1:72 GAZ AAA Tracks (UM models)

Tracks for the GAZ-AAA 1:72, photo-etched set (Hauler)

A specialized photo-etched accessory intended for a model of the Soviet three-axle GAZ-AAA truck in 1:72 scale. The set adds the tracks fitted over the rear pair of driven wheels, a typical conversion by which vehicles were prepared for use in mud and snow. It is an accessory to a particular Unimodels plastic kit; the vehicle itself is not in the package. It is made by the Czech firm Hauler.

The real subject

Soviet trucks struggled with limited mobility off the road, especially in the season of waterlogged tracks and in winter. The answer was fitted tracks over the rear driven wheels, which spread the weight of the vehicle over a larger area and markedly improved traction. The vehicle could thus get through where it would have bogged down on its tires alone. For a modeler it is a rewarding subject, because the tracks give the vehicle an unmistakable look and suit a muddy diorama.

Fitting and shaping

The most important thing is to make the track flow smoothly. The photo-etched strip is bent around the wheel gradually, best with the help of a round shank or of the wheel from the model itself as a former; sharp edges between the individual segments give away haste. Wipe the part with alcohol before shaping and do not touch it with your fingers afterwards. Apply the cyanoacrylate in small sections so that you can keep correcting the shape. Once painted, the tracks benefit greatly from mud with pigments and a dark wash, because in reality it is in the gaps between the segments that the most dirt collects.

Who the set is for

• builders of Soviet truck hardware in 1:72 scale
• modelers of dioramas with waterlogged or winter terrain
• anyone interested in an unconventional variant of a well-known vehicle
• more advanced builders used to shaping photo-etched sheet into a curve

It is not a kit of a vehicle but an accessory. The base model, glue and paints are not included in the package.