Search the Community

British Sherman Hessian Tape Camo (for Dragon Kit) 1:72 Black Dog Hessian tape camouflage was widely used on British and Commonwealth vehicles during and after the Normandy landings in June 1944. It was comprised of netting to which strips of brown, green or khaki coloured tape were attached. Its primary function was, or course, to disguise the vehicle and make it difficult to pick out from the natural environment. This type of camouflage can look very effective when scaled down, although it can be difficult to achieve in the smaller scales without the use of aftermarket sets such as this one. For those not familiar with the name, Black Dog are manufacturers of resin and photo etched conversion sets, figures and diorama accessories from the Czech Republic. They have a number of innovative and exciting products in their range, including this new set designed for the Dragon Sherman Firefly. The set arrives packed into a sturdy cardboard box filled with plenty of packing foam to protect the contents. It is comprised of a new upper hull, a turret and a barrel for the fearsome 17 pounder anti-tank gun. An additional part representing a neat collection of stowed kit covered with a tarpaulin is also provided. The parts are nicely cast in grey resin and I couldnt find any bubbles or flaws anywhere. The level of detail that Black Dog have managed to achieve is very impressive indeed. The complex tape pattern has been captured well, and the strips of tape are arranged in a convincing and natural way. The resin is quite flexible too, which helps prevent any of the delicate tape strands from breaking off. The only work that will need to be done in order to prepare the set for use is the removal of a casting seam around the upper hull. This should only take twenty minutes or so with a sharp scalpel blade. The component parts look like they were based on the original kit parts, so hopefully there won't be any issues with fit and finish. Conclusion This is the first product from Black Dog that I have been able to get my hands on, and I have to say I am very impressed. The quality of casting is excellent and the level of detail is absolutely first class. Of course Dragon's small scale armour kits are amongst the best around, so any accessory set designed around them will be built on strong foundations. This set from Black Dog certainly has the wow factor and it should look mightily impressive when complete. Review sample courtesy of