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BAZ-64022 Tractor with 5P85TE2 TEL S-400 Hobbyboss 1:35 (HB85517) The BAZ-64022 is a high mobility tractor truck. It is a member of BAZ Voschina family of heavy military vehicles. The BAZ-6909 is a baseline model of this family. There is a high degree of commonality between various trucks of this family. Development of this family was funded by the Russian MoD. The BAZ-64022 was designed to tow semi-trailers on all kinds of roads. Also it can operate over rough terrain and in remote areas. It is a purpose-designed military vehicle and has been bought by the Russian armed forces, being introduced around 2004. This tractor truck can tow semi-trailers with loads with fuel tanks, air defence radars, air defence missiles and other special equipment with a maximum weight of 15 000 kg. The BAZ-64022 is used as a prime mover to tow special semi trailers with Russian S-400 air defence missiles. The Kit The kit arrives in a fairly substantial box. There are 23 sprues and 4 separate parts in a sand coloured plastic, 2 sets of missile tubes, three sheets of PE, one sprue of clear plastic, and an acetate sheet of windows, some flexible hose, a set of window masks and 11 rubber tyres. The missile tubes are one part hollow mouldings. All the parts are well moulded with no sign of flash or other imperfections, just the normal moulding pips on some of the smaller parts. The build begins with the assembly of the engine, which is provided in two halves for the block to which the gearbox is attached. Since the truck is powered by a V8 diesel there are two cylinder heads to fit, to which the injector rails and coils are attached. These are then fitted to the engine block, followed by the alternator, water pump pulley and fuel filter. The exhaust manifolds are next, followed by the CDR valve and oil filter. The turbocharger is assembled from three parts, the turbine housing, compressor housing and attachment plate; the assembly is then fitted with the outlet pipes. The completed sub-assembly is then fitted to the engine with each outlet pipe being attached to the intake manifolds and the turbo intake to the exhaust manifold. The oil cooler is then fitted to the engine block, along with the fan, accessory belt pulley and the exhaust pipe, to which a two part silencer section is fitted to the end, is attached to the turbo. To enhance the engine further the modeller could/should add the ignition/electrical harness. The next part of the build is the assembly of the chassis. This consists of the two long chassis rails, to which the engine assembly is fitted at the front, between the rails there are numerous cross-members, motor mountings, gearboxes, driveshafts, and the chassis endplates fitted to one rail before the other rail can be attached. The engine assembly is then glued into position along with yet another driveshaft, some support flanges and suspension parts. Each of the six separate suspension units are then assembled from nine parts, keep each assembly marked as they only fit into one position, and it’s easy to get them muddled up. Once attached they have further parts added, and in the case of the rear suspension a set of carriage springs too. The parts that make up the steering rack are meant to be fitted without gluing, so be careful when you clip the parts into place as they look quite fragile. With all the chassis and suspension assembled, the large three piece mudguards are fitted over the rear wheels. The rear light clusters are attached, while the large fuel tank is assembled and glued into place on the right hand side. Several plates are then fitted to the top of the chassis rails, while a large step and additional checker plates are glued into place, followed by the fifth wheel, which itself is made from ten parts, and a host of additional detail pieces including towing cable, radiator and housing. Finally it’s on to the six huge wheels the tractor is bestowed with. Each wheel consists of six plastic parts and the large rubber tyre. Once assembled, they are glued to their respective axles. The next step is to build the cab. The floor is fitted with the front bulkhead lower console and instrument binnacle, with decal instruments, as well as two foot pedals. There is a small box where the central console would normally be and this is fitted with three levers, next to it are the two piece steering wheel and the gear stick. The drivers seats is made up from five parts and the two passenger seats are made from three parts before being glued to the box like base. The seats are then fitted to the cabin floor. The the large slide moulded cab is fitted with the two windscreens, valance and a small rear window before being glued to the cab floor. The three large bottles for the braking system each come as two parts before being glued to the underside of the cab floor. While on each side the large five piece steps are attached, followed by two fire extinguishers and two part aerial to the rear of the cab. The two five piece doors are then attached, as are the myriad of detail parts, such as windscreen wipers, roof hatch, lifting eyes, wing mirrors, beacons, searchlight and guard, before the cab is fitted to the chassis. The tractor is then fitted with an eleven parts left hand front mudguard, which includes the exhaust silencer and a six piece right hand mudguard. The engine cover is then added, made up from eight parts and the stowage boxes and large fuel cells fitted to both sides of the engine deck. To fionsih the tractor off, there are numerous small parts to be added, such as tools boxes, stowage bins, generators and the spare wheel in it’s frame. The main bed of the trailer is then assembled from large single piece upper and lower parts. The erector/launcher is made up very similar to the chassis of the tractor. Two large rails are fitted with cross members before being fitted with a pair of side panels. To this, the forty three piece front end and twenty two piece rear end tube holders are attached. The erecting gear consists of twelve parts and is fitted to the underside of the rear tube holder. More detail parts are added, another forty five parts in total. The main bed of the trailer is then assembled from large single piece upper and six piece lower parts. To the underside of the upper section a stowage box and launcher hydraulic ram are attached. The lower section is then glued to the upper section, before work begins on the trailer wheels, from four parts and a rubber tyre and central steadying pad, made from eleven parts. The rear suspension is assembled from eight parts and once the wheels have been attached it can be glued into position. The front mounted side steadying pads are each made from seven parts, whilst the rear mounted pads are made from thirteen parts. Each of the pads can be optionally posed in the travelling or deployed positions. The trailer is then detailed with front and rear mud flaps, and stowage latch wing nuts. The large control console fitted to the front of the trailer is made from forty eight parts which include two airline reels. With the control console in place the other details added include access ladders in either stowed or lowered positions, the lower launcher stop, and finally the launcher itself. This can be made to elevate and lower assembled carefully. The launcher tubes are each assembled from the single piece tube, rear cover, frangible front cover and optional protective cover, which can be fitted to the tube for travel or, the hubs of the rear wheels for firing. The kit is completed by fitting the trailer to the tractor. Decals Markings are provided for two machines, one in overall green camouflage with large stares and banners for the Moscow Mayday parade and an operational machine in three colour camouflage. No information is provided as to which units these belong to. The decals are of the usual standard, being well printed, in register and nicely opaque.  Conclusion I really love big Russian military equipment and this is a great example, although the tractor unit doesn’t have the quirkiness of the MAZ-543 used in many other applications, including, the S-300 TEL tractor and its associated Big Bird Radar system. It’s still an imposing unit though and when the trailer is attached will be quite a long model. Whether you build it in transport of firing mode it will be quite imposing in your collection. Review sample courtesy of