1:72 Maz-200

The Soviet MAZ-200 truck in 1:72 scale (Garbuz Models)

This kit renders the classic Soviet heavy MAZ-200 truck in 1:72 scale. It comes from a smaller brand that concentrates on filling the blank spots in the range of equipment available, so you get to a subject the large manufacturers do not make. The material of the parts, their number and the contents of the decal sheet are stated on the manufacturer's box; this is a kit, not a finished model.

The real subject

The MAZ-200 was a heavy flatbed truck built in Minsk from the beginning of the 1950s. It grew out of the design of the YaAZ-200 and became one of the mainstays of postwar Soviet transport: it carried building materials, served as a semi-trailer tractor and, in derived versions, as a dump truck or a chassis for bodies. Its recognition features are a tall angular cab, a massive grille and a wooden flatbed body. The vehicle was in use for decades and it also appeared in army service.

Building and painting tips

With trucks in a small scale the geometry of the chassis decides everything. Glue the axles and wheels on a flat surface, so that the vehicle stands on all its wheels, and keep checking the wheelbase against the instructions. Paint the cab and the body separately and only then join them. The wooden boards of the body come out well if you back them with a light shade and run a thin brown wash along the grain. Leave the tires matte and lightly dusted, and use mud pigments on the fenders and the underside of the chassis. Bring out the edges of the cab carefully with a dry brush, so that they do not merge at this small scale.

Who the model is for

• Builders of Eastern European and Soviet equipment in 1:72 scale
• Collectors of trucks and utility vehicles
• Modelers who build dioramas of both civilian and military settings
• Builders with experience of smaller production runs and small parts

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