In Box Review of MiniArt 1/35th Scale
Soviet GAZ-AAA w/Quad M-4 Maxim
Kit no. 35177
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $55.83
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $55.83
HISTORY:
The GAZ-AAA truck is the triaxial modification of GAZ-AA. American truck Ford-Timken was a prototype for GAZ-AA. During its serial production (1934-1943) there were produced 37,373 trucks, during WWII 9,724 trucks, non-metering chassis for buses and armoured vehicles. GAZ-AAA trucks were used for transportation of goods, staff and for towing of artillery systems.
During pre-war period on the base of GAZ-AAA trucks there swere produced self-powered machine guns Maxim (4M); during WWII. This was a anti-aircraft emplacement with heavy machine gun DShK and with 25mm and 37mm automatic air defense guns.
Different special trucks were produced on the base of the GAZ-AAA chassis, such as radio station RSB-F, movable repair shops PARM and PM type A, fuel tankers BZ-38 and BZ-38U, water-oil bowsers BMZ-38, ground starters AS-2 etc.
Also armoured vehicles BA-6 and BA-10 were produced on the base of the GAZ-AAA chassis. Because of military norms, shortage of metal and components during the WWII period there was developed and produced simplistic variant of trucks. The differences of wartime trucks were welded wings, simplified cab, bumper and right headlight were missed, brakes were installed only on the rear wheels.
Because of the cold winter the canvas top and wooden doors were placed into the cab in 1943.
The GAZ-AAA truck is the triaxial modification of GAZ-AA. American truck Ford-Timken was a prototype for GAZ-AA. During its serial production (1934-1943) there were produced 37,373 trucks, during WWII 9,724 trucks, non-metering chassis for buses and armoured vehicles. GAZ-AAA trucks were used for transportation of goods, staff and for towing of artillery systems.
During pre-war period on the base of GAZ-AAA trucks there swere produced self-powered machine guns Maxim (4M); during WWII. This was a anti-aircraft emplacement with heavy machine gun DShK and with 25mm and 37mm automatic air defense guns.
Different special trucks were produced on the base of the GAZ-AAA chassis, such as radio station RSB-F, movable repair shops PARM and PM type A, fuel tankers BZ-38 and BZ-38U, water-oil bowsers BMZ-38, ground starters AS-2 etc.
Also armoured vehicles BA-6 and BA-10 were produced on the base of the GAZ-AAA chassis. Because of military norms, shortage of metal and components during the WWII period there was developed and produced simplistic variant of trucks. The differences of wartime trucks were welded wings, simplified cab, bumper and right headlight were missed, brakes were installed only on the rear wheels.
Because of the cold winter the canvas top and wooden doors were placed into the cab in 1943.
THE KIT:
This kit comes in a tray and lid type box. It was not shrink-wrapped and the lid fit very very tight. I ripped mine trying to get it off the tray. Also, the tray is too big. There is a 2" letter "L" void around the parts inside.
The box art shows a GAZ-AAA truck in overall dark green with a black canvas roof over the cab. the wheel rims appear to be grey. It carries no markings at all.
One side panel has 3 color photos of the model made up in the box art scheme.
The other side panel lists features of the kit in 3 languages each marked with the color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks those languages, including English.
The features are: Un-assembled plastic model kit. Kit contains 650 parts. Box contains model of truck. For modelers age 14 and over. Not suitable for children 3 years and under because of small parts. Paint and glue are not included.
The statement that the kit is not suitable for children under 3 years is repeated again in multiple languages, including English and is intended for modelers over 14.
MinArt's address in Kiev, Ukraine, their web and e-mail address are provided. The kit was made in the Ukraine and the copyright date is 2014.
This kit comes in a tray and lid type box. It was not shrink-wrapped and the lid fit very very tight. I ripped mine trying to get it off the tray. Also, the tray is too big. There is a 2" letter "L" void around the parts inside.
The box art shows a GAZ-AAA truck in overall dark green with a black canvas roof over the cab. the wheel rims appear to be grey. It carries no markings at all.
One side panel has 3 color photos of the model made up in the box art scheme.
The other side panel lists features of the kit in 3 languages each marked with the color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks those languages, including English.
The features are: Un-assembled plastic model kit. Kit contains 650 parts. Box contains model of truck. For modelers age 14 and over. Not suitable for children 3 years and under because of small parts. Paint and glue are not included.
The statement that the kit is not suitable for children under 3 years is repeated again in multiple languages, including English and is intended for modelers over 14.
MinArt's address in Kiev, Ukraine, their web and e-mail address are provided. The kit was made in the Ukraine and the copyright date is 2014.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains a whopping 49 light grey trees of parts, a clear parts tree, 2 brass PE sets, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The 49 light grey trees are in a large cello bag with the clear tree, 2 brass PE frets and the decal in another smaller cello bag.
45 of the 49 light grey trees are inside a second sealed cello bag inside the large one.
The instructions consists of a staple-bound booklet of 20 pages in 8 1/2" x 12" page format.
The first 2 pages and the last 2 pages are printed in full color on slick coated paper. The rest of the pages are in normal stationary like paper and printed in black and white.
Page 1 of the instructions has 3 full color profiles of the truck.
1. A GAZ-AAA in dark green with white-wall tires, black canvas cab roof and no markings. It is a self-propelled anti-aircraft machine gun mount 4m GAZ-AAA, Military Parade, Moscow, November 7, 1938.
2. A self-propelled anti-aircraft machine gun mount 4M-GAZ-AAA from unidentified units, Summer 1941. It is overall khaki with a black canvas cab roof and a white circle with a black no. 8 on it on the cargo bed sides.
3. A anti-aircraf machine gun self-propelled 4M-GAZ-AAA from unidentified units of the Northern Front. It is overall dark green with a black canvas cab roof and no markings.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTIONS about the kit in 6 languages, including English. This is followed by international assembly symbol explanations and the parts trees illustrations.
Page 3 through 19 give a grand total of 88 assembly steps. Wow that is the most steps I've ever seen in a model kit before.
46 of the assembly steps are for the truck and the balance of the steps are for the M4 quad Maxim machine gun and it's pedistal mount.
Page 20 has 3 more full color side profiles for 3 more paint and marking schemes.
1. A anti-aircraft machine gun self-propelled 4M-GAZ-AAA from the 43 Infantry Division. It is overall dark green with a black canvas cab roof cover. It has a white outlined square with a white 6 over a horizontal line with a white 76 below it on the sides and rear of the cargo compartment.
2 A anti-aircraft machine gun self-propelled 4M-GAZ-AAA from unidentified unit. It is overall khaki with a black canvas cab roof cover. It has a white outlined circle with a white letter C in it on the sides and rear of the cargo compartment.
3. A anti-aircraft machine gun self-propelled 4M-GAZ-AAA of the 50th Infantry Corps, 23rd Army of the Northern Front, August 1941. It is overall dark green with a black canvas cab roof cover. A black outlined square with a white no. 2 is on it and is on the sides and rear of the cargo compartment.
Large grey letter A parts tree holds: engine parts, hood panels, radiator, steering wheel, windshield frame etc. (99 parts).
This kit contains a whopping 49 light grey trees of parts, a clear parts tree, 2 brass PE sets, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The 49 light grey trees are in a large cello bag with the clear tree, 2 brass PE frets and the decal in another smaller cello bag.
45 of the 49 light grey trees are inside a second sealed cello bag inside the large one.
The instructions consists of a staple-bound booklet of 20 pages in 8 1/2" x 12" page format.
The first 2 pages and the last 2 pages are printed in full color on slick coated paper. The rest of the pages are in normal stationary like paper and printed in black and white.
Page 1 of the instructions has 3 full color profiles of the truck.
1. A GAZ-AAA in dark green with white-wall tires, black canvas cab roof and no markings. It is a self-propelled anti-aircraft machine gun mount 4m GAZ-AAA, Military Parade, Moscow, November 7, 1938.
2. A self-propelled anti-aircraft machine gun mount 4M-GAZ-AAA from unidentified units, Summer 1941. It is overall khaki with a black canvas cab roof and a white circle with a black no. 8 on it on the cargo bed sides.
3. A anti-aircraf machine gun self-propelled 4M-GAZ-AAA from unidentified units of the Northern Front. It is overall dark green with a black canvas cab roof and no markings.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTIONS about the kit in 6 languages, including English. This is followed by international assembly symbol explanations and the parts trees illustrations.
Page 3 through 19 give a grand total of 88 assembly steps. Wow that is the most steps I've ever seen in a model kit before.
46 of the assembly steps are for the truck and the balance of the steps are for the M4 quad Maxim machine gun and it's pedistal mount.
Page 20 has 3 more full color side profiles for 3 more paint and marking schemes.
1. A anti-aircraft machine gun self-propelled 4M-GAZ-AAA from the 43 Infantry Division. It is overall dark green with a black canvas cab roof cover. It has a white outlined square with a white 6 over a horizontal line with a white 76 below it on the sides and rear of the cargo compartment.
2 A anti-aircraft machine gun self-propelled 4M-GAZ-AAA from unidentified unit. It is overall khaki with a black canvas cab roof cover. It has a white outlined circle with a white letter C in it on the sides and rear of the cargo compartment.
3. A anti-aircraft machine gun self-propelled 4M-GAZ-AAA of the 50th Infantry Corps, 23rd Army of the Northern Front, August 1941. It is overall dark green with a black canvas cab roof cover. A black outlined square with a white no. 2 is on it and is on the sides and rear of the cargo compartment.
Large grey letter A parts tree holds: engine parts, hood panels, radiator, steering wheel, windshield frame etc. (99 parts).
Medium sized grey second letter A tree holds cargo bed parts etc. (10 parts).
Medium sized grey second letter A tree holds cargo bed parts etc. (10 parts).
Medium sized grey letter Ab tree holds parts for the Maxims and their mount (20 parts)
There are 5 identical small grey letter Ac parts trees. I haven't a clue what these parts are..sorry. (16 parts ea.).
There are 4 identical small grey letter Ad parts trees that contain the Maxim machine gun parts along with filled and expended ammo belts. (10 parts ea.)
There are 2 identical small grey letter Ae parts trees. Yep...not a clue what these are. (7 parts ea).
Medium sized grey letter Af tree holds what I think are parts for the quad Maxims (34 parts).
Letter Ag on the parts trees illustrations points to rivet heads that are molded on the arms of the sprue that is letter Af.
Medium sized grey letter Bb tree holds: frame parts, dashboard, exhaust etc. (30 parts)
Small grey letter C tree holds 2 wood side panels of the cargo compartment.
Small grey letter Ca tree holds more side panels for the cargo compartment (7 parts).
Small grey letter Cd tree holds the floor and rear wood panel of the cargo compartment (3 parts)
One part is shaded out as being excess and not needed to complete the truck.
One part is shaded out as being excess and not needed to complete the truck.
There are 12 identical second grey trees that are labeled as C. These each hold wheel and tire parts (7 parts ea.).
There are 2 identical small grey trees that are also marked as being Ca. They each hold wheel fittings (12 parts ea.)
There are 3 identical small grey letter Cb trees. They hold 2 wheels each.
There are 4 identical small grey letter Cc trees. They hold 2 wheels each.
There are 2 identical small grey letter Ce trees. They hold one wheel each.
There are 4 identical small grey letter Cc trees. They hold 2 wheels each.
There are 2 identical small grey letter Ce trees. They hold one wheel each.
Medium sized grey letter Da tree holds parts for the cab etc. (16 parts).
Small grey letter De tree holds 2 cab fenders.
Letter E tree is the clear parts (7 parts).
There are 2 identical small letter F trees. They have the tow hooks, bed rolls, cargo bed fittings etc. (20 parts).
There are 2 identical medium sized grey letter Fb parts trees. These hold: leaf springs, engine parts etc. (32 parts ea.).
Letter Fc holds the cab doors.
Next is the brass photo etch fret that is labeled PE. I don't know what these parts are...sorry. (19 parts)
The second brass PE fret is labeled as PEb. It contains the circular sight, hand wheels magazine boxes etc. (47 parts).
The kit decals.
You are supposed to use 1 mm wire for the water cooling hoses on the machine guns. However, the kit does not include this wire.
There are no crew figures provided in the kit.
This is one very very busy and complicated kit. I only recommend it to modelers of advanced skills that have tackled kits with many small parts in them before.
There are no crew figures provided in the kit.
This is one very very busy and complicated kit. I only recommend it to modelers of advanced skills that have tackled kits with many small parts in them before.
I bought my kit mail order from HobbyLinc.com.