KRAZ-6446 With Semi-Trailer

A descendant of the KrAZ-6322 6x6 heavy utility truck, the KrAZ-6446 was developed in Ukraine, specifically designed to haul semi-trailers.

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With both on-road and off-road capability, it is particularly suited to transporting armoured vehicles and heavy construction equipment. The 6446 is also used to haul the S-300PMU-1 Air Defence Missile System.

The design of this military truck is both simple and robust. Power is supplied by the Russian YaMZ-238D turbocharged diesel engine, though an improved YaMZ-238DE2 is proposed to meet EURO II emission requirements.

The Model

There are currently only two kits of this particular vehicle in 1/35 scale: one from Hobby Boss, the other from Takom. Released earlier this year, ‘Ukraine KrAZ- 6446 Tractor w/ChMZAP- 5247G Semi-Trailer’ was my choice. The kit comprises nine large sprues of injection-molded components, two chassis pieces for the trailer, seventeen vinyl road-wheel tyres, a sprue of clear parts for windows and light lenses, two frets of photo-etched details, and a sheet of decals (vehicle registration plates, dashboard instrument dials, and chevron warning panels for the trailer ramps). Assembly instructions are by way of a clearly presented manual, accompanied by painting/marking schemes for three vehicles (colour profiles provided by AMMO).