1/35 Model Autoblinda AB 40

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Latest purchase is an AB 40 Ferrovaria - this is a conversion by the Italians of their AB 40 Armoured Car to run on tracks.

The AB 40 Armoured Car was originally only built in small number for evaluation purposes -these units were then converted to the rail versions.

It makes an decent rail vehicle as it is 4 wheel drive, but more importantly has two driving positions - one at the front and one at the rear, making it ideal for rail operations.

The kit itself - by Italeri - is really nice - good detail and great quality. Italeri have been excelling themselves recently. Highly recommended and available locally - but a little pricing as the it is a Euro based import. Worth it though if you want an esoteric subject!

Question is, now what do I make over Xmas - this, the railway engine, or..............the 1/35 monster PT boat I also have sitting staring at me. Probably the latter!!

[Tom Macrery]

Do the Kriegslocomotief to go with your Karl-Gerat Mortar. It will be good to see them both on the same rails. Happy assembling, Tom

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

The PT boat is winning me over - it has lots of sub-units to make - and then voila you put them together! Means I can do bits and pieces (and practice my painting skills in preparation for the loco.....)

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Tom - here's why the PT boat is winning me over!

1. The box.
2. Inside
3. Bits
4. A large kit - cutting board is 45cm. Note also my shoe and the Autoblinda I stuck on top for scale comparison!

[John Ashworth]

I just wish they'd make some of these things in 1:144 (close enough to 1:160) so that I could use them with N scale.

Or maybe they do and I don't know where, and some kind people on the forum are about to tell me?

[Tom Macrery]

I can see why; it's relatively huge! Kennedy was famous as a PT Boat captain. I think his was PT109.

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Tom - it was PT 109. Same class as the one above I am going to build.

PT 109 was an earlier model - same hull, but a lot lighter on the armament. The torpedoes were also in tubes.

The version to build is the final version - 2 twin Brownings, a 40mm Bofors, and two other separate cannon. 4 torpedoes on roll off racks and 2 sets of rocket launches.
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John - 1/144 accessories for railways are available in terms of the run of the mill railways items - cars, trucks etc, people (Prieser do nice ones), animals, buildings, cargo etc. Some unpainted figures below. They have a huge range of figures and related item (over 100 sets).

If you are in to American N Scale no problem - see below - you can buy a vast and thick caalogue listing everything under the sun!

Military stuff - via the specialist manufacturers in the UK - usually used for war games, but quite acceptable for layouts.

Is that what you meant?

[John Ashworth]

Sorry, I should have been more specific.

Yes, I have quite a few of the Preiser figures (including a set of Arabs and plenty of African wildlife), and I've picked up quite a few military vehicles from war games shops as you suggest, and even from toy shops. I also have a few 1:144 aircraft kits - C130, DC4, a couple of helicopter gunships - the sort of stuff you would need for an African layout which features a civil war and a humanitarian aid operation.

But there is virtually no South African (or other African) stuff out there as far as I know. And the aircraft, boats and military vehicles are very hit and miss. For example, I'd like some boats that would not look out of place on a large river such as the Nile or Congo, but haven't found anything in 1:144 or 1:160 yet. Military vehicles are completely random, in terms of scale, nationality and model. And most of the 1:144 aircraft in the shops are either fighter planes or modern airliners.