Kit Review: Military Wheels 1/35 scale Kit No. 3505; UAZ-469 with KPV
14.5mm Machine Gun, Northern Alliance, Afghanistan; 180 parts (155 in
light grey styrene, 19 clear styrene, 5 black vinyl tires, 1 black
styrene chassis); price and availability vary
Advantages: only plastic kit of this vehicle in this scale; KPV
relatively well done
Disadvantages: =93garage kit=94 feel of very =93bitty=94 kit with a lot of
small parts needed to make larger assemblies; crude details on some
parts; very poor clear styrene quality
Rating: Recommended with Reservations
Recommendation: for all Soviet or =93Technical=94 fans
The Soviet UAZ-469 jeep-type cognate replaced its postwar
predecessor, the GAZ-69, in 1972 as a more modern design with what the
Soviets also advertized as more =93loshchadi=94 =96 e.g. more horsepower. I=
t
is still in production today in a modified form, so it has been a
successful vehicle design. It has also been widely exported, and the
version shown here mounts the powerful KPV 14.5mm heavy machine gun (a
photo of the prototype is included, although I for one would not like
to be in or near the vehicle when the gunner opened fire!)
This kit has been around in various versions and forms for about 10
years now, and this version is now offered out of Military Wheels in
Poland. It is relatively honest in the fine print, noting that it is a
short-run kit for experienced modelers, which is a good way of saying
it will NOT fall together.
This kit shows it has sufficient parts and accuracy to make a
respectable model of a UAZ but plan on a lot of work and replacement
of details. For example, the headlights are flat and simply stick on
the grille. To get them to look right you will have to carefully grind
them out and replace the lights with after-market lens (e.g. MV or
other brand).
The body proper consists of 9 parts and a separate chassis, which
will be alien to anyone who has built a Tamiya jeep or GMC truck. This
type of construction usually speaks to alignment and fit problems, so
be prepared. At least the Poles have apparently redone the directions,
which for a kit of this type are reasonably clear and give the modeler
a fighting chance.
Overall this is not bad if you have some good Muj figures or want to
create a good Soviet dio with tanks and a commander=92s or Komandatura
vehicle, but plan on some work.
Cookie Sewell
Cookie, I have tried *twice* to complete one of these MW UAZs . . . Gave up
both times.
KL
Kit Review: Military Wheels 1/35 scale Kit No. 3505; UAZ-469 with KPV
14.5mm Machine Gun, Northern Alliance, Afghanistan; 180 parts (155 in
light grey styrene, 19 clear styrene, 5 black vinyl tires, 1 black
styrene chassis); price and availability vary
Advantages: only plastic kit of this vehicle in this scale; KPV
relatively well done
Disadvantages: ?garage kit? feel of very ?bitty? kit with a lot of
small parts needed to make larger assemblies; crude details on some
parts; very poor clear styrene quality
Rating: Recommended with Reservations
Recommendation: for all Soviet or ?Technical? fans
The Soviet UAZ-469 jeep-type cognate replaced its postwar
predecessor, the GAZ-69, in 1972 as a more modern design with what the
Soviets also advertized as more ?loshchadi? ? e.g. more horsepower. It
is still in production today in a modified form, so it has been a
successful vehicle design. It has also been widely exported, and the
version shown here mounts the powerful KPV 14.5mm heavy machine gun (a
photo of the prototype is included, although I for one would not like
to be in or near the vehicle when the gunner opened fire!)
This kit has been around in various versions and forms for about 10
years now, and this version is now offered out of Military Wheels in
Poland. It is relatively honest in the fine print, noting that it is a
short-run kit for experienced modelers, which is a good way of saying
it will NOT fall together.
This kit shows it has sufficient parts and accuracy to make a
respectable model of a UAZ but plan on a lot of work and replacement
of details. For example, the headlights are flat and simply stick on
the grille. To get them to look right you will have to carefully grind
them out and replace the lights with after-market lens (e.g. MV or
other brand).
The body proper consists of 9 parts and a separate chassis, which
will be alien to anyone who has built a Tamiya jeep or GMC truck. This
type of construction usually speaks to alignment and fit problems, so
be prepared. At least the Poles have apparently redone the directions,
which for a kit of this type are reasonably clear and give the modeler
a fighting chance.
Overall this is not bad if you have some good Muj figures or want to
create a good Soviet dio with tanks and a commander?s or Komandatura
vehicle, but plan on some work.
Cookie Sewell
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