1:72 Soviet ZiS-5V wheel set

The real subject

The ZiS-5V is the wartime, simplified form of the Soviet ZiS-5 truck. Vehicles of this type carried ammunition, fuel and troops at the front and are among the most frequently modeled Soviet trucks of the Second World War. The wheels on them are conspicuous: the off-road tires make up a prominent part of the vehicle's silhouette and the viewer's eye falls on them among the first.

What the set is for

The set brings finished wheels in 1:72 scale meant to replace the parts from the kit. In this small scale the tires tend to be the weak point, because a fine surface is hard to render in a kit. Replacing the wheels is therefore among the modifications that show most on a finished model, while requiring no changes to the structure of the vehicle.

Building and painting tips

• Before gluing, wash the parts in lukewarm water with a drop of detergent and let them dry thoroughly.
• Cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and carefully sand the remainder down.
• If the parts are not polystyrene, make the joint with cyanoacrylate glue.
• Spray the wheels separately and fit them only after the vehicle is painted; the work is cleaner that way.
• Any flattening of the tire rendered on the parts has to point toward the ground when they are seated.

Terms of supply

The wheels alone are supplied as an accessory for a kit. The kit, paints and glue are not part of the package, unless stated otherwise. For the specific procedure of preparing and gluing the parts, follow the manufacturer's instructions.