Hong Kong based Dragon (aka DML), came on the 1/35 scale scene in the early 1990s. Initially their AFV focus was split between WWII and modern subjects. But the quality of their products and the fact that tanks were offered with independent track links quickly grabbed hold of the WWII modelers and soon that genre was outpacing the others. Using their own new molds and borrowing parts from others such as Italeri and Gunze Sangyo, it seemed that DML was churning out a new kit every other week by 1995. Their sudden popularity gave Tamiya a swift kick in the pants and had the folks in Japan looking over their shoulders.

However, towards the end of the decade DML found a new gold mine—12” action figures, like the GI Joes of old. Just as with their plastic AFV models, these figures hit the market at the right place at the right time and soon baby boomer GI Joe collectors were buying up every “doll” they could find. This new product line took a lot of focus away from the plastic kits, much to the consternation of modelers. Their annual AFV output was just a trickle of what it had once been by 2001. Of course, there is still an emphasis on German subjects, but those interested in American figures were delighted by the appearance of airborne infantry, tank hunters and Bastogne battlers in 2002 and 2003, ending a seven-year dry spell since their U.S. tank crew hit the market. Two more kits released in 2004—a set of heavy weapons teams and (finally) an Omaha Beach infantry set—were well received.

Canadian artist Ron Volstad has designed poses for nearly every DML WWII figure set. Ron often converses with modelers through discussion groups such as Track-Link. He’s quite patient with those of us who want to see more GI sets. As Ron explains, DML is a business, and the business of German armor and figures is the most profitable. Most of the ideas we pass along to Ron are one’s he’s already tried to get Dragon to produce, but if they’re not German their chances of seeing the light of day are slim. But we, and Ron, keep trying.

Dragon’s 1/35 figures have been praised for their sculpting and degree of detail. Most serious figure modelers feel DML faces are too complacent and heads from Warriors, Verlinden or Hornet offer better substitutes. Some of the earlier figure sets are on the large end of the scale. Overall, DML’s weapons and gear have been lauded for their accuracy and detail. Sometimes they’re found copied in resin figure sets. There are some inconsistencies among size and design of some of their German equipment, but their U.S. equipment is generally good.  Their Allied infantry weapons set is out of production and hard to find, but well worth it.

Many of DML’s earlier Sherman products include Italeri’s lower hull and running gear, but they do cover the sponsons, unlike Tamiya. There are some notable inaccuracies among their British Fireflys, but at least they give us Fireflys. Link-to-link tracks, however, are a classic “downside” example of what can happen when you get what you ask for. With complaints that injection pin marks mar the tread surfaces and the links are too difficult and time consuming to clean up and assemble, many modelers who clamored for indy links were yearning for the simplicity of rubber band tracks, especially upon seeing the quality of the new generation of tracks from Tamiya or link-and-length options from Academy. Link-to-link tracks work best when you need a lot of sag over the return wheels (not a feature of American tanks) or you want to articulate the running gear over uneven diorama surfaces. In any event, they demand patience and are not suitable for more young or inexperienced modelers.

Some DML kits find themselves in high demand from time to time. One particularly hard-to-find kit was the early M4A1 Sherman. When it was re-released in 2004 it flew off the shelves, much to the consternation of many who ended up on waiting lists or missed out on the brief sightings. There were rumors that the re-issue was just the release of some recently found stocks, or that kits were hoarded by modelers looking forward to making a mint on E-bay; the kit often commanded upwards of $70 during the previous draught. But it resurfaced in large quantities in March 2005.

The T26E3 Pershing, which also was a hot item on E-bay, was re-released in 2003, only to be eclipsed by Tamiya's kit.

In 2004, Dragon launched a new line of 1/72 scale kits; M4A1 and M4A3 Shermans released in 2006 generally got high marks. It remains to be seen how Tamiya's foray into 1/48 AFVs will affect DML's product line.

2006 was a banner year for U.S. AFV modelers, with the releases of the M4A1(76)W for Operation Cobra, the M4A3E8 Thunderbolt VII commanded by Creigton Abrams, the first styrene M4A2 as seen at Tarawa, and the M2A1 half-track, the first new HT in more than 30 years. In 2008, the M4 81mm mortar and M16 GMC half-track versions arrived, and the M3 75mm half-track reached the store shelves in quantity at the end of the year. Dragon followed on these projects with announcements of new kits of the M4A1 direct vision and M4 75mm Shermans for 2009. Also on tap are two sets of the early suspension units seen on M3 Lees, M7 Priests, and early Shermans, as well as an assortment of weapons and tools, and the T48 rubber chevron track.

The DML figure line has been enhanced with "Gen2" figures, offering more parts and better detailing on the weapons and handy frets of photoetch for slings and such. Some of the older figure sets have been re-released with the improved weapons. The long out-of-production Weapons WWII Allied Infantry was rumored to be on the shelves again in 2008, but didn't make it. A Gen2 version of such would be most welcome, as would an equipment set similar to the German box from the 1990s.

Dragon has a subsidiary located in China, Shanghai Dragon, which has produced certain kits that Dragon dropped from its catalogue, though not much has been seen in this line for a number of years. Cyberhobby is another DML offshoot that reboxes and sells the parent company's products.

Figures and Accessories

Wheeled Vehicles

Half-tracks

Armor

Artillery, Wheeled and Tracked