New type! In the Soviet Union, between 1953 and 1972, the GAZ-69 was mainly produced for the armed forces. The two-door light 4x4 all-terrain vehicle is released as miniature model with removable tarpaulin top in olive-green.

GAZ 69
Item: 024792
Scale: 1:87
Collection: CARS&TRUCKS
Brochure: Herpa Cars & Trucks 2011 / 05-06
Series: Nostalgia of GDR, and Military vehicles

GAZ-69...

...is the Soviet version of the Dodge WC series of light military trucks.

GAZ-69 is a four wheel drive light truck, produced by GAZ (ГАЗ, or Gorkovskij Awtomobilnyj Zavod) between 1953 and 1955. From 1954 until 1972 it was produced by UAZ, as UAZ-69, though they were commonly known as GAZ-69s as well. It was also produced under license by ARO in Romania, first as IMS-57, then as Muscel M59, later modernized as the Muscel M461.

Basic variant GAZ-69 has a pair of doors only and most often appears with standard canvas top and upper sides. Further variant GAZ-69A (UAZ-69A) has two pair of doors. From the UAZ-69 there were developed off-road van and light truck UAZ-450 and newer jeep UAZ-469.

The GAZ-69 was the basic light off-road vehicle of the Soviet Army, replacing GAZ-67s and Willys Jeeps. The GAZ-69 was itself replaced with the UAZ-469.

It was also used as the basis for the 2P26 tank destroyer as well as for the GAZ 46 MAV, a light 4x4 amphibious vehicle, whose design was largely copied from the World War II Ford GPA 'Seep'.*

GAZ-69 was powered by the 2.1L GAZ-69 I4, 55 hp engine with a 3-speed manual transmission.*

Herpa GAZ 69

Featured in DER MASS:STAB 4/2011, Herpa released a new Cold War soft skin vehicle, the GAZ-69. Interestingly, Herpa does not market this neat vehicle under their Minitanks collection. It's factory assembled and securely packed in a form-fitted tray held inside a clear plastic carton with opening end flaps. A red Herpa label decorates the packaging.

The model is skillfully molded and assembled without any blemishes or flaws. Doors, hoods and panels lines are defined with fine recessed lines; the grille intentions are much deeper. The door handles are slightly raised. The model features applied side view mirrors and a fuel filler pipe.

Underneath the truck is a detailed chassis molded with great relief. Soft tires with tread detail are pressed upon hubs to support the model.

All components are molded in color, the body olivgrün / olive-green, the tarp a khaki-green. Except for some minor lights, nothing is painted, nor are there any markings.

Details

The tarp lifts off the cargo bed revealing two benches, two front seats, a steering wheel and basic console. Unfortunately, as was common with Minitanks, no separate folded tarp is included.

Regardless, surface detail is great, A spare tire is mounted on the left side, as is a spotlight.

Clear lenses simulate the headlights and brake lights, the latter properly tinted red. Other lights are simulated with paint. Sharp windshield wipers are part of the windshield.

Conclusion

What a sharp model! Hearkening back to the days of new Minitank released this GAZ-69 model is a fine model. Sharp, clean molding, great detail, separate mirrors and fuel filler, and lenses for lights really set this model off. My only complaint is that, unlike its Minitank predecessors, this model is without a part simulating a retracted stowed cargo tarp.

Aside from that, this is simply an excellent HO scale Warsaw Pact model. Whether you are a wargamer, modeler, collector, dioramaist, or model railroader of the era, you should really enjoy this GAZ-69. I certainly do and heartily recommend this gem.


Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here – on RailRoadModeling.

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Reference

* GAZ-69. Wikipedia. 8 January 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GAZ-69.