1:72 Polski Fiat 508/III Ambulance

Polski Fiat 508/III ambulance (1:72, IBG Models)

An injection-molded plastic kit of the Polish Polski Fiat 508/III light ambulance in 1:72 scale from the Polish maker IBG Models. The model is supplied as a set of parts to be glued and painted; the package holds finely shaped plastic parts, clear film for the windows and a decal sheet. IBG has long specialized in Polish vehicles of the late 1930s, and its molds are fresh and rich in detail.

The real subject

The Polski Fiat 508 was a licensed variant of the Italian Fiat built in Poland; the share of domestically made parts grew steadily until by the end of the 1930s it made up the great majority. Both civilian and military versions were produced, an ambulance body among them. The cars took part in the defensive fighting of 1939 and a number of them then served the Wehrmacht, the Romanian army and the Red Army as well. The ambulance configuration served to move the wounded in the rear and near the front alike.

Building and painting tips

Assemble the chassis with its axles and the interior of the car first; finish and paint the cab and the ambulance compartment before you close the bodywork up, as part of the interior will be visible through the windows. Spray the bodywork over a primer in Polish olive (khaki). Pick out the panel lines with a dark wash and weather the wheels and the underside of the car with pigments (dust, mud). Apply the Red Cross markings as decals only onto the finished paint.

Who the model is for

• For collectors of Polish vehicles of 1939 in 1:72 scale.
• For anyone interested in less usual ambulance and rear-area vehicles.
• For makers of dioramas from the start of the Second World War.
• For more advanced beginners and experienced modelers.

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