ICM Tank Crew of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (35756) 1:35

[Mike]

Tank Crew of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (35756)

1:35 ICM via H G Hannants Ltd

 

 

Ukraine has always had their own stock of tanks, most of which are Soviet era, but recently new supplies have been provided by other friendly nations, including German Leopard 2A6 tanks, British Challenger IIs and a promise of a quantity of American M1 Abrams to aid in their efforts to rid their nation of its current infestation of invaders.  Crews and mechanics have been trained in their use, and they are starting to be seen on the battlefield, making good use of these world-class tanks in their ongoing fight against invasion.  This figure set from ICM is intended to go with any of these tanks, with many Ukraine specific boxings having recently been released by various manufacturers, and the figure set that was recently released specifically for the Leopard 2A6 is now being sold separately with amended instructions for those who already have a suitable kit, and just want to add figures.  The set arrives in a shallow top-opening box, with a captive lid on the lower tray, and inside is a sprue of grey styrene, instruction sheet folded over, and a leaflet detailing their acrylic paint range that has been available for the last few years, of which set #3025 is most suitable.

 

This set that’s available separately contains the following colours:

 

1072 US Dark Green, 1035 Grey Green, 1041 Buff, 1069 Extra Dark Green, 1054 Chocolate, 2001 Matt Varnish

 

 

 

The Set

 

The parts for each figure are found in separate areas of the sprue for ease of identification, and parts breakdown is sensibly placed along clothing seams or natural folds 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.  There are four human figures on the sprue, plus a canine that is playing with an extra crew member that isn’t shown as being used in this boxing.  All the crew’s heads (except the unused crewman) are trimmed down to a squarish shape in order to fit a semi-soft three-part tanker helmet over them, and all are wearing loose-fitting overalls and combat boots.  One character is a half-figure that is popping out of a hatch with his arms outside the tank, and a colleague is sat on the turret or deck puffing on a pipe.  Two more men are kneeling or hunkering down in the process of fixing an issue with the tracks, one of whom is nursing a sledgehammer to beat the offending part into compliance.  The unused human is stood playing with the unused dog, which appears to be a Labrador or retriever, begging for a treat from the bearded tanker who is wearing a soft beanie cap on his head.

 

 

Markings

There are no decals present in the set, but the instruction sheet doubles as the painting guide, as is usual with ICM’s figure sets.  The common camouflage use by Ukrainian armed forces is a brown-based digital scheme, and if you don’t fancy laying out and blocking in that level of detail, there are decal sheets available that you can purchase via model shops and online auction sites.  One such sheet is marketed in conjunction with our friends at Dora Wings, so keep an eye out for those.

 

 

 

Conclusion

Figures add human scale.  You know the drill by now.  These are great figures with realistic poses, and bear in mind that they’re at rest, so wouldn’t be suitable for a combat diorama, as they’d all be buttoned-up inside the vehicle.  A spare standing figure and a dog that are left on the sprues could also be used with this set or in other projects, as you see fit.

 

Highly recommended.

 

Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd.

 

Review sample courtesy of