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Italeri 1/35 Autoblinda AB 40
Ferroviaria
(6456)
Autoblinda AB 40 Ferroviaria
Italeri 1/35 Scale
Reviewed by Cookie Sewell
Summary
Stock Number and Description
Italeri 1/35th Scale Kit No. 6456;
Autoblinda AB 40 Ferroviaria
Scale:
1/35
Media and Contents:
197 parts (193 in light brown styrene, 4
black vinyl)
Price:
around USD$45.00 available from good hobby
shops worldwide
Review Type:
First Look
Advantages:
Another variation on this armored car;
track section useful for display (only if on a base)
Disadvantages:
Recommendation:
Highly Recommended for "railway," armored
car and Italian armor fans
FirstLook
One thing nearly every country that
used armored cars (less the US, which was not as much of a believer
in light reconnaissance as other countries) eventually adapted them
for use on railways. This was not too difficult as most railways in
Europe used standard gauge (4 feet 8 ½ inches) so as long as the
inner track of the vehicle was no more than 1.435 meters the vehicle
could easily be fitted with flanged railroad wheels. The vehicles
could then be used for useful patrol vehicles along railways,
assisting in fire support against partisan activities and other
security missions. (The other reason seems to be the loss of a
single armored car and a crew of two or three was preferable to a
locomotive, crew and several train cars, but I am sure none of the
armored car crews were given a choice of that kind of math!)
Italeri has now provided the railway version of its very nice AB 40
armored car kit with flanged railway wheels. These obsolete armored
cars were used in Yugoslavia against Tito's partisans first by the
Italians and later by the Germans.
Italeri's kit comes with two short sections of rails and ties (no
bases, which is actually better as it lets the modeler come up with
more realistic roadbed than injection-molded or vacuformed ones)
that cleverly and realistically have fish plates joining them
together. There is only enough to mount the model, however, and
anyone wishing to put the model in a diorama will have to get some
DML or Trumpeter 1/35 scale track.
The model comes with four tires and original "highway" wheels, so it
does present a number of opportunities to show the model in road
condition, changing over, or rail mode. The directions don't quite
cover this (e.g. where to put the solid flanged wheels) but it is an
option. It also has the essential railway sand bins on the front
fenders as well as guards.
The rest of the model is pretty much the previous release of this
kit with the twin machine gun turret. The model provides separate
hull and engine access hatches as well as separate turret hatches
but no interior components. The machine guns (there are four
included) come with basic breech detail at least, so with some
useful references an interior is possible.
Molding is very sharp and clear, and as is obvious to anyone
sampling Italeri's recent fare they are putting heart and soul into
their Italian subjects; I just wish it were across-the-board on some
of their other efforts.
Finishing options cover a vehicle in Italian service in Yugoslavia
(1942) and one in German service (1944). Number plates are provided
for the Italian one (RE 375 B) but the German one only sports
crosses. The Italian one is in sand and the German one in a tricolor
scheme apropos for later in the war.
Overall this is a nice offbeat subject and very well done.
Thanks to Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
Sprue breakdown:
A 9 Chassis and springs
B 62x2 Wheels, railway track sections, suspension details
C 39 Hull and turret details
D 21 Turret
E 4 Black vinyl tires