Pat McGrath provides an inbox review of the DML 8th Army figure set.



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Thanks!

Hi Pat,

Thanks for the review. I'm pleased to see the arrival of these guys and like you I hope they do a few more sets for the 8th Army, and get a few of the errors right next time.

First time I really look at the pistol holsters have to agree they are way off.

I have to laugh every time I read the putties error, I can just see them all being marched off in double quick time to the Guardroom or having to do 50 press-ups

Moulding the pistol was a bad move and as you say it would have been good to see a new spur for the weapons with the pistol being moulded separately and a couple of each new weapon.

Cheers

Al

Hi Pat,

Thanks for the review.

DML is one of those companies that I am particularly hard on when it comes to criticism - simply because I expect the best from the best.... The mistakes within the kit, as small as they may seem, are unacceptable to DML in particular due to the volumes of material available on this subject - and I would expect DML to research the subjects properly.

Rudi

Hopefully they will follow up with a better set as they followed their Commonwealth Infantry NWE with the British infantry in Normandy set although I hope we don't have to wait as long

I expect Masterbox to release some Eighth Army figures before that though.

Hi Pat,

Great review thanks - very useful. Tis just a shame that many times Dragon seem to go 90% of the way there. A bit more attention to detail when they manage their design projects and they'd be unsurpassed for value.

cheers
Brent

These don't come in cheap at between £7.50 and £8.30 for the 4 figs. Pat I'll look forward to the MB Set also.

Al

As much as I have looked forward to these, I believe I'll pass on them now.
As much as I don't deny the German builders their enjoyment of their cup of tea, I find it greatly disappointing the let downs when it comes to the allied modelers. These appear to be adding lemon after the sugar and milk.

Thanks for the review Pat. Question for anyone who knows would these figures be suitable to use as members of the third army which was also in North Africa? I ask as my Grandfather was in the Royal Ulster Rifles with them, I am not aware of any differences between the two and I can’t see anything different from the pictures I have. As an after thought I wouldn’t like to be the person who doesn’t know which way round a brengun mag fits

Hi Darren the Kaki Drill tropical uniform was worn throughout the middle east and far east and even in the Italian campaign.
Later in the Tunisian Campaign you there are photos of Khaki drill long trousers and even full battledress uniform being worn.

Hi I’m new to this site and this is my first post, I’m a figure modeller mostly but I am interested in this period. As the First army sailed direct from Britain as part of operation Torch they typically wore standard serge battle dress. Given the harsh terrain and adverse weather conditions encountered during the winter fighting in the mountainous regions of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia this type of uniform was far more appropriate than KD shorts and shirts. Mixing of uniforms cant be ruled out however as there are plenty of photos of the attached parachute units wearing serge trousers and KD shirts, and even the odd pair of shorts in training prior to the invasion of Sicily. Check out the Pegasus Archive web site for photos.

For further information try the Ospreys title, The British Army in World War 11, North Africa and the Mediterranean and James Holland’s book “Together We Stand”. The ospreys title is a good place to start for information on uniforms and really illustrates well the wide range of clothing worn in North Africa. It’s a misconception that most allied soldiers wore shorts and shirts sleeves in north Africa as a wide variety of different pattern clothing was worn with trousers and heavy wool serge clothing even being worn in the desert areas. The James Holland book is a great history of the whole north African campaign and also illustrates how the terrain had an impact on the war in this area. Much of later fighting taking place in mountainous terrain in winter, a far way away from endless desert, perfect tank country image many have of north Africa.

I spent two years working in the Algerian Sahara in the late nineties and the weather and terrain was incredibly varied even in the desert areas. In some areas the desert can be very much the never ending crescent dunes pictured in films like “Ice Cold in Alex” in other it’s a flat plane covered in sharp gravel where wearing shorts would be suicide. In winter the weather was sometimes cold enough in the day that I was forced to wear a fleece Norwegian army shirt under my overalls and it rained on occasions. In summer the day time temperatures were close to 60° C.

Thank you for the information so far. As I stated I am interested because of my Grandfather and only the 8th Army tends to be portrayed in the desert.

Pat-- nice review. I just ordered a set.
thanks
DJ

OK, we have a ton of DAK figures and now the Brits, isn't it time Dragon started doing Italian Army figures for our North Africa diorama enjoyment? The very few hard-to-find and super-expensive resin products from Italy just don't cut it...

What about Hornet's Italian figures?

David

1. Not really a large choice
2. Everybody has used them, in pretty much every Italian Army diorama I've seen

One comment about the 8th Armyset, the handle the bren gunners lifting the weapon with isn’t a carrying handle but the barrel change handle. Whilst that’s not say it couldn’t or wouldn’t be carried by this handle on occasion it wasn’t the approved way. More importantly the weapon is imbalanced when carrying it this way. With all the weight towards the rear of the weapon, the centre of balance is some way behind the handle. Picking it up by the handle would cause it to drop heavily toward the butt and would be quite uncomfortable . The straight position the figure is holding the weapon in would therefore require a fair amount of effort on behalf of the man and place a corresponding amount of stress on the handle. I’m sure the weapon was commonly picked up by the handle before being transferred into a more comfortable position but the butt needs to show a fair bit more droop but to be truly realistic. Sorry if this sounds a bit pedantic of me or over picky!!

I carried the Bren a fair bit when I was in the Irish Reserves during the seventies and I don't remember any problems carrying the Bren by the handle. In all the schematics I've seen it is actually called the carrying handle. The MAG GPMG's barrel was much easier to disconnect IIRC. The butt of the Bren should be resting on the ground with the DML figure.



Admittedly it is easier to carry this way

Pat I’ll defer to your greater knowledge but in my defence I’ve seen it referred to as a barrel change handle in places. The first photo shows what I mean about the drop of the butt though.

Not to forget the 'round the neck' strap frequently attached to the bren for ease of carrying.

Chas