DML 1/35 Blitzkrieg in France! France 1940 Kit First Look

By Cookie Sewell

First Look

DML has been coming out with relatively generic poses for some time, but this set is a very specific one which depicts two German infantrymen capturing two French tankers from a knocked-out light tank.

These are straight-up DML “Gen1" figures with six main parts to each figure (head, torso, arms and legs) and no options. One of the French figures has his arms raised over his head and the other is holding an injured left arm. Both are wearing leather jackets, with one appearing to be either an officer or NCO with high boots and the other military shoes. Both have goggles and pistols, with the officer also having a pair of binoculars and the driver having a pair of headsets around his neck (I used to wear them that way when not needed, so it is a good casual pose.)

The Germans are armed with a Kar 98K with bayonet and a Bergmann MP18 as well as carrying early war kit. One soldier has rubber camouflage straps on his helmet and the other a pair of goggles. Surprisingly the weapons are from the German Naval Troops - Dieppe 1942 set vintage 1999.

The figures are good, but the poses chosen are so fixed and specific it will be difficult to use them for any other purpose. Had the Frenchmen just been glaring at the Germans they could have been used separately with any of the recent French armor kits, but wounded and surrendering limit the modeler’s options.

This is a “B” kit and as such has busy box art with “stick here” photo directions on the back of the box.

Overall, if you are into captured French vehicles and a diorama subject this will be a nice choice and the animation is excellent.

Thanks to DML for the review sample.

Sprue Layout:

• 6087 6 1 x Kar 98K, 1 x Kar 98K w/bayonet, 1 x MP18, 2 x ammo belts
• 6478 50 Four figures and basic kit