1:35 Warsaw Pact Military Alliance - Polish Army - T-55 tank crew (2 figurines)

1:35 T-55 tank crew, Polish army, 2 Toro Model figures

The set holds two tank crew figures in 1:35 scale cast in resin. It is not a kit of the tank but an addition that goes with a finished model of the vehicle. A crew in place is the simplest way to lift a tank model out of the display case and into a story, because only a human figure shows the true size of the machine. The maker is the Polish brand Toro Model, which specializes in figures in this scale.

The real subject

The T-55 is a Soviet medium tank of the 1950s that was among the most widespread tanks of the twentieth century and served in the armies of the Warsaw Pact states, the military alliance that existed from 1955 to 1991. It was introduced in large numbers in the Polish army and was also built there under license. Tank crews wore working overalls and a soft padded tank helmet with a headset, details that figures of this type usually carry.

Building and painting tips

Wash the castings in lukewarm soapy water and remove the mold release agent. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw and sand the surfaces; with figures in a hatch, try in advance how the figure sits in the turret and shorten the lower part of the torso if necessary. Glue with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). Paint the overalls with an airbrush or a brush, bring out the folds with a dark wash and pick out the surfaces with a dry brush. A light layer of dust and oily smears looks good on tank crews, so that they match the weathering of the vehicle.

Who the figures are for

• Builders of dioramas with armor in 1:35 scale
• Modelers of Eastern Bloc equipment
• Anyone who wants to add a crew to a tank model
• Modelers with experience of resin

The figures are supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.