Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6513; Winter Panzer Riders 1943-1944; 91 parts in grey styrene; retail price US$10.95

Advantages: tailor-made for new DML Pkzw. IV Ausf. J kits

Disadvantages: “Gen1" weapons

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: for all German late war panzer fans

This latest kit from DML provides four new mold figures optimized for riding on the back deck of a panzer, and the nice box art by Ron Volstad shows them on the back of what appears to be a Pkzw. IV Ausf. J with schuertzen. Considering this is one of the latest DML vehicle kits, it is nice they did synchronize the product releases!

The figures appear to form an MG-42 machine gun team of four men. Two figures are wearing greatcoats and two are wearing parkas; all are fitted with basic lit and steel helmets. The uniforms here are depicted as Wehrmacht, which is a bit of a change of pace from the recent sets which were all undeclared (thanks to CE requirements) Waffen SS troops.

Each figure consists of seven basic parts (head, collar/hood, torso, arms and legs) and the greatcoat figures have four-piece separate skirts to their coats. Each one is outfitted with a canteen, gas mask, bread bag, entrenching tool, bayonet, and mess kit.

The weapons are from two early DML sets which are starting to get long in the tooth, so perhaps DML needs to consider better weapons from their WA/WB/WC generic German weapons sets from the “Gen2" figures.

As with all Volstad work, the back of the box provides clear assembly and painting directions.

Overall, the kit provides a good counterpoise to the new Panzer IV and should be popular with anyone wanting a winter 1944-1945 or Battle of the Bulge diorama or setting.

- Cookie Sewell