Let me clarify something. I don't like 'Instant Reviews' and it was NEVER my intention to do a review of this set. Rather, it could be described as 'Editorial' - something I don't do too often.. Why did I do it? Probably a good part of me was indignant. If it had been from some new company, or one who don't put a lot of stock in their figure releases, then I would probably have let sleeping dogs lie. However, on both counts DML is a company who have pushed the limits in both their figure and armor releases and this set, strikes me as doing their reputation no good whatsoever. As I mentioned a probable 8/10 for execution, but a 2/10 for imagination, seems pretty fair. A few years ago, sets like this would have had a lot of people Ooohing and Aaahing, this looks like the planning was left out of the process completely. Sticking 4 figures together with a vague 'Östfront' theme doesn't cut it. Reputations have to be constantly enhanced - resting on styrene laurels is a REAL recipe for disaster...

Not something I´d run out and buy immediatly, but they are definatly useable, in vignettes or as "life" detail along with a tank. The thing is, its the quality. Dragon´s figure quality is pretty good, so you have four decent figures for the price of one resin. MBs figures ... I agree have great poses ... do not come close to this quality, and although they are great for filling in a diorama, dont really work as stand alone figures or for vignettes. The 2 Russians would be worth the price for me, if I needed them.

If DML will continue introducing figures based on Concord Publishing artwork, I just hope they will also use Stephen Andrew's amazing artworks.

Guess I am the odd man out here, I'd buy this set the second I see it. Oh and BTW all four figures are indeed in winter gear It is rare to find a good-quality plastic figure of early-war Red Army guys, much less one with an SVT rifle. The other soviet guy with the telogrika can be used for any period in the war as far as I can tell - he has no epaulettes but those were often left off this item of clothing, so I think he'd be OK from Moscow to Berlin. As for the Germans, I don't build that many but these look OK. Tell youwhat, I'll swap my krauts for your commies, guys.

There's a superb one in one of the recent MB sets...

The German soldier with the flare gun might be a good combo with an anti-tank gun. I have watched one World War two doc where a sentry is standing on watch behind an 88. You could add another fig looking out across the field...with binocs and a map...maybe with a field phone...

Hi I can understand why on the face of it one would come to the opinion that this is a very boring and not very imaginative release from Dragon and in some respects I'd agree with that. On the other hand maybe the rationale behind Dragons release is that their figure moulding has got to a level that its as close to resin figures as any plastics manufacturer has got so far. As such they are releasing these in a similar way, to be used as individual figures by figure painters or combined with other figure sets to add or enhance them. With Dragons tendency to cram as much as possible into a box, give as much for the money as possible, they give us four figures to use rather than one as is the case with resin. Just a thought. As for comparison to other figure manufacturers, it's getting harder and harder these days to compete and the levels of detail and sculpting, even in the few years I've returned to the hobby is very noticeable. As Masterbox seems to have been mentioned I'd say they are very good on ideas, animation etc. within their sets, but they've still got some way to go before their figures are as finely detailed and finished as the latest Dragon plastic figures, which are in my opinion the best in this respect, available. Alan

Oh I dunno, Jim. It's not that bad a set. Perhaps not one to set the world on fire, but 4 potentially useful *single* figures nonetheless. I quite like the fur-hatted Russian. - Steve

Well, my hopes have come true. Just look at this: