DML have released a new figure set which should be appreciated by modellers of early - mid war German tanks, with a bit of a difference.

Every now and again DML release a kit which seems to slip through the cracks, and the first I know of it is when it appears on the shelf at my local hobby store (yes, I still have one of those). The kit in question is No. 6655, which contains three panzer crew figures in early war black uniforms, and a bonus of a very nice figure of Generaloberst Heinz Guderian, known to the troops as "Papa Heinz".

Each of the three crew figures is made up of the conventional seven parts. One is portrayed standing in the turret hatch of a Panzer IV, one standing on the rear deck, and one, in shirt sleeves, leaning out the left hand turret hatch. All of them show minimal seam lines and well defined facial features. They all wear panzer feldmutze caps, and the commander is wearing earphones while holding a pair of binoculars.

Papa Heinz is shown in a leather greatcoat, and his construction is more along the lines of Gen 2 figures, with a total of 23 parts. Again, moulding is very clean and well defined, and I believe that the figure's face, with careful painting, will bear a very strong resemblance to the man himself.

Last but not least, the kit includes two of DML's jerrycans, with brass centre seams for three, and brass headphone bands. A very nice kit, particularly the figure of Papa Heinz, which will build into an excellent stand alone figure in its own right.