Humber Armoured Car Mk.IV
Bronco Models 1:35 Scale Kit No. CB-35081SP
Kit Preview

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Following on from their previous Humber Scout Car kits, Bronco have now released the larger Humber Armoured Car MK.IV which was the final version armed with a 37mm gun and BESA co-ax machine gun.

The initial release looked at in this preview is a special version with clear plastic hull and turret parts to expose the full interior included in the kit with only 3999 special kits being produced before a "normal" kit to follow at a later date.

The kit and consists of 653 parts in light grey plastic, 12 in clear plastic, 91 etched parts, 2 short vinyl BESA ammo belts plus the decal sheet and 38 page instruction booklet. You will have to excuse the spelling mistake on the box as it should be Armoured, not Armored car.

The standard of moulding is high with very few if any pin marks visible after assembly, no apparent flash and just the fine mould seams to be removed. There is also the many plastic nodes on the parts which help reduce the pins marks and you should take care removing these from the many small parts. The level of detail on the parts is also very well done with clean crisp engraved and raised details but there are many very small parts to contend with and some assembly sequences are rather "busy", so the usual care should be taken.

As mentioned the main feature of this special release is the clear hull and turret parts but you actually get both grey plastic and clear plastic hull parts but just the clear turret parts. This allows you to build the hull as per a normal kit or use the grey plastic hull sides and clear top hull section to see the interior from above or any combination of the parts.

The kit has a very complete and comprehensive interior with full engine/transmission, full fighting compartment and driver's compartments as well as the turret interior with the interior using the majority of the 653 parts in the kit.

Etched, clear and vinyl parts

The 38 page instruction booklet has well laid out exploded view drawings and illustrations of the assembly sequences but these should be studied carefully due to some quite detailed assemblies. A full review will follow time permitting.

The decal sheet is well printed with markings for five vehicles.

Option 1: Captured by the German Fallschirmjager, Italy 1944

Option 2: 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars, Falaise, France, July 1944. Option 3: 49th regiment, Reconnaissance Corps, 49th (Wessex) Infantry Division, France, August 1944. Option 4: 15th Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps, 15th (Scottish) . Infantry Division, Belgium, September 1944 Option 5: 53rd Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps, 53rd (Welsh) . Infantry Division, Goch, Germany, February 1945.

Click on thumbnails for larger view


Sprue detail images

Thanks to my credit card and for the review kit.