1:35 Italian Armored Car Autoblinda AB 40

The first production version of the AB series

The Autoblinda AB 40 was created as a reconnaissance and patrol armored car for the Italian army and became the starting form of the whole series. In the turret it carried a pair of machine guns, and another was placed in the rear of the hull. The design was unusual for its time in that the vehicle had both axles steerable and two driver's stations, one facing forward and the other to the rear. The crew could therefore reverse out of a dangerous place without turning around.

Service and further development

The cars served for patrol duty, for protecting lines of communication and for reconnaissance. Combat experience quickly showed, though, that machine guns alone were not enough, and so a more heavily armed version with a cannon turret was created. Some of the AB 40 cars were rearmed later, so relatively few machines survive in their original form, which makes them an interesting subject.

For assembly

The contents are unglued and unpainted parts; the glue and paints needed are bought separately. With this type it pays to give attention to the chassis and the axles, which are clearly visible on the vehicle, and to paint them before the hull is closed.

Recommended for modelers with experience of building military vehicles.

What to focus on during the build

• The machine gun turret is small, so assemble it separately and with good lighting
• Do not cover the rear machine gun station before you have painted it
• The steerable rear axles allow the model to be built with the wheels turned
• The vehicles often carried only a single-color finish, so the shading of the panels stands out all the more

The model also suits a diorama with infantry, because the armored cars of this series ran mainly in cooperation with ground units and look more convincing in a scene than on their own.