RESICAST 1/35 RESIN FORD MODEL T VICKERS GUN CAR 1915-1919 By Karen Rychlewski

INTRODUCTION

The Allied countries of World War I were quick to see the benefits of motorized transport; and thus it is natural that the most famous vehicle of the time – the Model T Ford – would be pressed into such service. At first, the Model T Fords were used only as ambulances, since Henry Ford refused to allow them to be used under combat conditions. Eventually they would appear as staff and liason cars, light trucks, light vans, and even in some armored versions. Perhaps their best known role was as a light patrol car in the desert areas of the conflict. Equipped with a Vickers machine gun (or sometimes with Lewis guns), the car was light enough to travel effectively in sandy areas where heavier vehicles would get bogged down. The cars played a major role in the Gaza and Mesopotamia campaigns and were favorites of Lawrence of Arabia's 'Arab Revolt'.

THE KIT

Given the Model T Ford's ubiquitious presence during 'the Great War', it is somewhat puzzling that kits of its various incarnations are not more widely available – Airfix, are you listening? Attractively packaged in a compact cardboard box, this is No. 35.137 "Fort (sic) & Vickers gun" from Resicast of Belgium, which along with two others from the same firm seek to fill the gap for 1/35 scale modelers. Small color pictures of the completed model in overall khaki adorn the box exterior and several more photocopied photos are included with the instructions. You'd be well advised to watch "Lawrence of Arabia" before finishing this kit since the included color notes are minimal and no decals are provided. The rest of the instructions consist of four photos of the nearly-completed model with parts identified by number, an oddly-numbered parts list, and a page of written English/French instructions along the lines of "Glue gun barrek K to machine gun J".

Laying out the pieces, one finds a beautifully cast body from tip to tail and a separately cast unit of front fenders and running boards which fit together perfectly. What a nice start! All the kit parts are cast in a light creamy tan resin with very nice detail, crisp edges, and sharp indented lines.

All of the smaller pieces are left attached to their casting blocks and there is a fair amount of thin flash but no holes, bubbles, or rough surfaces; cleanup will be straightforward and relatively easy. Resicast's mold maker is to be congratulated for designing the pieces in such a way that small details aren't obscured by the carrier strips and sprues; don't you hate it when necessary sanding of a surface also removes some of the detail and then you have to fuss around adding the details back...but that's another kit!

Most of the bits and pieces are numbered on their carriers, but this is a simple enough kit that you won't have any trouble identifying anything. Two lengths of plastic rod are included to build axles and suspension/steering parts, and a length of flexible tube becomes the machine gun water hose connection. There is a fret of basic PE parts--handles and brackets – but I found myself wishing for a few more: hooks and levers, brake rods, gun sights and chains, and a radiator front panel would be nice for starters.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this is a very well made kit which should build up easily and quickly into a nice model of the machine gun car. With a few camels and Arabs, it could be the center of a really cool mini-diorama. Without the gun, the kit begs to be converted into any number of other versions: staff car, pickup truck, open or tarp-covered light vans. But if you want to build an ambulance, check out Resicast's 35.118 – a review of this little beauty will be coming up!

My kit was obtained through a trade; in the US, it's sold by R&J Enterprises for US$50.