ICM Always the First (35754) Air Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 1:35

[Mike]

Always the First (35754)

Air Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

1:35 ICM via H G Hannants Ltd

 

 

Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian armed forces have had to become their country’s protectors in the most practical manner, and it’s a job that they have taken to like the proverbial ducks to water.  Their regular forces have been expanded by the general populace taking up arms against the invader, and their Special Forces, amongst which are the Air Assault troops, have become masters of stealth and tactics, causing many costly set-backs to the invader that helps keep Ukraine free.

 

The title of this new box of figures from Ukrainian company ICM isn’t an immediately clear indication of what’s in the box unless you read the smaller text below or already know a little about their organisational structure.  Air Assault troops are often the first to go into an area of operation, regularly behind enemy lines, causing disruption and uncertainty in the minds of the invader, which helps their brothers and sisters to do their jobs with less impediment, the enemy more concerned about which direction the bullets will come from next.  They are well-equipped and armed, and due to the nature of their insertion, must be self-sufficient for the early part of operations and possibly longer, moving quickly and travelling light, which makes the choice of equipment crucial.

 

 

 

The four figures are all standing in action poses, two aiming their rifles with legs planted wide for stability, while another prepares to toss a grenade in the enemy’s direction, giving an indication of close combat.  The final figure is similarly posed, but could be dealing with a weapons jam of his suppressed rifle, or ducking incoming rounds impacting nearby.  The parts for each figure are found in separate areas of the single sprue for ease of identification, and parts breakdown is sensibly placed along clothing seams or natural breaks to minimise clean-up of the figures once they are built up.  The sculpting is typically excellent, as we’ve come to expect from ICM’s artists and tool-makers, with natural poses, drape of clothing and textures appropriate to the parts of the model, especially the tactical vests, which are covered in MOLLE loops to hang pouches and equipment.  Their battle dress is thoroughly modern, with integrated knee-pads on the trousers, which alleviates soreness behind the knee that you get from external strapped pads.  Camouflage is a modern pixelated scheme that extends to the FAST helmets on the accessory sprues.  Of course, you could always choose another colour, or you could also pick up a set of Ukrainian camouflage decals like I did, applying them to the figures in small sections, using plenty of setting solution to avoid voids and wrinkling.  They’re made by a company called Breeze Decals, who are colleagues with Dora Wings, under the code 35-001 with the name “Ukraine digital camouflage pattern”, and you can find them on eBay as well as many model shops online.

 

 

The accessories are on two identical smaller sprues that contain several AK74 derivatives, with a choice of different stocks, an underslung grenade launcher, and even the locally produced AK-based bullpup the Malyuk, which means baby, but it also has a more aggressive name of Vulcan-M.  If you look closely, you can just about see the AK bones beneath the rifle’s skin.  A light machine gun is also included, the Ukrainian variant of the PKM, which is known as the KT-7.62 that is manufactured by Mayak.  One edge of each sprue has a pair of FAST helmets that are often used by Special Forces around the world, and have side rails plus a separate night vision goggle mount on the front.  The last few parts are a couple of pistols in paddle-holsters, knives in and out of scabbards, optics for the weapons, and comms headset cans (probably Peltor) that are shown on the drawings, but don’t have their part numbers mentioned, but for reference purposes are parts W12 + 13.

 

 

Markings

Modern Ukrainian troops frequently wear digitally camouflaged BDUs and equipment, a swatch of which is shown on the painting guide, although solid colours could be used with a little research.  The instruction sheet has drawings on the back of the sprue guide, which has red letters in boxes that correspond to the table overleaf giving colour names, plus the codes from ICM’s own range of paints, most of which can be found in boxed set #3025.  You can find details of that set along with many others in our mega-review here.

 

 

 

Conclusion

This set represents a squad of Ukrainian Air Assault Troops in action for your next diorama or vignette, with great poses, detail and equipment to enhance realism.

 

Highly recommended.

 

Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd.

 

Review sample courtesy of