6372, Winter Grenadiers, Wiking Division, Eastern Front 1943-45 “Gen2”. 1/35th-scale styrene figure set containing 227 styrene parts, 56 DS100 parts, one etched brass fret and a full-color, single-page instruction leaflet.

Introduction.

The latest Gen2 figure set from DML covers yet another German subject, in this case, members of the 5.SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking” as seen in the last two years of the war on the Ostfront. In truth, these could also be used on the Western Front in 1944-45, as well as in Italy and the Balkans during that approximate time frame. And, these guys could also represent Heer (army) infantrymen, since no SS-specific insignia items are visible.

All figures are dressed alike, wearing reversible winter trousers and hooded parkas, with M1935 steel helmets.

The Figures.

Figure 1 is the first half of an MG42 light machine-gun team, in this case, the gunner. He lies prone as he fires the weapon. He has an optional right arm and hand so he can be posed working the bolt of his weapon. He is equipped with typical soldiers gear as well as the tool kit for his MG.

Figure 2 is the loader for the MG42 and he is also in the prone position. Aside from standard equipment, he carries a spare MG barrel and his Kar98k lies beside him. He also has a multi-part slide-molded ammunition box that is opened up and has a length of belted 7.92mm ammunition.

Figure 3 is an advancing rifleman, armed with a Kar98k. An alternate weapon in the form of a Gew43 semi-automatic rifle is also given. He wears standard equipment and there are alternate ammunition magazine pouches for his weapon options.

Figure 4 is also an advancing rifleman, but he has an alternate right arm and hand so that he can be depicted carrying a StG44 assault rifle. He wears standard equipment and there are alternate ammunition magazine pouches for his weapon options.

Weapons and Equipment.

The set provides two MP40 machine-pistols (one with separate extended stock) with separate opened or closed bolts as well as pre-bored muzzles, opened fore-sights and extra ammo magazines. One Stg44 and one Gew43 along with separate bolts and magazines are also provided; the final items are two Kar98k bolt-action rifles, also with separate opened/closed bolts and five-round stripper clips. An additional sprue provides eight stick grenades (four each of two different types), as well as six egg grenades. A beautifully-done MG42 is included and since it also comes from a slide-mold, it is fully detailed with all of the cooling slots, a separate receiver cover and a pre-opened muzzle. Like all the other weapons in this set, the MG42 can be fitted with an etched brass sling.

The troop’s personal equipment is a mixture of traditional and DS-100 styrene items all of which are commonly seen in the Gen2 sets. In conventional styrene are the following: six M1935 steel helmets (with full rivet details, due to the use of slide molds), three-piece gas mask canisters, two piece canteens (six each) and mess tins (two each), as well as single-piece mess tins, entrenching tools, and bayonets (six each).

In DS-100 soft styrene, DML has provided the following: three different opened and closed pistol holsters, eight gas cape pouches, four rolled Zeltbahns, eight bread-bags, three pairs of Gew43 magazine pouches, five pairs of Kar98k pouches, three pairs of MP40 pouches and three pairs of StG44 pouches. Each of the ammo pouches has one pair in the opened configuration. The final items are a map case and a tool case for a German MG34 or 42 machine-gun. Most of these items are not for use in this set, but will certainly prove useful for the spares box.

Molding and detail.

These figures are broken down into far more parts than conventional styrene figures; this will allow for a level of detail on par with resin figures, most notably “undercuts” in various areas. For example, the MG42 gunner comprises a total of 23 parts (including the optional arm, hand and head), without any equipment. Detail is uniformly crisp, with the texture of the fur inside the parka’s hoods especially noteworthy. The number of separate parts for each of these figures will require care in fitting and assembly, especially where their equipment is concerned. Their weapons and equipment are, in my opinion, the best in the industry.

Instructions.

The single-sided, full-color leaflet serves as both an assembly and a paint guide. The colors themselves are keyed to Gunze or Testors paints. Overall, the information is clearly and concisely presented and should be no problem for the average modeler.

Conclusion.

Even though this is yet another set of German troops (yes, I do wish this series would diversify to a greater extent than it already has), they are of excellent quality and have good conversion potential. The weapons and equipment items are all excellent and are worth the price of the set alone; those wishing to dress up a vehicle’s interior with these items (which were standardized) should also give serious consideration to this set.

Recommended.

Frank V. “Curley Stooge” De Sisto

References consulted included, but were not limited to, the following:

1. “Military Small Arms of the 20th Century, 7th Edition”, Krause Publications, by I. Hogg & J. Weeks.
2. “2nd World War Combat Weapons, German”, We Inc., by E.J. Hoffschmidt & W.H. Tantum IV.
3. “Anti-Tank Weapons”, WW2 Fact Files, by P. Chamberlain & T. Gander.
4. “German Combat Uniforms”, Almark, by S.R. Gordon-Douglas.
5. “The Waffen-SS”, Osprey Men-at-Arms 34, by M. Windrow & J. Burn.
6. “The Waffen-SS (1) 1. to 5.Divisions”, Osprey Men-at-Arms 401, by G. Williamson & S. Andrew.
7. “The Waffen-SS (2) 6. to 10.Divisions”, Osprey Men-at-Arms 404, by G. Williamson & S. Andrew.
8. “The Waffen-SS (3) 11. to 23.Divisions”, Osprey Men-at-Arms 415, by G. Williamson & S. Andrew.
9. “The Waffen-SS (4) 24. to 38. Divisions & Volunteer Legions”, Osprey Men-at-Arms 420, by G. Williamson & S. Andrew.
10. “Camouflage Uniforms of the Waffen-SS”, Schiffer, by M. Beaver & J. Borsarello.
11. “Waffen-SS Uniforms in Colour Photographs”, Europa Militaria 6, by A. Steven & P. Amodio.

Reviewer’s note: Since May of 2005, I have been working on books for Concord Publications, a sister company to DML. The reader may wish to take this into consideration. For my part, I will attempt to maintain an objective viewpoint when writing these reviews.

DML kits are available from retail and mail order shops. For details see their web site at: www.dragonmodelsltd.com.

- Frank V. De Sisto