Hello to all.

I’m posting my model, Trumpeter UAZ-469, that I finished a while ago.

I made it as a vehicle of OKSVA, or Limited contingent of Soviet forces in Afghanistan. This particular vehicle belonged to 424th separate truck logistics battalion from 59th truck logistics brigade (424 avtobat 59 brmo), based in Shindand, Herat Province, Afghanistan, from February 26, 1980 till February 4, 1989. “AA” series license plates belonged exclusively to 424 avtobat; the numbers are fictitious. The letter “T” in white triangle on bumper stands for “transportation” (logistics).

UAZ-469 is a Soviet all-wheel drive military utility vehicle produced from 1971 till today. It features extreme off-road capabilities and durability and is, as commonly said in Russia, “repairable by sledge-hammer” (easy to repair). It is in all aspects comparable to Land Rover Series III. Its drawback is lack of comfort (especially in winter due to the canvas cover). In Soviet Union, UAZ were owned only by the army or state organizations. It was exported to 80 countries, mainly to the Eastern block. From 1991 onwards, it is widely available on civilian market, both new and used vehicles. Russian army stopped ordering UAZ in 2011 (it still owns a large fleet of them), but redesigned civil version UAZ Hunter is still produced.

Here are the prototypes.

Soviet military and civilian versions http://www.kolesa.ru/article/polveka-dlja-pobeditelja-defendera-istorija-uaz469-2014-12-20




German Democratic Republic army (NVA der DDR) http://www.fahrzeugbilder.de/bild/militaerfahrzeuge~deutschland~nva-ddr-historisch/105140/uaz-469b-der-ehemaligen-nationalen-volksarmee.html


Modern Russian army (photo by Vitaly V. Kuzmin) http://vitalykuzmin.net/?q=node/184.


UAZ is widely represented in popular culture, for example Internet movie cars database
http://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-UAZ_model-469.html

1980 UAZ 469 B Martorelli appeared in my favorite La piovra 4 mini-series (1989), shown as assassination weapon used by cosa nostra hitman character Salieri Santuzzu portrayed by Adriano Pappalardo.
http://www.kinopoisk.ru/picture/806412/

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_57582-UAZ-469-B-1980.html

The Trumpeter kit is very fine and highly detailed. I especially liked the delicate rubber tires tread pattern.

I painted the model with Tamiya and GSI Creos. Weathering is Tamiya and MIG. The engine wiring diameter is a bit oversized, as I see it now, but it cannot be fixed( All the lettering, marking and numbers are hand painted with enamels, colored gel and roller pens (they write fine over enamel paint, but need long time to dry). The rear lights deflectors are chocolate wrapper aluminum foil. The rugs in the cab are #600 sand paper. I have added iodine headlamps popular in 1970’s – 1980’s (from Elf).

"70" in red circle sign is the vehicle speed limit.

Here is the complete model.

Michael- this is a wonderful build. The UAZ is one of my favorite recent kits- I built one a while ago and it was very enjoyable.
Its great to see more versions of it and I really like what you've done with this one- the overall look is very convincing and its neat to see it with and without the canvas back cover. The additional lights on the front and the custom markings are great too. Nicely done.

I love it!

Thanks for all the photos.

Cheers,

Christophe

Hi Michael - this build looks great! I like the balance of colors, weathering - it is quite convincing.

Nice to see the background information/pictures too. Thanks for posting!

Nick

This is such a great job you did with your UAZ.I have not had a chance to build this yet it is on my list.They are great jeeps,I rode in one in Yemen a few years back.

Thanks to all of you!
It is so inspiring to have great feedback!
I have more Soviet and Russian vehicles (finished and under construction) and I am going to post them, too, a little later.