Dragon British Infantry Normandy 1944, 1/35-scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6212

by Cookie Sewell

110 parts in grey styrene; price about $8.95

Advantages: badly needed new set of Commonwealth figures, all in combat poses; good selection of weapons will provide flexibility
Disadvantages: No PIAT, all figures in basic battle dress only
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Commonwealth and D-Day fans

Face it: injection molded styrene figure sets of British – or Commonwealth, as most of the members wore British uniforms and carried British kit – are not in abundance anywhere. This is the third set from DML and happily will please a great many modelers who want this quality of figure to go with their vehicles.

The kit provides six "squaddies" in basic 1944 long-sleeved battle dress, all in basic combat poses (e.g. advancing, crouching, kneeling or at the ready.) Two different styles of "tin hat" are included, regular or with a camouflage netting stretched over it. Also included are two sets of the weapons from set #6055 (the Commonwealth Northwestern Europe set) so a variety of arms are included. These include three Sten guns (two different marks), four SMLE rifles, and two Bren guns. All are provided with ammo packs in good number.

The figures are also provided basic kit – water bottle, pouches, and mess kit.

The poses include three walking/advancing, one kneeling, one raising up, and a prone Bren gunner.

Overall this is a nice and useful kit, and one many modelers have called for to provide a bit more "depth" to their infantry scrum.

Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.