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Forums - Modelling / Figures |
The figures forum is for the discussion of construction and painting of figures and the tools and materials used. |
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| Subject: | Red Army Tankers - available kits - Boresight article coming |  |
| Date: | Feb 13, 2008 |
| From: | Danny Egan | |
We're working on a Boresight article on Red Army tank crew figures, because the marketplace for these has changed so dramatically in the last two years or so. So join AMPS (http://www.amps-armor.org) and get the full story including kit reviews in an upcoming issue.
The most basic thing to keep in mind is that the Red Army changed its uniform design right at the beginning of 1943. Prior to that, the uniform was an ordinary collar with rank and branch insignia carried on little enamelled tabs on the collar. After Stalingrad, they switched to a standing collar devoid of insignia, and added shoulderboards for all ranks.
So first pick what period your KV will be in and then select your figures.
I have only seen photos of the Trumpeter figures; I haven't seen them in the flesh. From the photos they look like typical 1970s figures with poor detail, poor proportions, and unbelievable poses. I'd love to be wrong but that's what they look like to me.
Going to the other extreme, Alpine and Tank both do early and late crew figures that are of astonishing quality. Tank is pretty pricey even for resin; Alpine is reasonable IMO.
In the middle you've got sets from Tamiya, Zvezda/Italeri, Miniart, and Tristar. I think the Miniart ones are the best. Most of their sets are very well sculpted, highly detailed and fit OK. Most sets are post-Stalingrad, but they have a winter crew that can be used for any era that is excellent. Tristar's fit is better but sculpting is a bit worse - not bad, but not great. Zvezda's set, also marketed in an Italeri box, is surprisingly good and is the best early-war plastic crew set IMO. Even the heads are really good and full of character. Best of all you can usually find this set dirt-cheap. The Tamiya set is so-so. There's one really good early-war figure in their set and a bunch of so-so late-war figures.
So if I had to put them in descending order of quality it would be Miniart, Zvezda, Tristar, Tamiya.
Surprisingly, DML has no good current WW2 Soviet tank crew figures. They did a modern set back when they first got into the business. That set is best used for a door stop. Some of their Chinese infantry figures can be adapted as tank crewmen but why bother with so many good alternatives.
I have to put in a plug here for Hornet, who always come to the rescue of plastic figures with some excellent head sets. Their WW2 tanker's heads are far, far superior to Ultracast.
Hope this helps. |
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