Full Review with Dai Williams
Kit Ref: 35009
The subject of this project was the Copper State Models 1:35th Scale Garford-Putilov Armoured Car.
And just before we get started, here’s a quick look at how it all turned out…
The Garford-Putilov Armoured Car was developed in Russia during the First World War. It was based on the imported American Garford truck chassis and although top heavy and somewhat underpowered, it was armed with a powerful gun for its time and proved effective on the battlefield. These vehicles saw service with Russian forces during the First World War and on both sides in the Russian Civil War in 1918. Captured examples also saw service with German, Czechoslovak and Polish forces.
At the time of writing an extensive description of the development and operational use of the vehicle can be found on Wikipedia at: Garford-Putilov armoured car – Wikipedia
The Copper State kit is typical of its productions being presented in a sturdy top opening box (hurrah) in well moulded light grey plastic. The kit contains around 150 parts and there is fine recessed detail where required along with delicate rivets.
A partial interior is provided with the engine, along with the seats and controls for the driver’s compartment. There are probably things that could be added by the modeller if required such as the ammunition boxes and coolant tanks for the machine guns.
I like the approach Copper State takes with its instructions which are clear, and the construction sequence seemed very sensible to me. The use of colour makes them very easy to follow, much like the coloured instructions in the newer Airfix kits. They are also printed on thick paper which makes them look rather classy!
The colour schemes provided in the kit are a little limited with overall green being the only option. However, Copper State provides markings for no less than twelve vehicles. Some of these have large names / slogans and a couple have some rather attractive skull and crossbones motifs.
For those with an adventurous nature I found a photo on the internet of a vehicle painted in a rather more interesting and intricate jigsaw-like camouflage scheme shown in the photo below. Sadly, I have no idea of the colours used, but a scheme might suit those with a love of brush painting or a fiddly masking job that could take weeks or even fortnights to complete!
