1:72 WWII Axle Trailer UP (U2-AP-3) with ZIS-5 Wheels

The real subject

Cargo trailers were standard equipment in rear-area convoys during the Second World War. They increased the load a rig could carry without the need for another vehicle and another driver, and they were used to move crates, drums, fuel and engineer stores. This trailer carries the designation UP, more precisely U2-AP-3, and is fitted with wheels of the type used by the Soviet ZIS-5 truck, one of the most widespread vehicles of the Red Army.

Field of use

In 1:72 scale the trailer is a rewarding addition to a scene. Hitched behind a tractor it lengthens the rig and gives it a purpose; parked by a track or at the edge of a camp it fills an area that would otherwise stay empty. It can be loaded with crates, drums, a tarpaulin and crew stores, so the same part serves in several different scenes. On its own it is a small thing, but in a setting it says that the convoy was heading somewhere with a load.

Building and painting

Wash and degrease the parts before painting, or the paint will hold less well. Cut surplus material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the remainder down. Choose the glue according to the material of the parts; super glue will serve universally. It is practical to paint the wheels separately and fit them at the very end. Dust on the underside and wear on the load bed come out well on a small trailer. A list of the parts and the assembly sequence are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Who it is for

For builders of dioramas and military vehicles in 1:72 scale who want to have what was towed behind the vehicles as well. Paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.