Soviet Machineguns and Equipment
Miniart 1:35 Scale Kit #35255
Review by Terry Ashley

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This set from Miniart provides a selection of Soviet Machine guns used during WWII as well as additional equipment and ammo boxes related to the MGs.

The set consists of 154 parts in light grey plastic (14 shown as not used) on 11 parts runners and a small etched fret with 14 parts plus an A5 double sided instruction sheet with the painting guide printed in colour on the back of the box.

Included in the set is:
1 x DShK 12.7mm Heavy Machine gun (as fitted to the IS-2, IS-3, ISU-122 and ISU-152)
1 x 7.62mm Maxim 1910/30 Machine Gun (with two-wheeled trolley)
1 x 7.62mm Maxim 1940 Machine Gun (with two-wheeled trolley)
1 x 14.5mm PTRD-41 Anti-Tank Rifle
1 x 7.62mm DP Light Machine Gun
1 x 7.62mm DT Tank Machine Gun
2 x Maxim MG Ammo belts with cartridges
2 x Maxim MG Ammo belts without cartridges
2 x Maxim Ammo Boxes with open lip
4 x Maxim Ammo Boxes closed
3 x PTRD 14.5mm cartridges
4 x DP27 Magazine Boxes
1 x DP27 Canvas Pouch
4 x 7.62x54R Ammo Boxes
1 x Cartridge Bag

Etched parts

The standard of moulding is excellent without any pin marks, flash or other blemishes just the usual mould lines and protruding plastic nodes, there are some extremely small parts that will need care removing from the runners and in clean-up as well during assembly but these along with the etched parts result in excellent detail definition on the assembled guns.

Before you start these is one thing to note in the instructions to do with the assembly sequences for both the DShK and Maxim MGs, the very first illustration for both has the receiver drawn upside down while the remaining illustrations show the receiver the right way up and this can really mess with your head if not careful when positioning the smaller parts.
Note; I don't have any 1:35 plans or detailed dimensions of the MGs and so not made any comments regarding kit dimensions, apologies for that.

This represents the DShK 1938 as used during WWII and has the vehicle mounting cradle but unfortunately doesn't include the two-wheeled trolley when used as the infantry heavy support weapon or the tripod for anti-aircraft use. The un-used parts on the runners are for the post war DShKM vehicle mounting cradle. The part runner with the DShK gun parts is actually from the Miniart T-54/55 series kits with an additional runner for the WWII cradle parts included with this set.

The receiver and barrel are moulded in one piece with very fine cooling ridges along the barrel, there is a fine mould line down the top/bottom centreline of the ridges that is a little tricky to remove and light sanding may be the best option. The large muzzle break is nicely done with indentations for the bore hole and side gas holes although drilling out the bore and gas holes will improve the appearance even more.

There are 3 very small etched parts added to the receiver plus the two-part rear hand grips and apart from extreme care there weren't any issues fitting these parts. the two ammo guides either side of the breech (parts J4, J5) have a small lip around the edges but the runner attachment is right on this lip and you need to carefully cut away the runner bur to maintain the lip, the same applies to the sight cover lip (part J1).

Assembled DShK 12.7mm Heavy Machine gun.

The support cradle is a good fit to the receiver along with the separate twin recoil cylinders added underneath and again there were no fit issues but you just need to ensure the cylinders and barrel are aligned correctly before the glue dries.

The ammo box has nice embossed ridges and Soviet star on the sides and you get a short length of ammo belt with seven rounds and another with five empty clips to fit either side of the receiver. The ammo box mountings are two etched parts than need careful bending and you get an additional front view drawing in the instructions to help get the correct bends and fit, after bending the parts PE6, PE7 these are glued together using cyanoacrylate or solder depending on your preference and then PE6 is glued to the small notch on the side of the receiver and PE7 against the under-edge of part J5, this actually gives a nice firm attachment for the ammo box. The additional etched belt guide (PE5) is then attached between the ammo box lip and lip of part J5.

To fit the cartridge belt from the ammo box you will need to slightly bend the belt which is easy enough and I also had to slightly trim a little off the base of a couple or rounds to fit into the receiver opening snugly. The empty clip belt is then glued to the opposite side of the receiver.

Close-up of the breech with PE parts.

DShK 12.7mm Heavy Machine gun details.

The final result is an excellent representation of the DShK 1938 vehicle mounted and close to, if not the best available in plastic form.

The kit gives you two complete Maxim MGs and trolley, with a choice of parts to make a Maxim 1910/30 or a Maxim 1940, or two of either type if you wish? The differences are the barrel cooling jacket (parts Cb15 and Cb14) for the M1910/30 and M1940 respectively as well as the small fitting Cb20 attached to the gun shield for the M1910/30 but not for the M1940. You also get a choice of plastic or etched gun shields.

The one-piece receiver is nicely done with the twin hand-grips and trigger added at the back and the two mountings brackets (parts Cb21, Cb22) attached to the front corners, you need to ensure these are perfectly aligned so they will fit into the lower turntable (part Cb17) and temporarily sitting the brackets into the turntable while the glue dries would make sure of this, don't glue to the turntable at this point as it's easier to assembly the delicate trolley without the brackets/receiver attached.

Assembing the Maxim Machine gun.

The trolley as mentioned is very delicate with the two curved sides (parts Cb18, Cb19) joined by three cross members, these have fine mould lines to be carefully removed and when gluing you should ensure the assembly is perfectly square and level. The large curved handle (again with the mould lines to be removed) can then be added, there are two small notches on the side brackets that fit into the handle for a precise fit. Once the glue has dried completely on the trolley frame the top plate and turntable can be added along with the wheels, the axle join for the wheels is quite small and not that robust so you need to take care after gluing not to bend these out of alignment when handling the gun.

The delicate trolley assembly.

Your chosen barrel/cooling jacket can be added to the receiver, the muzzle bore hole is hollowed slightly but you may wish to drill this deeper for a better effect using a 0.2mm drill bit, the assembled gun can then be affixed to the trolley cradle simply ensuring everything is aligned correctly as you go.

Basic assembly of the Maxim and trolley.

The kit gives a choice of three gun shields, one in plastic that is for the M1910/30 and two in PE for both the M1910/30 and M1940. The M1910/30 shield has an ammo feed bracket attached (part Cb20) and you could leave this off and fill the two small locating holes to use the plastic shield with the model 1940 if you wished?
The two PE shields just need the bottom edge bent to shape and you can use the plastic shield as guide for this to get the correct bend, the M1910/30 shield has the two locating holes for the bracket Cb20 and the pins on the plastic bracket fitted perfectly to the holes in the PE shield. The chosen shield then is attached to the small bracket on the top of the receiver, this is the only attachment point so make sure the shield is aligned evenly and firmly glued in place.

The three alternate gun shields, plastic and PE.

Additional Maxim parts supplied include an open ammo box with again a choice of plastic or PE lid, the PE lid with separate carry strap gives a far better scale appearance and is quite easy to bend to shape and attach the handle. There is also a length on cartridge ammo belt to feed from the ammo box to the receiver and a length of empty ammo belt to affix to the opposite side of the receiver.

Additional ammo box and ammo belts.

In all this petite little kit of the Maxim MG is very well done with good details and the finesse of the parts such as with the trolley frame while needed a bit of care during assembly add considerably to appearance of the assembled gun.

Images of the fully assembled M1940 Maxim MG

Additonal wooden boxes, ammo cases and bags included.


This is a finely moulded PTRD with just the usual mould lines to be removed, the entire gun is mostly in one part that includes the large muzzle brake, the only additional parts are the small cheek rest on the stock, an open or closed breech handle and open or closed bipod legs.  Also included is a minute plastic wing bolt (part Cd4) to be added to the top of the bipod bracket, to say this needs care removing from the parts runner and in fitting would be an understatement, so have fun.

The muzzle brake has the bore hole open but the actual barrel inside doesn't have an indented bore hole so I simply drilled this out a little for a better appearance, the side gas holes on the muzzle brake can also be opened up a little as well.
With the open breech (part Cd7), this can be glued to show the bolt retracted but unfortunately the top shell port of the breech is moulded closed, so if you wish to show the bolt open you would need to hollow out the breech as well, not an easy job given the other details included on the gun. So just using the closed cocking lever (part Cd6) with the closed breech would be the easiest option.

Assembled PTRD-41 Anti-Tank Rifle.
Note the extremely small wing nut and the open breech and separate rounds.

Also included are three separate 14.5mm rounds to use as you wish in a diorama or similar setting.
This is a simple but nicely detailed PTRD-41 Anti-Tank Rifle with an excellent scale appearance as well as quick and easy assembly.

The DP-27 was the standard Soviet light machine produced between 1928 and 1950 with only minor upgrades along the way and is still in use today in conflicts such as the Syrian War.

The kit gun is moulded in one main part with just the round magazine and open or closed bipods as separate parts. The detail is nicely done on the perforated barrel guard and receiver with the flash suppressor hollowed out, this can do with being hollowed out further for a better appearance. First drill out the bore hole further and then inserting the point of a #11 blade, rotate slowly to carefully thin down the edges of the flash suppressor cone.

The round magazine has nice details included and fit precisely to the top of the receiver without any issues. The bipod fits into the small recess on the underside of the gun using either the open or closed bipod as you wish, this has another of those extremely small wing nuts to added as the final piece.

Assembed DP 7.62mm Light Machine Gun.
Note the extremely small wing nut on the bipod.

Also included are four wooden ammo boxes made up of eight parts each with nice woodgrain texturing included on the parts. The large top and bottom panels having woodgrain texturing on both side should you wish to have one or more of the boxes open. Assembly of the boxes is straightforward with good fit of the panels not requiring any trimming or filler. There are also four individual metal magazine cases (in plastic) of three parts each that again assemble without any issues to give a good selection of extras to go with the DP machine gun.

The DT is the tank mounted version of the DP Light Machine Gun but can be dismounted and used with a bipod for ground use which is the configuration provided with the kit.
Like the DP, the DT is moulded in one main part with just the round magazine and open or closed bipods as separate parts. It includes the retractable shoulder stock at the back with two racket brackets, one is included with the main gun moulding with the other as a separate part, the one attached to the gun is quite thin and prone to breaking as you remove the gun from the runner and I actually glued the second bracket (part Db10) in place before cutting the gun from the runner.

The muzzle bore hole is not hollowed out on this gun as with the others and you may wish to drill this out but take care as you will need a 0.2mm drill bit for the job.

Again, as with the DT, the round magazine has nice details included and fit precisely to the top of the receiver without any issues. The bipod fits into the small recess on the underside of the gun using either the open or closed bipod as you wish, this has another of those extremely small wing nuts to added as the final piece. It would have been nice to have a few spare wing nuts included as they are very easy to lose during removal and assembly.

Assembed DT 7.62mm Tank Machine Gun.

The wooden ammo boxes and metal magazine cases can also be used with this gun if you wish, you can also use this gun with virtually and Soviet armoured vehicle of WWII if you wanted a full gun visible.

This is an excellent set of Soviet Machine Guns of WWII, the fine details are very well done with little clean-up and while some of the assemblies are quite busy requiring care there are no real issues during assembly. The only minor niggle would be the absence of the Infantry trolley for the heavy DShK MG in keeping with the theme of the other MGs included in the set.

The inclusion of two complete Maxim machine guns is a nice bonus and the additional ammo boxes adds to the usefulness of the set.

Rating 9/10

Click on thumbnails for larger view

Sprue detail images



Instructions

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