Rob Harvey provides a review of a Modern Russian Tank Crew, a three figure 1/35 set by Zvezda.

Link to Item


If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

And the point is that this set is based on a real photo.

http://ic2.pbase.com/u9/igor01/upload/1649638.cecenija_rusai33.jpg

Looks good, and a step up from the Dragon or ICM/Alanger figures.

Thanks for getting this sorted James!

yes I think I read somewhere the set was based on a photo, I did want to write it in the review but couldnt find the pic. Your pic isnt showing up snakeeye...

Here's the pic


Very nice set and good review Rob, thanks.

Zvezda's quality does seem to be improvving doesn't it?

Thats the one, thanks for that Pat! These figures are indeed very good quality, many of these Eastern European and Russian companies are improving a lot!

Great review Rob, lets hope Zvesda get some more modern figures out!

they did a nice job with the helmets as they look very good.

Now if they would finally release their T-90 kit and have it at the same quality as these figures!

Matt

Hi guys

Just a quick comment regarding the T-90. I emailed Zvezda about a month ago asking them if the T-90 kit would be an new tooled kit or use some parts from their (Dragon) T-72. Their answer was that it should be an all new toold kit with an ETA of November (as with any kit ETA date I wouldn't put money on it).

Cheers,
/E

That will be great, if it happens. This one has been coming for so long I admit to some skepticism. Won't stop me from snapping it up in a heartbeat, though!

Matt

Thanks for the review Rob.

FYI, I notice the cord for the intercom (from the helmet) isn't molded on the figures.

Has anyone heard if Zvezda plans to release a set with the crew in summer uniforms and helmets?

Hey rob great review. Zvesda are improving with there figures. I like there range its differenet. Darren going back to your comments. The heads would be the first thing I would replace if I got the sets.

Just looking back at this review after George Keseyan's T-72B WIP thread and seeing these figures in my LHS . Is there any way they can be used with a T-55 (which I have in my stash) or are the uniforms too modern? One of the Former soviet republics maybe?

These guys are probably too modern for a T-55, I had similar problems with my dio when looking for a tank crew for my T-55. In the end I settled for a Tank models Chechnya tank crew as those figures are wearing Afghanka style jackets that have been issued since the 80's (i aimed at setting my dio in an 80's period).

These guys however aren't wearing Afghanka, they have these "bomber" style jackets. I haven't seen these too much and I don't know much about this uniform. Maybe it's Russian Federation specific but aside from this one reference photo I haven't seen many other photos with this style of jacket. Most Chechnya images I have feature the Afghanka style coat. It would be interesting to learn a little more about the jackets featured in this set.

If you want an accurate T-55 crew why not try try ICM's new kit? That looks good and is specifically for a T-55. It's been "coming soon" for ages, not sure if it's finally been released yet.

Hi Jon

do you mean this set ?



If so, I see they are in stock at a few outlets. For example

http://www.modelhobbies.co.uk/shop/soviet-tank-crew-19791988-35601-p-22437.html

Alan

I think these figures can be used from about the mid 80's. They wear the latest style Russian tankers cap which seems to of been introduced around the end of the Afghan conflict. As to the jackets I think these are referred to as tankers BDU. Like everything Russian they are a reasonably old design that has been updated. I did some digging on the uniforms and couldnt come up with much but found a book on Cold war Russian uniforms and it did describe the these tankers jacket as being introduced in the mid 80's.

Modern Russian uniform research is very difficult! There doesnt seem to be much in the way of standardized design in the Russian military.

Hi Alan! Yes thats the one, I had seen images flashing around on banners at various websites for ages but hadn't seen an actual release date or review yet.

I would be interested to get my hands on one of these and see what its like. I must admit the reference photo on the box art doesn't really tell you much or show much, it would be nice to see a figure made up and not just a sprue shot to get a better impression. From my experience though I have always found ICM kits to be very good. I especially like their 1:48 plastic figures, those had some wonderful detail so I have high hopes for this 1:35 set.

Rob I know what you mean! It's easy to find lots of stuff on WW2 uniforms and earlier even (Tsarist), but finding good books that cover modern Russian Uniforms is rather tricky. I suppose a major issue since the end of the USSR is the drop in military spending in post Soviet Russia, which has resulted in a lot of reused gear, hand me downs, and eclectic mixtures of uniforms and equipment. Still it's good for us modellers I guess, gives us good artistic license!