DML 1/35 March to the West, Western Front 1940 Kit First Look

By Cookie Sewell

First Look

DML has released another set of what amounts to four single figures in one box. This set of four, pegged at the spring and summer of 1940, provides the following: one infantryman in soft cap with his rifle at the ready; a Feldjaeger motorcycle rider in “wet suit” with a traffic control wand and an MP18 submachine gun; an engineer in Panzertruppen uniform with an explosive charge and part of a “Bangalore torpedo” charge; and a machine gunner in camouflage smock with a Czech Zb.26 light machine gun.

All figures are to the now normal DML “Gen1" configuration of six basic parts (head, torso, arms and legs) with special kit parts provided on the main sprue and common detail parts on supplemental generic sprues. The special weapons (MP18 and Zb.26) and the two MG weapons are “Gen2" with open bores and optional parts such as bolts and ammo clips and drums. The common parts are also the more detailed “Gen2" types now common to most DML German figure sets.

Poses are somewhat static - only the Feldjaeger is shown moving and giving directions, whereas the other three are standing. Detail as always is excellent with the collar tabs and chest plate nicely done.

Assembly directions are of the “stick here” black and white photo variety, and the painting directions are only a copy of the box art. That, by the way, is by an artist named “Andrew” which is a new one to me; he seems to be similar in style to the legendary Ron Volstad.

Overall this is a nice set - but again one that is very difficult to use together.

Thanks to DML for the review sample.

Sprue Layout:

• 6703 49 Four figures and special kit
• G 60 German generic kit - helmets, canteens, bread bags, gas mask canisters, etc.
• G 4 German generic kit - entrenching tools
• W 30 German generic weapons - MG34, MG42, 3 x MP40, 4 x Kar 98K, accessories
• WD 12 German weapons - MP18, Zb. 26