Review of AER Srl. Part one.

1/72 AER / Resin Models

"AER Colectie Srl.", 41 Bolgarskaya street, office 11 PO391, tel/fax: +373 (2) 27 31 77, Chisinau, Moldova.

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AER produces some very unique and hard to find resin kits. Around 1997 the company AER started with injection moulded (plastic) kits of the Russian ZIS trucks variants. After some economic problems these moulds went over to other manufacturers such as PST and TOCA. AER now creates resin kits and cast their products in a typical one-sided way. The resin used is very hard. You must be very careful when reworking the parts. The kits are not of a very high quality, not in detalling and not in casting. Some kits have injection moulded parts (plastic) from other manufacturers, such as EasternExpress or from the older AER plastic ZIS kits. But the AER resin kits are interesting and most of them are not released by other manufacturers. I advise this kits for the more advanced modelers with experience in updating and reworking parts. A second suggestion is, if you have the parts in your sparebox, replace some of the cast parts with plastic parts.

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Click on the pictures

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AER 1/72 (resin) GAZ-98 'aero sledge'
The GAZ-98 was used on the north-western front against the Germans in 1941. The AER kit consists of just 15 hand cast resin parts (most parts have to be cut away from the surrounding flash) and some lengths of wire (two thicknesses). Assembly of the resin parts looks rather simple (the interior consists of just two seats, an instrument panel and the front mounted machine gun) but the mounting of the skis could be a problem because all the attachment 'struts' and suspension arms have to be cut from the lengths of wire (the instruction sheet has a two view 1/72 scale plan, to assist). Also, the coil spring suspension has to be made from thin wire wrapped around thicker wire! An interesting subject, if you are prepared to put in the time.

Zis-5 truck w/PG-117 'sea glider'
As you can see from the box top, a 'sea glider' as a speed boat. The kit consists of the AER (now PST) injection moulded Zis-5 plus a resin 'speed boat' and resin 'extension' for the Zis-5. As with the T-70, the resin mouldings are better than the early 'stuff' AER was producing. A set of BM-13 decals are included!

T-70 (1942) Light Tank
This is the WW2 T-70...not the modern one! While a rather basic kit, AER has at least improved it's resin mouldings and has included injection moulded road wheels and sprockets. The two part hull and the turret are separate resin mouldings but the rest of the resin parts and the link and length tracks are all moulded onto hand poured 'sprues'. Detail is like the kit...rather basic. A set of BM-13 decals are included!

Zis-5 w/76mm gun (1941)
Yet another re-issue of the Zis-5 (originally made by AER but now with PST) with a 76mm motorised gun mounted on heavy steel plating, on the back. The basic Zis-5 is injection moulded while the gun and steel plate are hand poured resin. Once again, a set of BM-13 decals is included!

SU-76 SPG (1943)
For those who can't wait a few months for the Unimodel 'injection moulded' SU-76, this is for you...and it's not 'all' resin...there are injection moulded road wheels and two strips of metal, from which you form the mudguards! The rest of the kit (apart from a BM-13 decal sheet!!) consists of hand poured resin parts (including the tracks), each having to be removed from the surrounding 'flash'. Detail is reasonable and a number of upper hull accessories are supplied...pick, shovel, jerry can, axe, tow rope ends and a machine gun.

NA ISPUG armoured tractor
Based on the STZ-5 artillery tractor...this is an all resin kit, including the link and length tracks (although, the upper hull looks like it's been injection moulded!). All the parts, except for the upper hull, have to be broken/cut away from their surrounding 'flash'. The mouldings don't appear to have any air bubbles and are well defined. Included are a number of accessories...jerry can, axe, mallet, tow rope ends etc. All road wheels are separate mouldings and the gun is nicely detailed. There arn't any decals with this kit.

Aero sledge NKL-26
Aero sledge NKL-26 have been created in 1941 and intended specially for conducting operations in conditions of winter impassability. Using speed and high vehicle flotation, they as legendary machine-gun carts, suddenly attacked the opponent overtaken unawares. Were at war aero sledge on Central, Kalinin, Northwest, Leningrad, Karelian fronts. German aero sledge, used on lakes of Karelia, had lower road performance and shunned meetings with more high-speed Soviet aero sledge. Crew - 2 persons, Armament – machine-gun DT of 7.62 mm, engine -M-11G

Machine-gun car "Tacianka"
For the first time machine-gun carts were applied in Russian cavalry in period of Civil war 1917-1922, widely used in 1-st Horse army. Horse was the most imperceptible service arm in the WWII. German general Galder wrote: "We constant collide with horse formation. They are so manoeuvre that to apply against them power of German technics it is not obviously possible. The consciousness, that any commander cannot be quiet for the rears, acts oppressed on moral spirit of a troops. Cossacks participated in the Berlin operation. The division of general Blinov has rescued 50 thousand prisoners of war, blocked road to Dresden. 7-th horse formation has taken the cities of Rathenows and Brandenburg. Cossacks formation of general Baranov participated in liberation of Prague. 3-rd Guards formation has taken the city of Reinburg and has met allies on Elba.

Missile Jet War Launcher on base of T-60 tank
At conducting military actions in the roadless localities, it was found out, that vehicle flotation of legendary "Katiusha" was low, therefore in September, 1941 in Moscow Missile Jet War Launchers BM 8-24 which were mounted on the chassis of light tanks T-40 and T-60 produced. These machines successfully used in Moscow battle, in Crimea, in Stalingrad battle, at Northwest and Volkhov fronts.

Artillery Tractor JA-12
Release JA-12 has been started in 1943. The running part has been borrowed from T-70?, that allowed to replace a failed detail quickly. Front-line soldiers very much loved tractors JA-12, having named them « a miracle by machines » and "robust fellows". The case artillery equipped JA-12, got high mobility and maneuverability. Speed of transportation of guns and howitzers behind tractor JA-12 in 5 times was higher, than behind tractor ChTZ. For example, the six-inch howitzer could be transported on firm road with a speed of 37 km/h. These machines were useful just when the Red Army conducted offensive operations, and tractors allowed to enter case artillery into break together with motor-mechanical parts and tanks. Up to an end of the war 1666 tractors such as JA-12 have been released.

Patrol armoured gunboat
In the beginning of the First World War there was a necessity of usage of the rivers for transport and army transportations as in front conditions they were ideal means of communication, especially during an impassability of roads. Therefore since 1915 in Russia organization of river groups and flotillas began. For development of this program in Russia 18 patrol cutters have been booked in the USA on wharf of firm "Mullins and Co", they were ready to 1916. The patrol gunboats had a flat-bottom case with the tunnel and completely armoured deck house. The arm has consisted of one of 7.62 mm of a machine gun "Maxim" in a rotated turret. Later they have been arm supplementary with Gochkis gun of 37 mm, or DSHK12.5 mm on a stern. Sterling petrol engine capacity 85 h.p. had remote control from a hand wheel. For protection of staff against splinters of the armour the machine-gun turret and deck house from within were pasted over with dense upholstery felt. In the First World War cutters deployed in Pinsk river flotilla, in Reny, Izmail, Tiraspol, Nikolaev. In the beginning of 18th years of 6 trophies patrol cutters were used by Germans as sentry. In November, 1918, receding, Germans have thrown these ships which have got of White Guard gang of ataman Petlyura. These boats participated practically in all operations of Red Army in Civil war. The success of usage of boats spoke their shallow draft that gave exclusive passable ness on shallow water, and also an opportunity of their rail transportation. In conditions of bad roads boats had the greater passable ness, than a field artillery. At the end of the Second World War patrol armoured gunboats participated in operations on the river Amur with Japan.

The Soviet 152-mm a howitzer - gun of a sample of 1937
In 1937 in the USSR the ML – 20 howitzer gun of a design of F.F. Petrov has been taken advantage by 152-mm. For one and a half month designers have created for the first time in the world the gun of intermediate type with properties of a gun and a howitzer. The corner of an eminence finished up to 65 °, and 13 variable charges have allowed to receive the gun which had as a howitzer hinged trajectories and as a gun high initial missile velocities. During WW II in all large artillery preparations, counter battery and storm of the consolidated regions guns of ML - 20. Especially successfully this gun was applied in struggle against heavy German tanks. The heavy shell in weight of 49 kg with the big initial speed easily broke a tower of T-IV "Tiger". For battle qualities of ML - 20 became a basis glorified SAU ISU-152. The gun was applied on all fronts of the WW II. In total 6880 pieces have been manufactured.

T-20 Komsomolets with 45 mm anti tank gun WW II
Soviet high-speed armored ammunition truck tractor T-20 "Komsomolets" was created at the end of 1936 by 37th factory's main designer N.N. Astrov on the basis of small tank T-38. This tractor was intended for towing anti-tank guns. Armoring of the truck tractor was 7-10 mm also was installed DT machine gun. Behind an engine compartment two lines of seats were placed. In rainy weather a canopy with small windows was pulled above the seats. In the beginning of WW II these tractors were applied as the machine gun tanks. For want of other truck tractors they were applied to towing heavier small-caliber air-defense and divisional artillery, working with an overloading. In total were released 7780 truck tractors. Truck tractors also were used by guerrillas. These light tractors are perfectly well conformed to the forest roads.

ZIS-30 Light Tank Destroyer
At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the Red Army had no tank destroyer or SPAA in production. To accomplish this task a special group of engineers was summoned to the factory's design bureau. The head designer was P.F.Murav'ev. In a very short time the new SP was designed and realized as a prototype. The ZIS-30 was a light tank destroyer based on the "Komsomolets" tractor. It was armed with an open 57 mm ZIS-2 AT-gun, protected only by the gun's shield. For better stability the TD was equipped with two extendable skids. The Factory nr. 92 was ordered to begin ZIS-30 production by September 1, 1941. However, a new problem appeared: at that time the only one factory produced the "Komsomolets" tractors - it was Moscow factory nr. 37. However, in August 1941 this factory switched its production from tractors to tanks, so no factory in the USSR produced this type of tractor any more. Then the decision was made to collect tractors from Red Army's units. You can imagine the condition in which those tractors were received after their use in the Army! As a result the production of the ZIS-30 tank destroyer began on September 21 and continued up to October 15, 1941. During this period the factory nr. 92 produced 101 TD's (including one experimental TD) with the 57 mm gun and one TD with a 45 mm AT-gun. Further production was cancelled because of a lack of tractors. The ZIS-30 tank destroyer served from the end of September 1941. Some of anti-tank batteries and 20 tank brigades of the Southwestern and Western Fronts were equipped with these TDs. Notice at that time this TD was called the "ZIS-2 57 mm AT-gun". The new tank destroyer was very successfully because of its excellent gun (in 1941-1942 this TD could penetrate any type of German tank from long distance). By the summer of 1942 most of these TD's were lost. Some were destroyed during battles, other were lost because of technical failures.

BS-3 soviet 100 mm field gun 1944 WW II
The 100-mm BS-3 field gun was the most powerful artillery system of Soviet Army at the final stages of WW II. The gun is intended to fight against tanks, light vehicles, to neutralize distant targets and to annihilate the infantry supporting fire weapons and enemy live force. The gun was developed in the beginning of 1943 by V. Grabin Design Bureau. In August, 1944 BS-3 guns were used almost in all local wars and during Chechen and Yugoslavian war as well. Tactical and Technical Specifications of BS-3

Soviet STZ NATI tractor (mod. of 1935) with 122-mm howitzer (mod. of 1910-1930).
In premilitary years in Soviet Union the big operation on modernizing the most modern guns getting from old Russian Army has been conducted. In 1930th the 76-mm gun mod. of 1902-30, 107-mm gun mod. of 1910-30, 122-mm howitzer mod. of 1910-30, 152-mm howitzer mod. of 1909-30, 152-mm gun mod. of 1910-30, an air-defense 76-mm gun mod. of 1915-28 have been upgraded. Modernizing consist in elongation of barrels, increasing of charge chambers, improvement of gun carriages and aiming systems, creation of shells of the improved shape that has provided increase in range of fire up to 55 %. Utilization of rubber-coated metal wheels has increased admissible speed of traffic with 6 up to 12 km/h. The 122-mm howitzer (mod. of 1910-30) was produced in the USSR till to 1941. For all time it has been released about 6000 units. The howitzer was used practically on all of fronts of WW II. At designing in 1935 STZ NATI tractor developers have used all best that was in world tractor construction - a Krupp's lug, a gearbox on sample of Caterpillar etc. STZ NATI tractor has turned out extremely successful and original. In 1937 at the Paris International Exhibition it has awarded with a "Grand Prix". It was widely applied in artillery of Red Army to trailing different artillery systems. In total it has been released 210 thousand units since 1937-1952.

Soviet armored car BA-27m
BA-27m was the first Soviet armored car of a batch production. The riveted body was made from rolled armored sheets. The armored car had hexagonal tower similar to tower of T-18 in which have been mounted Hotchkiss rapid-fire gun and DT 7.62-mm machine gun. Machine gunner was placed in the center of a tower on a pendant seat. Armored car BA-27m was produced since 1931 on the basis of lorry Ford-Timken. The armored car was used in the Soviet-Finnish war (1939-1940) and in initial stage of WW II.

Egyptian SPG, armed with the 100-mm BS-3 gun on the basis of tank T-34
SPG has been created as a result of modernization of T-34 tank turret in which the Soviet 100-mm BS-3 gun has been mounted. SPG actively used in the Arabian-Israeli conflict of 1967.
The kit have wrong detailled wheels and wrong wheelspacing!!!!

T-40C and T-40 with BM 8-24 missile launcher
After an extensive refit, the mass production of the T-40 was begun in October 1940. In total, 443 vehicles were produced in 1941 in three different versions. However, these variants were never accepted by the Red Army, the T-30 designation was abandoned, and all the vehicles were designated simply as T-40's. Most of them were lost in battle without distinguishing themselves. The T-40 was used the most during the Moscow battles (winter 1941-1942). However, some of them took part from the beginning of the Great Patriotic war. They were very successful in marshes where heavier tanks couldn't pass. In general, the T-40 was a successful tank.

AR7244 - The WW II 4x4 Soviet Army car Gaz-61
The Red Army higher officers used the all-wheel drive two-axle vehicle GAZ-61 combining in heightened comfort and extremely tall flotation ability, within WW II. Work above this car initiated by designer V.A.Grachev in 1938. Due to high engine power same as power of T-26 tank engine and the 4-wheel drive GAZ-61 car at a mass in the equipped condition of 1650 kg make 107 km/h and could overcome rises by a steepness 38°, haul trailers in weight up to 700 kg and force ford depth up to 0,72 m. At setting on sprockets of tires with developed grousers, this car exceeded half tractors flotation ability. There were produced approximately 400 GAZ-61 cars.

AR7245 - FAI-M Soviet light armored car mod. 1939
The FAI-M has been created as a result of modernization of FAI by mounting the case on M-1 chassis. Thus, FAI-M it became equivalent on the high-speed qualities to BA-20 armored car. To beginning of WW II in Red Army units were registered 376 of FAI-M. All of them have been lost in battles in first years of WW II. Some of FAI-M have been grasped by Finnish Army and have served until 1950.

AR7246 - The Romanian Self-propelled gun TACAM-T-60
Some of the light Soviet tanks T-60 grasped in 1942, Germans have transferred to theirs ally – Romania where on their base open Self-propelled gun has been developed. The machine armed with trophy Soviet infantry gun ZiS-3. The new battle machine has been named TACAM-T-60. In total in 1943, it has been produced 34 tanks.
AR7247 - Russian Light Tank T-60
The first verified battle involving the T-60 light tank occurred at the end of September 1941, while serving in the 10th Tank Brigade they were involved in intense battles near the Poltava region. The closest German counterpart for the T-60 was the Pz-II and the "Lynx". The T-60 was slightly better-protected, and had a longer range and better mobility on rough terrain, while its German counterparts enjoyed better reliability and was radio-equipped. The total output of T-60 since 1941 was 5839

AR7248 - Russian Gaz-66
The Soviet Army all-wheel drive lorry GAZ-66 (1964-1998) has been created under A.D. Prosvirnin's guiding.The all-wheel drive truck has carrying capacity of 2000 kg, called to replace GAZ-63. On the base of GAZ-66 some updating, for example GAS - 66B for an airborne troops are created. The BM-21? easy missile installation system of volley fire on the chassis of the GAZ-66B in which the number of 122-mm of tubes has been reduced with 40 up to 12 has been created. GAZ-66 army lorry took part in all local conflicts.
AR7249 The WW II Soviet aero glider
This exotic weaponry was applied during WW II on the Danube river flotilla, and then shared in release of the occupied states of Europe. After WW II they were on arms of countries of the Warsaw Pact. This weaponry combined virtues of light arms and air rates of sailing. Very many frequently German troops had not time to come round, when on a small river with an inconceivable roar and singing of air appeared extraordinary fast-running, an exotic kind of a boat.
AR7250 Soviet antiaircraft gun 85-mm WW II
In 1939 designer Dorokhin G.D. has created new air-defense system, having imposed a trunk of 85-mm gun on a 76-mm AA gun carriage mod. 1938. During the WW II this gun was successfully applied in troops of air defense. Only in the sky above Moscow 267 German planes have been brought down. Besides till 1942 it was successfully applied to destruction of German tanks. Armor-piercing shells pierced armor all types of tanks.
AR7251 The German mine-sweeper WW II
The trawl has been developed in 1941-42, as means for creation of passes in anti-tank minefields. A running speed up to 15 km/h. Battle weight 38 ton. Crew 3 persons. It has been manufactured it is a little bit exemplary the trawl. This trawl was kept in the single copy only in the Military Historical Museum of Armored Armament and Techniques in Kubinka (Russia).

AR7252 Soviet tank T-18 WW II
In 1930 in the USSR tank T-18 has been upgraded. The T-18 armament was consisted of 37-mm of Hotchkiss and a machine gun. To the beginning of the WW II it was saved about 160 T-18. The last the mention of the facts of participation of tanks T-18 in operations treats to Moscow battle (winter of 1941-42) in structure of 150-th tank brigade 9 tanks T-18 were at war. In total 959 tanks T-18 were manufactured.

AR7254 German SPG Waffentrage Ardelt with 88-mm gun PAK-43
Ardelt's SPG has been selected for armament as a result of competitive selection between Germans Steyr Corp., Rheinmetall Corp. and Ardelt Corp. in August, 1944. By the end of WW II the small batch of these machines which participated in defense of Berlin released. The armament comprised of 88-mm anti-tank gun PAK-43. Crew Waffentrager comprised from 4 person

AR7255 The Soviet armored tractor KhTZ-16
The big losses in tanks in the summer of 1941 have compelled command of Red Army to take urgent measures, namely to begin exhaustion of the armored tractors. For this purpose have been used tractors STZ-3. In total was produced about 100 tractors.

AR 7256 - The Soviet 76.2-mm squadron gun mod. 1902/30 Great War – WW II and Fordson-Putilovets tractor mod.1924
This gun known also under a title "3-inchy", has been developed in 1902 by designers of Putilov’s factory L.A.Bishljak, K.M.Sokolovsky and K.I.Lipnitski and was one of the best guns of time. The big virtue of a gun was also that for its manufacture was used basically cheap low-alloy and carbonaceous began. In the beginning of the WW II were produced about of 4500 guns. In 1920th years the young Soviet Republic needed a great many of tractors. Therefore was accepted decision to manufacture a tractor on the basis of the most simple and cheap at that time American tractor Fordson. . It was released since 1924 on 1932. In total 49568 tractors have been released. Tractors were used in Red Army for transportation of easy guns up to and during the WW II.

AR 7257 - Russian air-defence installation
First mass use of adaptations for field guns for shooting on planes is dated 1915. Various designs have been tested, but more successful appeared a curbstone of a design of B.I. Ivanov which has been taken advantage Russian army in 1915. In total it has been made handed to a troops more such 800 adaptations. Last from known examples of application of Ivanov's installations concerns to the end of summer of 1941. In Smolensk battle the division of these guns took part. One of batteries which lieutenant Babin commanded has brought down one "Junkers-87" and one "Henschel-126".

Soviet Voroshilovets heavy tractor with 85-mm air-defense gun mod. 1939
In the autumn of 1941 at the artillery factory Nr. 8 in Podlipki (near the Moscow) tractor "Voroshilovetz" have equipped with the 85-mm air-defense gun. It was a pre-production model of the self-propelled gun, which did not take part in WW II operations.

The Kremlin limousines series: ZiS-110B 1943-1957
ZiS-110 was comfortable Soviet representation limousines in which design all last achievements of automobile techniques of that time have been taken into account have been discounted. Designing of this car have begun in 1943, and in August 1945, the first batch of cars has been collected.Updating with a "phaeton" body ZiS-110B was issued in 1949 - 1957. ZiS-110 car was widely used by the Kremlin elite. Automobiles with a "phaeton" body were used on parades on the Red Square, Moscow.
LSSC light seal support craft
The LSSC (Light SEAL Support Craft) was designed for squad-sized operations. One of the SEALs favorite transports in Vietnam was the LSSC (light SEAL support craft). Built by Grafton Boats, the LSSCs were heavily armored against 0.30 caliber bullets at a range of 100 yards. Once it returned with a baseball size dent in the hull where a B-40 rocket hit, but did not explode. The LSSC became operational in 1969. A total of 16 boats were ordered.

Soviet heavy artillery halftrack AT-8 WW II
From December, 1942 till September, 1943 on the Soviet war plants works on creation heavy twin-engined artillery halftracks with use in a design of elements of a chassis of the Soviet light T-70M tank were conducted. In result, two models of tractors have been created: ??-8 halftrack (for cannon in weight up to 9 tons) and AT-14 halftrack (for cannon in weight up to 14 tons).

AR7262 Soviet heavy tractor AT-45 WW II
In 1943 the Soviet arms industry have started designing the artillery tractor for replacement AT "Voroshilovetz". The first batch of new tractors has been assembled on the Kharkov tractor factory (KhTF) in September 1944. These tractors have gone successful military tests on towage of artillery systems of the big calibers, and average and heavy tanks. However soon production of tractors AT-45 has been stopped in connection with that KhTF started to make new tank T-44.

AR7263 Soviet glider A-40 “KT” «Winged tank» on the basis of light tank T-60 WW II
In 1942 in Antonov's design office the towed glider for a transportation of light tanks in a structure of landings in rear of the enemy, and for supply of large guerilla groups has been developed and constructed by them. Tests were conducted near to Moscow by autumn of 1942. As a towing vehicle bomber TB-3 was used. The first and unique flight has taken place on September 2, 1942.

Note Webmaster: The T34/85 and the SU-100 from AER have some to be corrected mistakes.
Both models shows on the instructionsheet the correct spiderwheels, buth in the box are incorrect steel wheels. The wheelspacing is also incorrect (3 wheels to front and 2 wheels to rear - correct is 2 wheels to front and 3 wheels to the rear) The barrel and the thicknes of the tracks are too heavy. (use pictures from original vehicles for correction)

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