Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale =9139-=9145 Series Kit No.
6385; Totenkopf Division Kharkov 1943 - Gen2; 312 parts (289 in grey styrene, 23 etched brass); estimated price US$14.95Advantages: four new figures in winter parka; heavy machine gun option
Disadvantages: kit name somewhat disingenuous
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German winter warfare fans
Upon seeing the title of this kit and then its box art the casual observer may be confused, for =93the=94 battle of Kharkov took place in the summer of 1943 and not any sort of cold weather. But this unit =96 the 3rd SS Panzer Division =93Totenkopf=94 =96 took part in the recapture o= f the city in March 1943, and that period is apparently what this kit is supposed to represent.
The kit provides four figures of which three are in full winter regalia and one NCO only wears a British-style leather jerkin. They come as a complete MG-42 heavy machine gun team; the main difference for the Germans was bipod (light) versus tripod (heavy), unlike the western armies where most =93heavy=94 machine guns were water-cooled. While the tripod is a welcome accessory for DML, alas, it is only provided as a folded and back-packed item and not one which can be set up as an option.
As these are Gen2 figures each one is comprised of many more parts than the simpler =93Gen1" types: head (two parts), torso (two parts), legs, arms, boots, hands, collar/hood, and coat skirt (four parts) or about 17 parts for each basic figure less the chap with the jerkin. The fur on the hoods is very nicely done considering it is injection molded plastic. Each additionally has addenda such as flap pockets (separate flaps) . Brass trim is provided as brass belt buckles, shoulder straps, helmet straps, and weapon slings, but the directions do not show any of them being used.
As is the case with non-Volstad artwork a small sheet of B&W photos of the assembled figures and a smaller version of the box art are provided for painting and finishing.
Overall this is once more a nice kit but again DML needs to offer some instructions for newer modelers when they include optional parts like etched brass.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell