Bronco 1/35 GAZ 69 (M) Utility Truck

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.

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. It was also produced under licence by ARO in Romania, as Muscel M-59, later modernized as the Muscel M-461. From the UAZ-69 there were developed off-road van and light truck UAZ-450 and newer jeep UAZ-469. 

Bronco's kit is molded in grey plastic and contains a small photo etch fret. This fret is for the engine fan, upper front grille section, sun visors, plate brackets and various latches and other small bits. The kit is superbly molded as one has come to expect from Bronco kits. As you can tell from the etched bits, this one does have a full engine and one can display the hood open if one chooses. Other options are to have the doors open and the kit includes a canvas top piece if one doesn't want the rear bed open to the air. There are differences in how the rear bed area is built up if the rear canvas section is included so one needs to know how it is to be displayed before assembling that area.

The interior is also well equipped with everything one would want from a well detailed kit, including frame seats, battery stowage box, all the usual pedals and a very basic dash. There is a full engine and complete drive train that includes the transfer case and detailed suspension. The wheels are those that have a separate wheel section for one side, making painting the wheels easy to do.

Instructions are very nicely drawn with some detail drawings to show how parts are fit in relation with each other. Color information is provided through the build in generic paint terms, though on the full color markings guide there is a chart that cross references to several major paint brands. All vehicles are dark olive green with black chassis and wheels and a khaki canvas top and side curtains. Decals are provided for three vehicles, all from the 60s and 70s. The box art vehicle with the white stripe was used during the Czech invasion of 1968 by the Soviets. There is one other Soviet vehicle and an East German version. The decal sheet is well printed and should work quite well. As a bonus, the kit includes a Concord book. Probably an overstock with Dragon, but nice to have. The one in my kit was the 1995 book on the 10th Mountain Division. I don't know if certain books are in certain Bronco kits or if things are random. In this case it seems random as there is nothing about a GAZ of any sort in the book.

To those of us who like small utility vehicles like this, it is a must have to add to our collection. It will fit perfectly in with the various Jeeps and Land Rovers and be a beautiful model to boot.

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GAZ-69

Thanks to www.dragonmodelsusa.com for the preview kit. Get yours today at your local shop.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact the editor or see other details in the Note to Contributors.

Back to the Main Page

Back to the Previews Index Page