Introduction
The Coventry armored car was developed at the end of WW2 as a replacement for the lighter Humber and Daimler armored cars then in service with Great Britain. Armed with the same 40mm QF 2-pounder gun as the Daimler (along with a 7.92 mm coaxial Besa machine gun), it was planned to up-gun a second iteration of the Coventry to carry a 57mm QF 6-pounder gun, but only a few of these Mk. 2s were produced. There is no evidence that any saw combat, but it's hard to be sure.
Humber began producing the initial order of 1,700 in 1943, but it was soon decided to scale production back to 300, and make use of the Daimler it was intended to replace. By the end of the war, only 220 were actually produced, and none were delivered in time to hear shots fired in anger. An indeterminate number were sold to the French, with some figures showing 40 vehicles and other sources claiming up to 64. Some of these were deployed to Southeast Asia, as France was then rapidly arming for conflict with the Vietnamese nationalist movement known as the Viet Minh.
While in many ways ill-suited to combat in a country like Vietnam, the Coventry still saw extensive use by the 5th Regiment of Cuirassiers until replaced by the M5A2 Stuart tank. For that reason, it's exciting that Scottcast has released a resin model of the Mk. 1 in 1/35th, as well as the Mk. 2. Prior to their launch, the last model of the Coventry was the 1996 UPC kit. Scottcast is a new (at least new to me) company in the UK that is releasing oddball vehicles that haven't been kitted by styrene manufacturers.
Contents
Inside a brown box with a small label on top are three zip-loc baggies with a mixture of resin parts on pour plugs. Directions are in the form of diagrams and photos of a real Coventry interior.
The Review
It seems recently as if a new wave of Indochina and Vietnam War kits and figures has begun to break onto the modeling scene. 3D printing especially has allowed small vendors like Hobby Link and B&L Models to release vehicles that styrene manufacturers have either ignored or have given minimal attention to. The Vietnam War (or what many now call the Second Vietnam War) is known for its massive firepower and abundance of AFVs, softskins, transport vehicles and support equipment attached to the United States forces or supplied to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). But the First Vietnam War (referred to usually as France's War in Indochina) has a rich cast of vehicles and aircraft, both common (e.g., the Sherman tank) and rare like the Coventry.
In an era of runaway 3D resin printing, the model is a traditional resin casting with pour plugs and mold release, so I recommend soaking the parts overnight in a bleaching solution like Bleche-Wite to remove any remaining release. Unlike 3D printed resin, the Scottcast resin can be easily reshaped should you find any warpage. The casting overall is superior, with crisp details and a minimum of warping. Where items have warped, I suggest plunging them in boiling water for 10 seconds, then letting them cool after returning them to their proper shape.
I will say I'm not in love with the directions, which are amazingly detailed, but static without any build order. They look to be actual drawings of the real vehicle, and show amazing detail; but there is no guidance as to which parts go where and when. I suspect I will have to test-fit my way forward, piece by piece, when time comes to build this vehicle, which I definitely will. While not a deal-breaker, I would have much-preferred even a simple guide on assembling the various components, though I'm thrilled to have this kit in my stash.
Conclusion
The kit looks to be an excellent and detailed addition to the motor pool for modelers of the First Vietnam War. While stowage is not evident in most of the photos I have seen, a large spare tire is usually strapped onto the rear deck (often with different tread pattern than the wheels in service). This might be an additional addition to the Scottcast line down the road. Otherwise, this is a marvelous offering, and I look forward to further Scottcast products, which can be purchased through the website AMS Paints & Accessories.
Thanks to Alan Jamieson at Scottcast and AMS Paints & Accessories for the review sample. Be sure to mention you saw it reviewed on Armorama when ordering your own.