Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale '39-'45 Series Kit No.
6343; Stalingrad Inferno; 55 parts (51 parts in grey styrene, 4 etched brass); estimated price around US $9-11Advantages: actually two mini-vignettes, may be used in nearly all German scenes or dioramas post 1942
Disadvantages: older style figures do not use "Gen2" technology, may be harder to paint due to older design of figures; older details
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German diorama or vignette fans
DML is getting to be its own worst enemy. First they establish themselves as the best modern styrene figure manufacturer going and then they ratchet things up a bit with their amazing "Gen2" figures. While this is actually a very nice set of two mini-vignettes, it is made in the older style of DML figures and after the "Gen2" sets seems a bit of a letdown.
Suffice to say it is still an excellent set. The modeler gets four figures, two in late winter uniforms with sno-pac type boots and white jacket and overcoat, and two in summer wear, one tanker/Sturmgeschuetz crewman and one soldier/medic.
The first part are sharing a cigarette, with the officer/NCO in the jacket lighting the cigarette for the enlisted man. The officer/NCO has on sno-pac type boots, a white jacket, and even ear muffs, and carries an older model DML MP40. The enlisted man has the heavy sno-pacs and an overcoat with a Kar 98K, again the older model from DML. Even a cigarette is provided for the enlisted man.
The other pair have the armored crewman having a wound on his wrist bandaged by the medic. The latter comes with two first-aid pouches on the front of his kit and looks the part.
Etched brass is provided for the Kar 98K sling and MP40 sling. It also provides the tape type bandage for the crewman's wrist.
As is provided with the better figure sets, artwork by Ron Volstad provides the finishing and painting information.
Overall these are nice figures (which seem to have been shelved a few years back compared to current releases) and will make a nice touch for many dioramas.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell