If one REALLY wants to show off all that beautiful chassis detail in the new Trumpeter and MENG kits then there are alternate uses for the MAZ-543 / 7310 chassis!

(Model Manufactures - PLEASE take note.)

















(Photos are for purposes of discussion ONLY - images come for various online sources.)

Fire Truck

Gravel Truck


Log Truck, WITH TRAILER! (Same tires but different wheel hubs.)


How's this for variants; radar unit, shore battery/field artillery piece and RV (sleeps 12) with roof mounted machine gun turret all on 534 / 7310 chassis???










More photos of the RV

Airport tractor or tug

(Photos are for purposes of discussion ONLY - images come for various online sources.)

Better view of the log truck :



Junk truck ?




Here's an interesting variant

http://www.flickr.com/photos/89076857@N00/4776255051

H.P.

Thanks Frenchy - much better image quality on that log truck!

Everyone - please feel free to post any other variants of this vehicle that you might have reference on!

Cheers

Mike - the chassis guy

Here's a rather unsual one :



Full view of a diecast version :





I'm not sure about the use of this one...Could be a snowblower/deicer vehicle used for airport runways....

H.P.

Clearly I am not the only modeler thinking along these lines:

How about this Siberian fuel train?

Oversized load :




???? :



H.P.

Another "TOY" metal diecast model:
Nice job actually!

Pipe Truck


Log Truck

Mike

On a side note I guess the trucks in your last post and the third one in my last post (and a few in previously posted pics ) are MAZ-543M trucks.

Here's another MAZ-543M variant with a rather flashy camo scheme (just wonder how efficient it is ) :






H.P.

Frenchy, I love the excellent WIDE load photos you posted earlier!

Mike

Frenchy, does the 543M designation refer to the fact that the vehicle has only a two man cab?

Clearly we have the choice of 2, 4 or 5 man cab configurations with the 543.

I wanted to point out that the 543 trucks used as fifth wheel tractors and some others are slightly different in construction from the standard chassis used on the Scud.

Please Note: that the third and fourth axles are more closely coupled. Meaning the chassis is shorter overall. Also instead of torsion bar suspension on axles 3 and 4 they use a walking beam arrangement somewhat similar to the MAZ 537 tractor but instead of a ridged bar they now use a massively large leaf spring.





Oh Boy, that means I still get to do some chopping on the frame and some scratch building ! ! !

And I have to scratch build those great looking fuel tanks as well.

The one which looks like 2 aircraft engines on the back is used, I think for drying out runway.
They had a similar thing at Santapod drag strip, a Meteor jet engine I think on the back of a truck pointed down. If it drizzled of rain they would run that up and down a few times after it stopped spitting of rain.

More model images from around the internet:




I like the "pillow pattern" camo, the model almost disappears! But even without the couch behind it the model looks very cool!

You want a BIG model how about this one?


I figure approximately a meter in length in 1/35th scale.

Thank you for these photos ..... there is what to do with this tractor and the choice is not obvious

Merci Bertucci. Comme je le dis, cela a été un rêve et un projet de compagnie de mine pour quiite un temps lomg. Je avais prévu de construire le tracteur 543 en utilisant l'ancien kit Dragon et la construction de tout le reste des pièces faites à la main, mais maintenant je ne aurai pas à!

Cordialement
Michael

OK since I have everyone's attention, A QUESTION:

And it is about the MAZ 573E/F but anyone interested in the current topic will understand the connection. (I hope)

I would very much like to find out more info on the E and/or F variant vehicles that carry a generator behind the cab to power the Russian's large ICBM transport trailers that have their own electric motor drive.



Sorry to put this thread to my own devious, selfish purposes!

Alright back to the topic:

Here's is a devilish subject for a diorama if anyone has the courage! - - A mechanical breakdown during a parade:

From the "Modeler's Alliance"

Maz 543 Tank Transporter conversion
Umineko on Mon 2 Nov - 4:12

I've been working on this for a whiile now it's a cross kitting of Trumpeter's Maz 537 Tank Transporter with Dragon's old Maz 543 Scud TEL. all I can say is it looked so easy at first glance but after having cut and shut the chassis in 7 places and adding all the detail to the suspension and running gear that the Dragon kit lacks I don't say that anymore. It still has a way to go a few small parts still to add, some detail painting to be done and of course quite a bit of weathering on both the tank and carrier but it's a lot closer now than it was a few weeks ago,,, and of course what type of base to put it on and what figures to add I haven't even thought about yet so any suggestions would be most welcome

Cheers all

Azrael

Azrael - Beautiful work!

I guess so. Here's the Google translation of the related Russian Wikipedia article :

"MAZ-543M (early 1970s) - a variant chassis substantially recomposed the front part (optional engine compartment, dismantled the right cabin, the increased area of the cabin crew, heavy-duty). On the chassis of the car was created to ensure alerting (MOBD) missile systems, as well as other elements of the various military complexes."

H.P.