Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale =9139-=9145 Series Kit No.
6563; =93Fragile Alliance=94 Axis Forces Balkans 1943; 127 parts (124 in grey styrene, 3 etched brass); retail price US$10.95Advantages: four new figure poses including one Italian soldier
Disadvantages: =93Comic Opera=94 poses of two figures odd to understand
Rating: Recommended
Recommendation: for German and Italian WWII fans
It is pretty well known that the cooperation between German and Italian forces in WWII was pretty much what could be considered a =93shotgun marriage=94 in that neither one particularly liked or trusted the other. The Italians did not have the equipment or training to stand up before the Allies and the Italians seemed to feel that in any battle the Germans would sacrifice them first rather than German forces. This was the same in Russia, North Africa, the Balkans and Greece, and eventually in Italy itself.
This new set of figures from DML provides for this sort of tension, as it presents an Italian soldier and three obvious SS troops (with the now common CE nod of no runes or directly identifiable insignia on the box art) having a discussion.
Nominally figures tend to come in two types of poses - =93action=94 where the figures are doing something of a combat nature and =93static=94 where they are standing around or relaxed. But in this case, whereas two of the SS figures are standing and observing, the Italian and the SS NCO are having an argument. But the poses are pure =93Comic Opera=94 ones which look straight out of Central Casting for WWII Warner Brothers films! The Italian is =93talking with his hands=94 (my bet, having grown up with Italian-Americans, is that it starts off with =93A ba ...=94 but we will not go there) and the German=92s pose is reminiscent of the arrogant pilot in =93Sahara=94 (=93Ja, Ja, Tobruk kaput!=94) I am not sure = how popular these two will be but they are pretty much stereotypes which is unfortuante.
Mechanically each of the figures is DML =93Gen1" =96 head, torso, arms and legs, plus accessories. Weapons are provided for each nationality and a good variety is included. The SS men come with what looks to be an oil can, a magazine rack for machine gun drums, and what appears to be a German Merimite can (an insulated carrier for hot food, in German service usually for soup). Both of the casual soldiers are wearing smocks and helmets, the Italian is in a mountain-style uniform with high socks, and the petulant NCO is in standard field dress.
Artwork is by Carlos Chaga. Directions on this kit are =93stick here=94 with a reproduction of the box art for color reference.
Overall it appears while DML still produces the best figure sets in plastic around they may be running short of German subjects =96 perhaps they could turn their attention to other sets such as Commonwealth tankers or artillerymen, which are still in short supply.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell