DML 1/35 "39-"45 Series #6271
After reading a few in box reviews I thought i would do a build review this is just a naked build no paint. This is just a non WW2 builders review i can not say i know all the gear and what should be and i may get some of the gear name wrong.
I chose one figure to focus my build review on since all the figures build the same way all these figures which i now call gen 1 or original recipe suffer from the same ills as all figures do heavy mold seam lines unlike the gen 2 series or new recipe. The weapons also have those extra plastic blocks attached to them as you can see in the pictures. The gear is nice but also suffer from the same seam lines all these can be dealt with but add time but this is what we are used to by now building figures. I took pictures of the garand before and after to show how nice it looks after clean up. The kit includes a M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle but no ammo pouches and the M1 carbine you get ammo pouches but very soft details on it. So seeing i had the DML tank rider set i "borrowed" the BAR and carbine ammo pouches from it to dress up these figures a bit. I swapped out the carbine for the Lt figure and gave him the Thompson and ammo pouches from the tank riders set. Now the one soldier in the M1943 sateen jacket "i believe that what it is" has the most fitment issues with the jacket in four pieces there are gaps between the pieces that need to be filled i did this with super glue and took care of it fast and easy. I left the shovel off the Lt figure and made room for the 5 pocket Thompson ammo pouch this also required me cut the pouch into single pockets to snug down to the side of the figure once this was done i filled the gaps with CA then placed the map bag over the front most part. Gear wise all figures get the same canteen, Garand Bandoleer, M1942 first aid packet, Musette bag M1936, entrenching shovel "excluding the corpsman" Only two of the other figures gets a bayonet and scabbard the rifles in the set are M1 Garand, M1 carbine, Pistol included the M1911A1 .45 cal, and heavy machine gun included the Browning M1918 BAR *Not listed in the instruction sheet or used.
The Lt gets a Dispatch Case (Map Case) M1938 and flash light, M1911A1 .45 cal. pistol, binocular and case. The corp man gets to large first aid bags and decals for the red crosses on his helmet and arm band all figures have the M1 helmet with and without netting. The boots are M1943 combat boot and integral strap-fastened gaiters. The radio operator gets the SCR 300 walkie talkie no wire included for the cable and unlike gen 2 no PE included for helmet chin straps and weapon slings so it's up the builder to add these details which is easy with some PE scrap. Now a couple of these guys are shown smoking cigs but what’s included looks more like they are smoking cigars this can be fixed with some thin wire painted white. The biggest let down is no grenades! how can that be?
I was wrong in thinking the figure i chose for the build up would be easy i had the luck of picking the one figure that needed some reshaping of the left arm. The figure i picked is number 6 the soldier is shown holding his garand in both hands easier said then done the right hand needed a bit of opening in the hand so you could move the stock around and the left arm needed some reshaping to move it out more so the forward barrel would rest in his hand. Other then this one issue the figure built up nice no major gaps to be filled all though he does not want to stand on his own the rest of the figures seem to have some balance in them.
Overall the figures went together fast with out major issues and thing that came along was fixed easy with some CA the figures look very good and i like the amount of gear they have and the poses are nice and real life standing or kneeling. The small fixes are some pe straps for the weapons and grenades are needed to really make these figures.
I hope my review helps some one out again i am no expert in any thing WW2 i am just starting out with my drive into this insanity into things world war two. I know i may have a few items listed wrong but i just wanted to cover a build up review. A few items have been left off for clarity of figures for review but nothing that affects the over all look of the figure.
Instruction sheet
Garand before and after clean up
Sprue shots.
BAR gunner
Lt.
Rifleman #1
Corpsman
Radio operator
Rifleman #2
