Esci, Airfix and other 1/72 scale modern figures

[CarlLeyland]

Hi,

Does anyone stock the old Airfix Modern Russians? I seem to remember Esci producing a set but all I can seem to find now are Modern Germans?

A search online has revealed that these figures once existed including some really useful Warsaw Pact Esci figures....anyone used them before?

As you can guess I am looking for some cheap Eastern bloc types, any suggestions? Cubans would be cool to find as well....maybe Hat or Strelets will eventually make some modern types, I live in hope.

[Westfalia Chris]

Hi,

Does anyone stock the old Airfix Modern Russians? I seem to remember Esci producing a set but all I can seem to find now are Modern Germans?

A search online has revealed that these figures once existed including some really useful Warsaw Pact Esci figures....anyone used them before?

As you can guess I am looking for some cheap Eastern bloc types, any suggestions? Cubans would be cool to find as well....maybe Hat or Strelets will eventually make some modern types, I live in hope.

If you are looking for 1/72 plastics, you may want to check with Plastic Soldier Review, which is an amazing piece of work with lots of reasonable and, AFAIK, knowledgeable commentary.

http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Index.aspx

The Esci Warsaw Pact figures have an issue in that the pack doesn't contain figures from one, but four WarPac forces, with some differences creeping in. Not as bad as with the NATO set, due to the standardisation of WarPac equipment, but some may be irritated.

[CarlLeyland]

Thanks for that Chris, the plastic soldier review is really useful but it seems like the Airfix Russians are not being produced

[Golgotha]

Both are now very hard to come by now I am afraid - Airfix also made NATO Yanks with M16s and Esci also made Spetsnaz. You could try Orion for more modern Russians.

[CarlLeyland]

Thanks Golgotha-I had no idea that US troops had been produced! The molds must be somewhere waiting to be used again I hope. Your right about Orion, they seem to produce the most varied range.

[carlos marighela]

I have some. My mother came across a treasure trove of toys from my youth. Not sure ifte postage would be worth it. BTW the Airfix  modern Russians are:

1) Fairly stiff in terms of posing

2) 1/76 and noticeably smaller than the Esci/Italeri/Revell figures as well as the Matchbox paratroopers.

3) Lacking in support weapons. No RPGs or machineguns.

If you want 1980s Soviets you are probably better off getting the Italeri VDV packet, that is still available. They are in the KLMK camouflage oversuit, not the classic M1970 uniform but if you buy their WW2 Russians you can swap the tin hats and you'll have serviceable motor rifle troops/ marines/VDV. It fits with the other figures out there and has the advantage of having the requisite squad weapons.

Dunno if the Warpac set is still in production but it is one of their annoying sample packs with two or three figures from each army

[Elbows]

Are you looking for actual Warsaw era folks?  There is a Russian company producing a line of Chechnya forces (Chechens and Russians)...they're pretty nice figures.

[dadlamassu]

Does anyone stock the old Airfix Modern Russians? I seem to remember Esci producing a set but all I can seem to find now are Modern Germans?

The old Airfix set is rare indeed. It was the last set produced and had only 7 or 8 poses all with Assault Rifles.
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=584

Esci/ERTL/Italeri did (do?) Modern Russian Paratroopers Spetnaz - it quite an accurate set.  I use them but not as Russians, I have them serving in my fictional African nations as paratroops and special forces.
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=109

The Esci Warsaw Pact troops are a mix of 4 nations and uniforms so not much use unless you particularly want some of them.
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=109

Orion do "Russian Federals"
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=285

Hope you find what you are looking for

[CarlLeyland]

Thanks Elbows and Massu...this is good stuff. It is a pity they are now so rare! I would be using them like yourself Massu to cover as many types.

It looks as though unless they come up on ebay I will be using metals.more expensive but alas available.

Thanks again for the help

[sundayhero]

The ultima ratio russians would not fit your needs ?

[CarlLeyland]

I am finding it really difficult to locate the Ultima Russians-maybe they have sold out here in the UK? I think that this set would be the best option though. I have been slowly putting away vehicles to one day start an eastern bloc backed army so there is no desperate rush but they would save money buying metal.

[Elbows]

^Orion is the company I was talking about.  I don't know how expansive their range was, or if they still sell them, but the Chechen conflict minis are pretty unique.  Not great casts, but some cool stuff.

[CarlLeyland]

Maybe not modern yet but Airfix seem to have realised that wargamers are part of their market

http://www.modiphius.com/airfix.html

[Vintage Wargaming]

I am finding it really difficult to locate the Ultima Russians-maybe they have sold out here in the UK? I think that this set would be the best option though. I have been slowly putting away vehicles to one day start an eastern bloc backed army so there is no desperate rush but they would save money buying metal.

Hannants weekly new arrivals email shows Ultima Ratio sets in stock

[CarlLeyland]

Thanks Vintage...I will be there in a few moments as I have been looking for these....you are a star Sir!