Model Forum / General / Models / December 2007

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale '39-'45 Series Kit Np.
6390; British 8th Army Infantry El Alamein 1942; 61 parts in grey
styrene; price about US$10

Advantages: nice newly molded figures of "Desert Rats" will be
appreciated; very nicely done "original style" figures

Disadvantages: Commonwealth troops yet to rate "Gen2" weapons and kit

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: for all Commonwealth desert warfare fans

    It seems to be all too rare that DML turns its attention to something
other than WWII German subjects when it comes to their excellent line
of figures, and therefore it is always an occasion when something not
wearing swastikas pops up in the "new items" list. This is the first
set of Commonwealth figures in some time, and with the advent of new
WWII African campaign related vehicles (alas, not from DML) they will
be well appreciated.

    The set provides four figures in standard short sleeve/short pants
desert attire: an officer with a Webley pistol and a whistle, a
kneeling figure with a Thompson and 50-round drum. an advancing
infantryman with an SMLE and bayonet, and a crouching Bren gunner.
Each figure is composed of the "standard" DML breakdown (head, torso,
arms and legs) and has several items of kit - canteen, backpack, ammo
pouches, "tin hats" and holsters for those authorized them.

    The only surprising item is that so far the British do not rate the
"Gen2" treatment for their weapons as the German figures have
received. The weapons in this set are from the much older British
Commonwealth Troops, NW Europe 1944 set (No. 6055) - two SMLE, a Sten
gun and a Bren with two options for its bipod (closed or open). A new
Thompson (parts 10 and 11) and an older model of the SMLE with flush
muzzle, bayonet and scabbard (parts 14-16) are included but the latter
is not indicated in the directions, even though it is what the figure
on the box art and directions is clearly holding, but not what is
indicated (part 1 off the 6055 sprue). Go figure. There is also
another pouch (part 12) and an odd item (part 13) on the sprue which
likewise are not called out. I am no longer surprised when DML makes
errors on its major kit directions where more than a thousand parts
are involved, but in this case with but 61 in the box it is hard to
fathom.

    Box art is not bad but it is not credited; however, from the style it
was not done by Ron Volstad but one of the other DML artists.

    Overall, any new set of British figures is welcome, and even more
when new British desert oriented vehicles are becoming available such
as the forthcoming M3 Grant from Academy. (I do wish that, given some
of the disappointment in the uneven quality of recent Academy efforts
DML had done one up to match these figures though.)

    Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell