Introduction

Up Trailer with Timber Racks (for Ua Railcar) is a 1/35 model from Armor35. Developed with cooperation with Pereslava Railway Museum, this multi-media kit consists of wood, resin, and metal parts. It is a companion model for the Enclosed Ua Railcars. (Soon to be reviewed.) There are two versions of this flatcar.

Military-scale railroad modeling continues to grow with an ever expanding selection of models in the dominate military scale of 1/35. Project Armor35 is an enterprise from Russia to create accurate 1/35 German and Soviet railway subjects circa the Great Patriotic War. Armor35 produces resin rail and track components, i.e., spikes and tie plates, wooden and resin sleepers (crossties), scale sand and stone ballast and coal, lineside equipment like signs and a water column, as well as dozens of civilian and military figures, and statues.

While there is not currently a 'model rail scale' for 1/35, it is very close to No. 1 Scale (also referred to as Gauge 1, Gauge One, 3/8", etc.) of 1/32. Regardless, it does afford some crossover to electric model railroading.

Currently Armor35 catalogues 50 figures and 34 railway models.

Up Trailer

For pairing with the UA powered railcar, this special flatcar of 5-ton capacity was designed for the transportation of tools and materials. This was designated Up, or section trailer (Uchastkoviy pricep). The UA could haul two Up flatcars.

Railcars and trailers were not allowed to be included into trains, so their couplings were not compatible with standard rolling stock. Although UA railcars were built for both Russia's "standard gauge" (1524mm) and narrow gauge (750mm), these flatcars were only built for the standard gauge. However, as many were captured by the Nazis during Barbarossa, these cars were re-gauged to 4' 8.5". These cars were widely used by bother sides for the transportation of wounded, reconnaissance teams, train escorts, and track construction and repair.

In 1941 Kaluga works were evacuated to Kranoyarsk, and production of railcars ceased. However, towards June 1942 the plant was rebuilt, and UP trailers became first output. - Armor35

The Kit

Wood, resin and metal parts comprise this detailed craftsman model. Most of the parts are sealed with like-types in zip locking baggies. Two hundred thirty-five pieces are used to build this model:

Resin x 21
Resin bolts x 60
Wood stakes x 8
Wood deck planks x 26
Wood sides (wide and narrow, sides and ends) x 8
Brass photo-etched hardware x 50 (2 sheets)
Brass photo-etch frame structures x 10
Brass coupling pin x 1
Decal sheet x 1

Armor35's resin casting is crisp. There is no excess flash on the parts, and no air pocks. I found only one part, an axlebox, with what looks like a seam line. The bolts are by MasterClub.

All of the brass parts are crisply and cleanly etched. The brass sheet for the frame is thicker than I expected. I am curious as to how easy the parts will be to remove from the fret. As some of those parts are relatively large and are load bearing, I wonder if they should be soldered or glued together?

Whatever wood Armor35 uses is excellent. None of the strips are warped, they are crisply cut, and lack fuzz or splinters.

All of those parts look like they will be a joy to work with.

Instructions and Decals

Assembly
Armor35's instructions amaze me. These excellent full-color instructions are printed on glossy faced paper. Parts are illustrated in 3D with highlights and shadows, and the parts are identified with names, part numbers, and quantity. Substructure components are color coded.

Twelve steps guide assembly. The steps are clearly illustrated. Small segmented arrows or solid lines show alignment and positioning of pieces, as well as forming of parts, i.e., which way to bend the brass frame structures. Small inset photos illustrate placement and positioning: black-and-white photos of prototype Up trailers as well as a color photos of an assembled Armor35 model.

Text for assembly and a history includes Russian and English. Armor35 instructions are beautiful examples of what model companies should all aspire to. I wish every model company made instructions like these. I like them enough to keep them for their visual enjoyment!

Painting
Four colors are used and Armor35 lists them as well as includes small color swatches. No paint brands nor FS numbers are suggested.

Decals
These decals appear to be printed on thin carrier film without excess around the markings. Operational stenciling is minimal. It appears to be weight and dimensional data, and a servicing stencil. The car number is up to the modeler as Armor35 provides a positional decimal sequence of 0-9. The decal sheet looks to be the same one for the UA Railcar as it includes the emblem of the SZD (CЖД, (Cоветские железные дороги, Soviet Railways)).

Conclusion

Crisp castings and precise photo-etch and wooden parts for a very detailed construction. Ample decals and exceptional instructions. What's not to like?

I can not find anything to complain about.

Armor35's Up Trailer with Timber Racks is an exciting kit for modelers of the Eastern Front. It offers countless options for display and loading. It is small enough to fit almost anywhere. I happily recommend this model.

Please remember to mention to Armor35 and retailers that you saw this model here - on Armorama.