Assembling the Katyusha

Assembling the BM-13 Katyusha (SU145) We take a look at our new Katyusha model and how to assemble it. Katyusha Spotlight...     A model like the Katyusha can be a little daunting especially with so many parts! But taken one step at a time they usually prove to be not as much trouble as they first appear. So lets put one together… Below left: All the Parts.

Step 1 The first thing to do is place the driver inside the cab. Followed by the roof. The main reasons for doing this first is to avoid fiddling under the over hang of the rocket rack once that is glued on. You may also like to paint the driver and inside of the cab before putting the roof on or anything else together. This saves trying to paint into awkward spaces later.

Step 2 Once the roof is on the cab glue the wheels on. The Katyusha truck is based on the Zis-6 truck so any of you who have made any of these will be familiar with it’s assembly. Glue the front wheels on. Before gluing the rear axles on have a quick check to make sure the underside is level, if not you can level it off with a file or sharp knife. The rear wheels simply glue into the axle studs.

Step 3 Now the basic truck is together it’s time to start work on the rocket assembly. The first piece to glue on is the hydraulic ram, which fits into the central hole nearest the truck cab.

Step 4 Now you can put the truck aside for a few minutes to start on the rocket rack. First glue the two halves of the rockets together. Then align the long outside rail (you have 2 of these) with the rocket bodies. The section with no holes glues to the out side rockets. Repeat with the opposite side.

Step 5 Now we return to the truck to add the support frame. The support frames come as a left and right and glue into the hole at the back of the truck. Little studs on the inside of each frame, on the top beam, fit into the cross piece on the Hydraulic ram.

Step 6 A single rail with notches along it fits in front of the ram rest on the support frame with 6 notches facing up. The underside had two notches for aligning on the frame. Next the rocket rails assembled in step 3 are glued to the support frame. The rockets fit to the end of the frame and have slots especially for this purpose. The outside rail aligns with the outer notches of the support rail.

Step 7 Next glue in all the centre rails. These have a “V” shaped end where they fit into a similar shaped notch at the pointy end of the rockets.

Sometimes a little filing is required to align the rails properly on the notched support. Once they are all glued in and the glue is set you can bend the rails a little to align them at the end and to keep them parallel.

Step 8 Finally the support legs at the back of the Katyusha can be added, these simply glue into a slot at the rear of the truck. And you have a completed Katyusha. It just needs painting to start raining salvos of rockets on your foe’s troops! Wayne Katyusha Spotlight...