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Italeri 1/35 ABM 41/42 with
47/32 AT gun
(6455)
ABM 41/42 with 47/32 AT gun
Italeri 1/35 Scale
Reviewed by Cookie Sewell
Summary
Stock Number and Description
Italeri 1/35 scale Kit No. 6455; ABM 41/42
with 47/32 AT gun
Scale:
1/35
Media and Contents:
271 parts (247 in tan styrene, 12 etched
brass, 10 vinyl, 1 clear styrene, 1 turned aluminum)
Price:
around USD$45.00 available from good hobby
shops worldwide
Review Type:
First Look
Advantages:
first kit of this vehicle in this scale in
styrene; clear, crisp details; beautifully rendered 47mm antitank gun
Disadvantages:
References are scarce
Recommendation:
Highly Recommended for all African, Italian
or wheeled vehicle fans
FirstLook
Two things which tend to be irresistible to armor modelers are
"ugly" and "fancy paint job", and for all of the beautiful auto
styling that has come from Italy over the years, this vehicle
certainly qualifies as the former and wears the latter well.
Modelers have always liked the Italian armored vehicles used in
North Africa due to their completely unique nature and shape. This
one, an upgraded version of the "Sahariana" light armored desert
vehicle, is well done and captures the vehicle nicely.
Lately we have been subjected to "Jekyll and Hyde" products from
Italeri (such as their awful M923 with Shelter, still on my list of
misbegotten kits) but this one is definitely one of their "Jekyll"
kits. Very nicely and completely rendered, it shows a greater deal
of planning than many recent kits. (One could note that Italeri has
tried harder in recent years with its Italian armor kits, sort of
playing to the home crowd.)
Take for example the 47/32 47mm antitank gun. In their unfortunate
LVT(A)-5 kit, Italeri basically pulled a "Hyde" and rendered the
complex 75mm pack howitzer installation as a single piece; not so
here, as they pull a "Jekyll" with a 16 piece basic gun assembly for
a very simple gun, topped off with a choice between a two-piece
(muzzle and tube) or single-piece turned aluminum barrel. It also
has an ammo box with six rounds to compliment it.
Even the mass jerry can installation has a respectable amount of
detail. While the cans are molded in blocks of five, each has a
separate three-bar handle and spout.
Click the
thumbnails below to view larger images:
Based on the previous AB 41 armored
car and Sahariana kits, this model has the same basic structure and
shared parts. Construction begins with the chassis pan and
suspension, and then progresses to the body. Note that three
different versions may be built from the kit, so care must be taken
as to which one the modeler has selected as the various features are
called out as the model progresses. Variant A is one serving in Rome
during September 1943 and has bins, spare fuel tanks, and different
stowage; Variant B is in Sicily 1943 with a similar arrangement, and
Variant C is in Tunisia 1943 with sand channels and double the jerry
can fit.
Options are pleniful. A and B get tactical tires, C gets desert
tires; all are provided in vinyl and nicely done.
On the body sides, A gets bins and
racks, B gets bins and jerry cans, and C gets double jerry cans.
Alternate position jump seats are provided inside the body.
Etched brass parts are provided for both the Variant C sand channels
as well as the rear jerry can racks (one per side with two cans) and
straps for the main racks. The rear racks are very involved and I
suggest you have either a Hold and Fold or Etch-Mate before tackling
them.
As noted, the model comes with three finishing options: Regio
Esercito, 123a Compagnia Arditi Camionettisti, Rome September 1943
(Variant A - tricolor scheme); Regio Esercito, 113a Compagnia Arditi
Camionettisti, Sicily July 1943 (Variant B - sand); and Regio
Esercito, Raggrupamento Sahariano, Tunisia 1943 (Variant C - sand).
At least Variant C has a flag to indicate it changed sides as well!
Overall this is one of the nicer kits to come out from Italeri in
recent years and looks to be a fun built. Wish they would have paid
this attention to some of their other kits!
Highly Recommended
Sprue Layout
A 9 Chassis and belly pan
B 30x2 Wheel mounts, details
C 48 Body components
E 5 Desert pattern tires
E 5 Tactical pattern tires
F 30 47/32 antitank gun and mount
G 43x2 Jerry cans, details
H 14 Stowage bins
1 Clear styrene square