1:100 Laffly 50 AM

Laffly 50 AM in 1:100 scale from Zebranomodel

A kit of the French armored car Laffly 50 AM in the small 1:100 scale. The abbreviation AM corresponds to the French designation automitrailleuse, that is an armored car with gun or machine gun armament. The model is supplied in parts to be assembled and painted; the number of parts, the material and the contents of the package are stated on the box of the kit.

The real subject

The Laffly marque was among the French makers of utility and cross-country chassis. The 50 AM type tends to be counted among the armored cars that arose by modernizing older machines of the First World War, by carrying the armored body and turret over onto a newer chassis. The result was a relatively tall car with a turret carrying the armament and with a crew of several men. Vehicles of this kind served mainly with reserve, colonial and guard units, where the demands on speed and toughness could be lowered in favor of the vehicles being available at all.

Building and painting tips

In 1:100 scale the parts are small and easily lost, so work over a tray with a raised edge. On armored cars the fenders and the running boards are among the thinnest parts, so glue them on only after the body is trued up, so that they are not broken off while sanding. Leave the wheels and the turret loose until you have finished the base color — the transitions are then easier to paint. On so small an area one well thought-out camouflage works better than many coats; a final highlight with a dry brush on the edges does more for the legibility of the shape than detailed drawing.

Who the model is for

• Anyone interested in French armored vehicles of the 1930s.
• Collectors who build large bodies of vehicles in a single small scale.
• Players of tabletop games using the size matching 1:100.
• Builders of small dioramas and display case scenes.

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.