Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale '39-'45 Series Kit No.
6389; Afrika Korps Panzergrenadier El Alamein 1942; 76 parts in grey styrene; price estimated at US$8.95
Advantages: new release of figures will help out German desert fans
Disadvantages: why no "Gen2" weapons sets?
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German diorama and desert fans
DML still seems to have a large supply of "original series" figures in stock and keeps releasing them from time to time to keep us on our toes. This new set provides four figures in combat poses which should be appreciated by desert warfare fans.
The four figures consist of a two-man machine gun team based around an MG-34, one man loading a Kar 98K rifle in the kneeling position, and an officer directing them from a crouch. The weapons are mostly separate (the MG34 is an older model less the "slide molded" details and hollow bore, and the rest of them - a Kar 98K, a Gewehr 43, an MP40, an MP44, a Panzerfaust 60 and an MG42 with accessories - are from kit No. 6003) and no brass is provided for straps or detailing. I say mostly because the officer comes with a Luger molded in place; at least with small arms like pistols this makes better sense as it looks to be held for use rather than "stuck on" as too many do when modelers try to fit them to the hands of figures.
The figures are all basic DML types of six basic parts (head, torso, arms and legs) with molded in place coat skirts. These figures are wearing the desert canvas uniform with long trousers and long sleeves. Two helmets have camouflage covers, two do not and one set of sand goggles is provided for the officer. Two of the figures (the officer and the rifleman) have defensive grenades ("potato mashers") stuck in their belts, which are provided as separate parts.
The machine gunner is operating the weapon from the prone position and the assistant is feeding ammo from a box. The positions look far more natural than some but preclude "digging in" as the gunner is completely prone.
Artwork is by another of DML's artists and the directions are the photographic rendering type and not the excellent artwork of Ron Volstad. They consist of "paint this color here" flags and tags on a miniature version of the box art.
Overall, this is a good idea and as many modelers tend to suffer from overkill with the full "Gen2" sets a reversion to the "old school" is a good idea every now and again. But the "Gen2" weapons are better, and having the rifleman with his bolt open as in "Gen2" style would have made a bit more sense.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell