Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale =9139-=9145 Series Kit No.
6652; Ostfront Winter Combatants - Gen2 Gear; 124 parts in grey styrene; estimated retail price US$14.95Advantages: casual poses and use of =93Gen1" figures with Gen2 kit a good idea
Disadvantages: not really a figure =93set=94 (see text)
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for anyone needed one figure to set off a model
Occasionally DML seems to stall out on producing some figures, and has good figures but no place where they really fit in. Since the industry standard for 1/35 scale plastic figures appears to be four to a set, they would make a =93fifth wheel=94 if added to the normal production sets.
This set appears to combine four =93orphan=94 figures in winter battledress in one box. While not a true set, this may be of more use to modelers who only wish to use one single foot figure with a kit to set it off (think Steve Zaloga=92s magnificent efforts in Military Modelling).
The four dissimilar figures in this set are a German Fallschirmjaeger in a quilted winter coverall set; a German NCO in greatcoat with flare pistol; a Soviet soldier with PPSh in the quilted winter uniform in fur cap; and a Soviet soldier in greatcoat with Tokarev self-loading rifle.
All are =93Gen1" figure sets with six basic parts per figure (legs, arms, torso and head) but separate coat skits for the greatcoat figures. The Soviets have their weapons and kit on the base kit sprue but the Germans have =93Gen2" kit on a separate sprue. Oddly enough the Germans only receive =93Gen1" weapons (e.g. one piece Kar 98K rifles and MP40 submachine guns).
Only the German NCO is in what could be called an =93action=94 pose as he prepares to fire a signal flare. The rest are in casual stances and at ease positions.
While all four figures appear to be painted by Ron Volstad the directions are of the B&W =93stick here=94 variety and only repeat the front paintings for painting directions.
Overall this is a good idea for those who only use one or two figures per model and want to set them off.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell