ESCI did make some good hard plastic figure sets in the early eighties.  They later went to soft plastic with all the soft plastic problems.  Paint coming off while the figures were being put in place or just falling off over time in a diorama.  

Well, their vehicle kits go from good down to so-so. 

I have some of their figures that Gear Head 6 refers to and I wasn't all that impressed even back then. I'd say they resemble Frankenstein's monster more than your average human- blocky, slightly out of proportion, and stiff. You might try replacing the heads with better aftermarket ones but still it seems to me like putting lipstick on a pig. 

You're better off with Masterbox, MiniArt, Dragon, or even the newer Tamiya ones. If you can get them cheap enough they might be useful for donor arms and other parts though. 

Ok, I was looking for cold war soviet figures shooting rpgs and the only kit ive seen so far is esci, I'm doing a two part dio!

Well, if it's the only figure you can find it might be worth a shot.

I looked around Ebay and found a couple of sets of Soviet Cold War figures.

Two from Dragon:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dragon-1-35-Elite-Force-Military-Figures-Soviet-Spetsnaz-New-Shrinkwrapped-/281916075734?hash=item41a381eed6:g:lt4AAOSwqu9VLQrC

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DRAGON-MODELS-1-35-SCALE-SOVIET-VDV-AIR-ASSAULT-FORCE-PLASTIC-MODEL-FIGURES-KIT-/110607835340?hash=item19c0bda0cc:g:usUAAOSwI-BWFqVE

I have the top set from ICM, and it's some nice figures, I dunno about the others:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ICM-1-35-SOVIET-TANK-CREW-FIGURES-MODEL-KIT-35601-/120574274582?hash=item1c12c96c16:m:mlUdhkRAFC8pIipaRRZjHMA

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Afganistan-1979-1988-Soviet-Forces-8-figures-1-35-ICM-35004-RARE-/291665926730?hash=item43e8a4da4a:g:oRAAAOSw9mFWKhnf

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ICM-1-35-Soviet-Afhgan-War-1979-1988-Sappers-figure-Set-Cold-War-/172074155819?hash=item28106b3f2b:g:wQ0AAOSw6EhUPZgw

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ICM-1-35-Soviet-Afhgan-War-1979-1988-Special-Troops-figure-Set-Cold-War-/182000923968?hash=item2a6019b540:g:0K8AAOSwY45UPZhC

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ICM-1-35-Soviet-Afghan-War-Motorized-Infantry-1979-1988-4-figures-35331-/311486772582?hash=item48860ef566:g:N54AAOSw14xWPk58

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ICM-1-35-Soviet-Afghan-War-1979-88-Soviet-Tank-crew-Plastic-Figure-Kit-35281-/141784077450?hash=item2102fd548a:g:F-EAAOSwEetWBIhG

I've got a few sets of Zvesda's 1/48th figures which are great, not sure about their 1/35th:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zvezda-1-35-Soviet-Paratroopers-Afghanistan-figure-Set-Cold-War-/182000935218?hash=item2a6019e132:g:9E4AAOSwU9xUPZhe

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zvezda-1-35-3619-Soviet-Paratroopers-Afghanistan-Figure-Soldier-Free-Shipping-/251856830215?hash=item3aa3d63f07:g:1aIAAOSwPYZU7sfK

In any case I expect any of them will probably be better than the ECSI figures.

Gamera

Well, if it's the only figure you can find it might be worth a shot.

I looked around Ebay and found a couple of sets of Soviet Cold War figures.

Two from Dragon:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dragon-1-35-Elite-Force-Military-Figures-Soviet-Spetsnaz-New-Shrinkwrapped-/281916075734?hash=item41a381eed6:g:lt4AAOSwqu9VLQrC

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DRAGON-MODELS-1-35-SCALE-SOVIET-VDV-AIR-ASSAULT-FORCE-PLASTIC-MODEL-FIGURES-KIT-/110607835340?hash=item19c0bda0cc:g:usUAAOSwI-BWFqVE

I have the top set from ICM, and it's some nice figures, I dunno about the others:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ICM-1-35-SOVIET-TANK-CREW-FIGURES-MODEL-KIT-35601-/120574274582?hash=item1c12c96c16:m:mlUdhkRAFC8pIipaRRZjHMA

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Afganistan-1979-1988-Soviet-Forces-8-figures-1-35-ICM-35004-RARE-/291665926730?hash=item43e8a4da4a:g:oRAAAOSw9mFWKhnf

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ICM-1-35-Soviet-Afhgan-War-1979-1988-Sappers-figure-Set-Cold-War-/172074155819?hash=item28106b3f2b:g:wQ0AAOSw6EhUPZgw

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ICM-1-35-Soviet-Afhgan-War-1979-1988-Special-Troops-figure-Set-Cold-War-/182000923968?hash=item2a6019b540:g:0K8AAOSwY45UPZhC

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ICM-1-35-Soviet-Afghan-War-Motorized-Infantry-1979-1988-4-figures-35331-/311486772582?hash=item48860ef566:g:N54AAOSw14xWPk58

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ICM-1-35-Soviet-Afghan-War-1979-88-Soviet-Tank-crew-Plastic-Figure-Kit-35281-/141784077450?hash=item2102fd548a:g:F-EAAOSwEetWBIhG

I've got a few sets of Zvesda's 1/48th figures which are great, not sure about their 1/35th:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zvezda-1-35-Soviet-Paratroopers-Afghanistan-figure-Set-Cold-War-/182000935218?hash=item2a6019e132:g:9E4AAOSwU9xUPZhe

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zvezda-1-35-3619-Soviet-Paratroopers-Afghanistan-Figure-Soldier-Free-Shipping-/251856830215?hash=item3aa3d63f07:g:1aIAAOSwPYZU7sfK

In any case I expect any of them will probably be better than the ECSI figures.

 

Thanks, these help alot acutully, I wanted to also do a diorama of the armoured assault into Grozni in the first chechen war, but im going to use resin kits for that. I like the ICM tank riders from afghanistan for that and another  Diorama I had an idea for. Was the the tropical hat common for many soviet units or just airborne, and was that only cause they were in Afghanistan?

No problem at all, I didn't know about a couple of those sets and might have to pick up one or two for myself.

I dunno about the hats, Stikpusher might know but I have no idea. It would probably be easy to replace with a spare Soviet helmet.

Gamera

No problem at all, I didn't know about a couple of those sets and might have to pick up one or two for myself.

I dunno about the hats, Stikpusher might know but I have no idea. It would probably be easy to replace with a spare Soviet helmet.

 

Yeah I'll probably take a look around and see what others say and do more research, but first I want to get my part one of my red dawn themed diorama rolling before I start anything else, or at least have all the kits put together before I start getting side tracked.

The ESCI figures are no better than toy soldiers/green army men. Nothing that you would want in any diorama. Dragon, Zvezda, and ICM all make Cold War/Afghan War Soviet figures that will be far better for your purposes.

As far as Soviet headgear goes, like any other military, it depends upon the climate, mission, and situation. Soviet paras wear a gream cloth padded helmet for jumps, nearly identical in appearance to the tankers helmet, but with some detail differences. Otherwise they can wear steel helmets, boonie hats, soft caps, or the classic Ushanka. As well as their distinctive blue berets. Boonie hats were seen most in the hot weather and climates of southwest asia. soft caps in warm weather months of more temperate climates, Ushankas are worn in cold weather in nearly all areas, and steel pots or jump helmets as the situation requires. Berets tend to be worn more for garrison or parade wear.

stikpusher

The ESCI figures are no better than toy soldiers/green army men. Nothing that you would want in any diorama. Dragon, Zvezda, and ICM all make Cold War/Afghan War Soviet figures that will be far better for your purposes.

As far as Soviet headgear goes, like any other military, it depends upon the climate, mission, and situation. Soviet paras wear a gream cloth padded helmet for jumps, nearly identical in appearance to the tankers helmet, but with some detail differences. Otherwise they can wear steel helmets, boonie hats, soft caps, or the classic Ushanka. As well as their distinctive blue berets. Boonie hats were seen most in the hot weather and climates of southwest asia. soft caps in warm weather months of more temperate climates, Ushankas are worn in cold weather in nearly all areas, and steel pots or jump helmets as the situation requires. Berets tend to be worn more for garrison or parade wear.

 

Thanks Stikpusher, I always thought the Russian hats of looked like the bucket hats that the SF wear at times. The ESCI figures I saw looked a little toy soldierish so I no goed that plan.

SF bucket hats? You lost me on that...

They call them bucket hats now, or the kids do at least, but instead of helmets, didnt they used to have a cover it looked like this

https://www.google.com/search?q=army+bucket+hat&biw=1600&bih=799&tbm=isch&imgil=B2-9_sWy7HqSWM%253A%253BO84g31fwRusLCM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.com%25252Fbhp%25252Farmy-bucket-hat&source=iu&pf=m&fir=B2-9_sWy7HqSWM%253A%252CO84g31fwRusLCM%252C_&usg=__xF1Q0eGiaPBh6ATcGRxwkHxC_qI%3D&ved=0ahUKEwi2-5fNuMvKAhUE1CYKHbNbBB0QyjcIRg&ei=g3qpVvatEoSomwGzt5HoAQ#imgrc=B2-9_sWy7HqSWM%3A

We called 'em boonie hats. Had them issued to us in SF and in LRS. Although they are standard issue to hot weather deployments as well for pretty much all types of units. They have an official name too. Something like "Hat, Hot Weather, Camoflage" or "Hat Sun, Camoflage"... in Army Jargon.

Most every piece of headgear worn by SF is used Armywide with the exception of some helmets. 

stikpusher

We called 'em boonie hats. Had them issued to us in SF and in LRS. Although they are standard issue to hot weather deployments as well for pretty much all types of units. They have an official name too. Something like "Hat, Hot Weather, Camoflage" or "Hat Sun, Camoflage"... in Army Jargon.

Most every piece of headgear worn by SF is used Armywide with the exception of some helmets. 

 

I just remember always seeing the old army of one commercials with the guys manuevering through a swamp wearing them.

P.S. Are ESCI model tanks any good to build? Or is it still toyish

If these are the soft plastic variety, then Stik is right.  Theyre basically toys. The 1/72 are better only in the sense that they are detailed for their size.

But apart from the toy-like appearance youre going to have to contend with paint chipping as its hard to make them adhere to soft plastic.

Tankluver

I just remember always seeing the old army of one commercials with the guys manuevering through a swamp wearing them.

Don't get me started on that stupid "Army of One" ad campaign.  No one in the military at the time liked it.  You are never an Army of One.  The lone guy running across the desert was absurd.  We always have at least a battle buddy and usually a team of at least 4 whenever we do anything.  It was a stupid ad campaign and I'm glad it is gone.  I thought the "Army Strong" one was good and the current "Join the Only Team That Makes a Difference... " one is pretty good. 

Thanks Gino. I remember the Esci kits being pretty gosh awful but someone (maybe you) mentioned the M60 kits being good so I picked one up for twenty bucks and have been doing some work on it and am pleasantly surprised.

Gear Head 6

ESCI did make some good hard plastic figure sets in the early eighties.  They later went to soft plastic with all the soft plastic problems.  Paint coming off while the figures were being put in place or just falling off over time in a diorama.  

 

Actually ESCI's styrene plastic figures date back to the mid 70s or so. They even teamed up with Aurora back then in co marked boxings. They were on par if not a tad bit better than the Tamiya figures of the same time. And with some intersting subjects not seen elsewhere at the time such as Partisans and British Paras. 

So I did some looking and I found Rest models that has a nine company figure set based off of 9th company the movie.

http://www.restmodels.com/?p=model&id=22&s=1&l=en

has anyone built or used these figures or this company?

Those look nice. I have not seen nor built them myself. One thought for your scenario, espcially after looking at those figures- location & weather. "Red Dawn" starts in the fall on the edge of the Great Plains/Rockies- cool to cold  weather. Now mind you, it's your diorama, so you can mix it up to summer, spring, in whatever location you prefer, but... Troops need to be equipped appropriately. Dont mix guys in hot weather summer uniforms with guys in cold weather winter uniforms.

Yes I realized  are in more summer apparel then they are in winter