Post by Smudge on May 21, 2012 18:23:29 GMT -5
The GAZ AAA was the first Russian 6x4 truck and was based upon the famous 4x2 GAZ-AA 1.5 ton capacity truck ‘Polutorka’ (‘Poltora’ meaning one and a half in Russian). The first GAZ-AAA’s left the Gorkiy Auto Zavod (GAZ) factories at the end of 1934 and stayed in production until 1943 with a total of 37,000 built. There were modifications along the way with simplified cabs being introduced and later wheels were mounted on the fenders instead of under the cargo bed.
This 1/35th kit #35127 by MiniArt is of an early version produced I reckon between 1937 and 1940. If I’m right that means approximately 26,000+ of this type was built making it a very important truck and a real workhorse of the Red Army throughout the war. The chassis was used as the basis for many other vehicles including buses, fuel trucks, ground starters, mobile field repair workshops, ambulances, 76mm SP guns and 37mm anti-aircraft guns. It was also the basis of the Ba-6 and Ba-10 armoured cars.
The kit contains some 490 parts. That’s what the boxart says and there’s no way I am counting them so I’ll agree with MiniArt in order to save my sanity. There are 16 sprues in light grey styrene (actually 36 if you base the count on the instructions but many sprues are fixed to each other especially the wheels/tyres), a sprue of clear styrene and a fret of photo etch parts. There are five figures (from MiniArt’s figure set #35046 German Feldgendarmerie) and a sheet of decals for the six (four Russian and two German) marking options.
The instructions are in Miniart’s usual booklet format with glossy front and back covers with the colour options and are very high quality. The 16 pages are very clear and no initial mistakes jump out at me but these will only reveal themselves when construction starts. In total 61 build stages are involved although some are simple with a few parts being involved. On the flip side some processes are very involved.
The vehicles parts are extremely well produced, marred only by some very fine seam lines and little flash. The figures being older (c.2007) have considerably more flash and bolder seams lines so will need much more cleaning up. There are numerous ejection pin marks but I reckon these are placed very well and won’t be seen at all upon completion. The kit includes some very tiny parts so care will be needed lest the carpet monster gets these. These will greatly add to the finished kit, though it’s definitely not a build for a weekend. It will require time and care but the results should be well worth it.
Bearing in mind the vehicle is so (IMHO) historically important it’s been pretty much neglected. It was released many years ago by Toko, then the same sprues by Eastern Express and now, when available, by Zvezda. This is still a good but simple kit for its age but comparing the Zvezda and MiniArt kits is really impractical. I have the Zvezda kit and researched it to make improvements but now there’s no point with the MiniArt kit being available…unless you are a glutton for punishment. The MiniArt kit contains all the parts I would have altered, the details I would have added, and is seriously accurate.
•The engine compartment is very detailed; the engine will only need wiring adding to produce a very detailed and accurate engine bay. Over 30 parts fill the engine bay making it one of the most detailed I’ve seen for a long time, out of the box.
•The chassis and suspension is very involved taking up around 18 of the stages (stage 12 seems to be missing maybe this is an error on the instructions?) and is the most complex part of the build. The separate parts mean the front wheels could be positioned at any angle I think. All the bolts, plates, and brackets are represented as per the real thing as far as I can tell, in some cases using PE parts.
•The wheels and tyres are excellent. These are available separately (kit # 35099) and are used in many of MiniArt’s kits including artillery pieces, limber and field kitchen…and of course the other GAZ trucks in the range (of which there are six so far). They are built up of seven slices; take care not to mix up the parts and build them exactly as per the instructions, and make sure the slice of tyre with the well detailed markings is on the outside upon completion.
•The cab and cargo bed are again very well done. The simple cab looks spot on with some very fine details, and the doors can be positioned open to show of the interior. The louvre’s on the bonnet sides are even moulded open which isn’t something I’ve ever seen in styrene, and the bonnet can be built open to show off the aforementioned engine compartment. The clear parts are commendably thin and crystal clear. The cargo bed is well done; the sides and rear tailgate can be built in the open or closed positions making this great for many dioramas’…imagine this being loaded with stores with the sides lowered. The wood grain is very fine.
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i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m618/martynsmith/MiniArt/FiguresArt35046.jpg[/IMG]
•The figures represent a German driver and four German Feldgendarmerie (uniformed military police or MP’s). Details are well done, sharp and accurate, but like I mentioned there’s more flash to deal with. Personal kit is provided as well as weapons in the form of two x Kar98K rifles, one MP40 and a holstered pistol. The poses are great though and point, with the GAZ, to a diorama in the making. The driver handing his documents to the MP Officer while the remainder direct traffic and put up road signs. A dozen of these signs are provided in full colour on the instructions; to be cut out and used as required. Of course it would be nice to have had Russian drivers and these are available in MiniArt’s figures range.
•The decal sheet has markings for the following vehicles, and a painting guide is provided for Vallejo, Testors, Tamiya, Humbrol, Revell and Mr.Color paints.
•Unknown unit, The Battle of Kursk, June 1943.
•German Service, Eastern Front, Winter 1942.
•On parade of October revolution, Moscow, on November 7th 1938.
•Unknown unit, 1944.
•1st Ukrainian front, 1943.
•Unknown unit, Eastern front, Summer of 1942.
In conclusion; this is a superb reproduction of a historically important vehicle. Production quality is excellent, impressive even. Details and accuracy are excellent too. I think I would have preferred a Russian crew but now I’m being fussy LOL. I would have also liked a tilt cover for the rear…again me being picky. It won’t necessarily be a kit for the novice and don’t expect to build it overnight. The results though however will be well worth it I think.
Me: I’d love to see this with Zvezda’s excellent Dushka and crew in the rear cargo bed.
Very highly recommended.
Smudge
This 1/35th kit #35127 by MiniArt is of an early version produced I reckon between 1937 and 1940. If I’m right that means approximately 26,000+ of this type was built making it a very important truck and a real workhorse of the Red Army throughout the war. The chassis was used as the basis for many other vehicles including buses, fuel trucks, ground starters, mobile field repair workshops, ambulances, 76mm SP guns and 37mm anti-aircraft guns. It was also the basis of the Ba-6 and Ba-10 armoured cars.
The kit contains some 490 parts. That’s what the boxart says and there’s no way I am counting them so I’ll agree with MiniArt in order to save my sanity. There are 16 sprues in light grey styrene (actually 36 if you base the count on the instructions but many sprues are fixed to each other especially the wheels/tyres), a sprue of clear styrene and a fret of photo etch parts. There are five figures (from MiniArt’s figure set #35046 German Feldgendarmerie) and a sheet of decals for the six (four Russian and two German) marking options.
The instructions are in Miniart’s usual booklet format with glossy front and back covers with the colour options and are very high quality. The 16 pages are very clear and no initial mistakes jump out at me but these will only reveal themselves when construction starts. In total 61 build stages are involved although some are simple with a few parts being involved. On the flip side some processes are very involved.
The vehicles parts are extremely well produced, marred only by some very fine seam lines and little flash. The figures being older (c.2007) have considerably more flash and bolder seams lines so will need much more cleaning up. There are numerous ejection pin marks but I reckon these are placed very well and won’t be seen at all upon completion. The kit includes some very tiny parts so care will be needed lest the carpet monster gets these. These will greatly add to the finished kit, though it’s definitely not a build for a weekend. It will require time and care but the results should be well worth it.
Bearing in mind the vehicle is so (IMHO) historically important it’s been pretty much neglected. It was released many years ago by Toko, then the same sprues by Eastern Express and now, when available, by Zvezda. This is still a good but simple kit for its age but comparing the Zvezda and MiniArt kits is really impractical. I have the Zvezda kit and researched it to make improvements but now there’s no point with the MiniArt kit being available…unless you are a glutton for punishment. The MiniArt kit contains all the parts I would have altered, the details I would have added, and is seriously accurate.
•The engine compartment is very detailed; the engine will only need wiring adding to produce a very detailed and accurate engine bay. Over 30 parts fill the engine bay making it one of the most detailed I’ve seen for a long time, out of the box.
•The chassis and suspension is very involved taking up around 18 of the stages (stage 12 seems to be missing maybe this is an error on the instructions?) and is the most complex part of the build. The separate parts mean the front wheels could be positioned at any angle I think. All the bolts, plates, and brackets are represented as per the real thing as far as I can tell, in some cases using PE parts.
•The wheels and tyres are excellent. These are available separately (kit # 35099) and are used in many of MiniArt’s kits including artillery pieces, limber and field kitchen…and of course the other GAZ trucks in the range (of which there are six so far). They are built up of seven slices; take care not to mix up the parts and build them exactly as per the instructions, and make sure the slice of tyre with the well detailed markings is on the outside upon completion.
•The cab and cargo bed are again very well done. The simple cab looks spot on with some very fine details, and the doors can be positioned open to show of the interior. The louvre’s on the bonnet sides are even moulded open which isn’t something I’ve ever seen in styrene, and the bonnet can be built open to show off the aforementioned engine compartment. The clear parts are commendably thin and crystal clear. The cargo bed is well done; the sides and rear tailgate can be built in the open or closed positions making this great for many dioramas’…imagine this being loaded with stores with the sides lowered. The wood grain is very fine.
i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m618/martynsmith/MiniArt/FiguresArt35046.jpg[/IMG]
•The figures represent a German driver and four German Feldgendarmerie (uniformed military police or MP’s). Details are well done, sharp and accurate, but like I mentioned there’s more flash to deal with. Personal kit is provided as well as weapons in the form of two x Kar98K rifles, one MP40 and a holstered pistol. The poses are great though and point, with the GAZ, to a diorama in the making. The driver handing his documents to the MP Officer while the remainder direct traffic and put up road signs. A dozen of these signs are provided in full colour on the instructions; to be cut out and used as required. Of course it would be nice to have had Russian drivers and these are available in MiniArt’s figures range.
•The decal sheet has markings for the following vehicles, and a painting guide is provided for Vallejo, Testors, Tamiya, Humbrol, Revell and Mr.Color paints.
•Unknown unit, The Battle of Kursk, June 1943.
•German Service, Eastern Front, Winter 1942.
•On parade of October revolution, Moscow, on November 7th 1938.
•Unknown unit, 1944.
•1st Ukrainian front, 1943.
•Unknown unit, Eastern front, Summer of 1942.
In conclusion; this is a superb reproduction of a historically important vehicle. Production quality is excellent, impressive even. Details and accuracy are excellent too. I think I would have preferred a Russian crew but now I’m being fussy LOL. I would have also liked a tilt cover for the rear…again me being picky. It won’t necessarily be a kit for the novice and don’t expect to build it overnight. The results though however will be well worth it I think.
Me: I’d love to see this with Zvezda’s excellent Dushka and crew in the rear cargo bed.
Very highly recommended.
Smudge
