Zil 131 fire truck and firefighters – Chernobyl 2

ModelFan
First impression
ICM
Nr. 35902
1/35
Injection moulded model, 7 frames, 1 with transparent plastic, 8 vinyl tires and 4 frames with figures.
291 parts (4 for the figures)
Price: 60,00 euro

I can still remember well how at the end of April 1986 it was reported in the news that there had been an increase in radioactive radiation in Sweden. It was not clear where that came from. Nothing was known about the nuclear disaster that occurred in Chernobyl (Russia/Ukraine). However, that didn't last long. Increased radiation was also observed in the Netherlands and we were no longer allowed to play on the grass, eat vegetables from our own garden and there were also restrictions with regard to cattle and vegetables grown in the open air. It was a disaster of unprecedented magnitude and with incredible consequences. The series "Chernobyl" tackles the disaster ruthlessly, exposing misjudgements by decision-makers and/or a lot of misconduct. The series also shows the deployment of many firefighters with their vehicles, including a ZIL 131, the subject of ICM's model. By the way, if you still want to watch the series, at the time of writing - March 2025 - the series can still be seen on HBOMAX!  

The ZIL-131 is a general-purpose 6x6 truck, one of the mainstays of the Eastern Bloc's many armies, along with the Ural-375, of which more than a million were made. The base model is a general utility truck powered by gasoline or diesel engines, depending on the type. Like most armies, the chassis for a general truck is used for a wide variety of versions, from a fuel truck to the BM-21 rocket launcher to fire truck.
The Kit
Of course, this is mainly about the ZIL 131 fire truck combined with four new fire brigade figures, some rubble and a cardboard diorama base with backgrounds. It is actually a rebox of the separate ICM ZIL 131. The trick is again the packaging with which ICM now distinguishes itself from many other manufacturers. Beautiful and sturdy.
The quality of the frames and parts is good. Little to no flash, seams and ejection points. The same goes for the windows and other transparent parts. To scale and without scratches etc.
Some comments about the model;

It is a pity that when attaching the wheels to the chassis, it is not possible to mount the wheels in any steering position, on the other hand, ICM has chosen to be able to install a reasonably detailed engine.

The cabin has been modified with extra parts because this is a double cabin where I just must compliment ICM on this. I've seen worse cabins. And ICM, if you deliver such a beautiful cabin, make sure that the doors can be opened to show that beauty! Too bad, a missed opportunity. If you still want to have them open, you will have to use a knife and saw.  

The pump at the rear of the superstructure is well detailed, but the different compartments of the superstructure are not visible, the doors cannot be opened. I suspect a conscious choice by ICM because if you have the option to mount them open, you also have to provide an interior. A choice. The roof of the superstructure is well detailed with everything that should be there including the water cannon. You will have to paint the different cabin parts in the right colour beforehand and then glue them in the cabin.

The tires and rims are identical to those of the other models of the ZIL 131 from ICM and look good. However, my point of discussion is always that vinyl tires are difficult to work with and tend to decay with time. There are aftermarket parts available.

The included decal set is limited. It offers the opportunity to display two vehicles of the fire brigade of Pripyat, a city that was specially built to house the workers of the nuclear power plant. It will not surprise you that Pripyat now has no inhabitants.
What I miss are the white stripes for the build-up. I suppose this made the life of novice modellers a bit easier. Masking is now the motto. Keep in mind that white on red will not work and because the doors, rims and bumper(s) are also white, the best solution will be to spray the model completely white after the primer, perhaps a layer of varnish over it and then tape of the white. Possibly paint the doors white before mounting, but every modeler has his own techniques. Red on white at least picks up the red. The set is of the well-known ICM quality.

The building instructions are of the well-known ICM format in black and white with a colour section for painting and specific markings. In 145 construction phases of a total of 32 pages, you will be guided to the completion of the model. The steps look clear. The colour specifications refer to Revell and Tamiya colours, which is handy. ICM has now put together its own colours and a fire brigade set.

Then the figures. All four have the typical Russian operational clothing. In total, ICM supplies 4 frames with parts to assemble the figures. The quality of the figures is certainly good. 4 small pieces of debris can also be found on one of the figures frames. Nice gadget, but are really few in my opinion, you really need to supplement that. ICM provides a piece of hose for the figures. This is very stiff to bend and is better replaced by something smoother. The colour instructions are not too good and could certainly be improved. My advice is to search the internet for photos of Russian firefighters from the time around Chernobyl. What I miss, for example, are the reflective stripes that almost all firefighters in the world have.

The cardboard diorama parts supplied by ICM deserve to be mentioned. The whole consists of a base, background and a right side. For the base I would always make my own new base, but the background and side look nice and will not look bad in a diorama. Think of some extra 3-Dimensional such as smoke and fire supplemented with relevant LED lights. You could even do something with the high-voltage pylons to achieve 3D effects.
I myself once started working with CHATGPT (AI program) with the command "make me a picture of the fire brigade at Chernobyl" or something like that. This results in quite interesting images that you can certainly use as background. Really fun to play with.

Conclusion
It shows courage on the part of ICM to release this second set on this subject (also the first, by the way). It is fairly recent history and many have actually experienced it, but technically it is no other reality than say, the Second World War.  ICM has once again applied the previous smart concept by combining two models, with some extras. The quality of the parts is good, with regard to the design things can be improved, such as the wheels, cabin doors (open) and interior, especially of the superstructure. In my opinion, the decal set could be a bit more extensive than the now possible 2 vehicles from Pripyat. A nice model can be built right out of the box, where it can be considerably expanded and improved with extra detailing and after-market products according to the qualities of the builder and keep in mind that modelling is fun and it should stay that way. If you are satisfied, it is good.  The set calls for a diorama!
Highly recommended. By the way, the series on HBOMAX as well.

Thanks to ICM for making this beautiful set available for a review.