DML 1/35 Rommel & Staff North Africa 1942 Kit First Look

By Cookie Sewell

First Look

As it likely that the forthcoming AFV Club kit of an AEC Dorchester command and control van will most frequently find itself finished as "Moritz", the captured vehicle used by Field Marshal Rommel, it is a nice touch (and good anticipation!) that DML is now releasing a new set of figures of Rommel and three other German general officers in North Africa. The set includes Rommel in a leather greatcoat pointing, a figure that I assume to be Fritz Beyerlin reading a map with glasses on, another figure that appears to be von Thoma, and a third general peering through binoculars that I cannot identify. As DML claims these are based on photos of Rommel and his key officers, it is a shame they do not identify exactly who they are supposed to be!

Each figure has a base structure of six parts (head, torso, legs and arms) but Rommel has a three-piece greatcoat with separate collar, the unidentified general has a three-piece cloth greatcoat with separate collar, and the other two figures are simply base parts. Details include all medals and badges (the Knight's Cross stands out nicely) as do the "pips" of the generalleutnant figures. Rommel's famous goggles are included but here are a solid grey styrene part (clear would have been more appropriate).

The map is backwards (!) and oddly appears to be of central Africa (the Belgian Congo is prominent) rather than the Maghreb area where the Germans were in combat!

The box art is unimpressive and appears to be "Photoshopped" into a background of "Moritz" and "Greif" vehicles. As usual the directions are the "stick here and paint following the box art" variety which is not of great help.

Overall, this is a well-timed set and should find itself next to a number of the new AFV Club kits.

Thanks to DML for the review sample.

Sprue Layout:

• 6723 47 Four figures and basic kit
• G 60 Generic German Kit: canteens, gas masks, bread bags, mess kits, etc.
• ‒ 1 Paper map