces retreating back to the Ch’ongch’on River, while the PVA unexpectedly disappeared into mountain hideouts following victory. It is unclear why the Chinese did not press the attack and follow up their victory.
The UN Command, however, were unconvinced that the Chinese had openly intervened because of the sudden PVA withdrawal. On 24 November, the Home-by-Christmas Offensive was launched with the US Eighth Army advancing in northwest Korea, while US X Corps attacked along the Korean east coast. But the PVA were waiting in ambush with their Second Phase Offensive, which they executed at two sectors: in the East at the Chosin Reservoir and in the Western sector at Ch’ongch’on River.
On November 13th, Mao appointed Zhou Enlai the overall commander and coordinator of the war effort, with Peng as field commander. On November 25th, on the Korean western front, the PVA 13th Army Group attacked and overran the ROK II Corps at the Battle of the Ch’ongch’on River, and then inflicted heavy losses on the US 2nd Infantry Division on the UN forces’ right flank. Believing that they could not hold against the PVA the Eighth Army began to retreat from North Korea crossing the 38th Parallel in mid-December. UN morale hit rock bottom when Lieutenant General Walton Walker, commander of the US Eighth Army, was killed on December 23rd, 1950, in an automobile accident.
Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale Chinese Volunteer Army T-34/85 Medium Tank – “215”, Korea, 1950
In the east, on November 27th, the PVA 9th Army Group initiated the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Here the UN forces fared comparatively better: like the Eighth Army the surprise attack also forced X Corps to retreat from northeast Korea, but they were in the process able to break out from the attempted encirclement by the PVA and execute a successful tactical withdrawal. X Corps managed to establish a defensive perimeter at the port city of Hungnam on 11 December and were able to evacuate by 24 December in order to reinforce the badly depleted US Eighth Army to the south. During the evacuation, about 193 shiploads of UN forces and matériel (approximately 105,000 soldiers, 98,000 civilians, 17,500 vehicles, and 350,000 tons of supplies) were evacuated to Pusan. The SS Meredith Victory was noted for evacuating 14,000 refugees, the largest rescue operation by a single ship, even though it was designed to hold 12 passengers. Before escaping, the UN forces razed most of Hungnam city, with particular attention to the port facilities. The UN retreat from North Korea also saw the massive evacuation from the capital city of Pyongyang. In early December, UN forces, including the British Army’s 29th Infantry Brigade, evacuated Pyongyang, along with large numbers of refugees. Around 4.5 million North Koreans are estimated to have fled from North Korea to either the South or elsewhere abroad. On 16 December 1950, President Truman declared a national state of emergency with Presidential Proclamation No. 2914, 3 C.F.R. 99 (1953), which remained in force until 14 September 1978. The next day, 17 December 1950, Kim Il-sung was deprived of the right of command of KPA by China.
China justified its entry into the war as a response to “American aggression in the guise of the UN”. Later, the Chinese claimed that US bombers had violated PRC national airspace on three separate occasions and attacked Chinese targets before China intervened.
Dragon has announced their own plans for Chinese intervention with two versions of a People’s Volunteer Army T-34/85 medium tank, both of which are due out in early 2023.
As we finish up digging through an avalanche of new armor subjects, comes news that even more Neo Dragon Armor vehicles are slated for an early 2023 roll out. Frankly, its refreshing to see Dragon take such an active stance in reinvigorating the range, several years after the original Dragon Armor series of armored subjects reached the pinnacle of its success.
Looking ahead it comes as no surprise that Dragon would offer up a pair of German 251/22 halftracks as part of its 2023 lineup, perhaps hinting at their intent when they first indicated plans to re-release their time-tested Sd. Kfz. 251 halftrack earlier this year. The upcoming pair of 251/22 tracks are fitted with the infamous PaK 75 mm anti-tank guns, which were used with great effect to stem the tide of allied armor rolling across Europe in late WWII. And, if we had to guess, other 251 variants are waiting in the wings, likely signalling a cavalcade of re-purposed German APCs throughout the year.
Neo Dragon Amor’s 1:72 scale Sd.Kfz.251/22 Ausf.D w/7.5cm PaK 40
Also falling in for duty are two US-built M4A1(76W) Sherman medium tanks, which soldiered on late in the war even though they were no match for some of the heavier German armor they were tasked with engaging as the Allied armies advanced through northwestern Europe late in 1944.
Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale US M4A1(76)W VVSS Sherman Medium Tank – “Ferocious III”, 33rd Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, Belgium, 1944Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale US M4A1(76)W VVSS Sherman Medium Tank – “Elowee”, 2nd Armored Division, France, 1944
Update: We woke up today to see four more new vehicles have been added to the Neo Dragon Armor lineup: two initial production Tiger I heavy tanks and a pair of Hummel tank destroyers. Needless to say, we’ve added these new entrants to our product portfolio and have begun accepting pre-orders but we do want to warn you that they are still several months away from being released here in North America. Remember, patience is a virtue!
Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale German Late Production Sd. Kfz. 165 Hummel Self-Propelled HowitzerNeo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale German Late Production Sd. Kfz. 165 Hummel Self-Propelled HowitzerNeo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale German Initial Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. H Heavy Tank – “White 243”, schwere Panzerabteilung 503, Rostov, 1943Neo Dragon Armor’s 1:72 scale German Initial Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. H Heavy Tank – “White 100”, schwere Panzerabteilung 502, Leningrad, 1943
