Kit Review: ICM 1/35 Scale Kit no. 35541; "May 1945"; 54 parts in grey styrene; retail price US $8.98
Advantages: very well done and casual Soviet figures will complement late production model tanks (e.g. IS-2 or T-34-85); comes with an accordion!
Disadvantages: comes with an accordion!
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Soviet "Great Patriotic War" Fans
Many times, it's hard when composing a diorama or vignette to get the casual look that makes the scene work. This isn't a problem if you are handy with modifying figures or scratchbuilding figures, but it's tough for many modelers to get the figures to look "right."
DML has thus far dominated in getting good figures to the market, and quite often eastern European ones tend to be stodgy, stumpy or just plain clumsy in appearance. Therefore this new kit from ICM was a major surprise, as these are some of the nicest figures that I've seen coming out of the former USSR.
Offered by ICM from Ukraine, the kit offers four very nicely sculpted figures after the great victory who are taking some time to relax. The kit comes with an officer, a female medical orderly ("medsestra"), a casualty with a freshly dressed wound, and another soldier seated in a chair with an accordion.
Yes, accordion! While many Americans are annoyed with this instrument and tend to denigrate it, it is very popular with Russians and probably ranks up with guitars and balalaikas for most popular folk instrument. (It should be noted that the most extreme reaction I ever saw in the US was a bumper sticker on a car that read, "Pro-Accordion - and I VOTE!")
The accordion player is seated in a very nicely done five-part chair that appears to be a side chair from a dining table in Berlin. He is very casual, with the four-piece instrument in his lap and his quilted jacket open and slung over his shoulders. His companion is standing with his left hand bandaged, still wearing his quilted jacket. Both come with kit bags and PPS submachine guns.
The officer is standing with his medals displayed and carrying what appears to be a map case. He is armed with a pistol and has his arm around the medical orderly. The medical orderly is wearing a skirt and also the officer's greatcoat is draped over her shoulders; she apparently has a cup of tea as well. A medical kit bag is provided and shown displayed at her feet.
While each figure consists of six basic parts - legs, torso, arms and head - there are small details that add to each one. That enhances some of the best molding that I have seen in a while, and as noted something not usually seen from the east. Each face has a great deal of personality in it and all are very clean with a minimum of mold partition lines.
Overall this is a great set of figures and complements many other sets from other companies. ICM is to be congratulated for doing a great job, and hopefully can continue at this level.
Note that ICM kits in the US are now distributed by Dragon Models USA.
Cookie Sewell