Kit Review: ICM 1/35 scale Kit No. 35612; Soviet Staff Personnel 1943-1945;= 36 parts in tan styrene; retail price US$13.99
Advantages: provides more higher ranking late war Soviet officer options; o= ffer of a forthcoming GAZ-M1 or other staff vehicles will provide a nice ba= ckdrop for these figures
Disadvantages: no major items noted
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all Soviet WWII fans
ICM has filled it a lot of niches with its 1/48 and 1/35 scale figures, an= d this set is no exception. The set provides two Soviet general officers, a= n aide and a driver as a set which can be used to offset a staff vehicle or= giving orders to tankers in a diorama.=20
Each figure consists of seven parts =96 head, torso, coat skirt, arms and = legs (one has his arms folded together for only six). The senior officers a= re provided with two piece caps (headband/bill and top) for better definiti= on and the =93soft=94 look of the WWII officers=92 caps. The driver =96 =93= shofer=94 in Russian - has a =93pilotka=94 side cap.
Molding is excellent and the ranks are quite discernable =96 the senior ma= n is a lieutenant-general (two stars) with a major-general (one star) talki= ng to him and a major (one star) as his aide. The driver is a sergeant (thr= ee stripes). The major-general has three awards of the Order of the Red Ban= ner and the lieutenant-general has two awards of the Gold Star Medal of a H= ero of the Soviet Union; all four are wearing =93Guards=94 badges on their = right breast.=20
The major-general is holding an open Soviet officer=92s map case and is po= inting with a pencil; his senior has his hands behind his back, and the aid= e is searching for a document in his map case. The driver leans nonchalantl= y against a staff car (which in the box art looks more like a captured Germ= an sedan than a Russian one).=20
Assembly and painting directions are in black and white, but the box art i= s suitable for a guide and color directions are provided for Testors Model = Master colors.=20
Overall this is a nicely done set and will look good next to any command v= ehicle of the period =96 a jeep, GAZ-67B, GAZ-M1, captured German staff car= , White M3A1 Scout Car, or even a tank.=20
Cookie Sewell