Zvezda 1/35 Gaz M1

[Dave Ward]

As my Defiant is going well for the BoB GB, I decided to have another model on the go, I picked out this

I've had it quite a while, and I know there is a part missing, but nothing that a bit of plastic card & filler won't fix.
The Gaz M1 was in production from 1936 -1943, just under 63,000 being produced. The car was originally based on the Ford Model B of 1934, but the suspension was completely redesigned to cope with Russian road conditions. Later versions had a Chrysler designed 6 cylinder engine, of 75hp, compared to the 50hp earlier Ford based engine.
As is usual for Zvezda, the model is supplied in a box-in-a-box, to withstand arduous shipping journeys. It has 2 large sprues & 2 small in grey plastic & one clear sprue for the windows. NO vinyl tyres - all plastic sandwiches.
At first inspection there is no flash, and the parts look crisply moulded. This was an ebay purchase, and there was no guarantee that it was complete. I checked, and there is one part missing, the front seat bottom/back. It looks to be flat surfaces, so making a replacement shouldn't be a problem.
I'll put up some sprue/detail shots tomorrow.......................
Dave

[Neil Merryweather]

I'm in Dave- it looks like something my dad used to drive in the early sixties-
the smell of petrol and leather-
oops wrong forum!

[Dave Ward]

Sprue shots


And a few detail shots

The part that is missing - A9


Two finish variants - all black, with a red stripe ( decals ), or all midnight blue, I'll have to have a think about it.................
Dave

[Neil Merryweather]

drooooooooooooool :hungry:

[Dave Ward]

Off to a start - you need a new scalpel blade, some of the parts are really tiny & fragile
The body pan has it's springs & strengthening webs added

AS usual, with Zvezda, the spigots for location are a tight fit, close inspections of the instructions & dry fitting are essential!
Dave

[JR]

Of course I'm in front seat.
That detailing on the rad cover and tyres looks ok.

[Dave Ward]

I thought that a sniff of something Russian would attract your attention, Comrade Race
I've looked for pictures of the Gaz - there are obviously a lot of black & white pictures, the colour photos being of restored vehicles, like this beauty

One windscreen wiper - and don't the Russian love their white walled tyres!
Dave

[Dave Ward]

I may be wrong, but is the Zvezda M1 the only 1/35 model of a Russian civilian car? ICM do a Moskvitch 401, but that was an Opel Kadett based car. Stalin used to be driven round in a Packard, and I can't recall any of the 50's Zil limos being modelled. What civilian cars were actually around late 40s- early 60s ( pre Lada )?
Dave

[KarlW]

Not a lot of cars, I believe GAZ was created in patnership with Ford and a lot of the initial post war stuff was licenced copies of other makes cars.

[outrunner]

I thought that a sniff of something Russian would attract your attention, Comrade Race
I've looked for pictures of the Gaz - there are obviously a lot of black & white pictures, the colour photos being of restored vehicles, like this beauty
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1129164[/ATTACH]
One windscreen wiper - and don't the Russian love their white walled tyres!
Dave

Ooh, suicide doors as well.

Andy.

[Dave Ward]

Not much benchtime today - the second day in a row, I actually went out, and had a coffee with a couple of mates. One of them is a little stir-crazy ( or cabin fever! ), so pubs opening etc is a great benefit to him ( he doesn't have any hobbies, other than going to the pub & watching football ! )
The Gaz M1 - a model that you can sit down to for an hour or so, and it doesn't look very much different from when you started!

I made a new seatback & bottom to replace the missing part


The construction sequence would have you building up the bodywork onto the floorpan, but this means adding the windows ( can only be fitted from inside ) at an early stage. I'm hoping to build up the shell, so it's still loose & fit glazing later.

All of the seams are butt joints with minimal location pegs.

I've joined the 3 rear sections & dry fitted to the floorpan. I'll add the roof next, along with the front firewall/screen. Hopefully this way, I can see to any seams & paint internally & externally before final assembly, and still have room to fit the windows.
There are separate pillars to hang the front doors on. The fit has been excellent so far, and this will be a real test - either the doors won't fit, or there will be huge gaps!
Dave

[Neil Merryweather]

It's looking great Dave.
With all that detail underneath it's really crying out to be on it's side in a wreck dio .....
just sayin'

[Dave Ward]

Neil,
still got the axles, prop shaft, diff, & steering to fit, not to mention the exhaust pipe, all in an area 45mm X 100mm - it's quite busy. Then, there's the engine..................
Dave

[outrunner]

You are doing a great job Dave, it's a Zvezda kit so it will be fine. I did not realise there was so much detail in the car models, food for thought.

Andy.

[Dave Ward]

Added the engine, really just to locate the propshaft & the exhaust pipe.

The bodywork is still loose, it's a fragile affair, with only butt joints, and especially at the front, with the skinny 'A' pillars, I may add the doors, to strengthen the assembly - still leaving me access to finish the interior. ( that front seams looks bad.... )
You definitely have to think ahead about how to paint the M1, it's NOT a Tamiya shake &nt seam bake!
Dave