In Box Review of Bronco 1/35th Scale Humber Scout Car Mk. 1 K Gun (D-Day)
Kit no. CB-35016
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2008
I got this kit given to me on 9-15-08, by the head-editor, Mike Benokin of the Cybermodeler web-site, when I was on the staff there then. The MSRP at that time for the kit was $57.95.
It is available now at Kit Linx for $45.89 and at eight places overseas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2008
I got this kit given to me on 9-15-08, by the head-editor, Mike Benokin of the Cybermodeler web-site, when I was on the staff there then. The MSRP at that time for the kit was $57.95.
It is available now at Kit Linx for $45.89 and at eight places overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
The Humber Armoured Car was one of the most widely produced British armoured cars of the Second World War. It supplemented the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car and remained in service until the end of the war.
The Guy company did not have sufficient production capacity to produce sufficient Guy Armoured Cars as well as other vehicles, so shortly after war broke out the Rootes Group were approached to produce an armoured car – at the time.
The terminology "Tank, Light (Wheeled)" was used by the Army] Working from the Guy design, Karrier designed a vehicle using as a basis their KT 4 artillery tractor chassis (already in production for the Indian Army) and the armoured body of the Guy Armoured Car.
Karrier moved the KT4 engine to the rear and fitted welded bodies and turrets provided by Guy. As it had been based on proven elements, trials of prototypes passed without serious issues and an order for 500 was placed in 1940 and first deliveries made in 1941.
The Karrier name was dropped to avoid confusion with the British Universal Carrier tracked vehicle and the vehicles were designated "Armoured Car, Humber Mk 1" using the name of Humber Limited (another member of the Rootes Group) though production was by Karrier at the Luton works of Comer (another Rootes company).
The first Humbers were more or less identical to the Guy down to the faults in the armour, but this was later rectified. The Mark III improved upon the Mark II by providing a three-man turret. Mark III production ended in 1942 after 1,650 had been built. With a possible replacement, the 2-pounder armed Coventry armoured car, on its way, the Mark IV was designed.
This put the US 37 mm gun in the turret but at the cost of one crewman. The Coventry was not ordered as a replacement and so production of Mark IV continued, for a total of 2,000, despite its flaws.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Place of origin: United Kingdom
Used by: United Kingdom and British India in Second World War, Italy operated captured models. Used by other nations post war.
Wars: Second World War, 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Operation Polo, Portuguese-Indian War, Sino-Indian War
Manufacturer: Rootes Group (Karrier)
Produced: 1940-1945
No. built: 5,400
Mass: 5 t
Length: 15 ft 1.5 in (4.610 m)
Width: 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
Height: 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m)
Crew: Mk I, II, IV: 3, Mk III: 4
Armour: 15 mm (0.59 in)
Main armament: Mk I-III: 15 mm Besa machine gun, Mk IV: M5 or M6 37 mm gun
Secondary armament: 7.92 mm Besa machine gun
Engine: Rootes 6 cylinder petrol engine of 90 hp (67 kW)
Power/weight: 12.9 hp/tonne
Suspension: Wheel 4x4, rigid front and rear axles, rear-wheel drive with selectable four-wheel drive
Operational range: 200 mi (320 km)
Maximum speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)
The Humber Armoured Car was one of the most widely produced British armoured cars of the Second World War. It supplemented the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car and remained in service until the end of the war.
The Guy company did not have sufficient production capacity to produce sufficient Guy Armoured Cars as well as other vehicles, so shortly after war broke out the Rootes Group were approached to produce an armoured car – at the time.
The terminology "Tank, Light (Wheeled)" was used by the Army] Working from the Guy design, Karrier designed a vehicle using as a basis their KT 4 artillery tractor chassis (already in production for the Indian Army) and the armoured body of the Guy Armoured Car.
Karrier moved the KT4 engine to the rear and fitted welded bodies and turrets provided by Guy. As it had been based on proven elements, trials of prototypes passed without serious issues and an order for 500 was placed in 1940 and first deliveries made in 1941.
The Karrier name was dropped to avoid confusion with the British Universal Carrier tracked vehicle and the vehicles were designated "Armoured Car, Humber Mk 1" using the name of Humber Limited (another member of the Rootes Group) though production was by Karrier at the Luton works of Comer (another Rootes company).
The first Humbers were more or less identical to the Guy down to the faults in the armour, but this was later rectified. The Mark III improved upon the Mark II by providing a three-man turret. Mark III production ended in 1942 after 1,650 had been built. With a possible replacement, the 2-pounder armed Coventry armoured car, on its way, the Mark IV was designed.
This put the US 37 mm gun in the turret but at the cost of one crewman. The Coventry was not ordered as a replacement and so production of Mark IV continued, for a total of 2,000, despite its flaws.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Place of origin: United Kingdom
Used by: United Kingdom and British India in Second World War, Italy operated captured models. Used by other nations post war.
Wars: Second World War, 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Operation Polo, Portuguese-Indian War, Sino-Indian War
Manufacturer: Rootes Group (Karrier)
Produced: 1940-1945
No. built: 5,400
Mass: 5 t
Length: 15 ft 1.5 in (4.610 m)
Width: 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
Height: 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m)
Crew: Mk I, II, IV: 3, Mk III: 4
Armour: 15 mm (0.59 in)
Main armament: Mk I-III: 15 mm Besa machine gun, Mk IV: M5 or M6 37 mm gun
Secondary armament: 7.92 mm Besa machine gun
Engine: Rootes 6 cylinder petrol engine of 90 hp (67 kW)
Power/weight: 12.9 hp/tonne
Suspension: Wheel 4x4, rigid front and rear axles, rear-wheel drive with selectable four-wheel drive
Operational range: 200 mi (320 km)
Maximum speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)
THE KIT:
Bronco is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a very-blousy (it is 5” too long and 2 ½” too wide and 1 ½” deep) shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a Humber Mk. 1 Scout Car, that is mounted with a twin K gun on a bipod atop the roof. It is on a clearing, surrounded by a forest.
Behind it is a Churchill tank and 4 British infantry-men, who wear khaki uniforms, helmets with camouflage netting on them and all armed with rifles The Churchill is overall grey.
The car is overall olive-drab, with a yellow CO, over a white star on its sides, a square that is divided into sections vertically of red, white and red, with a white no. 991 on it. (this mark is done as black, white and black sections on the decal sheet) on the left front of the nose, a yellow circle with a black no. 5 on it in the center of the nose and a red illustration of 2 triangles atop each other with a yellow border. (this marking is all in black on the decal sheet). There are a couple of tan canvas sacks mounted on the rear deck.
The twin machine-guns are overall dark steel. The commander of the car is standing and looking out of the roof hatch. He is looking through a pair of binoculars.
The lower left corner of the box art says: CAUTION NOTE: The kit contains small parts for one complete model. Suitable for age over 12, The paint & cement not included. Actual model kit may vary from the boxart.
One side-panel of the box begins with: INTRODUCTION: With a high quality decal by Cartograf. Color illustrations of the decal sheet and PE fret, a small repeat of the box art and Bronco’s street. E-mail and web addresses in Hong Kong, China and the copyright for the kit as 2008.
Bronco is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Hong Kong, China. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a very-blousy (it is 5” too long and 2 ½” too wide and 1 ½” deep) shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a Humber Mk. 1 Scout Car, that is mounted with a twin K gun on a bipod atop the roof. It is on a clearing, surrounded by a forest.
Behind it is a Churchill tank and 4 British infantry-men, who wear khaki uniforms, helmets with camouflage netting on them and all armed with rifles The Churchill is overall grey.
The car is overall olive-drab, with a yellow CO, over a white star on its sides, a square that is divided into sections vertically of red, white and red, with a white no. 991 on it. (this mark is done as black, white and black sections on the decal sheet) on the left front of the nose, a yellow circle with a black no. 5 on it in the center of the nose and a red illustration of 2 triangles atop each other with a yellow border. (this marking is all in black on the decal sheet). There are a couple of tan canvas sacks mounted on the rear deck.
The twin machine-guns are overall dark steel. The commander of the car is standing and looking out of the roof hatch. He is looking through a pair of binoculars.
The lower left corner of the box art says: CAUTION NOTE: The kit contains small parts for one complete model. Suitable for age over 12, The paint & cement not included. Actual model kit may vary from the boxart.
One side-panel of the box begins with: INTRODUCTION: With a high quality decal by Cartograf. Color illustrations of the decal sheet and PE fret, a small repeat of the box art and Bronco’s street. E-mail and web addresses in Hong Kong, China and the copyright for the kit as 2008.
The other side-panel of the box shows 3 color box arts of other armor kits that Bronco makes: Kit CB-35026. a Staghound A.A. car, Kit no. CB-35021, a Staghound Mk. III and Kit no. CB-35025, an A-13 Cruiser Tank Mk. III.
Followed by: Plastic model kit for adult-collector only.
Followed by: Plastic model kit for adult-collector only.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 4 dark-green parts trees, a dark-green hull tub and center roof section, a brass PE fret, a length of clear vinyl tubing and 5 black rubber tires.
Only the tires, tubing and PE fret are in sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a staple bound booklet of 16 pages in 8 ½” x 11 1/2” page format. Printed in black and white on slick coated paper.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art. Over the history of the Humber Mk. 1 in English, German and Chinese.
Page 2 is the painting and marking instructions. It shows six 3-views of the car. All are in overall olive-drab.
The first 3-view has a black diamond, with a yellow CO on it, over a white star on its sides. Another large and circled white star on top of the engine deck and a small white circle with a black cross on it, followed by the diagonally divided black and white black square, with white no. 991 on it and the two black triangles. This is the box art scheme.
It was with the 31st Tank Brigade, during “Operation Epsom”, June 1944.
The second 3-view has the same three insignias atop its engine deck as the first 3-view. A yellow triangle with a black and white bull’s head on it, outlined in black on the left side of nose and rear and red square with a white no. 50 on it on the right side of the nose and rear.
It was with the 30th Armoured Brigade, 79th Armoured Div., Caen, July 1944.
The third 3-view has the same markings as the previous two 3-views, atop its engine deck. A marking that is white, against the white decal sheet and is unreadable, followed by a black square with white no. 54 on it and a small illustration of a black flaming ball, across the nose and rear.
It was with the Polish 10 Dragons. N.W. Europe 1944.
The fourth 3-view has the same markings as the previous three 3-views, across the top of the engine deck. A white triangle, above a yellow circle with black no. 6 on it, followed by a square that is divided horizontally into white at the top and blue at the bottom, with a black no. 40 on it, followed by the small illustration of the black flaming ball.
It was with the Polish 1st Signal Battalions' Headquarters Signal Squadron, N.W. Europe 1944.
The fifth marking is a 4-view. It continues with the same markings on the engine deck as the previous 3-views. A white serial no. F185336 on its sides. It has a red square with a white no. 155 on it, followed by a yellow circle with a black no. 5 on it, followed by a blue cross with a yellow sword on it across the front and rear.
It was with HQ 34th Army Tank Brigade, N.W. Europe, 1944-45.
The sixth (and last) 4-view shows a white serial no. F195164 on its sides. The same three markings as the previous views on its engine deck. A black square with a white 173 on it, followed by a white marking that is white and too hard to make out against the white decal sheet and a blue cross with a yellow sword on it across the front and rear.
It was with the 59th Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery, Dreierwalde, April 1945.
Page 3 has the parts-trees illustrations at the top. Over international assembly symbol explanations and a listing of Gunze Sangyo, Humbrol and Tamiya brands of hobby paints.
The bottom of the page has READ BEFORE ASSEMBLING instructions and the copyright of the kit as 2008. In English, German and Chinese.
Page 4 on through to page 16 gives un-numbered assembly steps. I think there are close to 30, but don’t quote me.
Trees are alphabetized.
Dark-green letter A tree holds: the floor, top panels, frame, air intake,shovel etc. (33 parts)
This kit holds 4 dark-green parts trees, a dark-green hull tub and center roof section, a brass PE fret, a length of clear vinyl tubing and 5 black rubber tires.
Only the tires, tubing and PE fret are in sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a staple bound booklet of 16 pages in 8 ½” x 11 1/2” page format. Printed in black and white on slick coated paper.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art. Over the history of the Humber Mk. 1 in English, German and Chinese.
Page 2 is the painting and marking instructions. It shows six 3-views of the car. All are in overall olive-drab.
The first 3-view has a black diamond, with a yellow CO on it, over a white star on its sides. Another large and circled white star on top of the engine deck and a small white circle with a black cross on it, followed by the diagonally divided black and white black square, with white no. 991 on it and the two black triangles. This is the box art scheme.
It was with the 31st Tank Brigade, during “Operation Epsom”, June 1944.
The second 3-view has the same three insignias atop its engine deck as the first 3-view. A yellow triangle with a black and white bull’s head on it, outlined in black on the left side of nose and rear and red square with a white no. 50 on it on the right side of the nose and rear.
It was with the 30th Armoured Brigade, 79th Armoured Div., Caen, July 1944.
The third 3-view has the same markings as the previous two 3-views, atop its engine deck. A marking that is white, against the white decal sheet and is unreadable, followed by a black square with white no. 54 on it and a small illustration of a black flaming ball, across the nose and rear.
It was with the Polish 10 Dragons. N.W. Europe 1944.
The fourth 3-view has the same markings as the previous three 3-views, across the top of the engine deck. A white triangle, above a yellow circle with black no. 6 on it, followed by a square that is divided horizontally into white at the top and blue at the bottom, with a black no. 40 on it, followed by the small illustration of the black flaming ball.
It was with the Polish 1st Signal Battalions' Headquarters Signal Squadron, N.W. Europe 1944.
The fifth marking is a 4-view. It continues with the same markings on the engine deck as the previous 3-views. A white serial no. F185336 on its sides. It has a red square with a white no. 155 on it, followed by a yellow circle with a black no. 5 on it, followed by a blue cross with a yellow sword on it across the front and rear.
It was with HQ 34th Army Tank Brigade, N.W. Europe, 1944-45.
The sixth (and last) 4-view shows a white serial no. F195164 on its sides. The same three markings as the previous views on its engine deck. A black square with a white 173 on it, followed by a white marking that is white and too hard to make out against the white decal sheet and a blue cross with a yellow sword on it across the front and rear.
It was with the 59th Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery, Dreierwalde, April 1945.
Page 3 has the parts-trees illustrations at the top. Over international assembly symbol explanations and a listing of Gunze Sangyo, Humbrol and Tamiya brands of hobby paints.
The bottom of the page has READ BEFORE ASSEMBLING instructions and the copyright of the kit as 2008. In English, German and Chinese.
Page 4 on through to page 16 gives un-numbered assembly steps. I think there are close to 30, but don’t quote me.
Trees are alphabetized.
Dark-green letter A tree holds: the floor, top panels, frame, air intake,shovel etc. (33 parts)
Dark-green letter B tree holds: road wheels, axles, leaf springs etc. (97 parts)
Dark-green letter C tree holds: the steering wheel, shift levers, storage boxes, batteries etc. (72 parts)
Dark-green letter D tree holds the hull tub part (1 part)
Dark-green letter E is the hull roof part (1 part)
Dark-green letter F tree holds all the weapons (24 parts)
Letter PA and PB are brass PE frets.
PA holds a sand channel, radio guards, box frames, interior detail parts, etc.
The tiny PB tree holds straps (4 parts)
PA holds a sand channel, radio guards, box frames, interior detail parts, etc.
The tiny PB tree holds straps (4 parts)
Next are the un-alphabetized black rubber tires (5 parts) and clear tubing.
There are no clear parts or figures included.
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents.
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents.
The detail is excellent with lots of interior and exterior details.
I recommend this kit only to advanced modelers and not beginners or novices. It is just too complicated for them.
I recommend this kit only to advanced modelers and not beginners or novices. It is just too complicated for them.