Soviet Driver (1941-1943) WWII
Mfg. ID: 35112

Introduction

Soviet Driver (1941-1943) WWII is one of two new Red Army vehicle crewmen released in tribute to soldiers of the Military Transport Service (Voennye Soobshcheniya - VOSO). The other can be found via the link in the summary area, below.

Inspection

Armor35 packages this figure in an attractive small top or bottom opening box. The parts are enclosed in a ziplocked baggie.

Inside is gray resin model driver. Sculpted by Anishchenko Dmitriy, he is cast in three parts: the body and separate arms. The parts are crisply molded and I did not spot anything that needs cleaning up. Each piece is attached to a pour block although I do not see where cutting them off should mar the part.

The driver appears to wear the M35 Gymnasterka cotton soviet tunic and breeches with reinforced elbows, knees and cuffs, and boots. They made a wool version that appears to be identical. His tunic is gathered by a leather belt with the brass buckle and dark metal retaining bands, and rifle cartridge pouches. He wears a field cap.

It appears the figure is modeled for the Zvezda Zil truck although it can probably look good with most any 1/35 vehicle. I posed it with the Tamiya GAZ jeep. The other figure is ARM35111: "Cranking Soviet Driver". It looks like he can even be equipped with weapons or tools for other scenes.

detail

Facial detail is exceptional: eye lids, mouth, ears, mustache, shock of hair from under the cap. He looks like he is annoyed and concentrating on what's broken down.

Seams are sculpted along the clothes. Branch and rank patches are on the collars. A red star is molded on the cap. The few exposed buttons on the M35 are shown.

The areas between the collar and shirt, and the hands and cuffs, are solid with no undercut. This betrays the rest of the excellent sculpting. While a common trade-off with casting and molding, Armor35 usually casts separate hands. However, due to the pose which the figure will be viewed from, I don't think this will be noticeable.

painting guidance and instructions

None, other than the box art. You are on your own to find uniform and insignia detail. Assembly is a no-brainer.

assembly

Quick and easy. No problem other than a very small area on an arm with a small gap where it fit to the shoulder. I suspect this is because of the way the arm is secured to the pour block, requiring precise trimming, lest too much or too little resin is shaved away.

Painting is easy, probably much easier than I made it. I tried to paint the VOSO winged lightning bolt-filled wheel and rank on the collar patch. I also should have left well enough alone with the eyes; trying to "improve" them gaves this figure a Rasputin-esque expression.

conclusion

Soviet Driver (1941-1943) WWII is sharply cast. It features exceptional facial detail and uniform detail. You can almost hear Pesenka Frontovogo Shofyora (Frontline Truck Driver’s Song) emanating from the box!

The only aspect of this model that distracts me is the solid collar to shirt transition. However, due to the pose which the figure will be viewed from, I don't think this will be noticeable. I guess I'm spoiled by other Armor35 figures.

I don't know what to say other than this is an exceptional model.

Please tell vendors and retailers that you saw this model here - on Armorama.