Dragon 1/35 Italian Paratroopers Anzio 1944 | 6741Operation Shingle was the Allied amphibious landing near Anzio on the Italian coast on January 22 1944. Its purpose was to bypass the heavily defended Winter Line and enable an attack on Rome. The landings came as a complete surprise to German forces but the Allied commander failed to capitalize, and thus the landing force was essentially besieged in its beachhead surrounded by hills until May. A little known fact is that Paracadutisti (Italian

for such apparel wasn't widespread at this stage of the war

as well as a variety of different headgear

- Triangular base-plate for gun authentically detailed

so it is provided with many handy touches like photo-etched parts and slide-molded plastic components

They are dressed for the bitterly cold Russian winter

- detailed injection on-vehicle tools with brackets

The other major feature is the use of the standard WWII combat rim and tyres

- slide-molded mantlet with realistic weld seams and internal surface detail

ammo clips and spare barrel case are reproduced from slide-molds

1794 Americans and 10

This enthusiastically received set has now been joined by another 1/35 scale release

clad in fur-lined anoraks (first pattern) and winter trousers