Zvezda shows 3D images of their new model, a KamAZ-5350 "Mustang"

Read the Full News Story

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Very nice! Something unique. Thank you, Zvezda!

It looks good, but not really unique. It is basically the Russian version of the US (German-based) M1083 5-ton FMTV.



Which has been available in kit form from Trumpeter for about 7 years now.

Ummm, not quite correct unless you mean that any 6x6 cab forward military truck is basically the same thing.
In that case we have this beautiful beast which entered service in 1975:


There is also this, possibly the mother (or father) of all 4x4 cab forward military trucks

One could also say that the FMTV is the US version of the KamAZ

The KamAZ-5350 is a development of the KamAZ-4310 which has been in production since 1980 (almost 40 years ago ...).
The Steyr 12M18 has been in production since 1985 and was later used as the basis for some re-engineering to get the M1078 LMTV. The LMTV / FMTV contract was awarded in 1991 and the first trucks were fielded in 1996.

The KamAZ-5350 entered production in 2003 but by that time it was based on a 20 year old truck.
Maybe Steyr has taken some of their ideas from the KamAZ-4310 but since the Cold War was still really cold at that time I kind of doubt that

http://www.military-today.com/trucks/kamaz_5350.htm

"The KamAZ-5350 general utility truck is a member of Mustang family. This family of military trucks includes the KamAZ-4350 (4x4) and KamAZ-6350 (8x8) with numerous variants. This general utility truck is a further development of the KamAZ-4310, which was launched in the early 1980s. It was officially accepted to service with the Russian Army in 2002 and a small-scale production commenced in 2003.

The KamAZ-5350 is entirely conventional in design. Vehicle has a payload capacity of 6 000 kg and can also tow trailers or artillery pieces. This military truck can carry a variety of shelters or container-type loads. A standard troop/cargo platform has drop sides, drop tailgate and removable tarpaulin with bows.

A three-person cab is standard across the Mustang range. It has a sleeping berth and tilts forward for engine access. This cab can be fitted with add-on armor kit. It is also proposed with concealed built-in internal armor.

Vehicle is powered by a KamAZ-740.13.260 turbocharged diesel engine, developing 260 hp. This engine is compliant with EURO II emission requirements. Engine is also equipped with cold weather starting device and can be started at temperatures down to -50°C. Vehicle has a full-time all-wheel drive and is fitted with a central tyre inflation system.

There are numerous variants of the baseline model, including KamAZ-53501 bridge transporter and KamAZ-53504 tractor truck."

http://www.military-today.com/trucks/kamaz_4310.htm

"The KamAZ-4310 general utility truck is produced since 1980. It is a militarized version of commercial vehicle. Since its introduction the KamAZ-4310 become the work horse of the Soviet military. This truck took part in numerous military conflicts.

This military truck has a conventional layout, with a front-mounted engine and a forward control cab.

A baseline version of the KamAZ-4310 has a general troop/cargo body with folding-down sides and tailgate. Its cargo area is covered with removable bows and canvas cover. However this military truck is also available with a number of body styles.

Its payload on cross-country terrain is limited to 6 t. Load with 6 t of cargo the KamAZ-4310 has a maximum road speed of 85 km/h. It can also tow trailers or artillery pieces with a maximum weight up to 7 t.

An all-metal cab provides seating for driver and two passengers. Numerous military conflicts revealed that driver and cabin passengers of KamAZ trucks are very vulnerable to mine blasts due to the cab-over-engine layout. Typically the cab is completely destroyed once the truck runs over an anti tank mine. Russian soldiers preferred to drive a contemporary Ural-4320 truck with a bonneted cab, which was offset from the front wheels.

The KamAZ-4310 is powered by a YaMZ-740 10.85-liter V8 diesel engine, developing 210 hp. The same engine is also used by the Ural-4320 and some passenger busses. Vehicle has a full-time all wheel drive. This military truck is fitted with a central tyre pressure system, which improves off-road mobility. A self-recovery winch was fitted to some models."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_of_Medium_Tactical_Vehicles
"The Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) is a series of vehicles, based on a common chassis, that vary by payload and mission requirements. The FMTV is derived from the Austrian Steyr 12 M 18 truck, but substantially modified to meet U.S. Army requirements, these including a minimum 50 per cent U.S. content.[3][4][5]

There were originally 17 FMTV variants — four variants in the nominal 2.5 U.S. ton payload class, designated Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV), and 13 variants with a nominal 5 U.S. ton payload rating, called Medium Tactical Vehicle (MTV).[6]

Since the first FMTVs were fielded in January 1996 the family has been expanded and the overall design enhanced considerably. The FMTV was originally manufactured by Stewart and Stevenson (1996-2006), then by Armor Holdings (2006-2007), then by what is now BAE Systems Platforms & Services until 2011. It is currently manufactured by Oshkosh Corporation.[3] On 13 October 2016 the U.S. Army solicited proposals for the FMTV A2 rebuy competition.[7] On 7 February 2018 the U.S. Army announced the FMTV A2 contract had been awarded to Oshkosh Defense.[8]

FMTV's origins trace back to a U.S. Army TRAining and DOctrine Command (TRADOC) requirements document issued in 1983 for a Medium Tactical Truck (MTT), the intended replacement for the in-service 2.5-ton truck. In July 1984 a program to look at a future 5-ton truck procurement to replace in-service 2.5- and 5-ton trucks began. Cost analysis demonstrated that the procurement should be for both 2.5- and 5-ton trucks, and in October 1984 FMTV formally began as a program. The Request For Proposals (RFP) for FMTV was released in 1988. At this time it was expected that around 120,000 trucks would be ordered over three five-year contracts.[3][9]

In October 1988, the U.S. Army awarded contracts to Stewart & Stevenson, the Tactical Truck Corporation (a 50/50 joint venture between General Motors Military Vehicles and the BMY Wheeled Vehicle Division of the HARSCO Corporation), and Teledyne Continental Motors for 15 prototype vehicles each, these to be completed by January 1989. In October 1991 a five-year FMTV contract was awarded to Stewart & Stevenson. The initial contract order total was expected to be 20,000 vehicles, but this was reduced to 10,843 vehicles valued at USD1.2 billion. Some options were added and raised the total to 11,197 vehicles over what would be extended to 7 contract years. The first FMTVs were fielded in January 1996.[3][9]

In October 1998 Stewart & Stevenson was awarded the second FMTV contract, this for 8,000 trucks and 1,500 companion trailers and with a value of $1.4 billion. Total quantities including options were 11,491 trucks and 2,292 trailers, delivered between September 1999 and October 2004. Trucks were the improved A1 model, with improvements including an uprated engine (1998 EPA compliant) and transmission, and the introduction of ABS. The first A1 models were fielded in July 2000.[3][9] "

http://www.military-today.com/trucks/m1078_lmtv.htm
" During the late 1980s the US Army was looking for a new military truck family. The main emphasis was stressed on reliability, low unit and running costs, and long term efficiency. There was a grueling series of selection trials which took place over a period of many months. Eventually an Austrian Steyr design was selected as a winner. In 1991 a Stewart & Stevenson company was awarded a large-scale contract to manufacture the US Army's new Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) with the intention that eventually all the existing (and ageing) medium trucks in the Army's inventory would be replaced by a modern and efficient design. First production vehicles were fielded by the US Army in 1996. Eventually all ageing light and medium trucks in the Army's inventory were replaced by this modern and efficient family of vehicles. Since 2012 these trucks are produced by Oshkosh Corporation. These trucks were offered for export.

The FMTV is based on an Austrian truck, the Steyr 12M18, but considerably reengineered to be available as the 4x4 2.5 tone Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV) and the 6x6 5 tone Medium Tactical Vehicle (MTV). Both models have over 90 percent of components in common such as the cab, engine, drive train, tyres, wheels, front suspension, axles, etc, while this design involves many commercially available components. There was also an 8x8 heavy tactical vehicle, however only a couple of its prototypes were built and it never reached mass production. The basic LMTV is the M1078 cargo truck while the 6x6 base is the M1083."

http://www.military-today.com/trucks/steyr_12m18.htm

"Production of the Steyr 12M18 military truck commenced in 1985. Deliveries to the Austrian Army commenced in 1986. During its introduction it was described as new generation designs. This vehicle proved to be successful. Well over 2 000 12M18 trucks were delivered to the Austrian Army as partial replacement to the Steyr 680 fleet. It was also used by Canadian forces stationed in West Germany. Furthermore it became the basis for US Army's FMTV family of vehicles. In 1993 the truck-making division of Steyr was completely taken over by MAN. During the late 1990s the Steyr medium tactical trucks were phased-out of production in favour to MAN designs. In 2005 the Steyr brand was discontinued.

The designations of all Steyr-branded trucks can be broken down as follows: the 12 denotes gross vehicle weight, the M denotes military, and the 18 denotes engine horsepower (177 hp).

The Steyr 12M18 has a maximum payload capacity of 5 200 kg. Cargo body can be fitted with folding seats for 18 soldiers. Troops are seated back-to-back. Vehicle can also tow trailers or artillery pieces. The baseline truck could be adapted as artillery tractor, container carrier, ambulance, wrecker, tanker, fire tender and for other roles. It could also carry weapon systems.

The forward-control cab accommodates driver and co-driver. There is a sleeper benches. The cab is tilted forward for maintenance and repairs.

Vehicle is powered by a Steyr WD 612.74 6.6-liter turbocharged diesel engine, developing 177 hp. It is mated to a ZF 7-speed manual transmission."

/ Robin

Right, you proved my point, not unique in design nor as a model.

I beg to differ as Robin pointed out all the differences between several vehicles. The Zvezda's kit is unique in which it represents a KamAZ, which is a modern Russian military truck, not a US one, and not some WWII German AFV kit every manufacturer makes, and seems to have features that are not present in other "truck" models - lots of interior details. It seems unique in the Russian design/features and as a model kit in that subject matter.

Personally, I still don't see it as unique since there are other models of earlier KamAZ trucks as well.

KamAZ 4310 kits



To each their own though. Still a great addition to the stable of modern truck kits out there.

Wow. All this dialog generated from the (mis?)use of one word. Personally, I feel if it's not an exact copy of something else, it's a unique kit. But who cares what I think? Usually when a thread gets derailed there'd already be a post by a moderator admonishing us to get it back on track. Why grouse over this? I'm happy that I'm ever so closer to being able replicate my firebase in Afghanistan. We drove our gear down to Orgun-e from Kabul in those. Just need a 1/35 Apache and Tacoma kit to round everything out.