Hi

I've read somewhere that the underside of russian zis trucks were often painted in black gloss. I assume this was to offer better protection against the elements?

Has anyone got any direct links to this paint configuration and also, if this is correct, can I just use good old black gloss enamels to replicate this or should I still use a matt paint?

TIA

This is absolutly correct, the paint is gloss on most Russian and Soviet trucks. I don't think the undercarriges were ever painted green or even flat black.

About using gloss paint, I've been wondering about it myself - it would be more accurate than using flat black (which I admittadly use), but how would the judges at contests look at it? Would they just presume gloss is the wrong color?

An excuse for using flat black could be because of the dust on the roads...

Take a look here and here

Hi all, Zis 5 trucks had a semi gloss black chassis , the wheel centres were also the same colour and some even had the radiator in semi gloss black . Any judge who marks it down has not seen or studied Russian trucks as I have for the 25 years . cheers ian