SMK 1/87 KRAZ-260G Army Truck
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Overview
The KRAZ-260 truck was developed to replace the older KRAZ-255, with production starting in the early 1980s. Its first public appearance occurred in 1985 when during one of the Red Square parades, KRAZ-260s drove by towing 152mm guns. The appearance of the KRAZ-260 is similar in appearance to the KRAZ-255, with the '260 having a more angular hood to provide clearance for the turbocharged diesel. The KRAZ-260 was eventually replaced by an improved vehicle, the KRAZ-6322.
The Kit
This kit from SMK is a multi-media kit, containing both resin and plastic parts. The resin parts are nicely cast, with minimal cleanup needed. The plastic parts, molded in black, feature good details throughout. A small decal sheet provides generic markings for any number of 1/87 trucks, with separate numbers and national insignia.
Construction is fairly straightforward and simple, owing to the judicious use of resin parts. The cab is cast as one piece, with a separate insert providing the bench seat. No clear parts are provided, but the instructions include a template to use on some clear plastic stock. When folded appropriately, this insert will cover all of the various cab windows.
The main chassis is a bit more complex, but is still a fairly simple assembly. There is a separate front bumper, separate exhausts, and separate rear leaf springs. The drivetrain is also separate, as is a center cage for the spare tire. The fuel tanks are separate, and the wheels have separate tires. The truck bed is a one-piece plastic molding, while the canvas cover is resin. The finished bed and cab fit onto the completed chassis, and this model is basically finished.
There are no painting instructions, but there is a color photo on the boxtop that shows the vehicle in overall medium green with black trim. Markings are kept to a minimum. I am sure that more thorough research online will turn up other photos, perhaps even some with interesting camouflages.
Conclusion
While this is in HO scale, rather than the more expected 1/72, it is a very nice looking model and it should build up into a good replica of the KRAZ-260. My thanks to Scale Model Kits for the review sample.