OK, you may be wondering why an organization devoted to ARMOR modeling is reviewing a figure set composed of Air Force guys. Here's why: 1/48 scale armor is increasing in popularity and the vehicle kits are pretty good. The figure market is following, but slowly. It also happens to be the case that Red Army uniforms and air force uniforms were almost identical. Only the branch insignia and colors were different. So....looking for a crew for your SU-122 or T-34? This set will do nicely.

This set provides six figures. Two are in overalls; the air force overalls look a little different than the typical Red Army tank crew overalls, but not much. The other four are in the standard gymnastorka shirt and pants worn by all branches of the Red Army. Since this is a Soviet figure set, they had to include a female. Notice she doesn't get any medals? Note that the standing collars and shoulderboards place these figures in the period 1943-45, so don't use them on a KV-2.  

The figures are very nicely detailed. All the parts come on a single sprue with some slight flash but nothing major. The proportions look good, unlike a lot of  figures in 1/48 scale. The level of detail is excellent. The poses look good. The equipment is minimal, including pistol holsters and a few map cases/briefcases, but that would work as well for a tank crew or army staff officer as it does for an air force setting. 

The guy with the wrench is an obvious choice to pose on the engine deck of a tank, along with maybe the guy with one hand on his hips. The level of detail in these figures is at least as good as DML's early (1990s) 1/35th figures or Tamiya's 1980s figures. It is nearly as good as Tamiya's current 1/48 figures.

This is a really good set of figures...almost makes me want to go get another 1/48 vehicle to put them on.

This set was donated for review by ICM.