In Box Review of Bronco Models 1/48th Scale
T17E2 Staghound A.A. Armoured Car
Kit no. ZB48002
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $42.95
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $42.95
HISTORY:
During WWII, there were three main versions of the Staghound used by Britain and those Allies equipped on the British model; these were: Staghound I (equipped with the US 37 mm gun), Staghound III (Crusader III turret with a 75 mm gun) and the Staghound A A.
The Staghound A A – this was designated in the US as the T17E2.
The 37 mm turret was replaced by Chevrolet with a curved-sided Frazier-Nash twin .50 MG turret.
It was based on the existing (flat sided) Norge N80 AA type, with initial firing tests being conducted in April 1943. This turret was controlled by the gunner who used a handlebar type control for elevation and traverse, with the firing triggers mounted just forward. An electro-hydraulic traverse system gave impressive maximum slew rates of 55-600 per second. 2610 rounds were carried, and ammunition feed to the two guns was assisted by a GE electrical booster.
Turret armor was 1 ¼” all around; however the roof was open, only being closed by a canvas cover when not in action. The removal of the normal turret meant that the no. 19 radio set had to be re-located into the hull, so the hull MG and crewman were deleted and the set mounted in the front right of the hull. In fact, the crew was reduced to 3; the commander, gunner and driver.
Production started in October 1943, and between 550 and 1000 were produced. Sources may vary on those figures, between then and April 1944.
Bronco Models is a model company based in Hong Kong China.
THE KIT:
The kit comes in a sturdy shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Staghound posed against an all white background. It is in overall British olive-drab no. 15. It is a vehicle of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, Italy 1944. This is one of the marking options provided in the kit.
One side panel says the high quality decal has marks for the U.K. and Canada. Next to that is color illustrations of the decal sheet and brass PE fret. It also says that the main material is plastic and cautions that the kit is NOT a toy and not for children, only adults.
Bronco Models Hong Kong street and e-mail address and their web site are provided. The copyright date is stated as being 2011.
The other side panel has a color 3-view of the box art subject. Next to this is the statement that the kit is designed for modelers of 14 years age or older in 11 languages, including English.
During WWII, there were three main versions of the Staghound used by Britain and those Allies equipped on the British model; these were: Staghound I (equipped with the US 37 mm gun), Staghound III (Crusader III turret with a 75 mm gun) and the Staghound A A.
The Staghound A A – this was designated in the US as the T17E2.
The 37 mm turret was replaced by Chevrolet with a curved-sided Frazier-Nash twin .50 MG turret.
It was based on the existing (flat sided) Norge N80 AA type, with initial firing tests being conducted in April 1943. This turret was controlled by the gunner who used a handlebar type control for elevation and traverse, with the firing triggers mounted just forward. An electro-hydraulic traverse system gave impressive maximum slew rates of 55-600 per second. 2610 rounds were carried, and ammunition feed to the two guns was assisted by a GE electrical booster.
Turret armor was 1 ¼” all around; however the roof was open, only being closed by a canvas cover when not in action. The removal of the normal turret meant that the no. 19 radio set had to be re-located into the hull, so the hull MG and crewman were deleted and the set mounted in the front right of the hull. In fact, the crew was reduced to 3; the commander, gunner and driver.
Production started in October 1943, and between 550 and 1000 were produced. Sources may vary on those figures, between then and April 1944.
Bronco Models is a model company based in Hong Kong China.
THE KIT:
The kit comes in a sturdy shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Staghound posed against an all white background. It is in overall British olive-drab no. 15. It is a vehicle of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, Italy 1944. This is one of the marking options provided in the kit.
One side panel says the high quality decal has marks for the U.K. and Canada. Next to that is color illustrations of the decal sheet and brass PE fret. It also says that the main material is plastic and cautions that the kit is NOT a toy and not for children, only adults.
Bronco Models Hong Kong street and e-mail address and their web site are provided. The copyright date is stated as being 2011.
The other side panel has a color 3-view of the box art subject. Next to this is the statement that the kit is designed for modelers of 14 years age or older in 11 languages, including English.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
Inside the box is 5 trees of light tan parts. These are all loose and not cello bagged. Inside a small zip-lock type cello is the decal sheet, a brass PE fret, a length of white string and 2 black vinyl MG ammo belts.
The instructions complete the kit’s contents. It consists of a staple-bound booklet of 20 pages in 8 ½” x 11” page format.
The cover page begins with a black and white repeat of the box art. This is followed by the history of the Staghound in English, German and Chinese.
Page 1 starts with the decal application instructions, followed by international assembly symbol explanations and a paint color listing that calls out Mr. Hobby, Hobby Color, Humbol and Tamiya brands of hobby paints. The bottom of the page has “Read before assembly” instructions in English, German and Chinese.
Page 2 is the parts trees illustrations. Some of the parts are blacked-out, meaning they are EXCESS and not needed to complete the model.
Pages 3 to 16 give a total of 28 assembly steps.
Page 17 has a 4-view illustration for the box art scheme.
Page 18 has another 4-view for a vehicle with the 11th Hussars, Normandy, June 1944. It is in overall British olive-drab no. 15.
The back cover page is blank.
There is no letter A parts tree.
Light tan letter B tree holds: turret parts and base, the 2 A A guns etc. (66 parts)
Inside the box is 5 trees of light tan parts. These are all loose and not cello bagged. Inside a small zip-lock type cello is the decal sheet, a brass PE fret, a length of white string and 2 black vinyl MG ammo belts.
The instructions complete the kit’s contents. It consists of a staple-bound booklet of 20 pages in 8 ½” x 11” page format.
The cover page begins with a black and white repeat of the box art. This is followed by the history of the Staghound in English, German and Chinese.
Page 1 starts with the decal application instructions, followed by international assembly symbol explanations and a paint color listing that calls out Mr. Hobby, Hobby Color, Humbol and Tamiya brands of hobby paints. The bottom of the page has “Read before assembly” instructions in English, German and Chinese.
Page 2 is the parts trees illustrations. Some of the parts are blacked-out, meaning they are EXCESS and not needed to complete the model.
Pages 3 to 16 give a total of 28 assembly steps.
Page 17 has a 4-view illustration for the box art scheme.
Page 18 has another 4-view for a vehicle with the 11th Hussars, Normandy, June 1944. It is in overall British olive-drab no. 15.
The back cover page is blank.
There is no letter A parts tree.
Light tan letter B tree holds: turret parts and base, the 2 A A guns etc. (66 parts)
Light tan letter C tree holds: the hull floor, fenders, doors, axles, tools, an MG, jerry cans etc. (69 parts)
There are 2 identical light tan letter D trees. They each hold: wheels, leaf springs, fuel tank etc. (73 parts ea.)
Light tan letter E tree holds the 2 hull side walls.
Clear tree letter F holds windows and light lenses (11 parts)
The brass PE fret is letter P. It holds: tool brackets, mud flaps, head light guards, cross hair type gun sight etc. (21 parts)
The decal sheet, white string and 2 black vinyl ammo belts complete the kit’s contents. These belts are labeled as tree letter Z.
This is a very detailed kit for 1/48th scale. It has a lot of real tiny parts that will have to be handled very carefully and there are a lot of options for positioning things.
I recommend this kit only to modelers with a lot of skill that have previously assembled kits of this complexity.
I want to sincerely thank Dragon Models USA for this review sample.
I recommend this kit only to modelers with a lot of skill that have previously assembled kits of this complexity.
I want to sincerely thank Dragon Models USA for this review sample.