ICM 1/35 scale Kozak-2 plastic model kit review

The Kozak-2 is a modern Ukrainian Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle that started service in 2014 and is still used today by the Ukrainian military. It tips the scales at 5.5 tons and is powered by a 176-horsepower diesel engine. It seats five up front and has seats enough in the back to fit six additional troopers.

ICM’s 1/35 scale Kozak-2 plastic model kit includes good details and decals for four versions. I opted for the third option (the one on the box top) for my build. The doors can be posed opened or closed. However, you’ll want to choose one or the other; paint interferes with being able to have the doors movable and fully close.

Take your time getting the frame together and making sure it’s straight and even. It will affect fit later if you don’t. The same applies when assembling the push bumper. Be careful when attaching the grab handles on the rear seats because they break easily.

Test-fit the body pieces while assembling to keep the seams to a minimum. The windows on the sides and doors are sandwiched between the outer and inner parts and fit so nicely that I didn’t even glue them. I masked the windows before putting everything together, which made it easier to paint and clear-coat the model after filling the body.

Unlike similar models, the body was not molded in one piece, and I think some of the assembly could have been simplified had some parts been molded together. On the other hand, I would have also liked to see the rear hatches with both open and closed options.

The photo-etched metal parts are easily removed from the fret and cleaned up. Four light guards shape and fit nicely over the lights. Take your time placing the half-moons over the corner marker on the sides. I painted the lights before placing the half-moons around them.

The nicely printed decals went on without a hitch. Three that go on the dash are not called out in the instructions. The instrument cluster is obvious, but there’s also a decal for the switches in the center of the dash and a third that goes just to the right of the switches. I found images of the real thing to figure out the placement. There’s also a decal for each door that’s not in the instructions; they go on the inside door panel.

I’m sure we’re going to see other versions of this vehicle, detail sets, and weighted tires. Possibly a radio and computer to attach to the dash or different decals for other versions. There are weapons holders on the inside so you can stow a couple of rifles there if you have them on hand.

Overall, the new ICM 1/35 scale Kozak-2 plastic model kit works. However, you’ll want to have some experience with multipart bodies before jumping into this one. If you’re into modern military vehicles (like I am), this would be a nice one to add to your case.