Sorry to be the one that has to say this... but what a boring looking release! It might be useful for the guy doing a "musical chairs" vignette. Seriously, with the "up and comings" like MB releasing unique, dynamic and multi-pose sets one would think DML would start to up the game on their subjects. Come on DML, how about applying that Gen2 technology to more exciting looking and unique releases, like that set of US Marines from a year plus back!

It's funny how what goes around comes around. When I first started in this hobby, virtually all the injection moulded figures available were in "action " poses (the old Tamiya ones were always running somewhere!). The AM people specialised in figures that weren't doing anything specific, but just resting or WHY. Now, it seems after years of more "static" figures, people are starting to complain! On this specific set, well here's some more generic Germans to use in your dios. They look like you could use them in North Africa if you wanted also, though they are packaged as Italy. Since the "Alamein" set isn't Gen 2, these are the first Mediterranean theatre Gen 2 troops. The poses aren't inspiring, but on the plus side, that makes them more flexible in what you use them for. A figure that's charging or stabbing someone never really looks convincing doing anything else! Enjoy.

There is no doubt that a set like this serves some use, but my issue is why Gen2? Surely a fairly static kit like this is better suited to the 'normal' or even 'Premium' ranges where folks can buy a few of them for a larger scene. Oh well, each to their own, and I'm sure there are plenty of folks that will love this set. Rudi

It is a nice set, casual scene but Germans again? so much more they could be doing figure wise in both infantry and vehicle/gun crews of different nationalities. At least they brought out one set of British desert rats.

I've got to agree with both of you. It's not, as Rudi said a very exciting or imaginative set, but having said that I think with some imagination they can be used in many situations. Certainly more flexible than say Masterboxes Russian tank crew bailing out. Having said that I think Masterboxes latest stuff is great and really like what they are doing. Let them have that share of the market, Dragon's got plenty of other kits bringing in the money. Also their (Dragon's) back catalogue of figures does have some more imaginative releases, it just difficult to get hold of some of them. What I can't fathom is their marketing strategy. The Afrika Korp set recently released was not Gen2. it should have been. Why have these three levels. Maybe two, one where they take old kits and add the Gen2 sprues for weapons etc, and any new stuff released is Gen 2 straight off. Stop releasing sets that are not Gen2. The other manufacturers just keep improving their sets upon release without complicating the issue, but that's seems to be a hallmark of Dragon, look how many variations float about on a tank, soon to be complicated even more as they introduce more and more "zimmerited" versions! Alan

Salut les amis, Well for my point of view, two remarks : 1°) What a great news, german soldiers ! it must be the 200st german figure kit released by Dragon and the 100st in relaxed pose....ironic for sure. 2° after looking the figures, I must say that the seated guy and the lying guy looks really great. Somebody talked about Masterbox and Miniart : you could add these figures two the artillery seated guys from Miniart or the latest convoy by Masterbox. Nice addition anyway even if it's again german.. Best to all of you. Julien

I tend to think that DML are now considering the relases by Masterbox and MiniArt and i'm getting the impression that they are influencing DML's release strategy.. That said, DML is still (it seems) unwilling/unable to bring out sets in truly dynamic poses. I'm afraid I take the contrary view. While many may take this set as a 'Vignette-In-A-Box' there is, in my opinion, a hell of a lot more flexibility than there seems to be at first.

My statement "Certainly more flexible than say Masterboxes Russian tank crew bailing out." Hi Jim Interesting opinion, and let me say my comparison was not in any way a slur on Masterbox, as I said in my post I think they are producing some great stuff. Whilst in agreeing with Rudi this is not a very exciting set, I do see the set having good potential. Whilst its branded as Panzergrenadiers Italy I think the set, with its uniform detail has the flexibility to be used in almost any theatre of war the Germans were involved in, from Russia, France to North Africa. With only slight doctoring of the insignia areas, changes of uniform colour, it opens it up to even more potential, able to depict most branches of the German armed forces, including SS troops. Everything from recently captured P.O.W.'s by removing weapons etc, through to Artillery crew casual standing around the rear of their gun emplacement. Positioned on or in various vehicles such as halftracks, Steyr and other soft skinned vehicles. That's just a few ideas of the top of my head. Whilst of course you could have the Russian tank crew bailing out of several different tanks, or set in slightly different circumstances, without major surgery to alter them you are still going to have the same poses, a guy pointing a gun at something, another wounded being helped out of something by another and another climbing out of something, but all are still going to be Russian/Uniformed Tank Crew. So whilst I of course see a degree of flexibility, I can't see how you would take the contrary view that they are more flexible than this Dragon set. I will say, as we've both said before in other threads, Dragon could do with looking at their figures and introducing some more interesting and imaginative sets. But I'm happy that companies like Masterbox and Miniart are doing these interesting alternatives and hope it is very successful for them. Certainly more of their sets feature on my "must get" list to make, than Dragons, but love the fact we are getting more and more choices. Never been a better time for modelling. All the best Alan

Moving back to the DML set, the one thing (that no-one has commented on yet) is the choice of uniform... Why on earth didn't they consider doing them in 'undress' - with shirts/undershirts or even bare torsos? That really would have multiplied their utility...