MiniArt 1:35 MiniArt Passenger Bus Gaz-03-30

[Fran]

Passenger Bus Gaz-03-30

 

 

 

 

1:35

Miniart

Catalogue n.º 38005

Price tag: £ 34.99

 

297 grey styrene parts and 26 clear parts
1 decal sheet for 8 variants

1 photo eteched fret

 

 

Miniart have been releasing several variant of Gaz-AA, and now we have the opportunity of review the Bus version, The GAZ-3-30.

The base truck for the Bus passenger is in fact the GAZ-AA.

This type was very versatile and Russian did have this to almost everything, since ambulance to anti-aircraft.

There`s a lot of pics of it on the big World Wide Web.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This truck has used as a bus role until the 50`s as we can see in the markings options.

GAZ however still present to present day.

It’s a really fantastic the knowledge that we get by making a review.

Being in Portugal, I did have almost no knowledge about GAZ history.

Googling around and we easily find GAZ website.

 

And the company history that`s on the website, is highly detailed and a joy to read.

 

 

“The first ever product engineering department of Nizhny Novgorod automobile plant was established on July 6, 1929. The first head of the so-called Technical Office was Mr. Vladimir Tsipilun. The main task of this department was to verify completeness and to translate engineering documentation for Ford-A and Ford-AA vehicles supposed to be built under license. This happened three months after USSR Supreme Council of National Economy had made a decision to build “a powerful automobile plant” in Nizhny Novgorod.   

Four months later, the Technical Office was converted to Technical Department and 10 further engineering units with a total headcount of 226 employees were established. July 1931, the organization structure of the department was finally determined, which included a vehicle design office, an experimental laboratory, an experimental workshop, a translation office, a common blueprinting service and a technical library. Among the tasks and functions to be performed by its employees were: translation of design and engineering documentation, its duplication and distribution, testing of vehicle prototypes, identification of structural weaknesses, elimination of identified shortcomings, improvement of parts and assemblies as well as fabrication of pilot and prototype components and assemblies.  

Before November 1930, the Department occupied an office in a cinema-theater in Rozhdestvenskaya street near Volga river. At the end of 1930, the department was relocated to the construction site of Nizhny Novgorod automobile plant.

With the establishment of the Technical Department, Vladimir Tsipilun was appointed the first Chief designer of the Nizhny Novgorod automobile plant. He was a mechanical engineer specialized in automotive technology, a highly experienced professional with an in-depth knowledge of vehicle repair and restoration technologies, who had studied automobile production in Europe and, most importantly, had acquired immense knowledge in practical motor vehicle building during his employment at AMO automobile plant.  Vladimir Tsipilun was actively and directly involved in creation of the first ever Soviet truck AMO-F-15 and was managing development of the next model AMO-3.  In his capacity as chief designer of the Technical Department, Tsipilun took the lead and charge of processing and adjustment of technical documentation for license-built American Ford-A and Ford-AA vehicles, which were prototypes of the first ever home-made mass production motor vehicles, in order to bring it in line with GAZ manufacturing capabilities as well as peculiar vehicle operation conditions (road and climatic conditions) in the USSR.

Beginning of the mass production demanded from the young and small engineering team immediate and self-reliant solving of many issues.  For example, by the beginning of GAZ-AA production there was no tooling for steel cabin in place. Therefore, a wooden cabin had to be developed and designed (senior designers A.Kirillov and Y.Sorochkin). And the platform of that vehicle was made based on the in-house drawings made by designer L.Kostkina.    

In January 1932, Nizhny Novgorod Automobile Plant was finally launched; a conveyor assembly of GAZ-AA trucks was started. In December 1932, the plant commenced production of GAZ-A passenger cars. After the plant was launched, Vladimir Tsipilun was transferred to Moscow to take a position of deputy head of the  Main Agency of Automobiles and Tractors of the USSR. After that, the Technical Department was headed by V.Danilov, who yet before his transfer to Nizhny Novgorod Automobile Plant had had plenty of engineering experience behind him by that time, working as chief designer and chief engineer at Yaroslavl automobile plant and heading the development (1926) of the first ever Soviet diesel-powered heavy-duty truck Y-3 and being involved in organizing of Y-3, Y-4 and Y-5 trucks production. Also he had been working for some time at the All-Union Automobile and Tractor Association (VATO) in Moscow, from which he was sent to Nizhny Novgorod. V.Danilov stood at the origins of the GAZ specialty-vehicle design and engineering school. Under his direction, optimization works on the turretless tracked tankette T-27 and the small swimming tank Т-37 (with a 40 hp engine and GAZ-AA gearbox), which had been developed by Moscow Tank Plant No 37, were conducted  as early as 1932 and 1932 respectively.  In 1934, such special-purpose vehicles as airborne cargo-and-personnel pickup track GAZ-4,  self-propelled gun GAZ-TK (SU-4), command bus ГАЗ-03-30 (based on the GAZ-AA chassis) as well as three-axle truck GAZ-AAA were developed under his direction.   

In view of large amounts of upcoming design and engineering works aimed at improving performance characteristics of the vehicles, V.Danilov invited from Moscow Mr. Andrey Lipgart – a high-skilled, competent and ambitious specialist, who were at the time chief designer of the automobile department at the Scientific Automobile and Tractor Institute. V.Danilov delegated a part of his authorities to Lipgart. А.Lipgart worked in this position for 18 years incl. 11 years (since 1940) as head of the Design and Experimental Department (from then on, all GAZ chief designers also combined their chief designer position with the office of the head of the Design and Experimental Department). Being a highly talented designer and possessing excessive background knowledge and managerial abilities, he managed to create a great creative team of specialists around him. The first steps A.Lipgart made in his capacity as GAZ chief designer were upgrading single components and systems of the existing vehicles as well as developing new types of the vehicles on the basis of the existing ones. After that, development of a new limousine GAZ-M1 (that very famous and well-known to many our countrymen “Emka”) was started. 

At the same time V.Danilov was involved in the development of special-purpose 3-axle wheel chassis GAZ-30 for armored vehicles manufactured by Izhora Mechanical Plant (which was further developed to a special variant of the three-axle army vehicle T-31 in 1938). In 1936, he designed the small amphibian tank GAZ-TM (Molotov tank) for the first time at GAZ. In 1937, he took the lead of development of armored artillery tractor T-20 “Komsomolets” and three-axle pick-up truck GAZ-21 for the Red Army, whose chassis was also used for light armored reconnaissance vehicle BA-021. During development of the above mentioned special-purpose vehicles, V.Danilov was also supervising development of GAZ-М1 passenger car, GAZ-55 buses, GAZ-60 trucks as well as works for upgrade of existing 4-cylinder engine and development of a new state-of-the-art 6-cylinder high-performance engine.   

In 1938, V.Danilov was transferred to the plant management to take an office of deputy chief engineer with a focus on the production of special-purpose vehicles. Acting in that capacity, V.Danilov organized building of prototypes of GAZ-VM wheel-cum-track vehicles (Molotov crawlers) designed by NATI using reinforced GAZ-M1 chassis, which received later on the name GAZ-MS. That chassis was further used to build BA-20M armored vehicles, which took part in the battles of Khasan and Khalkhin Gol as well as in the Finnish campaign and WWII.   

At the same time, GAZ-61 all-terrain vehicles, GAZ-M415 pick-ups and GAZ-42, GAZ-44, GAZ-45 trucks and GAZ-05-193 buses were created under the direction of A.Lipgart and with the participation of V.Grachev.

Engineering potential and design experience gained during that period were efficiently implemented during WWII, when civil vehicles designers and engineers had to switch to military products. The first military vehicle manufactured at Gorky Automobile Plant was  T-60 – a light tank developed by  Mytischi Machine-building Plant and then adapted for mass production. Two next tank models Т-70 and Т-80 as well as the well-known self-propelled gun SU-76, armored vehicle BA-64B, army jeeps GAZ-64 and GAZ-67 were designed by GAZ specialists independently. It should be noted that even in the hardest times, GAZ designers kept on developing GAZ-M20 passenger cars (to be later named “Pobeda:) and GAZ-51 two-tonner trucks (launched in 1946) in parallel with military product development. it is noteworthy that GAZ design department was the only product design and engineering team till mid '00s, which was involved in developing serial trucks and passenger cars as well as special-purpose mass-production military vehicles at the same time.  Based on GAZ-51 platform, the all-terrain vehicle GAZ-63 was built. For country’s warm regions, a convertible variant of GAZ-M20 "Pobeda has been developed and launched in 1949. The final touch to the post-war product range was development and launch of production of GAZ-12 “ZIM” passenger cars in 1950 (two further variants of the car - a convertible and an ambulance were launched in 1951), which featured an unique combination of unibody multiseater design with comfort and ingenious external appearance, as well as development of jeep-like off-road vehicle GAZ-69 that further successfully replaced GAZ-67.

The post-war GAZ vehicle generation generally featured rationality and adaptability to manufacture due to high level of communization of their parts and assembly units. Good combination of their exterior shapes contributed to their unique external appearance and formed the features of GAZ style that was also adopted by the next generations of GAZ vehicles: compactness, lightness, simplicity and clarity of logically and functionally designed inner spaces and minimum required level of decorative finish.  

Successfully mastering of new vehicle designs as well as their production and operation has proven professional maturity of GAZ design team headed by А. Lipgart.  

In 1951, А. Lipgart was trasferred to the position of deputy chief designer for advanced projects, while the former chief designer for trucks Lev Kostkin was appointed chief designer. During that time, they were in charge of design refinement of GAZ-69, GAZ-69A, GAZ-47 crawler and GAZ-46 amphibian vehicle.  

In 1952, A.Lipgart and L.Kostkin were relieved from their offices by decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. Following that, N.Borisov was appointed GAZ chief designer. During his term of office, the following vehicle models were developed, upgraded and put into production: GAZ-51A, GAZ-63A, GAZ-M72, GAZ-21 Volga, GAZ-22 (station wagon and ambulance), GAZ-40, GAZ-47, GAZ-46, GAZ-69 and GAZ-69А. GAZ-51P saddle truck was put into production and development of a new saddle truck GAZ-63P was started. Also, a lot of pilot vehicles was created during that time: GAZ-19, GAZ-19A, GAZ-54, GAZ-M73, GAZ-18, GAZ-62, GAZ-62B, GAZ-48.  All that allowed GAZ to lay the groundwork for future design works.   

In 1958, N.Borisov was appointed GAZ chief engineer, while the office of chief designer was taken by D.Prosvirin, who had previously worked as chief designer for trucks. He was in charge of the plant’s design engineering team for 29 years until he retired in 1987. During his term of office, the large-class passenger vehicle GAZ-13 «Chaykа» (meant to replace GAZ-12 «ZIM») as well as GAZ-13B («phaeton») were developed. GAZ-63P - saddle truck was designed based on GAZ-63 platform.  Also, the station wagon and ambulance vehicles were upgraded. New vehicle variants GAZ-22V and GAZ-22D were developed. The third generation of GAZ trucks was created: GAZ-66, GAZ-53, GAZ-52-04, GAZ-53А. During this period, GAZ started works to create a new medium-class passenger car - GAZ-24 “Volga”, which was finally mastered and put into production in 1970 to replace the first generation GAZ-21 “Volga”.  The new generation «Volga» featured elegant external appearance, advanced dynamic performance, more roomy and comfortable interior, structural safety and steering behavior. High robustness of body and chassis of GAZ-24 made this vehicle irreplaceable for taxi service operation as well as for development of the vehicle’s cargo and passenger variant with station wagon body - GAZ-24-02 and ambulance vehicle - GAZ-24-03. Also, large-class vehicle GAZ-14 “Chayka” and its parade version GAZ-14-05 as well as luxury version of GAZ-3102 “Volga” were developed.  A.Prosvirnin contributed greatly to the dieselization of Gorky automobile plant, who was involved in development of the Russian first medium-sized air-cooled diesel engine and production launch of GAZ-4301 truck equipped with this engine.  Along with it, the works for development of new two-axle off-road truck GAZ-3301 with air-cooled diesel GAZ-3301 as well as four-axle amphibian off-road vehicle GAZ-44 with KAMAZ engine were carried out. Also, A.Prosvirnin was engaged in development of design of a brand new all-wheel drive passenger car family (GAZ-3105, GAZ-3104 and GAZ-3103).  

Also under the heading of A.Prosvirnin, GAZ engineering team developed, tested and mastered following vehicles: four-axle armored personnel carriers BTR-60 and BTR-70, two-axle armored reconnaissance vehicles GAZ-41 as well as tracked vehicles GAZ-71, GAZ-73, GAZ-3402, GAZ-3403, which were put into military service of USSR army and armies of Warsaw pact countries.  

Another great achievement of A.Prosvirnin was the extension of the available research and development infrastructure, erection of new building, outfitting the plant’s testing facilities with up-to-date equipment and construction of proving ground.     

In 1986, the plant’s R&D Center was established. Igor Mukhin was appointed GAZ first deputy general director and R&D center director.  Following the appointment, he engaged actively in works and activities for development of business-class passenger car GAZ-3105 “Volga”. The first vehicle samples were built within the shortest possible time and presented in the Kremlin, as it was common those days, to the members of the Politbureau and personally to M.Gorbachov. A little later, a new 1,5-tonner truck family (which was later named “GAZelle”) was started. Mukhin passed away in 1988 of an incurable disease. After that, GAZ structure was re-organizied and the R&D Center was abolished and replaced by a structural unit called “UKER” (Design & Experimental Works Directorate).  

Following that, Y. Kudryavtsev was appointed GAZ chief designer and UKER chief. Among the trucks, which were developed under his term of office in his above capacity, were light commercial vehicles GAZ-3302 "Gazelle" and GAZ-22171 "Sobol", which enjoyed a high demand on the country’s emerging small business market. The design concept proposed by Y. Kudryavtsev was restricted by 1,5 t. load capacity, thus allowing the company to use the main transmission units and assemblies, which had been originally developed for GAZ-3110 passenger cars, and to speed up the development and pre-production of "Gazelle" vehicles as well as "Sobol" vehicles.    

Medium-duty trucks also got their further development during that period. GAZ-66 was substituted by all-wheel drive truck GAZ-33081 "Sadko". Also, urban commercial vehicle GAZ-3310 "Valdai" was designed, manufactured and tested those days. At the same time, "Gazelle" vehicles were built in numerous versions and configurations, "Sadko" vehicles got their further development in "Eger" and "Vepr" versions (GAZ-330811. Based on “Valdai” platform,  some crew cab versions as well as 36-seated urban buses were manufactured.

In the area of passenger car development, the design of brand-new GAZ-3105 "Volga" with all-wheel drive and GAZ-3104 4x4 was refined and fine-tuned in this period. At the same time, totally new passenger car GAZ-3111 "Volga" in its original version was developed, which was intended to be equipped with import components. But its mass production was interfered by the default of 1998. As a result, the design of the car was "simplified" to use existing in-house components and assemblies. And its production was limited to several hundreds of cars.

In the sphere of serial vehicle production, it is the merit of Y. Kudryavtsev, who managed to bring back to life the projects “multipurpose vehicle GAZ-3937” and “module-type vehicle "Vodnik", which had been "frozen" a few years earlier. Following a number of additional works and acceptance tests, engineering and design documentation for these vehicles was finally approved in 1998, and the vehicles were passed into military service seven years later. His another major achievement in this field was development of multi-purpose off-road vehicle "Tiger".

Also, the following specialty and special-purpose vehicles were developed during his term of office: armored personnel carrier GAZ-5923 «Rostok», crawler GAZ-3409 «Bobr», articulated amphibian vehicle GAZ-3340 as well as a variety of conversion purpose vehicles: SIAM, «Vetluga», ML-104, GAZ-8017.

Under the direction of V. Kudryavtsev, dieselization of GAZ gained further momentum: development of self-designed 4-cylinder diesel engine with air cooling GAZ-544, adaptation of design of passenger cars as well as that of small and medium trucks for installation of Steyr diesel engines, adaptation of all currently manufactured medium trucks and tracked vehicles for installation of Belorussian diesels D-245.7, preparation of GAZ vehicles for installation of diesel engines from Cummins, YaMZ, Iveco, Toyota and others. Diesel engines started to be used for equipment of GAZ serial vehicles.

In 2001, V. Kudryavtsev was appointed advisor to the General Director of the plant, while V. Chetverikov, who had previously worked as chief designer for trucks, became chief designer of the plant. In 2010, he became the head of GAZ Group Unified Engineering Center. With his active participation, "Gazelle" and "Sobol" LCV family were restyled and upgraded. In 2002, these vehicle families started to be equipped with Steyr GAZ-5601 turbocharged diesel engines as well as with ZMZ-40522 gasoline engines with direct fuel injection to meet international emission standards. In 2003, "Gazelle" and "Sobol" families underwent the facelifting and were equipped with upgraded interior. Also, a "Sobol" 2x2 variant was introduced. In 2004, a long-base "Gazelle" and a crew cab "Gazelle" were mastered. Also, right hand-drive "Gazelle" and "Sobol" versions,  passenger car  "Volga" (GAZ-31105), special purpose vehicles “Vepr” and “Tigr” (GAZ-2330 and GAZ-233014), "Vodnik" (GAZ-393771) as well as cross-country vehicle GAZ-3106, D-class vehicle GAZ-3115 and new armored personnel carrier GAZ-4120 were developed.  

Further development of the Russian market as well as free competition with leading international automakers dictated the necessity of significant improvement of products, processes and overall quality as early as at the design stage. Realizing this, the management of "GAZ Group" that includes the Gorky Automobile Plant, initiated the establishment of its own product development quality system. Today, the product development is accompanied by in-parallel manufacturability analysis, choice of optimum process approaches and in-depth calculation taking into account the investments needed as well as production costs, with full focus on the needs of consumers.

During the financial crisis in 2008-2009, the main focus was made on Gazelle. According to new approaches for product development, weaknesses of the existing vehicle were studied and a program for upgrade of GAZelle and Sobol vehicle range called "Gazelle Business" and "Sobol Business" was developed. The task was to improve consumer values, quality and reliability of the major units of the vehicle. At the same time, the vehicle variants with Cummins diesel engines were developed. This model upgrade resulted in a sharp increase in demand.

In 2009, Gazelle NEXT project has been launched. The aim of the project was to develop a completely new LCV line to be competitive in the modern market conditions, both nationally and internationally. The vast experience of UEC team allowed it to develop the new light commercial vehicle combining the best features of existing "Gazelle" with innovative solutions in the shortest possible time. Already at the prototype stage, the new vehicle was highly appraised by European partners, who were in charge of prototype testing. "Gazelle NEXT» has become the basis for creating a wide range of light-duty trucks and buses.

Along with the activities in the field of development and manufacturing of commercial vehicles at GAZ Group’s Nizhny Novgorod site, UEC specialists are also actively engaged in developing projects for other sites and business units of the company. Among the top-priority tasks are commonization of automotive component base across all GAZ Group production sites, development of new Ural truck variants as well as CNG-powered buses.

Thus, carefully preserving its own long-term experience in the field of automotive design engineering and following advanced trends in the international automotive industry, GAZ Group Unified Engineering Center is able to create unique products, which allow the company to proudly bear the name of the leader of the Russian commercial vehicle market.”  http://eng.gazgroup.ru/united_engineering_center/history/

 

 

The boxart is a very good one! Miniart has been getting better in their boxarts in my opinioin. And the boxart is one of the most important thing of a model kit… The boxart alone is half the way for the modeler to buy the kit….At least for me…

 

The box has 34,5cmx24,1x7 dimension. It`s a medium size AFV box with 435 pieces inside!

 

Inside of it, we find a full box of plastic. All sprues come in a single plastic bag, gave the clear parts, the decals and the PE sheet all in a small bag.

Although this awkward sprue packing, every parts have no damage.

 

 

 

The sprues are molded in grey styrene and its looks with great quality. Sometime ago, Miniart sent an email telling that they were changing the molded techniques and using a new plastic. Well this one is from the next generation, and the plastic has almost no flash with some great subtle and sharp details.

 

There`s in fact lots of plastic or better yet, lots of sprues, has some are quite small.

So in fact inside of the box there`s 41 sprues, one PE-sheet and on decals sheet.

 

Sprue A and B, we got all the main chassis structure and engine.

 

 

 

 

 

The engine is quite a simple ones, but MiniArt give it a good detail treatment, giving however space to the super super detailers because you just can leave it open or if you want to keep it “simple”, just add wiring! J

 

 

 

 

 

 

The chassis frame do not come in a single piece. Looking up the pieces looks like that all parts have a “glue” connector and for that a nice, tight and a proper alignment fit.

 

The chassis frames, suspension, bars and all mechanical pieces are very well reproduce and its turns the chassis frames very busy and details… so no problem if you just want to put this model on the side, or upside down in a wrecked situation. The details are there.

 

 

 

There´s quite some good parts so care and dry fitting will be need it to get a proper alignment

As usual of Miniart, there`s a lot of sub-assemblies, with lots of parts that will make the assembly slower that a Tamiya kit for example and lots and lots of parts.

 

The wheels or better yet, the tires.

For me it’s the first time I see in flesh the wheels (in particularly the wheels) from a MiniArt model kit and I really, from the sprue, can`t understand the concept.

So I was really curious to see if the approach does really work.

 

 

 

 

It`s the first time I see a tire with more than two parts (and I`m really sceptial about it) so I decided to build one tire.

 

And,

Voilá.

 

 

 

 

The result is not as bad I thought that will be.

 

Moving to the upper part of the vehicle, the driver and the passenger cabin are very well detailed.

 

 

Some injection pins needs to be removed from the roof and sidewalls, as all the inside of the cabin, with all the windows will be quite visible.

 

I'm afraid that any structure composed of three parts to be slightly more sensitive in their grooves must clearly take place upon the placement of the sides using the roof part as a template to obtain a good fit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The floor was some good engraved details and passenger seats are multi parts that attached the floor and cabin side walls.

 

 

 

All the interior must be finish and painted before putting the roof top. Some planning and attention must be taken by the modeler as the windows must be putted before the roof as after its impossible to do it. Also you will need to mask them before color paint and weathering.

 

The proper and own bus structure, well obtain by MiniArt, makes this model a quite delicated one to build.

 

Speaking of clear parts, they are in fact quite clear but also very delicate. The removal from the sprue must be quite slow with a saw to get it with no damage.

 

 

 

Passing to non plastic material.

 

The metal stuff. The small PE fret has 13 parts, all of them to represent hanldes and registration plates.

 

 

Decal sheet is a quite small one but with lots of registrations plate. The color saturation is good and with good register. I can`t tell who the manufacture but looks like is MiniArt itself that make the decals.

 

 

Instrutions

The instructions booklet is printed in A4 size with the cover and markins options in glossy paper and in full color. The rest of the instrutionx (the building process are in black and white, with very good drawings and pieces places well indicated.

 

 

 

The only sidedown is there no color guide to the interior cabin, engines, seats… simply nothing.

 

Given that color info and profile were made by AMMO, they could also give inside colors... just my two cents.

 

Another thing is that there no history of the model in any parts… do we really need it now with the internet? If the subject is not too obscure, for me, I just can pass a simple history text.

On another hand, a good and concise history text can really give an extra  mojo to get that build done..

 

Markings options

The markings options are bring to us by AMMO with of course, color reference for AMMO.

 

You got nonethelees than 8 schemes 4 early and 4 late type wich mean that you have four Mod. 1945 and another four Mod. 1938.

 

 

Mod. 1945

1-    Service Bus for the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Minsk, 1946-58;

2-    Services Buses fro construction management n.º 5 (SMU), Zaparozhskaya Oblast (Zaporizhzhya), 1958-65;

3-    Service Bus for tourist camp “Sochi” , Sochi, 1951;

4-    A regular-route bus, town of Przhevalsk (now Karakol), Issyk-Kul region, Kyrgys Soviet Socialist Republic, 1946-58;

 

Mod. 1938

5-    Service Bus for unknown organization/enterprise, Gorky City (now Nizhny Novgorod), 1940-ies;

6-    Service Bus for “Aeroflot” company, Moscow, 1946;

7-    Service bus for Kharkov rope plant, 1938-41;

8-     Service Bus for All-union young pioneer camp “Artek”. Gurzuf settlement, Crimean Peninsula, 1940-41.

 

All the schemes are quite attractive and quite difficult to choose from but I will stick to the red and yellow one!

 

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION:

 

 

MiniArt through time, always have bring to the modeler quite unusual model kits and this one is not exception.

This beautifull Gaz Bus should be a very useful addition to a diorama or even by itself.

The quality of the plastic alongside with the top noch details will give you the certain to have a great model.

Even the tires convinced me that the solution, not being my favorite, is also doable and with details. However I really think that a solid tire would be a lot better.

So I Highly Recommend this little and cute bus! J

 

 

My truly Thanks to Miniart for the review sample.

 

 

 

Fran

 

 

To end this just an aftermarket round up and curious to see that most of then are for the wheels (tire)

 

-          1/35 GAZ-AA/AAA Wheel Set by Micro Scale Design

-          Ba-2/6/10, Gaz AA/AAA - Wheels with Spare - Hussar Productions - Nr. 35031

-          GAZ-AAA; BA-6; BA-10 Road Wheels - MasterClub - Nr. MC235001

-          Russian wheels - GAZ type - M4 Models - Nr. 35025

      And finally a detail set:

-     GAZ-AA / AAA detail set - Minor - Nr. VMD35026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Fran]

Good review, Fran, thanks. And a lovely kit of a nice vehicle. That will be a nice build.

 

The wheel issue is very welcome though. Good on'ya, MiniArt. These wheels are in 5 layers?

 

Nope... 7 layers.

 

Thanks my friend for your kind words.

 

Fran

[JeroenPeters]

Wow! Nice kit. I'm sure Jose Brito could do magic with it!

[RalphSarc]

Interesting kit! Great review!!

[Fran]

Thanks Ralph for your kind words!

Cheers

Fran