French AHN2 Truck (35419) 1:35

[Mike]

French AHN2 Truck (35419)

1:35 ICM via Hannants

 

 

The original AHx design by Renault could carry a load of 2 tonnes, and when Germany conquered France they ordered more into production and the larger AHN, which was capable of carrying 4 tonnes, but was designated 3.5 tonnes by the Wehrmacht, probably as a safety feature.  The AHN was equipped with a 4L straight six petrol engine coupled to a four speed gearbox.  From introduction in 1941 to the end of WWII they served in all theatres, and around 4000 were built in various forms.  For two years after the war France built a further 2,400 units, many of which were sold to the civilian market, along with some of the former military vehicles.

 

 

The Kit

Stemming from a new tool in 2014, this is a reboxing with the addition of a new roof sprue that gives the option of a small ventilation hatch right above the driver’s head.  Inside the box are seven sprues of grey styrene, a clear sprue, a bag of flexible plastic tyres, decal sheet and instruction booklet with colour profiles on the rear pages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a full detail kit, and construction starts with the chassis, which is built from rails and cross-members, into which you install the engine when it has been assembled from a decent number of parts to give good detail.  The radiator slots into the front, and then suspension is added in the front and rear using leaf springs, which are then fixed to axles after the exhaust has been glued to the chassis rails.  Steering linkages are fitted into the left side of the engine, joining up with the front axle's steering rack, and then the wheels are added, made up from the flexible tyres slipped over the styrene hubs.  The rear wheels are paired for weight distribution, so have twin hubs joined together with a castellated mating surface.  Fuel tank, spare wheel, drive-shaft and towing hitches are then installed to finish off the lower of the vehicle.

 

The snub-nosed cab is next to be fabricated, and this begins with the stepped floor, which has crew steps added to the underside, and then has the two doors fixed to the sides after the clear windows are put in place, with the front completed in the same manner.  Inside the cab an air filter box, instruments (with decal), driver controls and comfy-looking barrel-backed seats are all glued in place after painting, and the rear panel with small rear-view window finishes off the framework.  The crew doors have glazing added and are attached to the front edge of their aperture in open or closed positions as you see fit, while the roof goes on as a single part or as the ventilated version with a lozenge-shaped hatch, and both roof parts have a couple of ejector-pin marks to square away if you think they will be seen.  At the front is a distinctive radiator grille, which has an emblem design added to the front, and then gets fitted to the hole in the nose, plus a filler cap above it.

 

The truck bed has a complex arrangement of supports underneath, which are slotted together on two central rails and surrounded by side frames, after which the floor is dropped on top and the sides are added.  The rear mudguards underneath are attached via a pair of supports that mate with small blocks under the bed and ridges on the semi-cylindrical guards themselves.  The number plate sits low on the rear, and side frames are added to the tops of the bed's uprights, with a large roof part fitted with longitudinal slats to complete top frame/tilt.  Both the bed and cab are fixed to their slots in the tops of the chassis rails, and as the final step the lights, windscreen wipers, weirdly the convoy light from the German military version, and wing mirrors are all attached to the sloping front and sides of the cab.  The convoy light might be as well left off and the nub onto which it attaches removed from the number plate holder, but check your references before taking my advice.  Now for some paint.

 

 

Markings

There are four markings options in the box, and all but one of them have the same blue scheme.  From the box you can build one of the following:

 

• France, 1945
• National Gendarmerie, late 40s
• Savoy, France, 1954
• Mondoubleau, France, 2000s

 

 

 

The decals are printed in the Ukraine, and consist of some logos and number plates, with good registration, colour density and sharpness, as we've come to expect from ICM's decal printers.  An instrument binnacle dial is also include in the top centre of the sheet.

 

 

Conclusion

A well-detailed kit of this funny-looking French wagon in civilian service after the war.  Well worth a look.

 

Highly recommended.

 

Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd.

 

Review sample courtesy of