Concrete anti-tank obstacles, also known as ‘Dragon’s Teeth’, were first used during World War II. They are believed to have been invented in Finland as a means of defense against the armored vehicles of the Red Army. The purpose of these obstacles was not only to stop tanks and other armored vehicles but also to direct their movement into areas where they could be targeted by fire. These types of obstacles were widely used by all participants in the conflict, including neutral countries. For example, Switzerland also used similar obstacles, referring to them as Toblerone fortifications, due to their resemblance to the shape of the famous chocolate bars.

‘Dragon’s Teeth’ are still used today as engineering obstacles of a fortification type. Typically, they are made of concrete and have a tetrahedral shape, sometimes with the top corner cut off. Many such obstacles have been installed in Ukraine—both in areas where combat operations are taking place and in other regions of the country, as a protective measure in potentially dangerous zones.”

Historical & Reference Notes

There are numerous historical notes about the Westwall/Siegfried Line, with a few of my favorites below:

Siegfried Line

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siegfried_Line

The Siegfried Line, a German defensive line built along the western frontier, was breached and destroyed through a combination of Allied air and ground offensives, including Operation Queen, from 1944 to early 1945. The line, featuring "dragon's teeth" obstacles and pillboxes, was eventually overcome by Allied forces, including the British 21st Army Group and US formations, with some bunkers destroyed by explosives or covered with earth.

Britannica

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Siegfried-Line

Siegfried Line Campaign

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siegfried_Line_campaign

Siegfried Line

The Germans had launched their counter-offensive in the Ardennes from a section of the ‘Westwall’, better known to the Allies as the Siegfried Line - a 400-mile chain of fortifications, bunkers, barbed wire and tank traps that Hitler ordered to be built in the 1930s.

It ran along Germany’s western border from Holland in the north to Switzerland in the south. Prodigious amounts of concrete, steel and manpower were used to upgrade the original Siegfried Line constructed during World War 1.

The main German thrust at the start of the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 came from the 6th SS Panzer Army, their strongest and best equipped force of tanks, which was based near the Belgian border in an area known as the North Shoulder.

The 1^st, 2^nd and 99^th American Army divisions, initially pushed back, eventually held up the German advance in a fierce engagement at Elsenborn Ridge, where three American GIs earned the highest military award, the Medal of Honor. Numerous relics of the Siegfried Line remain as they were, including many thousands of ‘dragon’s teeth’: pyramid-shaped tank traps made of concrete and steel, now softened by moss and vegetation but still capable of stopping any motorized vehicle in its tracks.

Kit Features

• 1 page (w/ an assembly drawing for the teeth)
• Four sprue sections
• 72 kit parts
• Moulded in grey plastic

If you research a very simple model kit to construct, ICM’s Dragon Teeth, Anti-tank Obstacles must be among the leading contenders.

This kit provides the materials (no paints) and parts for twenty four of the dragon’s teeth. Each tooth is simply constructed by gluing triangular base piece the upright part of the tooth. There are no clear parts nor is there any masking involved, as the teeth are each painted overall concrete/grey color.

Construction Notes

Another issue is that of instruction clarity, with the instruction sheet illustrating only three steps needed to complete each of the teeth. While the instruction guide shows three steps, you’ll notice that I have omitted lifting or hoisting hook (all but one for illustration purposes).

Personal Observations and Caveat Emptor

My visit in 2008 where we walked among row after row of dragon’s teeth outside Aachen, Germany. This is a small part the area known as the Siegfried Line and is largely the same as when originally constructed the late 1939. I’ve attached several images taken during my trips to illustrate some of the larger areas involved, the varied shapes and heights of the concrete teeth as well as another image to show the underlying bases looked like. Any internet search also will reveal there are numerous dragon teeth designs, not just those I’ve photographed.

As you can see there was no real effort to even attempt to take out or remove most of the teeth after the world war ended. My reasoning: as the attached images show this hook is missing or not shown on the top of any of the teeth, I’ve seen at the three battle fields I have photographed along the German border areas. I could not find any of the small lifting rings on the tops of the teeth. This may be because these small rings had just rusted away or even cut off, but they are not evident in any of teeth I photographed along the Westwall. I left one attachment hook on just to illustrate what it will look like.

Another aspect of the teeth is apparent: there are two or three heights shown (usually in sets of two large with a shorter one in between) and some flat sided teeth. Why? I just don’t know and couldn’t find any insight in my reading and research. From my images, you will also notice that those in my photos are all four sided and not triangular, as depicted in the ICM kit. Again, I can only guess knowing what little I know about the ICM engineers, they have seen some three sided teeth.

Fit and Finish

Tackling the kit is very easy; all parts fit perfectly, with a small amount of sanding to fit along the base areas and no filling.

Painting and Decals

I painted the dragon’s teeth with just four colors:

1. Mig’s One Shot Primer in Grey (#A.Mig-2024)
2. Vallejo’s Model Air Medium Sea Grey (#71.049)
3. IJA Earth Brown (71.136)
4. and followed with CAM Light Green (#71.006)

I always recommend a primer coat whenever you are using acrylic paint as it assures a good base and eliminates the loss of acrylic paint. Although there are no decals, there was no need for my usual overspray of clear gloss. However, I Followed my preparation of each dragon teeth with an overcoat sprayed coat of Alclad II Lacquer’s Aqua Gloss Clear (#ALC 600). I then used a pin and streaking wash of 502 Abteilung Brown Wash (#ABT080). I completed my dry brushings, using Winsor & Newton’s Artist Oil color Naples Yellow Light (# 426). I also chose to use this technique on only one side surface, as I wasn’t very pleased with the outcome. Again, I am sure the problem is my issue not the kit’s.

I did use a new product (for me), AK Terrains Dark Earth (#8018), which I found created a fast drying textured earth base on which I placed my array dragon teeth.

Recommendation

This ICM kit once again an excellent model of the dragon’s teeth anti-tank obstacles, which I suspect will be a part of many dioramas in future model displays.

It is great build, though I feel the beginning to advanced modeler will find this kit, without any challenges.

I want to again thank ICM for the opportunity to both build and review this kit of ICM Dragon’s Anti-tank Obstacles kit. I also thank IPMS/USA for this review opportunity.