Zvezda have previously made a set including the famous M1910 Maxim machine gun for their Art of Tactic game range, but that was a fairly simple affair of two guns, each with a crew of two. Since then Zvezda have got more sophisticated in their products, and this is a very different set not just because it is aimed at a winter campaign. In this winter set we still get two guns, but in completely different settings. The first model shows the gun mounted on a pair of sled runners and being pulled by one crewman while the other carries ammunition. The second is the more conventional gun in action.

Being winter, all the crew are warmly clothed - in this case in standard greatcoat and boots. They all have the Model 1930 assault pack, gasmask bags, entrenching tools and glass water bottles, so while they do not have the best of Soviet cold-weather clothing they are otherwise pretty well kitted out. Both figures and guns are very nicely sculpted as always, with multiple parts to each which make for good models although on occasions seem unnecessarily excessive. However everything fits together well. About the only compromise is with the gun’s carriage, which has been done as one piece, forcing the wheels to be solid rather than spoked. Since the men are on snow their footprints sink into the base, which means that this is rather thicker than usual, although we liked the thought. As with any game piece in this range there is also a large single base onto which both groups can be placed.

These are two nice little groups, well produced as always, and the man dragging the gun is a first in the hobby.