MIG PRODUCTIONS [ MORE REVIEWS ] [ WEBSITE ] [ NEW STORIES ]

In-Box Review
135
Soviet Army Unit Emblems 1941/45

by: Pawel Krupowicz [ VODNIK ]

In addition to their excellent line of resin products, MIG Production offer a series of dry transfer sets. They are attractive alternative to decals and provide many useful markings mostly for WW2 German and Soviet vehicles, but there is also one set available for Russian tanks in Chechnya War. Reviewed here is the recently released set of divisional markings for Soviet vehicles used between 1941 and 1945.

The dry transfer sheet is packed in a plastic zip-bag stapled to the card flap with product name label on it. The size of the sheet is 85 mm x 120 mm. There are no instructions specific for this set provided, but on the back of the card flap we get clear generic dry transfer application instructions in the form of nine small color photos. On the product label is following information "sample versions in our web site". Unfortunately this is not true, as there is no information on the MIG website about this set other than a small picture of it. No sample pictures are available.

On the dry transfer sheet, designed by Konstantin Kulakovsky and printed for MIG in Russia, we get 67 white individual markings. For most symbols there are two identical items provided, for some there are three, to make a total of 27 different markings (although some are mirror images of the same symbol - probably for two sides of the vehicle).

Markings are very well printed with crisp details, but all shapes have slightly uneven edges - in this case however it is an advantage as it makes them look more realistic. I did a quick test and applied part of the sheet white border frame (which is printed in the same way as all symbols, and can be used to add stripe markings to a model) to the test model painted with matt paint and had no problems whatsoever. Transfers stuck to the surface securely.

My knowledge of WW2 Soviet armor is basically non existent, so I'm unable to comment on accuracy of provided markings. I tried to find some information on the Web about Russian divisional markings, but found nothing... The lack of any usage instructions in the set means that modelers need their own reference materials to use these markings properly. It is disappointing that MIG did not provide at least some basic information, like numbers and names of units to which supplied markings belong.



Reviewed set is very well printed and should cause no troubles in application. The lack of instructions however can be a problem for many modelers, who don't have good references on Soviet WW2 armor. For those who know exactly what marking they need and see them on photos in this article - there is no reason not to buy the set, as the manufacturing quality is very good - typical for MIG Productions.

UPDATE!: MIG Productions added additional information about markings included in this set to their website (http://www.migproductions.com/transfer/examples/3212.htm). This new document provides identification of all unit markings. With this extra info the value of the MIG set is greatly increased! One can only hope that this information will be included in the set itself in the next production batch. Or maybe it already was added to the product since my review?

Many thanks to MIG Productions for the review sample!
SUMMARY
  PRINT QUALITY:50%
Percentage Rating
80%
  Scale: 1:35
  Mfg. ID: MW3.212
  Suggested Retail: € 6.00
  Related Link: MIG Productions website
  PUBLISHED: Nov 24, 2004
  NATIONALITY: Russia
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 82.20%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 86.99%

About Pawel Krupowicz (Vodnik)
FROM: WARSZAWA, POLAND

As first lines of this bio appear under all my reviews, I feel it is important that I start with this information: In March 2005 I ventured into the other side of modeling "industry" - I was not only building model kits, but also helping design them as a consultant for Dragon Models Ltd.. These days...

Copyright ©2021 text by Pawel Krupowicz [ VODNIK ]. All rights reserved.


   
ADVERTISEMENT


Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • mw3_212-00
  • mw3_212-01
    Generic dry transfer application instructions.
  • mw3_212-02
ADVERTISEMENT