British 8th Army Infantry El Alamein 1942Reviewed by Cookie Sewell
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Stock Number and Description | Dragon Models Limited 1/35 Scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit Np. 6390; British 8th Army Infantry El Alamein 1942 |
Scale: | 1/35 |
Media and Contents: | 61 parts in grey styrene |
Price: | estimated price US $10.00 |
Review Type: | First Look |
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 |
Recommendation: | Highly Recommended for all Commonwealth desert warfare fans |
FirstLook
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.)
Highly Recommended
Thanks to
Freddie Leung for the review sample.