Sunday, January 12

New Italian Autoblindo 41 armoured car kit & (separate) internal set from Lanmo models.

For their newest kit, Lanmo Model has selected something unique, the Italian Autoblindo 41 armoured car, due to arrive in March in 1/35th scale. We have info on the vehicle, the kit, & the separate interior set in our preview...

New Italian Autoblindo 41 armoured car kit & internal set from Lanmo models.

Italian Autoblindo 41 armoured car.
From Lanmo models
Kit No. MM35005
1/35th scale 
Spring suspension, metal barrel & photo-etch included
Expected launch in March 2025
Italian Autoblindo 41 armoured car
The Autoblinda (AB) 41 was an Italian armoured car developed by Fiat-Ansaldo. By the 1930s, the Italian army was equipped with outdated and limited Lancia IZ and Fiat-Terni Tripoli armoured cars, designed during World War I. The army needed a new combat vehicle for reconnaissance and patrolling in desert conditions. Work on the AB 41 took place between 1937 and 1939. Initially, it was planned to equip the armoured car with only machine gun armament (three 8 mm Breda Mod.38s); however, due to Italy's entry into the war and the beginning of hostilities in North Africa, it was decided to install a 20 mm Breda Mod.35 autocannon on the AB 41. The Autoblindo 41, a 1941 model named after its year of production, was a refined version of the machine gun-armed AB 40. 

A nicely restored AB 41 in museum care.
Featuring an all-riveted construction, this armoured vehicle boasted four-wheel drive and a four-wheel steering system, although the latter proved to be troublesome. Its innovative design allowed for spare wheels to be fitted on its sides, enabling the vehicle to traverse rough terrain and navigate over higher obstacles. Additionally, some models were modified to run on railway tracks, equipped with sand boxes and rail guards to deflect objects from the rails, and were designated as the AB 41 Ferroviaria. This version boasted six forward gears and four reverse gears, with a driving position at the front and one in the rear, requiring two crew members to serve as drivers. The AB 40/41 family was well-designed, with a top speed of over 70 km/h (45 mph), good armour (15 mm on the front plates), and excellent road and cross-country performance. 

An AB 41 of the 3rd Armoured Group, Nizza Cavalry, Ariete Division in Libya during the summer of 1942. 
During production from 1940 to 1943, approximately 600 AB 41s were built, making it the most produced Italian armoured vehicle during this period. The armoured car earned a good reputation among Italian troops on the North African theatre of operations, and it was used not only by the Italians but also by the Germans.

AB 41 in German service with designation Pz.Sp.Wg.AB 41 201(i).
However, some models exhibited poor detail design, including difficult access to the powerplant, an unprotected fuel tank, a one-man turret, exposed traverse gear, and a lack of an interior bulkhead separating the engine and crew compartments. Despite these flaws, the AB 41 was considered a good vehicle and one of the best armoured cars of its era. Its chassis was later used as a basis for the SPA-Viberti AS.42, with approximately 550 vehicles built in total. The Italians had planned to upgrade the AB 41 with a 47 mm anti-tank gun as the AB 43, but these plans were disrupted by the Armistice of Cassibile in September 1943.

An AB41 of the III Gruppo Autoblindo ‘Nizza’ knocked out and abandoned in the desert. On the rear armoured plate is readable “III° Gr. Corazzato Nizza Cav.”. The licence plate was Regio Esercito 136B. 

The kit:
This new kit of the Italian Autoblindo 41 armoured car from Llan Model. This follows on from their equally interesting choice of the Ba64 armoured car kits. We have some information that shows us a little isnight as to what will come our way in the shape of CADs from the company.

The blue-shaded hatches can be posed open or closed. The gold-shaded parts are photo-etched parts, and you can see the brass barrel of the guns also.
Like them or not (we like 'em), the sandwich-together type wheels are used in this kit. Our tip is to use super thin glue and sparingly until its together, then use capilliary action to secure them tightly so you do not get those fingerprints all over them.
It is surprising just how many of the hatches can be opened or closed; it would be a shame to have such a large interior with nothing in it, would it not?
That is when this set comes in. Able to be purchased separately, the full interior kit of this model is also available under set no NM3501-Autoblindo 40.41.43armored car internal structure kit. 
Not only the crew compartment, internal weapons and ammunition storage, engine, and transmission are included in this kit that is sold separately. Lanmo is saying this kit works with the AB40, 41, and 43 kits. Let's see if they make one of each in the future, huh?
A full engine is also included, great for that maintenance or a kocked-out vehicle scene.

This kit is expected to be released in March 2025. You can see more about it on the Lanmo Models Website