OK, here we go--the trials and tribulations of collecting 15mm armored cars for the Cherrybums:
(I'm not going to waste anyone's time with dimensions and whether or not models are to 1:100 scale. That way lies madness.)
First, as a benchmark, Battlefront's Marmon-Herrington:
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Pros:
- Crisp, detailed resin body
- Well-shaped wheels
- Bad models are quickly and cheerfully replaced
- BF includes crewman torsos (not shown)
Cons:
- Undercuts on the resin body guarantee that a large proportion will not make it out of the mold without the sand channels or the bucket on the righ-hand running board being broken. Unfortunately, BF quality control does not spot this. Fortunately, BF customer service will replace them with entire models. This is how it is possible to obtain 16 good kits, with 6 bad bodies and 22 sets of metal bits (these have a function; see below). You can probably figure out how I know this.
- The turret is sculpted almost full of metal. This is fine if you just pop on the closed hatches. But open, even with a crewman torso in place, all you can do is paint a black pool and hope no-one notices.
- Only a fair representation of a Boys/Boyes/Boy-eez AT rifle and Vickers.
- A noticeable mold line is on the turret, but it can be filed flat, section by section, with care.
- An Italian 47mm AT gun is provided, to allow the turret to be removed and the more powerful wepon fitted. This is probably a minority among the types of weapons fitted to M-Hs.
Next, the QRF basic Morris:
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(n.b.: QRF calls this a "Marmon Herrington Breda Car 4.7cm". There is neither a Breda nor a 4.7cm associated with it.)
Pros:
- The kit includes a gem of a Boys AT rifle.
Cons:
- The kit is crudely sculpted, with no flat surface consistently flat or curved surface consistently curved. Note the prominent mold lines on the body and turret: almost impossible to fix.
- The chassis is done as a large separate piece. Because of its alignment in the mold, the wheels are compressed and out of round. The wheels are also small, making the assembled model look very odd, like a low-rider. Using extra Battlefront M-H wheels--a benefit of BF's poor quality control and good customer service--makes the vehicle look better. Not right, as the M-H wheels aren't the right pattern; and not easy, as the M-H wheels have to have their mounting lugs removed, and axle holes drilled and brass axles fitted; but better.
- The turret is open and hard to fill. The Vickers, that doesn't look anything like a Vickers on the outside, has no operating mechanism on the inside. No crew is provided. All you can do is add spare Battlefront crew and bits of kit and try to fill up the space.
- In toto, a lot of work is required to get this model up to standard.
Now the QRF Morris mounting a captured weapon:
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Pros:
- If this kit included that gem of a Boys, there would be a "Pro". It doesn't.
Cons:
- The kit is crudely sculpted and cast, if possible, even more so that the other Morris. Notice the rough bumps on supposedly flat armor surfaces. The weapon pedestal in the center of the vehicle is incompletely cast (on both models I have); I guess the caster just doesn't notice and hopes the punters won't either.
- With a different design, the wheels are on separate axles. They are still compressed due to the mold and are out of round. Fortunately, Battlefront screwed up enough times to cover these two, too. With extra work.
- The weapon provided is the more commonly used Breda 20mm AA gun, but it is a weak and weedy thing compared to Battlefront's model of the same weapon. The gunshield has lots of flash and extra metal.
- The crewman provided is probably at the low end of 15mm WWII figure quality: indistinguishable detail.
The low point of the armored cars is the QRF Rolls:
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Pros:
- Gem of a Boys
Cons:
- Appalling sculpting and casting quality. What the Morrises exhibit to a lesser degree, the Rolls has in spades. Some of the flat surfaces look like they were shaped with a trowel, but I'be seen masons do a neater job. I'm sparing you a rear view.
- The turret is the same as the Morris, and some of the real ones were; it probably makes sense to go with a common component. As you can see (also in a lesser degree on the Morris photo), there's a tendency for weak spots where the walls meet the floor. Same problems with the Vickers (or lack of) and lack of interior detail.
- The worst part is trying to fit the wheels (which at least this time are in round, but the front ones have mold lines that are hard to remove). There is so much extra metal under the front wheel wells that it is simply impossible to fit the front wheel set in its proper place underneath. See the underside shot for a clearer view:
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There is no notch for the front axle as there is for the rear axle. This will take considerable grinding to remove the metal from under the fenders, and then drilling and fitting the wheel sets with brass axles so the whole thing won't collapse.
I have raised the problem with the Rolls numerous times with Geoff. He says they were sculpted this way, and that many people are able to assemble them. I maintain that it is impossible without major reconstruction. Geoff has said repeatedly that he plans to remaster and remould these. I'm still waiting, with eight Rolls that I just don't feel the need to put the effort into repairing.
Caveat emptor.
If Battlefront or anyone able to make sharp crip castings of accurate, well-made masters ever produces Morrises and Rolls, I will try again. I would cheerfully pay BF's $11.00 USD (or $18.00 USD for two, as with BF's Marmon-Herringtons) over 4 pounds 50 worth of lower quality.
Allen
discovers that painters aren't mind-readers.
