4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards in three releases in 35th scale from Alpine Miniatures

Alpine Miniatures two new British tankers of the 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, WWII, in three releases in 35th scale are set for release soon. Shown here with plenty of reference photos used in the sculpting of these three releases in our preview...

4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards in three releases in 35th scale from Alpine Miniatures

British CW Tank Officer

Kit No# 35327

1/35th scale

Sculpture by Taesung Harmms

Box art by Calvin Tan

Unpainted light grey resin figure

This figure comes with two head choices

British CW Tank Commander

Kit No# 35328

1/35th scale

Sculpture by Taesung Harmms

Box art by Calvin Tan

Unpainted light grey resin figure

This figure comes with two head choices

4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards Set (2 figs)

Kit No# 35329

1/35th scale

Sculpture by Taesung Harmms

Box art by Calvin Tan

Two unpainted light grey resin figures in one box

These figures both come with two head choices each.

The subjects: Tankers of the 4/7th Dragoons in WWII.

The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, a cavalry regiment of the British Army, entered World War II as part of the British Expeditionary Force in 1939. Equipped with Vickers Mk.VI light tanks, they served as the reconnaissance regiment for the 2nd Infantry Division under I Corps. During the Battle of France, they engaged in combat across northern France and Belgium before being forced to abandon their vehicles and evacuate from Dunkirk in Operation Dynamo, landing back in England on 3 June 1940. Following their return, the regiment re-equipped with Beaverette armoured cars and joined the 1st Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade. By December 1940, they were part of the 27th Armoured Brigade within the 9th Armoured Division, operating Covenanter tanks. A cadre from the regiment also helped form the 22nd Dragoons. In 1943, they transitioned to amphibious Valentine tanks and later to Sherman DD tanks, preparing for amphibious operations.

A crew from the 4/7 RDG with their Sherman Firefly Tank in the Normandy area, 1944, after their landing on Gold Beach.

On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards landed on King Green sector of Gold Beach at 07:20, supporting the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division. They played a pivotal role in the Normandy campaign, including the Battle for the Falaise Gap. Notably, they became the first armoured unit to cross the River Seine and advanced as far as Driel during Operation Market Garden, just south of Arnhem.

An M4 Sherman of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards in France, 1944.

Their campaign continued through northern Germany, culminating in the regiment ending the war in Bremerhaven. Throughout the conflict, they demonstrated adaptability and resilience, transitioning from light reconnaissance to amphibious assault and armoured warfare. Their contributions were marked by tactical innovation and close cooperation with infantry units in complex operations across Europe.

These are 4/7 RDG officers near the CO's tank, named "Mons," sometime after the Normandy campaign.

The legacy of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards during World War II is preserved through regimental museums and memorials, including displays at the York Army Museum and commemorative plaques in Norwich Cathedral and Eden Camp. Their wartime service exemplified the evolution of cavalry units into modern armoured forces, and their role in key operations like D-Day remains a proud chapter in British military history.

The figures: British CW Tank Commander & Tank Officer

Alpine Miniatures has two figures in their latest releases, both sculpted by hand and cast in 35th scale in light grey resin parts. They are sold as unassembled, unpainted figures in a set of two or as individual figures. The figures represent officers of the 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards from the Northern European theatre; one might think of a summer campaign by what they are wearing, and one might guess they are from the Normandy campaign time frame.

We will look at them both as singles, with uniforms from the time to compare them to, and then together as a set in how they complement each other.

British CW Tank Officer

Kit No# 35327

1/35th scale

Sculpture by Taesung Harmms

Box art by Calvin Tan

Unpainted light grey resin figure

This figure comes with two head choices

The figure from Alpine Miniatures is sculpted in 1/35th scale by Taesung Harmms. It depicts a British tank officer of the 4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards that we have already discussed. A full-body figure, standing and leaning slightly to the left-hand side as he smokes his ciggie, right hand in the pocket of his pants. This figure, like all of Alpine's creations, comes with the choice of two heads, both wearing a different headgear choice. The choice you see below shows the tanker's beret. I love the painting that the box artist Calvin Tan has given this soldier, enhancing the sculpt and bringing the figure to life with a thoughtful, almost concerned look on his face.

Below is a tanker's beret from the 4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards that the sculptor used for accuracy and inspiration. Along with the fox badge of gold/yellow, alongside the path of the unit, with red V-shaped stitching and black stitching on a black diamond patch that you can see on this soldier's shoulder.

The other notable thing that this soldier wears is a Second World War-period British Army-issue leather jerkin. The leather jerkin was first introduced into the British Army in late 1916 as an alternative to the greatcoat (which proved impractical when muddy and wet). The jerkin was durable and could be worn over the field service dress & sometimes was seen worn over the greatcoat. The jerkin became universally popular with troops during the Second World War, & it was in much evidence with artillerymen, engineers, drivers and signallers. It was popular with the infantry, who often wore it for added protection in colder weather. 

The body language of this man, combined with the cloth beret and jerkin, all leaning to one side, really make this soldier into something more than the typical tank officer, upright and stiff in his uniform, that you often see in figures like this of this time.

His uniform trousers are tucked into gaiters, which are worn over his leather boots.

The second headgear choice for this figure is the British tanker's helmet, with the trimmed brim making it almost the same as the paratrooper helmets, at least in looks anyway. This figure features all of the same facial features as the alternate choice, but a pretty different look, you might agree.

Stretched around the helmet is the strap for the WW2 British MT goggles with tinted lenses; these were used by mobile and vehicle-mounted troops for obvious reasons.

A walk around shows you the cloth belt that this soldier wears, with his pistol holster closed and ammo pouches on it. The close-up of the jerkin shows the stitching of the thicker leather garment in juxtaposition with the slightly thinner khaki battledress uniform. The baggy hang of his jerkin and the legs of his tucked-in trousers are a feature that many try to imitate, but Mr. Harmms is an enthusiast and a great exponent of. 

Around his neck is the WW2 No. 5, Mk 4 binoculars by Ross (7 x 50 binocular prismatic type). You might notice the detail in the shoulder patches and even the man's wedding ring. A great piece of work.

British CW Tank Commander

Kit No# 35328

1/35th scale

Sculpture by Taesung Harmms

Box art by Calvin Tan

Unpainted light grey resin figure

This figure comes with two head choices

The second figure in this set is also sculpted by Taesung Harmms and cast in unassembled light grey resin parts and offers two headgear choices. One of those being the tanker's black beret, one with goggles, and the other with the tanker's helmet and goggles combo. I like the small flourish of colour you can afford your tanker with the necktiehe wears.

Below, you can see a combination of uniforms that this soldier picks from. The tanker's overalls, black beret, short binoculars and the cloth pistol belt and holster this soldier wears. I know these are Canadians standing next to their Sherman in England, 5-10 June 1943, but you get the picture of what I'm trying to show you here.

The overalls the tanker is wearing are pinched in at the waist where the cloth pistol belt pulls at them and then tapers, with the back of the soldier's overalls bulging and sagging with the weight and room inside them.

You can see some of these overalls below, with the stitching on the shoulders, the pen holders and pockets on both knees, the breast that is replicated on this figure, and the looseness of the arms and the legs captured on the sculpt present in the real thing.

That cloth belt, pistol holster, ammo, medic pouch and knife are seen below. Something that pinches at the waist in this figure. This is a very easily identifiable part of the British soldier's uniform that is very synonymous with Commonwealth soldiers who carried them.

This soldier's second headgear option is the short-brimmed British tanker's helmet with goggles stretched around it. This one is seen with a different style than the first man's helmets in the one boxing. 

The photos of a helmet and the goggles like this were used as a guide in this sculpt. You will notice in the photo above another difference from the other figure, in that the overall trouser legs go over the boots, not tucked into gaitors.

4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards Set (2 figs)

Kit No# 35329

1/35th scale

Sculpture by Taesung Harmms

Box art by Calvin Tan

Two unpainted light grey resin figures in one box

These figures both come with two head choices each.

The box art picture for these two figures shows that although they are from the same unit and at the same time, the clothing and poses are different enough to make a difference to each of them. Though similar and different, they do complement each other in this setting next to a tank—or in another diorama that you may conceive.

These two figures are sure to be popular with modellers; they are available now through the Alpine Miniatures Webstore…