"... This is an extraordinarily complete set and really shows the extent to which DML can take these new Gen2 figures ..."

<full review here>
- Frank De Sisto

"DR6276: 1ST Fallschirmjager Division Holland 1940

1/35 Injection plastic figure set with photo etch and decals.

The 1940 Germany victories in Western Europe demonstrated the combat potential of airborne forces to achieve key tactical objectives. At the start of the May 1940 invasion of France and the Lowlands, German fallschirmjager (airborne troops) seized key bridges on the approaches to Rotterdam and four airfields in Holland, as well as the Belgian fortress of Eben Emael. These actions denied the defenders key facilities and ensured that the bridges were left intact for the main German advance.

POSES

This new 1/35 figure set contains four fallschirmjager wearing uniforms typical of the 1940 landings in Holland, Belgium, Norway and Denmark. Specifically all men are wearing the M1938 ‘first pattern’ jump smock (fallschirmkettel), which featured in built legs, which were later replaced by a the more practical buttoned design, which could be left loose after landing. They are also wearing the brimless paratrooper helmet (fallschirmhelme) and the early war side lacing jump boots that have the cleated sole pattern crisply molded. I was pleased to see that Dragon accurately depicted this boot’s rubber sole with its tread pattern rather than hob nails as is often assumed. All men have removed their knee pads and parachutes. Ron Volstad’s box art accurately depicts the uniforms’ appearance, colour and the helmet insignia.

The men are posed in action. The NCO is kneeling holding a P08 Luger pistol in one hand and a M1924 stick grenade in the other. Apart from normal personal equipment, he also carries a pair of binoculars slung from his neck and a leather dispatch case. The second fallschirmjager is also kneeling and is equipped with an MP38 sub-machine gun and a stick grenade. The MP38 has a photo etch sling. Like all of the figures he correctly has a FJ M1938 canvas gas mask bag slung over his shoulder. His personal equipment includes a water bottle and bread bag hung from a leather belt. An advancing machine gunner carries a MG34 by its sling, which is reproduced using 3 pieces of photo-etch. The last man is the standing gunner's assistant who is carrying the MG’s ammunition box in one hand and his rifle (with PE sling) and has further ammunition in a bandolier slung from his neck.

Each figure has approximately a dozen key body and uniform parts and is sculptured to a high standard with crisp detail on the uniforms and lifelike faces. As usual for Geneation-2 figures the boots and hands are separate parts (no alternative parts), which slot into recesses on the arms and legs, while the faces are separate to the rear of the skull, with the join hidden by the helmet strap. This allows the feet, hands and faces to be painted separately. It also lets you paint the arms attached to the body for a consistent finish and more readily paint the inside of cuffs. The lower sections of the jackets and collars are separate parts.

PHOTO ETCH, DECALS AND PERSONAL FIELD EQUIPMENT

A new PE fret contains the slings for the hand weapons, which is a pleasing addition for this release, as well as varying insignia, awards and belt buckles.

Two sprues from earlier releases contain assorted personal field equipment, while a small new sprue contains 6 paratrooper helmets, which have fine grommets (vent holes). As the larger equipment sprues are generic and designed for 6 to 8 men, you are left with plenty of spares that are ideal for upgrading other figures or decorating model vehicles. The spares include brimmed infantry helmets, M1931 canteen (cook pot), gas mask cases, entrenching tools, assorted ammunition pouches, clothing bags and rolled blankets.

A decal sheet contains decals for the two canisters and the helmet’s national tri-colour shield and eagle insignia. Two spare sets of insignia are included for the helmets.

WEAPONS & CANNISTERS

Like with other Generation 2 sets, the guns are crisply detailed, multipart and offer some flexibility in how they can be built. In a first for Dragon the slings are provided in PE for the weapons carried by the figures (but not the spare guns), which a feature many modelers had requested. Like with the personal equipment, several welcomed spares are included.

One sprue contains a pair of MP38/40 sub-machine guns, with separate upper detail and one separate folding stock, plus several spare magazines. Also on this sprue is a Gewehr 43 semi-automatic rifle with separate optional parts for the bolt mechanism and a Sturmgewehr 44 assault rife with two spare magazines.

The MG34 machine gun, which is in light mode (bipod), is particularly impressive. The use of slide mold design has allowed Dragon to accurately depict the perforations on the barrel jacket. As with the MG42 in the Desperate Defence Korsun set, the hinged feed cover can be positioned close (as is the norm) or open. One open ammunition box is provided, along with two closed boxes (separate handles included) and four rounds of drum ammunition. The two lengths of belt ammunition have crisply defined bullets, but seem marginally over-scale. A choice of folded or open (in action) bipods is provided.

A pair of Kar98 rifles have separate bolts which offer the option of having the bolt mechanism pulled back or not; or alternatively stripped for use in a diorama. The muzzle end of these rifles has been hollowed out. A dozen 5 round ammunition clips are provided.

Two parachute canisters, which were used to drop weapons alongside the fallschirmjager are included. These can be assembled either open or closed and have interior detail, but require two small sink marks to be filled or hidden by equipment if modeled open. The canisters include small parts for the small trolley wheels, latches and handles. Decals are provided for the black stripes and black number 4 markings.

RECOMMENDATION

“1ST Fallschirmjager Division Holland 1940” offers a well researched and crisply detailed set of early WWII German airborne soldiers. The inclusion of the two canisters, photo etch for the gun slings, and plenty of useful spare equipment, adds to the underlying appeal of the Generation 2 figures and weapons. Highly recommended."

- Neville Lord

"... Another early war set from Dragon, this set if anything, improve on the first two 2nd Generation sets, and represents state of the art styrene moulding at an incredible price. I can't wait to see what Dragon are going to do next!"

<full review here>
- Vinnie Branigan

"... This new kit from DML presents four figures from the 1st FJ Division that represent the paratroopers who jumped into Holland. As is now becoming the case with the superdetailed "Gen 2" figures, the modeler gets two new sprues of dedicated kit parts, three common German figure sprues (with a Gx marking) and three common German weapons sprues (with a Wx marking) plus a small fret of etched brass uniform furniture ..."

<full review here>
- Cookie Sewell