Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale =9139-=9145 Series Kit No.
6380; 204 parts in grey stryene; estimated retail price US$15-18Advantages: good basic Commonwealth infantry with optional legs will suit a broad variety of climates and theaters
Disadvantages: no long-sleeve arms; =93Gen1" British weapons
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Commonwealth fans
DML has been somewhat stingy with Commonwealth figures over the years, and anytime they turn their attention to a new set has to be considered something of an occasion. This set, which comes out right after DML=92s Sherman III in Italy and before their Sherman II El Alamein kit, will be welcome fare for accompanying those kits.
While the box states that this kit =93builds six figures=94 that is not right; the main component is two identical =936380" sprues of four figures each in shorts or a total of eight figures (four poses) in the box. Two pairs of legs with long trousers are included for conversion purposes. The poses are pretty pedestrian, but most modelers seem to like them better that way as they are easier to pose with a completed vehicle than someone in a specific combat pose. The figures are all in positions which the US Army would refer to as =93route march=94 or standard movement.
Each figure follows standard =93Gen1" construction of six parts =96 legs, arms, torso and head =96 with separate detail parts. Details include ammo pouches, mess tins, canteens, helmets (these have an odd finish, not sure if it was supposed to be a steel texture or a fine grain camouflage netting cover), two types of pistol holster, and two standard bayonets with sheaths.
The kit is apparently an =93A=94 kit so comes with the very nice artwork by Ron Volstad as well as the better quality assembly and painting directions that Ron does for DML. They show that the suggestions are to combine parts from the various figures with the long trousers to create two new poses (e.g. head B on torso D and head C on torso A).
Overall this is a crisp set of figures and while those hoping for =93combat=94 poses will be disappointed, the majority of modelers who only like one or two figures for scaling a model will be delighted.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell