On September 15, 1944, the U.S. 1st Marine Division began the assault on the island of Peleliu in the Palau Islands. What was expected to be a four-day battle turned into a two-month slug-fest as marines tried to root out the dug-in Japanese troops. This battle would prove to be, proportionally, the bloodiest battle the Marines would fight in WW II, made even worse by the fact the island had little strategic value. Eight marines would receive the Medal of Honor for actions on Peleliu, five of them posthumously.

This Dragon release depicts four marines from that battle, although they could represent marines from any of the late war fighting. There is a wounded marine being tended by a U.S. Navy corpsman, a kneeling officer, and a running figure with a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR).

Modelers of German WW II vehicles and figures will find this latest effort from Plus Model of interest. Packed nicely in the new, sturdy plastic packaging are nine resin pieces of German rucksacks, packs, and field gear.

German troops were originally issued a back pack (Tornister) with a flap made of unshaven calf-skin. There were loops on the sides and top for straps to attach the great coat. Plus model has included one of these packs with a rolled up great coat in this set.

The tornister was not sufficient for mountain troops, who were required to carry more gear, so rucksacks based on civilian designs were issued. During the course of the war, these came in a variety of designs, with two or three outside pockets, with or without integral shoulder straps, and in a number of colors.

History

Ford introduced the “F” series pickup in 1948, beginning with the F-1; it became the best selling line of pickups of all time. The second generation of the “F” series was introduced in 1953 as the F-100, it ran through 1956.

The 1956 Ford F-100 is very popular among street rodders and was the vehicle of choice for famed pin striper, cartoonist, and custom car builder Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. Ed Roth created outrageous characters such as Rat Fink and Mr. Gasser, as well as vehicles like the Beatnik Bandit, Orbitron, and the Outlaw, among others. These were wild one-off creations that set the bar for custom hot rod show cars. The Revell model company turned several of Roth’s custom vehicles into model kits. Ed “Big Daddy” Roth was a notable figure in the custom car world and an inspiration to his contemporaries and future generations of custom car builders.