6274, 1st Luftwaffe Field Division, Novgorod 1944, Gen2. 1/35th-scale injection-molded styrene plastic with multi-media parts. Contains: 200 injection-molded styrene parts, 56 DS-100 soft styrene parts, 16 etched brass parts and one single-sided instruction sheet.

DML has graced modelers with yet another superbly-presented set of Gen2 figures, this time providing parts to construct four members of 1.Luftwaffe-Feld-Division as seen at Novgorod in 1944. These four figures all wear variations of the unique Luftwaffe-issued quilted two-piece snow-suit. Two men wear the types with rectangular-shaped thread patterns, while the other two have diamond-shaped thread patterned garments. I am told by the set's designer that these items could also be seen on other services' troops so the modeler is not limited in the types of figures he can portray. Remember though, that if this option is chosen the belt buckles and cap eagles must be replaced with service-specific items.

The four figures included in this set depict the following:

-Figure 1; a walking section leader with an MP40 slung from his neck. His suit has the rectangular thread pattern.
-Figure 2; a walking-wounded rifleman carrying his Kar98k in his right hand, with his left leg showing a tear where he is wounded. His suit has the diamond thread pattern.
-Figure 3; a walking rifleman with his Kar98k slung over his back, as he supports figure 2. His suit has the rectangular thread pattern.
-Figure 4; a walking rifleman with his Kar98k slung over his right shoulder. His suit has the diamond thread pattern.

Each figurine is composed of multiple parts, not counting his weapons and personal equipment. For instance, the wounded fellow is made up from 20 parts including: two-part torso, separate collar and hood parts, two-part head, separate cap and belt buckle (with optional etched brass buckle), four-part tails for his jacket, and separate arms, hands, legs and boots. The others are broken down in a similar fashion. The details on the uniforms are extraordinary, including such things as sharply-rendered thread patterns and garment seams, excellent undercutting of the garments due to the use of separate collars, hoods and tails; hollowed-out sleeves, and outstanding boot details (including hob-nail soles). Small touches, such as the tear in the wounded man's trouser leg are very convincingly done. The men's soft caps are very crisply-molded and include the Luftwaffe eagle in place; this can be removed and replaced by an etched brass example, as can their belt buckles. Of course, the provided steel helmets (seen slung on the belts of three of the figures) can be fitted to their heads instead for more variety.

The set provides an excellent selection of weapons, including four Kar98k bolt-action rifles, two MP40s, one StG44 assault rifle and one Gew43 semi-automatic rifle. There is, of course, nothing stopping the modeler from swapping the weapons around for yet more individuality in the depicted figures. The individual weapons all feature separate opened or closed bolts as well as pre-bored muzzles and opened fore-sights. Separate magazines and stripper clips are given, while etched brass parts provide for the weapon's slings.

The troop's personal equipment is a mixture of traditional and DS-100 styrene items. In conventional styrene are the following: six M1935 steel helmets (with full rivet details, due to the use of slide molds), three-piece gas mask canisters, two piece canteens (six each) and mess tins (two each), as well as single-piece mess tins, entrenching tools, and bayonets (six each). In DS-100 soft styrene, DML has provided the following: three different opened and closed pistol holsters, eight gas cape pouches, four rolled Zeltbahns, eight bread-bags, three pairs of Gew43 magazine pouches, five pairs of Kar98k pouches, three pairs of MP40 pouches and three pairs of StG44 pouches. Each of the ammo pouches has one pair in the opened configuration. The final items are a map case and a tool case for a German MG34 or 42 machine-gun. Several of these items are not for use in this set, but will certainly prove useful for the spares box.

The instruction leaflet is well done, if busy. Each man is shown as a front and rear view in full color. Although the instructions are certainly more than adequate, I'd like to see a bit more detail on the placement of the weapon's slings provided, specifically where they attach to the particular piece. Colors are keyed to Testors and Gunze paints.

Yes, this is yet another German subject. Yes, other nations fought in the war. And yes, I too would certainly like to see troops from other nations depicted in the Gen2 fashion. But all that does not detract from the quality and utility of these figurines one bit.

Highly recommended.

- Frank De Sisto