EVOLUTION MINIATURES [ MORE REVIEWS ] [ WEBSITE ] [ NEW STORIES ]

Built Review
135
Russian Soldiers, Chechnya
Russian Soldiers, Lost and Wounded, Chechnya (EM-35117)
  • move

by: Mario Matijasic [ MAKI ]

Introduction:

Evolution Miniatures is a small modeling company based in Russia, specialized in producing high-quality 1/35 scale resin figures. The company offers a number of figure sets depicting Russian soldiers from Chechen Wars and one of the latest sets released under Evolution Miniatures label shows casualties of war: Russian Soldiers, Lost and Wounded, Chechnya (EM-35117).

Review:

The kit is packed in a small cardboard box, about half the size of the usual Evolution Miniatures box. The front of the box features nicely painted box art image and lists Sergey Traviansky as both the sculptor and painter of the set. Along with being more compact, the new box design features piracy warning inscription on the box flap. As many Evolution figures are being illegally recast and sold, I would like to offer my support to the company in fighting this counterfeiting phenomenon.

The box contains zip-lock bags with parts for assembling two figures. One of the figures is cast as a single piece affair, while the other is made of 4 pieces: full body with legs and head, left arm, right arm, and weapon. The pieces are perfectly cast in grey resin; I didn’t notice a single air bubble, seam line or any flash residue. Some of the carrier blocks on the smaller pieces have already been removed, probably to make things a bit more difficult for the counterfeiters, but also to facilitate the cleanup process. The fit is absolutely amazing. The pieces feature irregularly shaped indentations and protrusions which facilitate optimal alignment of the pieces. The assembly results in almost no visible gaps between pieces, which keeps the putty work to a minimum.

The figures depict Russian Army casualties from the war in Chechnya. One of the figures is portrayed dead, covered with a blanket, showing only a part of the right arm and lower legs. With only one boot and several tears on the uniform, the figure shows the reality of war well. The other figure is sculpted in a sitting pose, holding the weapon. This figure features a large bandage on his head, covering the left eye. The figure is wearing Russian winter uniform consisting of lined jacket and trousers. The jacket is made of cotton and has four pockets on the body and one small pocket on the upper part of each sleeve, and reinforced elbows. Removable jacket lining can be attached for additional warmth and has a fur collar exposed over the collar of the jacket. The trousers are also lined and made of cotton and feature a pocket on each thigh. Over the uniform, the figure wears 6B5 fragmentation body armor with 4 integrated AK ammo magazine pouches and grenade pouches on the back of the vest. A grenade bandoleer is slung over the figure's shoulder; it holds 10 VOG-25/VOG-25P 40mm fragmentation grenades, which are used with GP-30 under-barrel launcher fixed on the figure’s AK-74.

The set is nicely sculpted and offers amazing level of details all around. The figures are designed to fit a 1/35 scale model of the T-72 tank, as shown on the boxart image of the set. However, these could easily be adapted to fit any other Russian vehicle used in wars in Chechnya as well, i.e. BTR-80, BMP-2, etc.

Conclusion:

I really like the 1/35 scale figure sets produced under Evolution Miniatures label, depicting Russian soldiers from the wars in Chechnya. These figures offer a perfect “human touch” to different vehicles used in the conflict. Russian Soldiers, Lost and Wounded, Chechnya (EM-35117) is a very welcomed figure set in this theme. Realistically sculpted, perfectly cast in resin and easy to assemble, this set offers a glimpse on a grim reality of war, something not usually seen in military model vignettes and dioramas.

SUMMARY
Highs: Sculpted to perfection, nicely cast and very easy to build. The figures feature really nice details and should be a great addition for many Chechen War vignettes.
Lows: None.
Verdict: Highly recommended.
Percentage Rating
95%
  Scale: 1:35
  Mfg. ID: EM-35117
  Related Link: Evolution Miniatures website
  PUBLISHED: Sep 12, 2016
  NATIONALITY: Russia
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 93.37%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 94.44%

Our Thanks to Evolution Miniatures!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

View Vendor Homepage  |  More Reviews  

About Mario Matijasic (Maki)
FROM: CROATIA HRVATSKA

You wonder how did this addiction start? I was a kid when my dad broght home a 1/72 Concord airplane; we built it together as well as couple of other airplanes after that. This phase was just pure fun: glue, paint, decals in no particular order... everything was finished in a day or two. Then I disc...

Copyright ©2021 text by Mario Matijasic [ MAKI ]. All rights reserved.



Comments

Have this set & another couple of evolution sets & would agree totally excellent detail & original figure poses
SEP 11, 2016 - 04:24 PM
Absolutely exceptional sculpt and cast. I also liked the new box style so much. New WW II Russians are now on my workbench for review and they are also very very nice. Thanks for the review Brother.
SEP 11, 2016 - 11:02 PM
when it comes to figures , the less seams the better.
SEP 15, 2016 - 07:26 PM
   
ADVERTISEMENT


Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
ADVERTISEMENT