Maquette 1/35 GAZ-M415 Pick-up Truck Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

The GAZ design bureau developed the M-415 light pick-up truck that would look at home anywhere in the world. The first examples were built in 1939 with production continuing through 1941, up until the start of the Great Patriotic War. M-415s were pressed into military service as a light utility vehicle, ammunition carrier, and with the help of a pair of Maxim machine guns, it even became an anti-aircraft platform.

This kit is is unusual as it is comprised of a cab, fenders, truck bed, fuel tank, bench seats, floor board, side rails, radiator and numerous tiny details, all nicely cast in tan resin. In fact, the resin parts are as thin, if not thinner, as injection molded styrene parts. The technique used to cast these parts should all but eliminate any problems with resin shrinkage.

The 'remainder' of this kit is provided on a single tree of styrene parts molded in white. These include the engine block, wheels, chassis, suspension, exhaust system, etc.

The fit of the resin parts is quite nice and this would make an ideal first kit for modelers wishing to step into resin-based kits/conversions. There are no molding blocks to remove and only flashed over areas that need to be cleaned up.

If you're looking for an unusual subject for your shelf or diorama, here is an excellent candidate. This truck would look great parked next to your T-28 or T-34 tank with some figures handing up tank rounds to the crew. You can find this kit at Squadron Mail Order.

My sincere thanks to Squadron Mail Order for this review sample!