Tristar 1/35 Scale Kit No. 012; Russian Tank Crew

by Cookie Sewell

58 parts in medium grey styrene; price approximately US$5

Advantanges: nice, crisp figures provide an alternative choice for commander figures; spare heads a plus; great value for the money

Disadvantages: harder to find than most other brands

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: for all WWII Russian armor fans

This is a really nice little set of figures as it provides six tank commanders and one standing female figure for a very reasonable price.

The figures include four figures (three full and one 3/4 figure) in coveralls and two figures (one full and one 3/4) in black leather jackets and black trousers. The female is in undress uniform (e.g. standard shirt and trousers with "pilotka" sidecap) and is not dressed as a traffic regulator.

Helmeted figure heads (six included) come with the now-standard DML convention of separate ear flaps with earphone pockets and the center portion of the helmet molded on the figure's head. Two extra heads with "pilotka" caps are included, and that provides some nice variety to the kit.

Each figure comes with a holster for a TT pistol as his only equipment. One at least has his gloves in his hand to strike a more casual pose.

For the life of me I have no idea why each major manufacture seems to want to include a female figure in many Russian sets. Not only that, most of them are very slim, attractive types that do not seem to have been that plentiful in forward Soviet army units. (I do recall one who was "Playboy" stunning, but as was listed as a sergeant sniper with 93 confirmed kills would have been a "tough date" at best! But I digress.)

Overall this is a very nice kit and a real bargain at this price. Tristar is available from at least Chesapeake Model Designs and RZM in the US.

Thanks to Bill Miley of CMD for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell