Contains over 60 green, black and clear plastic parts.  The parts appear well molded and separation from the sprue should be no problem.  The cab is impressive in that it comes molded as one piece simplifying construction, and it is still well detailed.There are also three copper rods which act as axles and will allow the wheels to roll, just like as with the Hasegawa GMC truck models.  Despite the rolling wheels, the kit looks like it will build into an attractive and accurate display model or war gaming piece.

This kit has also been sold as the MAC #72014 Zil-157K Cargo Truck, and Omega-K #7205 ZIL 157 Cargo Truck.  I understand that this handsome truck is based on the US Studebaker 6 x 6 truck shipped to the USSR under Lend Lease, though I do not note many superficial similarities, though I would not judge on the superficial.  The truck can be painted and displayed in one of many Warsaw Pact European colors, or the desert colors of the Middle East. 

For a good build of this kit (in its release under the MAC name) see Bednar Jiri model.

For Extra Detailing…

ExtraTECH Etched Brass set EXV 72 002 for ICM’s 1/72 scale ZIL 157 Truck kit.

The MAC kit is of a contemporary Russian military truck and is offered in at least three variants: cargo, fuel, and command trucks.  The EXTRATECH brass set has 17 pieces and has parts useful for all the versions.  Included is a roof rack for the cab, a beautiful steering wheel (my favorite part), light guards for the fenders, tow hooks for the bumper, two side-view mirrors, windshield wipers, and a fire extinguisher holder.  Detail is very nice and the instructions are good and clear.  The tabs holding the items to the sprue are small and easy to cut. 

While examining this etched brass set I realized that many of the parts are also useful for other 1/72 and 1/76 kits such as AER’s Zis-5 and Studebaker trucks, ESCI’s Opel Blitz, Airfix’s Opel kit, Hasegawa’s GMC kits and a number of resin auto and truck kits.  Most of these other models have no brass detail sets available.