Introduction

Unusually two Ukrainian companies are going head to head with releases of the Chevrolet G7107 truck. The offering we are looking at here is a MiniArt release, with the metal body G7107 and three crew figures.

Review

This offering from MiniArt arrives in a cardboard tray with a card lid depicting the artwork. Inside there is a single plastic bag that contains all of the parts for the model and a loose instruction booklet. I don’t like that all of the sprues have been packaged within the same bag, but no damage appears to have occurred that I picked up on. There are some minor ejector pin marks, that will ideally be addressed, but these should not be outside the realms of any modellers experience. One thing that MiniArt does that upsets me greatly is packaging decals with clear sprues, with the decal themselves facing the sprues, which could easily lead to irreparable damage. To finish this paragraph on a plus, I very much appreciate that MiniArt provide their photo etch parts inside a card envelope, which protects against most issues other than the risk of bending.

The chassis of this model is a multi part assembly, that will require care to ensure that it is assembled squarely. The details provided offer a high degree of finesse, that includes a former for shaping some of the photo etch parts, which I hope gives you some idea of the finesse of this MiniArt offering. Details such as the vehicle battery are very well tackled, as are the drive shafts, axles, engine and gearbox. A little effort on the part of the modeller, will allow the front wheels to be shown in any orientation that you wish, but the modeller will need to decide early on in the build how they wish them to be displayed. Fuel lines, brake lines and wiring for the engine will need to be tackled by the modeller using scratch work for ultimate detailing. 

The cab of the truck is one of the places you will find some ejector pin marks that need to be tackled. The dashboard of the vehicle has decals provided for the instrument panel. Separate door cards are provided as is the door furniture, and MiniArt have also indicated that the door windows can be shown in the open or closed position. I am also pleased with the effort that MiniArt has gone to in allowing the doors of the vehicle, front windscreen and bonnet to be accurately assembled in an open or closed position. The front protective grill is an area that will require some skill, as it requires photo etch parts to be assembled and brought together to produce this part, and I again commend MiniArt for providing jigs to make this area of the model as easy as possible to assemble. 

The truck bed of the model is fairly easy to work on, there are some very fine photo etch elements, plus some chain that is provided along with the photo etch that will add a high degree of finesse to this area of the model. I appreciate that jerry cans have been provided as multi part assemblies, along with photo etch straps for securing them to the vehicle. Roof loops are provided, and can be assembled in use or stowed, and obviously while no canvas is supplied, it does make it possible to add a scratch built one. The three figures provided in this release, are I believe mechanics. I would almost say that one of them is an Officer, as he is looking rather than doing, but as he is at risk of getting his hands dirty - that cannot be the case. One of the figures appears to have been perfectly posed performing a welding job on the vehicle, with the remaining figure in a seated position cleaning something possibly a spark plug. All aspects of the clothing plus uniform creases have been well replicated as have the hands and faces.

MiniArt has provided four finishing options which are as follows:

12th Armoured Division, 7th Army, 1943/1944

298th Engineer Combat Battalion, 1st Army, France, Summer 1944

Brazilian Expedition Force, Italy, 1945

Captured, Unknown Unit Wehrmacht, Eastern Front, Summer 1943

Conclusion

This release from MiniArt shows a high degree of finesse, and a lot of thought in providing jigs for the accurate shaping of photo etch elements. The finesse of the parts does mean that a great deal of care will need to be taken, when removing parts from the sprues as they could very easily be broken or damaged. However, it is this very finesse that will give this model a huge degree of visual appeal and so I highly recommend it, provided that you are not ham fisted.