What's this?

Armor35 focuses on historic 1/35 WWII-era Russo-German subjects and has created a range of 1/35 statues and monuments. Monument Bismark [sic] is their first German statue, following statues of Stalin, Lenin, and several Soviet school of sculpture cultural sculptures promoting ideals of Soviet lifestyle and physical health. Monument Bismark is item ARM35208.

While these statues and monuments are models of statues common in the Soviet Union or Germany, perhaps they have the option of being painted as regular figures?

Monument Bismark

Monument Bismark is cast in light gray resin. Casting looks flawless. The surface of the parts is smooth. That smooth texture, devoid of foundry or chisel marks common to many monuments of granite or bronze, etc., allows one to use the figure as a person in lieu of a statue.

This model of the unifying statesmen of Germany is sculpted by Svetlana Rykunova. It consists of nine parts:

Body trunk
Right arm
Right hand
Left hand with sword
Head
Sword belt
Spurs X 2
Base

Armor35 sculpts their figures to fit together along natural seams. It seams that while the sculpting material was still pliable that the sculptor set parts like the sword and buttons in the material, ensuring a specific fit for the model.

Minor cleanup for will be required. Resin tubes stretch from under the left arm cuff, the coat to the right boot, and the back of the helmet. Otherwise one need only cut the parts from the pour blocks.

Size?

Monument Bismark is a 1/35 model statue that is 75mm tall from sole to spike, about 8 feet high in 1/35. While Armor35 makes this as a 1/35 monument, it has potential for other scales. In 75mm scale ( 1/24 ) he would be just under a sturdy six feet tall.

The pieces are keep together in the small carton in small zip-lock baggies.

Detail

Look closely at the extraordinary level of fine detail: the Reichsadler (Imperial Eagle) emblems on the helmet and seal of the scroll; weave of the epaulets; "air" between the hand and hilt guard; ring on his finger; helmet strapping; facial features. Superb.

Instructions for assembly and painting

None. Refer to the box.

Assembly

I found it easy to nip away and clean up the support tubes from the arm, helmet and leg. Typical of Armor35, the parts go together without trouble. I do not like priming and painting fully assembled figures, nor scrapping paint from the to-be-glued faces, so I actually secured the pieces with a white glue instead of CA. Despite the weight of the right arm, the glue held it in place, although with a skosh of a gap; that gap disappears when the arm is held against the shoulder.

The parts all fit snug and clean. Tiny holes are cast into the back of the boots for the tiny spurs. The sword belt has a lot of support within the fold of the coat, helping to steady the sword and left hand. A small indent at the hem of the coat also helps align and seat the sword, as does a dimple on the right hip for the hand and scroll.

Assembled, the model is well balanced. I cut the boots from the pour block but did not smooth the soles at all. Yet the figure balances upright without teetering.

Assembly of this model is very easy and satisfying. I look forward to priming and painting it.

Conclusion

Monument Bismark is a beautifully sculpted and detailed model of a 1/35 statue of Bismark. I read that there are hundreds of such monuments to him around Germany. This statue will enhance dioramas of Germany locales and span more than just the WWII era.

I do not have any meaningful criticism of this model. Thus I highly recommend it.