MiniArt British Armoured Car Crew Special Edition (35387) 1:35

[Mike]

British Armoured Car Crew Special Edition (35387)

1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models Ltd

 

 

All forces during WWII operated armoured cars, which whilst they were generally ineffective against tanks, were of immense use of great use when fighting infantry and lightly armoured vehicles or emplacements.  They were also useful for reconnaissance, as they were able to cover greater areas in a shorter time than a similar-sized foot patrol, and had at least some level of protection if they should run into enemy forces, with the capability of withdrawing quickly, enabling the intelligence to get back to HQ for dissemination and a suitable response.

 

 

 

This set contains five crew figures for a British armoured car of WWII, and arrives in a figure-sized end-opening box with a painting of the crew on the front, and instructions on the back, reusing the same painting but with arrows in blue pointing out suggested colours, and black showing the parts used for each one.  Under the instructions is a chart that gives codes for Vallejo, Mr Color, AK RealColor, Mission Models, AMMO, Tamiya, plus colour swatches and generic names for completeness.  Inside are five sprues of various sizes in grey styrene, two of which contain the figure parts, while the remaining three are full of accessories that can be utilised to personalise the figures, or as equipment to stow around the vehicle or diorama you are creating, with some finding their way into the spare parts box.

 

 

 

The crew are in various poses, the most amusing of which is the driver, who is hunched over a large steering wheel, looking very intensely in the direction they are (hopefully) travelling.  Three more figures are standing, two with one foot raised on something, the commander looking through his binoculars, while the other rests one hand on his hip, the other on a part of the vehicle.  The fourth crewman is standing in a hatch with one hand on the deck, while he talks on the radio, whilst the final seated figure is leaning slightly back, supporting himself with one arm, and shading his eyes with the other hand.  He and one of the standing figures are wearing shorts and have their long-sleeved shirt sleeves rolled up, while the rest of the crew are in long trousers and have their sleeves rolled down.  This is because three of the crew are more suited to a North African location, whilst two are intended to be in European service.  The commander is suitably ambiguous however, and can be used in either locale, and if you place some of the figures in turrets or hatches, their pant legs or nobbly knees won’t be seen anyway.

 

 

The parts for each figure are found in separate areas of the sprues for ease of identification, and parts breakdown is sensibly placed along clothing seams or natural breaks to minimise clean-up of the figures once they are built up.  The sculpting is typically excellent, as we’ve come to expect from MiniArt’s artists and tool-makers, with natural poses, drape of clothing and textures appropriate to the parts of the model.

 

 

Conclusion

Superb injection-moulded styrene figures from MiniArt that will bring any British Armoured car to life, with clothing suitable for hot or cooler climate operations.

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

[Black Knight]

Do I see three types of head-gear; berets, brodies and ?

[Mike]

1 hour ago, Black Knight said:

Do I see three types of head-gear; berets, brodies and ?

You sound like you know more names of the different headgear than me already, so have a zoom in. I saved the files at 1280 px so you could all see the detail  

[Black Knight]

The 5 in a row on the last frame look like they may be late-WW2 Turtle helmets. 

But I can only see their tops

If they are Turtles the crew could be used for early N.I. 'Troubles' with the Airfix Ferret

[Mike]

49 minutes ago, Black Knight said:

The 5 in a row on the last frame look like they may be late-WW2 Turtle helmets. 

But I can only see their tops

IIRC they’re bowl-like without a rim, but I’m away from my desk right now, so can’t check. I’ve got to get back shortly though, so I’ll try and remember to have a look. 

[Black Knight]

There are variations in the shape of the Mk.III / Mk.IV 'Turtle' helmet but they generally look like this

[Mike]

1 hour ago, Black Knight said:

There are variations in the shape of the Mk.III / Mk.IV 'Turtle' helmet but they generally look like this

 

They don't look like that, more like the Mk.6 Kevlar, TBH.  I've added another pic to the review, but I'll reproduce it here to save your scroll-wheel

 

 

The curve of the helmets are more domed than the one in your pic, and the brim is nothing more than a mild swelling around the rim That sounded dodgy.

[Pig of the Week]

They look kinda like airborne or despatch rider helmets to me....? 

[Black Knight]

As they are British WW2 Armoured Car crew I'll assume that is MiniArt's attempt at Turtle helmets

[Pig of the Week]

Still look like the airborne shape to me.. "Turtle" type was only issued on and after June 6 '44 as far as I recall too, the figures look like they're pitched a bit earlier than that but who knows what miniart had in mind ? 

There's some nice extra bits and bobs in the set anyway 😁

[Pig of the Week]

The RAC mk1 tank helmet looks a likely contender again first issued 1944, plus it had the regular type liner.. Shape is very similar to the paratrooper version. 

 

 

 

[Mike]

16 hours ago, Pig of the Week said:

The RAC mk1 tank helmet looks a likely contender again first issued 1944, plus it had the regular type liner.. Shape is very similar to the paratrooper version. 

 

 

 

That looks like the swollen rim, yes 😐 

[Pig of the Week]

5 minutes ago, Mike said:

That looks like the swollen rim, yes 😐 

I expect you can get an ointment for that.... 

[Mike]

2 minutes ago, Pig of the Week said:

I expect you can get an ointment for that.... 

I thought everyone had missed that

[Pig of the Week]

Miss a double entendre opportunity, never... 😉

[Johnny Tip]

Turtles are included as well... next to the Brodies, 3 with netting and one without. (just for completion)