DML 1/35
Monte Cassino Defenders 1944 (Fallschirmjaeger)

DML has vacillated back and forth in its figure sets between “Gen1" – its original traditional architecture kits with six to seven parts per figure and “Gen2" in which there are about 16-17 parts per figure. Each has it fans, but generally the ease of assembly of the “Gen1" types has been offset by mediocre or tepid accessories, whereas the far more complex “Gen2" types have come with superb accessories and weapons.

This kit would have to be marked down as what one could call a “Gen 1.5" kit. The figures themselves are “Gen1" type but with nicer kit and they do come with four sprues of “Gen2" weapons.

Each figure is beautifully molded and has a great deal of personality and detail created for it. Basically they are in combat poses: one man standing and firing, one kneeling with a grenade, one in prone position and one crouching. All wear smocks over their uniforms, and the box art suggests two in plain smocks and two in “splinter” pattern. There are four different styles of helmet: plain, camo net, camo cover with band, and plain with field wire wrapping. The latter two are molded sideways with slide molding in order to reproduce the details.

Accessories include bayonets, grenades (“potato masher” style), bread bags and ammo pouches. The generic weapons sets are well-known to most figure fans by now and all come with separate bolts and clips as well as extra ammo.

Box art and painting instructions are by Ron Volstad.

Overall this is a nice set, and a compliment to DML’s recent release of Commonwealth troops at Monte Cassino.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.

Sprue layout:

• 6514 70 Four figures and basic kit
• WA 18x2 German Generic Weapons - 2 x Kar 98K and accessories
• WB 18x2 German Generic Weapons - 1 x MP44, 1 x Gewehr 43, 2 x MP40