To the scale modellers who have found this review through a Google search, welcome. You're on what is normally a wargaming blog. Lately I've been working on a 1/35 T-90 Russian main battle tank, something a little different to what I usually do. Working on the tank has sparked a bit of an interest in a side of the modelling hobby that I haven't really ventured into - mostly in fear of the difficult modelling and painting techniques that are required to get a good result. But it was a challenge and so I've persisted, and have started diving in head first...
This is the second set of Zvezda 1/35 infantry I've purchased. I have their older cпецназ (Spetsnaz, Russian special forces) set so I was intrigued when I saw this set online. The set depicts the "Little Green Men", as they were known in the West, who appeared throughout Crimea during 2014. Despite initial Russian denials they were indeed Russian Armed Forces troops. The moniker "Polite People" seems odd at first, but refers to the reception they received from the Crimean locals. The Russian troops were by many accounts very polite to the locals that they were interacting with and acted with a high degree of professionalism.
The set contains four hard plastic figures all in various states of rest. For the scale modelling crowd these will make very nice diorama pieces alongside any modern Russian armour. The figures are depicted in ратник (warrior) gear and armed with appropriately modern weaponry. There's also a cat, modelled off a photo below and also possibly related to a quote from the Russian Minister of Defence at the time that“It is difficult to look for a black cat in a dark room, especially if it is not there... It’s all the more stupid if this cat is smart, brave and polite.”. A nice little easter egg from Zvezda there either way!
The quality is high here. The figures are well molded and the mould lines that are present are easily removed. There was very little flash present and all the parts went together remarkably well. The PKP Pecheneg light machine gun is a bit fiddly to assemble so make sure you give it plenty of time to dry before mounting it under the figures arms - and be careful of the very slim bipod!
Overall this is an excellent kit. I paid 20AUD plus shipping from an Australian store and at that price the figures rate highly. This is not a common figure subject and collectors of modern Russian armour will be very happy with this kit. I've mounted the figures to MDF bases - I am currently attempting to write my own modern warfare skirmish wargame to use 1/35 figures so basing was a must. Expect more photos of both these figures and my T-90 when they're complete!
Спасибо за протитаете. :)
Thanks for reading. :)
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| The box art is wonderful and depicts the figures in the kit well |
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| Detail is high and the poses are very nice. |
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| Plenty of detail on the back too. |
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| Three weapons are left spare for you to do with what you wish - 2x AK-74Ms and a VSS |
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| The cat! |
