British Armoured Car (1914 pattern)

[Mike]

British Armoured Car (1914 pattern)

1:35 Roden

Curiously, it was the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) that brought about Britain's first armoured car, requisitioning all available Rolls Royce Silver Clouds to be cut up and given a new armoured superstructure. To cope with the extra weight, the engines were also uprated to 80hp.

They were soon handed over to the army and served in countries that didn't suffer with the mud of the Western front, such as the middle east. Here they were used to great effect for hit and run raids, and were notably used by the famous Lawrence of Arabia who became rather attached to his squadron of vehicles.

The Roden kit is not a brand new tooling, with various versions having been available for some time now. The kit arrives in a top opening box, and inside you will find eleven sprues of an unusual (these days) mid-green styrene, a small fret of Photo-Etched (PE) metal parts, a decal sheet and an A4 instruction booklet.

The kit includes a nicely detailed rendition of the 6-cylinder Rolls Royce engine, radiator, fuel tank, and a basic cab in which the driver and gunner sit. The ladder style chassis is built up first, with a set of leaf springs supporting the axles. There is a small sink mark in the widest part of these springs, but given their proximity to the wheel hubs, these should go un-noticed.

The tyres are styrene, and their rims build up from a number of cylindrical parts that sandwich the PE spokes, holding them in place. Here, Roden have created a set of spoke parts that are shaped over a set of styrene shapes, to get the correct dish to the wheels, and making for a more realistic wheel. The rear axle has double wheels to spread the additional weight and improve traction, and each wheel has its own set of spokes. It would be wise to paint these parts before assembly, as painting the inner faces might otherwise be difficult once built.

The rear of the vehicle has an open flat-bed arrangement, with built in wooden seating for a small number of soldiers, which has a nice wood grain effect on the parts. The balance of the upper bodywork consists of a roughly cylindrical cab area, the armoured cowling around the big motor, and the armoured radiator. The front wheels also have deep fenders to protect them.

On top of the cab rests a small turret with a mounted Vickers machinegun for the co-driver to use in combat. A spare set of tyres mounts on the roof of the turret, and a double spare wheel on the right side of the cab. A pair of running boards run between the wheel housings, with rudimentary ramps/un-ditching beams slung under each one.

The decal sheet is of course on the small side, and includes a small number of white serials, a pair of large RNAS logos, and a large white ensign that is destined for the aerial on the Navy machine. Register is good, and the carrier film is nice and thin. You can build one of the following from the decals provided:

• G-256, unknown unit, North Africa, 1917 (lozenge patterned camo)
  
• White 1 "Superb", middle East, 1918 (All over faded olive drab)
  
• 8-C-2, unknown RNAS unit, Western Front, 1916 (All over blue grey)
  

Conclusion

I'm a big fan of WWI AFVs, because of the variety of types that appeared as the designers struggled to hit upon a workable tank. This kit fills one of many holes in the range, and fills it well. You get all of the basics to build a stunning replica, with options for opening up the hatches and the engine bay if the urge takes you. A little extra detailing would produce a superb model, and the diorama possibilities are there for the taking.

Moulding is good, detail is excellent, and the construction process is logical. The addition of the PE spoked wheels is a great solution, rather than taking the traditional route of moulding them as raised lines on a styrene disc.

Recommended.

Review sample courtesy of

[Obi-Jiff Kenobi]

Nice review, Mike.

[jimbuna]

Good review Mike....are the spoke bending templates something new because I've honestly never heard of them before?

I don't ever recall having built a kit car before so it is probably me.

[Mike]

Good review Mike....are the spoke bending templates something new because I've honestly never heard of them before?

I don't ever recall having built a kit car before so it is probably me.

Cheers - I'm not sure, as I've not got any of the other kits. Perhaps someone who has could comment? It's a great idea either way

[Shar2]

That looks like a really nice kit.

[Paul A H]

Looks really nice. Does anyone else think that Roden box art is up there with the best? Some of it is good enough to hang on the wall!

[richellis]

Yes, Roden do some cracking boxes.

This is a nice kit!

[wkennerley]

A quick correction if I may, the cars used were Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts not Silver Clouds which are a 1950s / 60s model. Wayne

[spitfire]

Now that is really distintive, back in the days of Empire.

Cheers

Den