| Date of Review |
May 2007 |
| Manufacturer |
DML |
| Subject |
Vergfügungstruppe France 1940 |
| Scale |
1/35 |
| Kit Number |
6309 |
| Primary Media |
98 parts in grey styrene |
| Pros |
Another uniform option for German fans;
nicely done weapons of somewhat exotic nature |
| Cons |
No explanation as to what this set is or
what it is doing |
| Skill Level |
Basic |
| MSRP (USD) |
$9.50 |
There are times I am easily stumped by models when the kit does
not readily identify what it is or what is does. This is one of
those times, so bear with me. The kit calls itself "Verfügungstruppe" which
as near as my German permits me to translate is "Disposal
Troops" – but more along the lines of explosive ordnance
device (EOD) clearing engineers. What it comes with is a set of
four figures wearing early pattern smocks with an "ambush" color
pattern on them and weapons such as the Model 39 antitank rifle
and a Bergman MP18 submachine gun. They are very relaxed and having
chow (a 1/35 spoon is even part of their kit!) and one figure has
a chunk of white bread in his hand.
There is what appears to be an engineer munitions case with them
so they may well be engineers involved in obstacle clearing, but
from the box art it seems more like checking for booby traps in
captured French equipment (they are posed with two French light
tanks.)
The kit is typical "first generation" DML – six
main parts per figure and a good deal of add-on kit (bread bags,
canteens, gas mask canisters, mess kits, entrenching tools, and
a few oddities like a Mauser Model 1896 in its holster. Helmets
are provided with matching camouflage covers, but all four figures
have solid heads and are bare-headed. One man is bandaged.
Weaponry consists of two Mauser Kar 98K rifles, two of the Model
39 antitank rifles with extra clips and bipods, and the Bergmann
SMG with four magazines and a choice of open or closed bolts.
Internally the kit is identified as "Das Reich" – e.g.
2nd SS Panzer Division – so that could explain some of the
lack of description on the box art. The box art is not from old
reliable Ron Volstad but an uncredited artist, and the directions
are not those like Ron uses as well. They are not as clear and
somewhat confusing as they show the assembled figures and then
the box art with lines and arrows for painting.
Overall the figures are great as usual – but I just wish
I knew more of what they are supposed to be doing!
Thanks to Freddie Leung of DML for the review sample.
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