In Box Review of Kirin 1/35th Scale
Soviet Aerosan RF-8 Armored Snowmobile
Kit no. 25014
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1996
Out of production
I paid $13.79 for my kit back in the 90’s at a local shop that went out of business.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1996
Out of production
I paid $13.79 for my kit back in the 90’s at a local shop that went out of business.
HISTORY:
The RF-8, or GAZ-98, was an aerosan used by the Soviet Union during the Second World War and developed by Gorki Narkorechflota. The GAZ-98K was a version with a more powerful GAZ Shvetsov M-11 five-cylinder air-cooled 110-hp radial aviation engine in place of the standard automotive engine.
The Aerosan, which is Russian for "aero-sleigh" or propeller driven sleigh, was a military vehicle that was used operationally in snowbound winter regions of Northern Europe by several nations during the first half of the 20th century. However, it was Russia that made the most use of these specialized winter combat vehicles.
The vehicles operated very successfully in these snowbound isolated areas with their poor road infrastructures, where tracked and wheeled vehicles were restricted by heavy snow-falls. These aerosans were organized into both combat aerosled battalions (BASB) and transport aero-sled battalions (TASB).
The RF-8 was one such vehicle. its design name was River Fleet 8 and was built by the Gorkiy Automobile Factory under the name Gaz-98, it soon acquired the commonly used designation RF-8-Gaz-98. This diminutive vehicle entered service in January 1942 and it is thought approximately 2000 were built throughout the war period.
It was constructed of aviation plywood, and if it was like other aerosans, was screwed and glued to a wooden frame. The vehicle sat on four wooden skis mounted on sprung suspension, and was powered by the same engine used in the Gaz-MM 4x2 truck, driving a two bladed 2.35m diameter rear mounted metal propeller.
Compared to other aerosans of the time, the engine was comparatively low down giving it a low centre of gravity and therefore it was quite stable at speed, and the metal propeller fared better in wooded areas where it was less prone to damage from trees and light undergrowth.
The crew compartment was typical of aviation design; a two-man crew sat in tandem; the driver at the rear and the commander/gunner at the front, who was armed with a ring mounted 7.62mm DT machine gun, allowing 300° of traverse.
The RF-8-Gaz-98 was fast, stable effective; and was perfect for reconnaissance, communication, patrolling and raiding roles especially in support of ski troops; often operating behind enemy lines. In the winter of 1942/43 a large number were fitted with aircraft radial engines and designated (RF-8) Gaz-98K. The RF-8 operated into the 1950s with the Soviet border guards.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Place of origin: Soviet Union
Designer: GAZ
Mass: 0.892 t (1,970 lb)
Length: 5.110 m (about 17 ft)
Width: 2.525 m (8 ¼ ft)
Height: 2.710 m (9 ft)
Crew: 2
Armor: none
Main armament: 7.62mm DT machine gun
Secondary armament: hand grenades
Engine: 3.3L GAZ M-1 I4 (RF-8/GAZ-98) or the 8.6L (525 ci) Shvetsov M-11 air-cooled five-cylinder radial (GAZ-98K), or 50 hp (37 kW) (RF-8/GAZ-98) or 110 hp (82 kW) (GAZ-98K)
Power/weight: 56 hp/tonne (RF-8/GAZ-98), 123 hp/tonne (GAZ-98K)
Suspension: skis
Maximum speed: 50 km/h (31 mph)
The RF-8, or GAZ-98, was an aerosan used by the Soviet Union during the Second World War and developed by Gorki Narkorechflota. The GAZ-98K was a version with a more powerful GAZ Shvetsov M-11 five-cylinder air-cooled 110-hp radial aviation engine in place of the standard automotive engine.
The Aerosan, which is Russian for "aero-sleigh" or propeller driven sleigh, was a military vehicle that was used operationally in snowbound winter regions of Northern Europe by several nations during the first half of the 20th century. However, it was Russia that made the most use of these specialized winter combat vehicles.
The vehicles operated very successfully in these snowbound isolated areas with their poor road infrastructures, where tracked and wheeled vehicles were restricted by heavy snow-falls. These aerosans were organized into both combat aerosled battalions (BASB) and transport aero-sled battalions (TASB).
The RF-8 was one such vehicle. its design name was River Fleet 8 and was built by the Gorkiy Automobile Factory under the name Gaz-98, it soon acquired the commonly used designation RF-8-Gaz-98. This diminutive vehicle entered service in January 1942 and it is thought approximately 2000 were built throughout the war period.
It was constructed of aviation plywood, and if it was like other aerosans, was screwed and glued to a wooden frame. The vehicle sat on four wooden skis mounted on sprung suspension, and was powered by the same engine used in the Gaz-MM 4x2 truck, driving a two bladed 2.35m diameter rear mounted metal propeller.
Compared to other aerosans of the time, the engine was comparatively low down giving it a low centre of gravity and therefore it was quite stable at speed, and the metal propeller fared better in wooded areas where it was less prone to damage from trees and light undergrowth.
The crew compartment was typical of aviation design; a two-man crew sat in tandem; the driver at the rear and the commander/gunner at the front, who was armed with a ring mounted 7.62mm DT machine gun, allowing 300° of traverse.
The RF-8-Gaz-98 was fast, stable effective; and was perfect for reconnaissance, communication, patrolling and raiding roles especially in support of ski troops; often operating behind enemy lines. In the winter of 1942/43 a large number were fitted with aircraft radial engines and designated (RF-8) Gaz-98K. The RF-8 operated into the 1950s with the Soviet border guards.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Place of origin: Soviet Union
Designer: GAZ
Mass: 0.892 t (1,970 lb)
Length: 5.110 m (about 17 ft)
Width: 2.525 m (8 ¼ ft)
Height: 2.710 m (9 ft)
Crew: 2
Armor: none
Main armament: 7.62mm DT machine gun
Secondary armament: hand grenades
Engine: 3.3L GAZ M-1 I4 (RF-8/GAZ-98) or the 8.6L (525 ci) Shvetsov M-11 air-cooled five-cylinder radial (GAZ-98K), or 50 hp (37 kW) (RF-8/GAZ-98) or 110 hp (82 kW) (GAZ-98K)
Power/weight: 56 hp/tonne (RF-8/GAZ-98), 123 hp/tonne (GAZ-98K)
Suspension: skis
Maximum speed: 50 km/h (31 mph)
THE KIT:
Kirin is a model company based in China.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever.
It is a generic black box with a sticker on it that has a color photo of the RF-8 shown twice on it built up.
One side panel of the box says the importer for Kirin in Europe is Italeri and their address in Italy is supplied.
Model is for collectors age 14 and over, in multiple languages, including English.
The other side panel gives Kirin’s office address in City of Industry CA.
Kit was designed by Chris Mrosko and was made in China.
Kirin is a model company based in China.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever.
It is a generic black box with a sticker on it that has a color photo of the RF-8 shown twice on it built up.
One side panel of the box says the importer for Kirin in Europe is Italeri and their address in Italy is supplied.
Model is for collectors age 14 and over, in multiple languages, including English.
The other side panel gives Kirin’s office address in City of Industry CA.
Kit was designed by Chris Mrosko and was made in China.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 69 parts.
Parts are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions.
The tan resin parts consists of: the hull tub, 4 skis, control stick, machine gun and its round ammo drum and ring mount, headlight, 2 prop blades and their shaft, steering wheel, 4 ski mounts, ammo case, 12 ski support brackets, windshield frame, 4 springs, hull tub nose section, 2 seats, 2 engine grills, engine top panel, 2 engine supports, 3 rods.
This kit holds 69 parts.
Parts are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions.
The tan resin parts consists of: the hull tub, 4 skis, control stick, machine gun and its round ammo drum and ring mount, headlight, 2 prop blades and their shaft, steering wheel, 4 ski mounts, ammo case, 12 ski support brackets, windshield frame, 4 springs, hull tub nose section, 2 seats, 2 engine grills, engine top panel, 2 engine supports, 3 rods.
The hull tub and plastic rod.
There is a brass PE fret that holds 2 crosshair type sights for the machine gun.
I have added a metal and injected plastic 2-bladed propeller of different dimensions from my spares box.
There is a painting and decal placement guide included in the kit. On the lower right hand corner are paint recommendations.
The decals complete the kit.
I have assembled the hull nose part and seats to the hull tub and the engine on its supports so far.
I have the Kirin 2 crew member kit of the figures that I will review later on here.
Highly recommended if you can still find one someplace.