„STAR-266“ + „ZU-23x2“ – the Polish anti-aircraft complex

"STAR 266" is a Polish all-terrain truck, designed for on-road and off-road cargo and passenger transportation and for towing trailers up to 4 tons. Serially produced in 1973 - 2000 at the "STAR" Truck Factory in Starachovichi. It was the main all-terrain truck, used by the Polish Army (Wojsko Polskie). In 1968 at the FSC "STAR" Development Research Center and Motorization Industry Designers' Office in Warsaw, with the participation of the Military Institute of Armored and Automotive Technology from Sulejowka, a new Polish truck - an all-terrain vehicle, designed to replace the "STAR 660" family of trucks, produced since 1965, in the Army and the national economy, was launched. The first "STAR 266" prototype was produced in 1969. In 1970 - 1973 several other prototypes were tested and work was carried out to adapt the Starochovichi factory to the production of a new model. Serial production of "STAR 266" started in 1973. The car body is attached to a welded main frame, made of rolled sheet metal. The front rigid axle is used for travel, mounted to the frame with semi-elliptical spring links, and the two rear axles are fixed with hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers. The rear and middle drive axles are attached to the frame by reverse semi-elliptical spring links and 6 jet arms. The drive axles are equipped with a pneumatic power distribution block. The braking system is adapted to the connection of the trailer system and is equipped with a high pressure booster. "STAR 266" is powered by a Polish 6-cylinder in-line diesel engine of type "S 359" (from 1983 - type "S 359M") with direct fuel injection. It has a working volume of 6842 cm³, a maximum power of 110 kW or 150 h. p., the engine is interlocked with a mechanical 5-speed gearbox "S5 - 45", connected by a tubular shaft with a mechanically controlled two-position reducer "SR - 380M". In addition, the gearbox is connected to a power transmission attachment, which was installed at different times in the following types: "N10/70", "P45/1" or "P45/2". STAR 266 mounted wagon type 641 cab, which had two hatches in the roof, a folding windscreen and a berth. In 1985, it was modernized by changing the style of the front air intake. The cargo platform could be of one of two types: 663 or 673. The type 663 platform could have a two-position bottom made of boards, a folding tailboard, an awning, folding benches, mounted on the side boards, light and sound installation for communication with the car cabin. The Type 673 platform had a single-position plank bottom, tarpaulin equipment and hinged sides and tailboards. "STAR 266" can overcome 120 cm deep fords without preparation, and even 1.8 m deep crossings with special preparation. It is also possible to drag the car over the bottom, but only after preparing in advance. Cars of this model can work without problems up to 98% air humidity and dustiness, reaching 1.5 g/cm³. On the base of the chassis of "STAR 266" and its modifications, various bodies - equipment are installed: "117 AUM" type body - van, "Sarna I" and "Sarna II" type repair workshops, "R - 137B" and "R - 140M" type radios stations, "R - 409" type radio linear stations, "ADK - 11" type headquarters command post, "GD - 2" type smoke generator, "WUS - 3" type chemical cleaning equipment, fire fighting bodies, mobile cranes and excavators. In addition to Wojsko Polskie, these cars were also used (and are now used) by the Armies of Angola, Burma, Yemen, Libya, Hungary, and the USSR. After the collapse of the USSR and Lithuania starting to rebuild its Army, several dozen cars from the Wojsko Polskie reserve were donated to the auto park of the rebuilding Lithuanian Army. Until recently, they still served in units, but time passes and the last copies are written off or sold for scrap. One or two became exhibits of the Vilnius Museum of Military Technology. In 1988, two "STAR 266" participated in the "Paris - Dakar" race. Both crews (Jerzy Franek and Tomasz Sikora (driver) and Jerzy Mazur and Julian Obrocki) reached the finish line. After the MAN concern took over the factory in Starochovičiai, new trucks were designed - all-terrain vehicles "STAR 944" and "STAR 1466". The production of the "STAR 266" was discontinued in December 2000, when the production of the "STAR 1466" model began.

A complex, well-designed and detailed model of an anti-aircraft complex for intermediate and advanced modelers. When converting to a "Lithuanian" model, no major changes will be needed - do not install "ZU-23x2", replace Polish number plates with Lithuanian ones, clear Polish symbols and paint Lithuanian ones. Antiquarian publication.