1:72 TZ-200

TZ-200 1:72 from Garbuz Models

This short-run kit in 1:72 scale captures the Soviet TZ-200 airfield tanker truck, that is the refueling vehicle used to fill aircraft with fuel. It is a typical piece of supporting hardware that gives an airfield diorama context and a sense of scale, but it can also be built on its own.

The real subject

Airfield tanker trucks belonged to the absolutely essential and yet rarely modeled part of the operations of military as well as civil airfields. The vehicle carries a large fuel tank, a pump and reels with hoses; the crew drive it around the flight line and refuel the individual machines between flights. The service appearance of these vehicles tends to be striking: dirty fenders, battered tank edges, worn spots around the service panels and legible lettering with safety markings. That is exactly what makes them a rewarding object for weathering.

Building and painting tips

With short-run kits expect the parts to need adjusting by hand: cleaning up the parting lines, leveling the mating surfaces and test-fitting dry as you go. Build and paint the cab and the chassis separately from the tank and join them only at the end. Fix the surface with a primer, spray the base color with an airbrush and bring the shade to life with lighter passes on the upper surfaces. Build the weathering in layers: a dark wash into the pressings and around the rivets, then dust with dry pigments on the underside and on the wheels. Glue the cab glazing on at the very end with a cement that does not fog clear parts.

Who the model is for

• builders of airfield dioramas in 1:72
• collectors of Soviet and eastern ground hardware
• modelers who want an unusual support vehicle for a display case
• anyone interested in short-run kits with room for their own work

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