"Soviet Army ZiL-131KShM" Topic

In 1/35.
Review here.

"As I noted when the base kit for this model was released, During WWII when the US shipped thousands of GMC and Studebaker trucks to the USSR, the Russian designers were embarrassed. The best they could do at the time in the medium truck class was the ZIS-5/6 truck which had only rear wheel drive (and only brakes on the rear wheels) and a very crude driveline. The US trucks had either 6 x 4 or 6 x 6 options, two-range transfer cases, and a far more sophisticated driveline and level of finish. And they were also better suited to the poor Soviet roads and the "Rasputitsa" in which the thaw turned all roads into mud.

Immediately after the war the Soviets used the American trucks as a basis for the ZIS-151 which was also now a 6 x 4/6 x 6 truck with transfer case and better design. It was followed later by the ZIL-157 which had big single tires and later on introduced adjustable air pressure in the tires for sand and soft ground.

But when the Soviets went to replace the ZIL-157 they went for a more modern design. They now used the later Reo M34 6 x 6 truck as their prototype and began development of the new design in 1956. Its biggest advantage was a new design V-8 gasoline engine of 125 HP that was expected to carry out its duties. But it took 11 years of development before the new truck was ready for production, and it did not go into production and enter service until 1967…"

Full review here
link

Amicalement
Armand