ARM: Review - DML 1/35 scale Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 37

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale =9139-=9145 Series Kit No.

6651; Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 1. Panzer-Division Leningrad 1941; 154 parts in grey styrene; pre-order price US$10.95 from Dragon USA Online

Advantages: nice, new poses of personnel in different uniforms; nice set of engineer kit with the figures

Disadvantages: zero description of the engineer items - what they are or how to assemble/use them, no finishing directions

Rating: Recommended

Recommendation: for German modelers who know their uniforms and engineer kit items

(NOTE: Yes, I can spell "Battalion" but somebody at DML can not)

I am becoming more and more frustrated by DML in that while their kits seem to get better and better they seem to come with less and less useful directions. This is a classic case in point.

Here we have a nice new set of four combat engineers from the 1st Panzer Division, set at Leningrad in the fall of 1941, and provided with a nice variety of engineer equipment: four different types of =93Teller=94 flat mines, a variety of explosives and booby traps, bolt cutters, and a cable reel and blasting machine. Alas, only the latter is shown in the box art and =93stick here=94 directions, which really ensures only a really experienced modeler with good references will be able to get the most out of the kit.

The figures are in good poses: one man with a grenade launcher fitting is lying prone behind a halftrack, and the other three take cover there while one man prepares to detonate a charge, presumably to blow the barbed wire obstacle visible in the distance. An NCO in the armored engineer uniform prepares to give him the signal to fire, while an infantryman with a backpack and full kit holds his rifle at the ready. All are Ron Volstad artwork.

A nice variety of weapons is provided to include the sprue from the SS Panzergrenadiere 25 HJ Div 1944kit (No. 6110) with the Kar 98L fitted with grenade launcher cup. Also the kit comes with the now default standard DML =93Gen2" kit for German troops.

Alas, as noted the directions for the figures are the =93stick here and paint like the box top=94 ones.

Overall, this is a really great idea and nice execution once again let down by a lack of directions.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell

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AMPSOne
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