REVIEW - MiniArt 35154 Soviet Automatic Weapons

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Raoul Kunz
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REVIEW - MiniArt 35154 Soviet Automatic Weapons

Post by Raoul Kunz »

Properly labeled "MiniArt 35154 - Soviet Infantry Automatic Weapons & Equipment" but that's too long for the subject line ;) .

And here's another gun set review - this time from a manufacturer we didn't talk about before - MiniArt, another one of the "new eastern" manufacturers from the Ukraine.

Here we have something of an antithesis to the ICM German gun set that included only an erratic selection of all kinds of guns. In contrast here we have a rather specific selection that's not just "guns" but only automatic and semi automatic Soviet guns of the Great Patriotic War.
It also contains some rather eclectic semi-auto and auto rifles as well as rather rarely seen SMGs that, while mass produced as most Soviet equipment, are rarely depicted.

I will follow my by now somewhat established pattern and go through the contents with comments where appropriate:

2x SVT-40 semi-automatic rifle => a) it's beautifully moulded, but, spoiler, so are ALL of the guns in this set but b)it comes with an optional scope as well as being externally the same as the AVT-40 full automatic rifle - as all full auto rifles utilizing full scale rifle rounds it was uncontrollable in this configuration. Had the war not started with the loss of the industry in the Western Soviet Union this (SVT) might well have become the Soviet standard rifle of the '40s.

2x SVT/AVT-40 bayonet - specifically moulded so as to be mountable (by glueing ;) ) on the rifle. However no scabbard.

2x PPD-40 - the gun that by it's presence alone makes this set worthwhile if you're into Eastern Front stuff like I am. It's the first of the Soviet Suomi KP/-31 inspired SMGs. It was in widespread use during Barbarossa and fell into German hands in such amounts that it factually became a viable alternative to the MP-38/40 in the eastern theatre. Also: it's been insanely hard to find in plastic until this set came along because everyone seems to confuse it with the PPSh-41.

2x PPSh-41 - the Soviet SMG of the Great Patriotic War and the early Cold War, offered here with a choice of the earlier KP/-31 inspired 71-round drum magazine as well as the later 35-round box magazine, both included twice.

2x PPS-43 - another vastly under-represented Soviet SMG. Inspired by the MP-38/40 it was a lighter construction for reconnaissance personnel and logistics officers as well as (and most importantly) tank crews.

1x DP-27/DP-28 (differ only in the used bi-pod and that's not visible at this scale) - widely used Soviet light machine gun utilizing a design vaguely inspired by the pan-magazine design of the Lewis gun. Comes with two bi-pod option, deployed and folded up.

1x DT - essentially the same gun mechanically as the DP-28 but optimized for vehicle mounting - a very welcome alternative to the many less detailed cupola mounted DTs on many a Soviet (and Finnish) tank kit. comes with a two-option bi-pod.

1x DP-27 ammo pouch

2x PPSh-41 /PPD-40 ammo pouch (they used the same 71-round drum)

2x DP-27 magazine box (has a star on the box ;) )

2x SVT/AVT-40 magazine pouches

2x PPSh-41 box magazine pouches

2x PPS-43 box magazine pouches - that's actually just 4x 7.62 Tokarev box magazine pouches as both SMGs used the same magazine...

5x entrenching tool with leather mounting

1x entrenching tool without the aforementioned leather item

2x F-1 splinter "egg" (i.e. the one everyone and their mom can recognize as "a hand grenade") hand grenade

1x pouch for F-1 grenades

2x RPG-40 AT grenade

2x HEAT AT grenade RPG-43

2x RGD-33 stick grenade

3x pouch for the RGD-33

5x SSh-40 steel helmet - the iconic Soviet helmet of the Great Patriotic War and early Cold War - always nice to have in this quality!

5x SSh-36 the weird early Soviet steel helmet, something of a cross between the iconic German model and the equally iconic French Adrian helmet - looks wonderfully weird and is always useful for scenarios during Barbarossa.

2x 7.62x54 (the regular full scale round, not the Tokarev 7.62x25mm pistol round) wooden ammo boxes

5x canteens in canvas covers

1x canteen without the aforementioned canvas item

Also: some useful if weird items:

2x aluminium mug - really beautifully moulded and useful in any army for almost any time period after, oh say the 30-Years-War of 1618-1648, it's that generic! - just don't paint it in aluminium ;) :lol:

3x aluminium spoon - again.. weird, but oh so useful and beautifully moulded

Short opinion, which you probably have already figured out by now: it's beautiful, fills a huge gap and even has some useful diorama items that take away no room for the primary topic.
If you're interested in the subject and plan to equip either Soviet or German figures for the Great Patriotic War this is a recommendation without any reservation! :mrgreen:
Even works very well for the Cold War proxy Wars up to and including the "American War" in Vietnam.

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Best Regards

Raoul G. Kunz
Last edited by Raoul Kunz on 26 Jul 2017, 06:01, edited 4 times in total.
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Vincent Power
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Re: REVIEW - MiniArt 35154 Soviet Automatic Weapons

Post by Vincent Power »

Thanks for sharing Raoul. Your reviews are always very thorough and educational. ;) I love the cup and spoon being included! :)

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Justin Wooding
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Re: REVIEW - MiniArt 35154 Soviet Automatic Weapons

Post by Justin Wooding »

I think we better give Raoul the new nickname of 'The Weapons Specialist'

:lol: :lol: :lol:
Woody...

Trying hard to do some modeling!

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Steve Hutchinson
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Re: REVIEW - MiniArt 35154 Soviet Automatic Weapons

Post by Steve Hutchinson »

Vincent Power wrote:Thanks for sharing Raoul. Your reviews are always very thorough and educational. ;) Vincent
Justin Wooding wrote:I think we better give Raoul the new nickname of 'The Weapons Specialist'
I'll second both ;)

Well done Raoul :D

Steve H
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Mark Aldrich
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Re: REVIEW - MiniArt 35154 Soviet Automatic Weapons

Post by Mark Aldrich »

Nice...great review!
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