6278, Last Battle Austria 1945, Gen2. 1/35th-scale injection-molded styrene plastic with multi-media parts. Contains: 240 injection-molded styrene parts, 56 DS-100 soft styrene parts, 36 etched brass parts, one water-slide decal sheet and one double-sided instruction sheet.

The latest Gen2 figure set from the ever-prolific DML depicts four German Heer (Army) soldiers as seen during the last months of the war. They are typical for the figures in this line in that they are produced using cutting-edge molding technology and intelligent design in order to produce styrene parts that when assembled, will produce a figurine that will rival a more expensive cast resin item.

There are four figures included in this set, all of which have extra parts so that the modeler may create any one figure in several configurations. This is accomplished by the manufacturer providing extra heads, torsos, arms and hands, which can be mixed-and-matched according to the instructions; a creative modeler could certainly go further with a modeling knife and putty of choice.

Figure one depicts a rifleman holding his weapon in his left hand, while gesturing with his right arm; he faces forward, legs spread apart. The alternate pose has him grasping his weapon with both hands while facing towards his rear. Naturally, the parts can be mixed, especially the head, for yet more variety. Figure two is down on one knee, cradling his weapon, in this case an StG44 assault rifle. His right hand reaches back to grasp a piece of equipment, while his head is also facing towards the rear, as of talking to someone close behind him. His alternate pose has him holding his weapon with both hands, looking forward. Figure three is a standing rifleman and has three poses. In the first he holds his weapon in his left hand, with his right arm down by his side; he is facing behind himself. In the next pose, he holds his weapon in both hands, facing forward. The final pose has different arms, with his weapon being held in both hands; he again faces rear-wards. The final figure is a rifleman who is grasping his weapon at "port-arms" in both hands; he has alternate heads, which face forward or aft, while he can also be depicted holding a Panzerfaust instead of a rifle.

The set provides an excellent selection of weapons, including four Kar98k bolt-action rifles, one StG44 assault rifle, one Gew43 semi-automatic rifle, a pair of MP40s and two Panzerfaust anti-tank weapons. Also included are four M1924 stick grenades and six M1939 egg grenades; there are four other stick-grenades but I don't know if they are M1939 fragmentation or M1939 smoke grenades. 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 Panzerfaust have separate sights in three variations (down, partially- and fully-extended), etched brass safety pull-rings and decals to provide for a full set of markings. They are simply outstanding.

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 M1938 gas mask canisters, two-piece M1931 canteens (six each) and M1931 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 M1931 Zeltbahn, eight M1931 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 uniforms are all the late-war style featuring the short M1944 tunic and M1944 trousers. The latter are tucked into canvas gaiters worn over low ankle-boots.

The instruction leaflet is a bit more complex than is at first apparent. Since there are several interchangeable parts for each figure, the modeler must take care regarding which parts are to be used to create the particular pose. Like wise, there are options to use etched belt buckles and epaulettes (as well as medals) instead of the separate styrene parts; there are small thumb-nail illustrations to help the modeler with placement of some of these items. Colors are keyed to Testors and Gunze paints.

While this is "yet another German subject", which will upset some, the quality of these figures is really quite excellent. Naturally, fans of German figures will certainly be glad to have them; perhaps if these figures do well on the market, DML will invest in doing more Allied subjects as well as perhaps some other Axis nations. Hope springs eternal!

Highly recommended.

- Frank De Sisto