The Red Bull Kamaz-43509, a whopping 8,530kg (9.4 tons) beast, is powered by a 12.9-liter, inline, six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine producing 1,050 horsepower. In 2020, this beast won the Dakar rally Truck Class competition with defending champ Eduard Nikolaev and co-driver Evgenii Iakovlev behind the wheel.
The fantastic Zvezda 1/35 scale Kamaz-43509 plastic model kit comes with gray parts on five parts trees, a single sprue of clear parts, and six black vinyl tires. While it doesn’t contain any photo-etched metal parts, the incredible detail doesn’t really need it.
The color guide references Tamiya paints, which I used, plus Testors Model Master Metalizer Aluminum and Steel. For the most part, following the instructions’ 43 steps to build 38 subassemblies will get you where you want to go.
As a car guy, I built and painted the Kamaz as I would a car. I put together the inner roll cage as a standalone piece to make painting it easier.
While building the frame and cross members, I recommend test-fitting the opposite frame rail to make sure the cross members stay lined up. I painted the frame with cross members before placing the engine.
The cab comes in multiple pieces, which may worry builders more used to modeling cars. But don’t get too worked up because it went together well. The rear sides are big parts, and I found it easier to glue the front first and then glue the back after the front had time to dry. I painted the cab and the parts for the rear separately. Reference photos showed a screen in the small opening behind the driver’s side door, and I couldn’t help adding that using mesh from my spares box.
Zvezda designed a good decal sheet with plenty of markings thoughtfully located on the sheet. I had no problems fitting them where they needed to go and found it easy to line up the decals with a straightedge and slowly pull out the backing. Make sure to keep them wet so you can fine-tune their position. And keep decal solvent handy to help settle them over details and around corners.
While the markings guide is good, it is missing positions for a couple of the decals (numbers 1 and 2). You’ll find their locations on the cab just rear of the doors.
Parts fit well from beginning to end, although you may want to clear out some attachment points with a small drill bit if you paint the parts prior to assembly. I would have liked to have figures for the cockpit, and there’s definitely room for more detail inside and on the engine and frame. Spare parts would be helpful for the back. There’s room for conversions showing opened panels and superdetailing.
Zvezda has an exciting kit on its hands. The aftermarket is already producing paints specifically for the Red Bull Kamaz-43509, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see a photo-etched metal detail set or decals for other rallies. Yes, it assembles well, but the Kamaz is a complex model and would be best suited for builders with at least a few kits worth of experience.