1:35 3Ro Italian Truck With 100mm Howitzer And Crew

3Ro Italian truck with a 100 mm howitzer (1:35, IBG Models)

An injection-molded plastic kit of the Italian Lancia 3Ro heavy truck carrying a 100/17 howitzer in 1:35 scale from the Polish maker IBG Models. The boxing captures an improvised self-propelled gun in which the gun was mounted on the bed of a truck. Crew figures are included in the package as well, so the model can be conceived as a small combat vignette.

The real subject

The Lancia 3Ro was the main heavy truck of the Italian royal army in the Second World War, powered by a five-cylinder diesel engine and produced from the end of the 1930s. It served in the Balkans, in North Africa and on the Eastern Front in many variants, from carrying cargo and troops to towing. Some of the trucks received a 100/17 howitzer or an anti-aircraft gun on the bed and thus turned into mobile artillery platforms, which made up for the shortage of Italian self-propelled equipment.

Building and painting tips

Finish and paint the engine, the frame and the drivetrain before the hood and the bed are closed. Assemble the howitzer carefully, so that it stays movable or is correctly seated in the travel position. An airbrush suits the Italian sand camouflage; weather the bed, the tires and the underside with dust pigments and a suggestion of mud. The crew figures bring the scene to life, and the faces and the uniforms should be built up with oils or acrylic filters.

Who the model is for

• For collectors of Italian equipment of the Second World War in 1:35 scale.
• For lovers of unconventional improvised self-propelled guns.
• For creators of dioramas who will appreciate the crew figures in the box.
• For modelers interested in artillery and transport equipment.

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