Armour Models
by Steve Cox

RPM Ford Model T ambulance

Kit: RPM (1:72)

It's out-of-the-box apart from the headlamps and rear tarpaulin. The lamps are made from clear sprue, shaped and backed with silver foil before being set into the kit parts, then finished off with Klear. The rear tarpaulin was cut from the plastic bag the transfers came in, crushed to make the folds, then painted with acrylic as the rest of the kit.

Renault Ft.17

This is the Matchbox Renault FT.17. The kit boxcontains this and the Char B1 bis of 1930, and both models comewith markings for 1940.
The FT 17 is basically OOB. The diamond markings are typical ofthe 'playing card' motifs used during WW1, and were cut from aircraftdecal sheets- hence the diamond rather than spades or clubs.
The little diorama shows Pierre taking a short break leaning ona grassy bank in a sunken lane on the way up to the front line. Pierre comes from the HäT WW1 British Infantry, and hashad his cap reshaped to match the French helmet with cloth covering.The plastic used in these figures is the soft flexible type, mouldedwith lots of flash which is very difficult to remove cleanly,so he doesn't bear close inspection.
The base is scenic grass stuck on a polystyrene food tray base,the dirt track is railway model ballast and arabian desert sand.
A little bit of fun for the Brampton Model Club show next weekend,with "The French Connection" as the display theme.

Mk I Male

Kit: Airfix (1:72)

The Mk1 male tank, with wheels, is the 1/76th Airfix kit, built from the box - I liked the camouflage pattern. The tracks were finished in matt rust paint, then drybrushed with a black/silver mix. The anti-grenade netting frame was built from plastic rod and strips of thin plasticard. The netting is net curtain, painted in grey to darken and stiffen it.

Mk IV Female

Kit: Emhar (1:72)

The Mk IV female is the 1/72nd Emhar kit, again OOB, apart from the guide rails for the unditching beam. These were cut from a coke can, folded to make the angle, and fixed to the hull with some 'coke can' angle brackets. The markings are done for a 'Beutepanzer', one that the Germans captured and then put to use. I liked making these WW1 tanks because they don't have hundreds of wheels.

Ford Model T Armoured Car