The Kit

Each figure consists of seven (7) basic parts – figure 2 being the exception and consisting of six (6) parts. Each figure is made up with: head; headgear (excluding figure 2); torso; right and left arms; right and left legs. In addition to these basic parts, accessories such as the commander’s P38 pistol holster, radio head-set, a Jerry fuel can (it should be noted that the Jerry can does not feature the centre spine) and four (4) rounds of ammunition are included on the main sprue. A seventh arm is included (numbered part C11) however no indication is given as to suggested use.

Generally speaking the figures are well sculpted for plastic injection mould figures. The faces are well sculpted and defined, as are the headgear items, although the limitations of plastic injection moulding do soften the features slightly. The figures proper are well detailed and one gets a very good idea of the fit of the padded winter suits. Folds gather realistically for the materials portrayed. The finer details such as buckles and buttons, although present, do appear softer due to the medium presented in.

Overall the casting is above average, with only light casting lines and flash. Casting lines and flash are not excessive, and are mostly present on the legs and arms – the hands in particular. In addition to the casting lines and flash, the hands so also appear “soft” in places, and the casting fails to carry the textured woollen detail of the gloves with scribing required between some fingers.

As noted above four (4) alternate heads, cast in DS, are supplied with the kit. This appears to be a generic head-set, and although labelled “German Head II”, with the exception of head B4, there is nothing in particularly German about the heads and they could most certainly be used with a host of other figures. The heads are excellently sculpted, full of detail which is very well held by the DS. If I do have one criticism it is that the necks are slightly too thin, as is evidenced by the built figure.

The remaining plastic sprues are the two DS sprues of the wicker ground mats and cases, and the Gr.19 ammunition sprue. The two DS sprues are once again generic sprues which have been supplied in several kits. The Gr.19 ammunition sprue is sprue G from DML’s “German sFH 18 Howitzer w/Limber” (kit 6392), and contains five rounds each of Gr.19 and Gr.19 Concrete Piercing ammunition.

Assembly

For purposes of this review, I elected to assemble two (2) of the figures from the set: I chose to assemble figures 1 and 4.

Assembling figure 1 first, I began by joining the two lefts together. Dry-fitting the two pieces revealed that the parts did not mate correctly, leaving a wedged gap in the rear seat of the trousers/jacket skirt. While I attempted to adjust the parts, if I mated the rear (thus closing the gap) a gap to the front of the trousers opened. Filing the parts down to mate correctly would reduce the figure’s waist too much. Thus I chose what I perceive to be the lesser of the three evils: I chose to leave the gap to the rear, as this would be easier to fill that attempting to recreate the trouser front detail.

The next step was fitting the torso to the assembled legs. Out the box the torso does not mate correctly either, and small gaps were left around the waist. In retrospect it may have been prudent to file the two parts down for a better fit; however I wanted to confirm the “out the box” fit.

The arms, head, and field cap fitted perfectly, with only minor adjustments needed to position the raised left arm correctly so that the hand cupped the ammunition round properly. Note that while the legs and torso were glued into place, I have only fitted the other parts into place using poster-tack – this was does to facilitate clean-up and painting.

In assembling figure 4, I followed the same process as above. Sadly the figure exhibited the same problems in leg/torso assembly, albeit not as bad. Happily though, the arms fitted perfectly again. I decided to fit one of the alternate DS heads to this figure. While the head fits well (I did have to shorten the neck slightly) the neck appears too narrow when fitted. I would recommend modellers consider bulking up the necks when using these heads.

As I mentioned above, and as readers can see from the assembled figure pictures, there are some light casting seams mostly on the legs and arms. While I have not filled the above mentioned trouser seat and torso gaps, I did undertake to clean up the seam lines for the review. I use a curved edge blade as opposed to a straight edged blade for plastic figure clean-up as I find this “travels” over the folds much easier. This probably took me about ten minutes per figure.

Readers will note in the two photos showing the two cleaned up figures that I have also done some very light scribing of seam lines and run a knife blade under some of the pockets and raised edges for figure 1. Figure 4 (and the rest of the figure set) will receive similar treatment later.

Comments on Colour Schemes

According to sources, the pattern of the camouflage/white jacket was identical to that of the earlier mouse grey/white tunic, and the details on both reversible sides were duplicated. Therefore painters have four possible base schemes in which to paint these figures, namely: mouse-grey out/white in; white out/mouse-grey in; camouflage out/white in; and white out/camouflage out. And that is not to mention that examples of these garments printed in either “splinter”, “marsh” or “1944 marsh” patterns are not uncommon.

It is also worth mentioning that, although Ron Volstad depicts the reversible versions and that this is DML’s intent (hence my consistent referral to it as such throughout this review), not uncommon variations on these garments are the non-reversible variations. Essentially the same as the reversible versions, these were not reversible to white, but lined instead with grey rayon (artificial satin). Examples of these may be encountered in camouflage in both Splittermuster and Sumpfmuster patterns.

Conclusion

Not content to simply retool and reissue old scale model moulds DML introduced the Premium Edition, which not only includes the retooled kit, but usually a few extra plastic sprues and photoetch frets. One such kit, Dragon Models’ figure set 6530 Self-Propelled Gun Crew is essentially a retooled, reboxing of their older figure set by the same name, but different kit number, 6016 Self-Propelled Gun Crew. So what is the difference? In the case of 6530 Self-Propelled Gun Crew, included in the kit are a Dragon Styrene (DS) generic German head set, a DS sprue of wicker ground mats and charges, a DS sprue of wicker cases, a PE fret for the radio head-set, as well as a sprue featuring rounds of Gr.19 and Gr.19 Concrete Piercing rounds in DML’s standard plastic.

For figures which were sculpted in what I estimate to be the mid-1990’s these figures are still rather good by 2009 standards. The casting is above average for plastic injection mould figures, and while there are light casting seams on the limbs these should not take the average modeller long to remove. If there is one thing that really lets this kit down it is the fit of the legs and torso.

It is customary to assign a percentage value to reviews on Kitmaker, but I think it important to explain how I have come to this particular mark. I have assessed this kit in four areas I feel important: sculpting (which includes attention to detail); casting; fit; and subject (always an extremely subjective point). Thus I have assigned the following marks: sculpting – 90%; casting – 75%; fit – 65%; and subject – 90%. Thus the average score of 80%.

DML market this figure set as a Wehrmacht SPG crew loading or firing. Personally I think these figures, due to pose and garb, have a lot more potential than just these two scenarios.

Recommended.

References

The following material was consulted for purposes of this review, and is suggested reading for more information on the subject: