Introduction

Herpa has released another Soviet ZIL with ZIS 5 With Platform (flatbed) and Canvas "Winter Camouflage Moscow 1941". This 1/87 model is item 746359 in the series Military Vehicles. Currently Herpa catalogues 112 items in that series, and 67 ZIS models in 1/43 and 1/87.

Herpa also offers a ZIS-5 without the bed cover and with the frames.

ZIS-5

The ZIL-5 was a 4x2 Soviet truck produced by Moscow ZIS factory from 1932 to 1948. The ZIS-5 strongly resembles the 1930 Chevrolet Pickup. ZIS (now ZIL) roots were planted when America's automobile empire assisted the Soviets in a 1929 project when A.J. Brandt Co. of Detroit was hired to rebuild the U.S.-equipped 1917 AMO truck plant. (A.J. Brandt was associated with the Smith Form-A-Truck company.) In 1936 American heavy transportation companies Budd and Hamilton Foundry increased capability of the plant and it was renamed "ZIS" in honor of Stalin. The factories were moved into the Urals in WWII and improved with Lend-Lease equipment.

While there are plenty of references for the ZIS, I provide a site through Click here for additional images for this review, below. It shows some great mud splatter for those who love weathering.

The Model

Herpa models are often have separate optional parts although this one is fully assembled. They are engineered to mainly assemble without glue.

Herpa molding is mainly high-quality with no visible flash, mold seams, ejector circles, or sprue burrs. There is one sink hole on a headlight lenses.

Surface detail is both raised and recessed, as appropriate. Molding is crisp. The clear parts are clear. Herpa uses a composite rubber-plastic for the tires.

Assembly is generally good except for the hood. It has a gap between the back and the front of the cab. A couple of minutes looking at period photos of ZIS-5s showed that area was pretty tight, although there could be gaps between the hood and the radiator.

Detail

Surface molding is good with handles, braces, brackets and clasps.

Underneath the truck is a chassis with springs, drive shaft, rear axle, fuel tank, engine bottom, and exhaust. A separate spare tire and rack is attached. For those who care, the drive shaft does not extend all the way to the transmission case. "Out of sight, out of mind," or a glaring error? I leave that for you to decide.

Inside the cab is a seat and steering wheel.

The tires have tread detail.

Paint and Markings

Pretty simple - it is white with black wheel hubs. No markings.

Conclusion

Modelers of 1/87 braille-scale WWII Russia should welcome this model. It should be very easy to modify and kitbash into different variants and uses. There are several choices for aftermarket decals available, and a burgeoning selection of 1/87 Red Army figures.

This ZIS-5 can stand on its own, as art of a 1/87 diorama, or used as a background vehicle in a forced perspective scene.

The model is a good model except for the sink mark, too short drive shaft, and gap between the hood and cab. Otherwise, the general quality of surface detail and overall detail redeems the model. Recommended.
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SOURCES

Scott Booth. Is That a Missile on your Truck? The AEgis Technologies Group. [Web: https://aegistg.com/is-that-a-missile-on-your-truck.] Nov 4, 2016.