1:72 GAZ-63A

GAZ-63A in 1:72 scale

An injection-molded plastic kit of the Soviet GAZ-63A off-road truck with all-wheel drive and a front winch in 1:72 scale from the manufacturer Military Wheels. Check the contents of the package on the box.

The real subject

The GAZ-63 was an off-road truck of the Gorky car plant, built from September 1948. The version with the added letter A differs from the base type in a front winch with a pull of about four and a half tons. The winch turned an ordinary truck into a machine that could pull itself out of the mud and helped other equipment as well, which is why military units above all reached for it. Otherwise the two versions are close to each other: they share the cab and the six-cylinder engine taken over from the civilian GAZ-51 type, and also the single rear wheels of the same size as at the front, so that all the wheels run in the same track and the vehicle pushes its way through rough ground better.

Building and painting tips

The winch and its drive are small parts and at the same time the most interesting thing about the whole build, so paint them separately and add a cable of wire or of thread. Assemble the frame on a flat surface so that the vehicle does not stand on three wheels. Finish the cab and the interior before you close it up. A matte shade suits Soviet protective green, and mud effects belong on the wheel arches, the fenders and the tire tread.

Who the model is for

• modelers focused on Soviet postwar equipment
• builders of dioramas with vehicle recovery and rear areas
• collectors of trucks in 1:72 scale

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.