Monument "Stalin"
Mfg. ID: ARM35201

This review examines the 1/35 resin model statue of Stalin by Project Armor35.

the model

Project Armor35 released this first statue model to compliment their growing number of 1/35 railway models and Nazi or Soviet figures from The Great Patriotic War.

Monument "Stalin" is packed in a small end-opening box. I really like the box box art - the finished model superimposed over a faint sepia tone image of a scene from the Eastern Front.

Inside the model is held in a zip-lock baggie. The Stalin statue is cleanly and crisply cast in gray resin. The model consists of four parts: head; hand clutching a scroll; body; pedestal. It is free of bubbles, sinks, mold seams and flash. Only one piece of excess requires removal, under the right arm from the elbow to the ribs.

This is a model of a statue and as such detail such as hems of cloths are, like a prototype statue, more pronounced than if this were a figure of "living" Stalin. Also, there is less undercutting of garments. Regardless, the model is beautifully detailed and I think it would make a fine 75mm model of a "living" Stalin.

Like true life statues the eyes are sculpted as low relief orbs. Hair and that bushy mustache are sculpted although without as much hair texture as one would want for an "alive' model. Clever modelers should have no trouble rectifying that.

Fit is no problem for any of the parts. The pedestal has shallow footprints to align the boots to.

size and scale

Stalin was 5-foot 4-inches (1.63m) tall. This makes the monument eight feet high in 1/35. I figure this would be about 1/24 5-foot 4-inch Stalin if one wishes to paint it as the person.

instructions, painting, decals

None, none, and none. One examines the images of this simple model - assembly is a no-brainer.

One could paint this model to represent a statue of granite, marble, metal - whatever fits into your vision for the model. I even considered painting it to represent the living dictator. I am partial to bronze and copper clad monuments as they oxidize to a beautiful patina, which is how I finished my "Uncle Joe". I mixed paints of copper with brown and brushed them on. While they dried I applied successive coats of straight copper, some brown wash, and my home mixture of verdigris. The pedestal I slathered on an stone color followed by a wash of patina runoff.

Conclusion

Project Armor35 has created another unique and interesting model for your eastern Front diorama. Monument Stalin is expertly sculpted and cast. It is very easy to assemble. I really enjoyed painting it.

The only low for this kit is de minimis.

I enjoyed building this kit and it took about 20 minutes including painting - after washing and priming. I look forward to positioning it in an Eastern Front diorama and happily recommend this model!