UM 1/72 BZ-38 Refueller By Chris Banyai-Riepl

Overview

Built off of the GAZ-AAA frame, the BZ-38 refueller first rolled off the assembly lines in 1938. Designed for field use with small fighter or scout aircraft, the vehicle could carry a total of 1350 liters of gasoline in its tank. The truck carried hoses for refueling and the vehicle was a common sight at Soviet air bases across the Eastern Front.

The Kit

Like the original, UM is building off of their already successful GAZ-AAA truck kit. Like other kits in UM's line, this one comes molded in a medium green plastic, with black vinyl tires and clear acetate windows. The detailing throughout is quite good, with delicate raised details and recessed lines. A small decal sheet rounds out the kit, with minimal markings.

Following the instructions, the construction begins with the chassis. this is probably the most complicated part of this kit. The wheels all have separate hubs and axles, and with this truck having a total of ten wheels, this can get confusing quickly. The instructions are clear, though, so follow those and there should be no problem. With that done, the interior comes next. This is nicely detailed, with a separate steering wheel, gear shifters, and bench seat. The cab itself is a multi-part affair, consisting of no less than ten pieces. This is probably the best way to preserve the detail in all of these pieces, although it does add some complexity to the assembly.

In contrast, the fuel tank is very simple. This consists of two sides, a front, a back, and a top. To fill the underside, there is a small insert that will block off the view from underneath. Separate fenders finish off this assembly. Both this and the completed cab then fit down onto the chassis. A few extra details, such as a fire extinguisher, bracing, and bumpers, and this truck is finished.

The decals are pretty basic, with little more than detail markings. While they are clearly printed, my sample had a bit of red bleed on one side, rendering some of the decals useless. It will not be too difficult to replace those with scrap decals, though. For those looking for interesting paint schemes, look elsewhere: these guys were green. Just green. Hey, they're refueling trucks, what did you expect?

Conclusion

This is a great extension of UM's excellent GAZ-AAA kit, as it will make for a wonderful airfield accessory vehicle. I will have to do some studying to see just how those refueling hoses look, but I think it won't be long before this truck is seen refueling, say, an Eduard La-7. My thanks to Squadron for the review sample.