ICM 1/72nd BM-21 “Grad” Multiple
Launch Rocket System
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Background
A complete in-box review of this kit appeared in an earlier
issue of Internet Modeler. In summary, this is an excellent-looking
kit in the box and builds into a fine-looking model without too much difficulty.
I should add one correction from the prior review. I think this kit is
an Ural 375 rather than an Ural 4320 because to my mind, the radiator
grille shape is more like the former.
The kit has three main subcomponents: 1) The chassis axles and wheels:
2) The cab: and 3) The rocket launcher. I kept all three separate until
the final weathering process.
Chassis, Axles and Wheels
 I
began with the chassis, axles and wheels. Prior to assembly, I sprayed
all these parts scale black on the sprue. Not all the pieces are that
color but most of them are. In any event, you will have to paint them
again once you have assembled them because these parts are small and require
clean up – there are many molding seams. I followed the instructions
carefully, using measurements as specified in the instructions. These
instructions are a major improvement over those in the Zil-157 kits I
built. Nevertheless, the instructions are not definitive and you have
to take care and do a lot of dry-fitting to ensure correct placement of
the parts. The one problem I had was that the fuel tank on the driver’s
side brushed up against the front of the center wheel and had to be moved
forward a couple of millimeters. This was not difficult but demonstrated
the need for dry-fitting major subassemblies as well as the individual
parts. The wheels have excellent detail. I glued the wheel halves using
Pro Weld and squeezed carefully so a little ridge was formed. Once that
had dried, I sanded the ridge down and no filler was needed. I re-painted
the chassis and the wheels, and finally dry-brushed the chassis and the
wheels using light grey enamel.
Cab
 The
cab was next. I used a paint mix I had made for World War One PC-10 and
added a little light grey because I wanted a light base. I sprayed the
inside of the cab, assembled and glued together the interior components.
Before gluing the interior into the cab, you have to glue in the windows.
I painted the rim edge of each window in order to reduce the reflective-thickness
effect – the clear parts are a little thick. I glued them in using
Elmers white glue, however, the side windows do not fit. There is a little
strut separating the roll-down window from those little push-out triangle
windows and the kit part simply won’t go in there. My solution was
to make my own little triangle windows in the open position, which I glued
on at the very end, and to omit the roll down windows: they are assumed
to be “Rolled down”! I also added windshield wipers using
plastic strips.
Rocket Launcher
 The
rocket launcher component might look complex but it is quite simple to
assemble and fits well. I think that the instructions mixed up a couple
of the rocket tube parts (B22-B25) but it is fairly easy to tell which
pieces go where. One omission in the kit is mud flaps, which I made from
plastic card – the license tag decals adhere to one of these. I
only used the license tag decals. I have found ICM’s insignia decals
a little thick so I just left those off. However, there is a wide range
of decals from various ex-Soviet Bloc countries that you can use on the
cab doors.
Bringing It All Together and Final Touches
 Once
I had completed all three subassemblies, I sprayed them with Testors clear
flat, gave them an oil wash of burnt umber and then highlighted all the
edges with a silver Prismacolor pencil. At this point, I glued together
the subassemblies, had to move the fuel tank forward 2mm (as mentioned
above), and added the various small “Sticking out” pieces
such as the lamps and handles. I used the kit parts for the front headlamps,
first painting their backs silver. I used MV lenses for the side lamp
next to the driver’s window. Before I glued the model to its base
I gave the underside some weathering treatment using pastel chalks.
The base was simple to construct. For about 75 cents, I bought a ready-made
pine wood base. I stained it and then painted it with clear semi-gloss
polyurethane. I glued some green felt to the underside of the base and
some patterned card to the top. I glued the model to the base using super-glue
and weathered the model using pastel chalks.
 Conclusion
This is an excellent kit. It has a fairly large number of pieces so
it takes a little time to assemble. However, assembly is fairly easy and
a really nice model can result. Highly recommended.
References
František Korán, Aleš Knízek, Michal Burian.
“Ural-375/4320 in Detail: Russian Modern 5-ton Truck and his Variants.”
Present Vehicle Line No. 5. Wings & Wheels Publications, Rak, Prague,
Czech Republic, 2001.
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank ICM for kindly
supplying me with this excellent kit.
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