825 Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 It's time to start my next build of Italeri's desert Italiana. The Sahariana was specifically designed for desert use based on experiences with Scout and armoured cars. It's a very attractive and purposeful looking machine but a bit different from British and German equivalents. There's definitely a touch of Italian style in it. On one sand coloured sprues that's nicely moulded, crisp and clear with little signs of flash or seams. It's a fairly modern kit, according to Scalemates, it's an Italeri new tool from 2007. Straightforward instructions over a few pages and a nice transfer sheet sheet for two vehicles (just different registration plates), including a very neat little dashboard panel and an Italian flag for over the engine cover. Painting instructions in the instruction sheet and on the back of the box in typical Italeri style. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxbat Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Looking forward to this one - I have the version with the anti-tank gun in the post. Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted September 25, 2020 Author Share Posted September 25, 2020 A start on the body and interior given a coat of paint. The engine cover added. Everything fits together well. The plastic however doesn't take the glue too well to start with. The solvent doesn't really soften it to give it any 'stick'. Once the joins are made it's pretty strong though but everything needs to be in place then the glue wicked in along the join. Needs three hands at times. A little bit of filler will be needed. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Looks like a really detailed kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Nice addition to your collection 825. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Stuart Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 Interesting, and a bit different - when I first saw the box top I thought of a Schwimmwagen, and wondered if it was amphibious? Probably not, but "specifically designed for desert use based on experiences" - it'd be an interesting tale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted September 26, 2020 Author Share Posted September 26, 2020 On 9/25/2020 at 1:52 PM, Ted said: Looks like a really detailed kit. It is Its very well detailed On 9/25/2020 at 9:25 PM, Ozzy said: Nice addition to your collection 825. Thanks Ozzy 7 hours ago, Robert Stuart said: Interesting, and a bit different - when I first saw the box top I thought of a Schwimmwagen, and wondered if it was amphibious? Probably not, but "specifically designed for desert use based on experiences" - it'd be an interesting tale On first looking perhaps. But it's seriously a lot bigger. It's as big as a small tank. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted September 29, 2020 Author Share Posted September 29, 2020 A small amount of filler and some repainting. Jerricans and wheels added. Italeri make the wheels easy with separate hubs. I do like this approach, makes painting so much easier. Some of the detail parts added too. Its actually quite big, being longer than the M13/40 I've just about finished. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 Front end on and some further details. The cannon is started and is a nice little model in its own. Popped into place to see to see what it looks like. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted October 3, 2020 Author Share Posted October 3, 2020 Pretty much done now. All the remaining parts added and some touching up done. Just a final check on any paint, a couple of small bits on the cannon and the transfers to be added and we're done. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 Very cool. I want one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted October 13, 2020 Author Share Posted October 13, 2020 On 10/3/2020 at 3:48 PM, John Masters said: Very cool. I want one. It is really cool John, isn't it. Italian armour of the late 30s/early 40s was extremely stylish and the armoured cars functional as well. Many were used for a considerable period post war, especially by police forces Hannnats don't presently have the version I've got but a later version with an anti tank gun. Not as elegant but the same basic vehicle. https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/IT7053?result-token=JwyzZ And all the bits attached and just awaiting transfers. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted October 14, 2020 Author Share Posted October 14, 2020 Transfers on, there was only 4 but the Italian flag on the back is nice and bright. Ready for the gallery but I can't find my sand mat as a display base. Once sorted this and some others will be posted. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 Looks good i like the detail around the vehicle and the flag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted October 15, 2020 Share Posted October 15, 2020 22 hours ago, 825 said: can't find my sand mat I used an inside-out brown envelope kindly donated by HMRC for the base of my Grant pictures. Very neat work on an interesting kit! I’m guessing the Jerry cans weren’t self-sealing Regards, Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted October 15, 2020 Author Share Posted October 15, 2020 11 hours ago, AdrianMF said: I used an inside-out brown envelope kindly donated by HMRC for the base of my Grant pictures. Very neat work on an interesting kit! I’m guessing the Jerry cans weren’t self-sealing Regards, Adrian Thanks Adrian, I hadn't thought of that. I suspect the jerricans would have leaked with a single shot. I think they weren't used for additional protection but to give the Sahariana decent range around the desert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted October 15, 2020 Share Posted October 15, 2020 Great stuff 825 I have to say this is a completely vehicle to me, it really looks like a boat that someone has retrospectively fitted wheels to. Apart from the dangerously positioned fuel cans was it actually any good ? Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted October 15, 2020 Author Share Posted October 15, 2020 1 hour ago, JOCKNEY said: Great stuff 825 I have to say this is a completely vehicle to me, it really looks like a boat that someone has retrospectively fitted wheels to. Apart from the dangerously positioned fuel cans was it actually any good ? Cheers Pat The Sahariana was purpose built for desert use and based on the AB41 armoured car chassis. It improved reliability by moving from a 4x4 configuration to a 4x2 and removing the dual direction running. As well as the desert where they were well regarded, they were used in Sicily and Italy. After the war a number remained in service with police forces into the mid 50s, so they must have been pretty good. They were used more like the LRDG trucks and jeeps rather than armoured cars like a Dingo or Autoblinda. I know Wikipedia is not a peer reviewed evidence based source but it does have some good information. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPA-Viberti_AS.42 I happen to think its rather an attractive little thing. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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