Review - Bronco CV3/33 Tankette Series II Early production
Mar 18, 2014 19:53:54 GMT -5
bullardino and pantherf like this
Post by Smudge on Mar 18, 2014 19:53:54 GMT -5
Carro Veloce 3/33 Tankette Series II (Early production)
Review type: in box review
Reviewed by: Smudge
Scale: 1/35
Manufacturer: Bronco Models
Model Number: CB35125
Introduction
The Italian government purchased four British Carden Lloyd Tankettes in 1929 and produced their own vehicles in modified form. The first was the Carro Veloce CV29 which served as a pilot model for the CV33 which entered production in 1933. Fiat of Turin and Ansaldo of Genoa were chosen as the manufacturers, producing around 300 of the CV33 model. The Tankette was usually referred to as a light tank in Italian service. Construction was of riveted rolled armour plate, frontal armour being 14 mm. Combat weight was 3.2 tons. The CV33 was armed by a single 6.5mm machine gun. Power was provided by a 43bhp Fiat SPA petrol engine giving a maximum speed of 46 kmh. The CV33 was widely used and many were exported to friendly nations. It saw action with the Italian Army during the North Africa Campaign. The CV33 was replaced by the CV35 in 1936, the only major difference was the bolted construction to ease manufacture and repair and twin 8mm machine gun mount. Most CV33’s were rebuilt to CV35 standard from 1938 and were designated the CV33 Series II.
It is this vehicle, the early production, Series II, Carro Veloce 3/33 Tankette from Bronco which is the feature of this review.
Contents
The kit, in Bronco’s now standard box with lid contains six injection moulded light/mid ‘tan’ sprues, one clear sprue, one fret of photo etch and a sheet of decals. It also contains the A4 full colour instruction book and Bronco’s usual A4 poster of the boxart. The poster and indeed the boxart is very attractive portraying a CV3/33 of the Italian Special Armoured Brigade, XXIII Corps, 5th Army, Libya, 1940 in a desert setting.
Instructions
The instructions are up to Bronco’s usual standards. Clear line drawings, colour artwork, with exploded drawings to show areas in detail. The A4 booklet is 11 pages long and the build is spread over 16 stages. Everything looks as it should; the stages look to be in a sensible order. Paints are recommended for the following manufacturers:
• Mr Hobby
• Hobby Color
• Humbrol
• Tamiya
Sprues etc
A sprue (x 2): these contain the tiny road-wheels, drive wheels, distinctive curved radiator, machine gun receivers and triggers, suspension parts and tracks. The tracks are link and length which I think is sensible for pieces so small. While some may prefer individual tracks personally I prefer these type especially for kits as diminutive as this.
B sprue; this contains the hull bottom, engine hatches and a few detail parts, the hull bottom although probably never seen has some very nice details like weld beads, inspection hatch and bolt heads. Note that most of this sprue is from other, older, Bronco Carro Veloce versions and are labelled ‘no use parts’.
D sprue; this contains by and large parts for the engine and transmission. These are extremely well detailed being spread over several build stages. Some PE parts are used on the engine and transmission but it doesn’t appear overly complicated just fiddly with some very tiny pieces.
Sprue E; again mainly redundant with many ‘no use parts’, this does contain the MG mantlet and the twin 8mm MG barrels. Note the use of slide moulding so that Bronco can mould the barrels ends open…no drilling out required.
Sprue H; this is the meat of the kit. It consists of a newly moulded upper hull and lower hull sides replacing those on sprue E. It also contains the hull upper rear and engine inspection hatches, two different hull rear plates, idler wheels, MG tripod and a myriad of small detail parts. The upper hull part is an improvement over the early one having a separate transmission hatch which can be left off to show more of the interior. Note the modeller can chose one of two rear plates; with or without towing hook. This is the only drawback I can see…neither can be built to show the radiator compartment inspection panel open what with the large rear hatch being moulded shut.
C sprue; clear parts, headlamp lenses.
Photo etch parts; includes the entire rear firewall in PE, plus smaller parts including foot pedals, fan belt and various brackets and plates.
Decals; three colour schemes and marking options are provided, these are…
1. Gruppo Corazzata ‘Leoncello’ Northern Italy, 1944
2. German captured vehicle, unit unknown, Italy 1943
3. The Special Armoured Brigade of the XXIII Corps, 5th Army, Libya, 1940
Summary
The model has some very nice touches…
• Crisp, clean mouldings. No flash and only very fine seam lines.
• Ejection pin marks located sensibly; these appear to be in places either invisible or barely visible after construction.
• Very nice link and length tracks.
• Slide moulded MG barrels.
• Newly moulded hull parts.
• Highly detailed, almost fully complete, interior; including transmission and engine, radiators, drivers/fighting compartment. Even tiny PE foot pedals are included but no ammo stowage. Wiring will improve the look of the engine itself.
• Many hatches can built open to show off the interior; except the radiator compartment. I’m pretty sure the distinctive curved radiator won’t be seen after construction but I stand to be corrected.
Conclusion
This model portrays one of the most important AFV’s in the Italian inventory during WWII so it carries some historical importance, and while I’m not an Italian armour fan I find this kit very appealing, probably because I do have a penchant for these little tankettes. This is very well produced and looks less complex than other Bronco kits. For such a diminutive vehicle there is a really great level of detail and the kit does look accurate, although I have to confess to only having the references below to go on. The inclusion of the new hull with separate transmission hatch is a great improvement over the older Bronco CV3/33-35 kits and means more of the interior can be seen.
On saying that and maybe I’m being picky I would have liked to see the rear radiator hatch as a separate part and the inclusion of ammo stowage would have been nice. So would a crew member or two but on saying that MiniArt offer a figure set of Italian Tankers that would look great with this kit.
Very highly recommended.
References
I’d like to thank our own Bullardino for the help with the research and supplying me with the two photo links below;
militarymodels.co.nz/2012/11/07/photo-walkaround-italian-cv-33-tankette-part-2-the-interior
militarymodels.co.nz/2012/11/06/photo-walkaround-italian-cv-33-tankette-part-1-the-exterior
forum.worldoftanks.com/index.php?/topic/200193-italian-tanks/page__st__2680
Review type: in box review
Reviewed by: Smudge
Scale: 1/35
Manufacturer: Bronco Models
Model Number: CB35125
Introduction
The Italian government purchased four British Carden Lloyd Tankettes in 1929 and produced their own vehicles in modified form. The first was the Carro Veloce CV29 which served as a pilot model for the CV33 which entered production in 1933. Fiat of Turin and Ansaldo of Genoa were chosen as the manufacturers, producing around 300 of the CV33 model. The Tankette was usually referred to as a light tank in Italian service. Construction was of riveted rolled armour plate, frontal armour being 14 mm. Combat weight was 3.2 tons. The CV33 was armed by a single 6.5mm machine gun. Power was provided by a 43bhp Fiat SPA petrol engine giving a maximum speed of 46 kmh. The CV33 was widely used and many were exported to friendly nations. It saw action with the Italian Army during the North Africa Campaign. The CV33 was replaced by the CV35 in 1936, the only major difference was the bolted construction to ease manufacture and repair and twin 8mm machine gun mount. Most CV33’s were rebuilt to CV35 standard from 1938 and were designated the CV33 Series II.
It is this vehicle, the early production, Series II, Carro Veloce 3/33 Tankette from Bronco which is the feature of this review.
Contents
The kit, in Bronco’s now standard box with lid contains six injection moulded light/mid ‘tan’ sprues, one clear sprue, one fret of photo etch and a sheet of decals. It also contains the A4 full colour instruction book and Bronco’s usual A4 poster of the boxart. The poster and indeed the boxart is very attractive portraying a CV3/33 of the Italian Special Armoured Brigade, XXIII Corps, 5th Army, Libya, 1940 in a desert setting.
Instructions
The instructions are up to Bronco’s usual standards. Clear line drawings, colour artwork, with exploded drawings to show areas in detail. The A4 booklet is 11 pages long and the build is spread over 16 stages. Everything looks as it should; the stages look to be in a sensible order. Paints are recommended for the following manufacturers:
• Mr Hobby
• Hobby Color
• Humbrol
• Tamiya
Sprues etc
A sprue (x 2): these contain the tiny road-wheels, drive wheels, distinctive curved radiator, machine gun receivers and triggers, suspension parts and tracks. The tracks are link and length which I think is sensible for pieces so small. While some may prefer individual tracks personally I prefer these type especially for kits as diminutive as this.
B sprue; this contains the hull bottom, engine hatches and a few detail parts, the hull bottom although probably never seen has some very nice details like weld beads, inspection hatch and bolt heads. Note that most of this sprue is from other, older, Bronco Carro Veloce versions and are labelled ‘no use parts’.
D sprue; this contains by and large parts for the engine and transmission. These are extremely well detailed being spread over several build stages. Some PE parts are used on the engine and transmission but it doesn’t appear overly complicated just fiddly with some very tiny pieces.
Sprue E; again mainly redundant with many ‘no use parts’, this does contain the MG mantlet and the twin 8mm MG barrels. Note the use of slide moulding so that Bronco can mould the barrels ends open…no drilling out required.
Sprue H; this is the meat of the kit. It consists of a newly moulded upper hull and lower hull sides replacing those on sprue E. It also contains the hull upper rear and engine inspection hatches, two different hull rear plates, idler wheels, MG tripod and a myriad of small detail parts. The upper hull part is an improvement over the early one having a separate transmission hatch which can be left off to show more of the interior. Note the modeller can chose one of two rear plates; with or without towing hook. This is the only drawback I can see…neither can be built to show the radiator compartment inspection panel open what with the large rear hatch being moulded shut.
C sprue; clear parts, headlamp lenses.
Photo etch parts; includes the entire rear firewall in PE, plus smaller parts including foot pedals, fan belt and various brackets and plates.
Decals; three colour schemes and marking options are provided, these are…
1. Gruppo Corazzata ‘Leoncello’ Northern Italy, 1944
2. German captured vehicle, unit unknown, Italy 1943
3. The Special Armoured Brigade of the XXIII Corps, 5th Army, Libya, 1940
Summary
The model has some very nice touches…
• Crisp, clean mouldings. No flash and only very fine seam lines.
• Ejection pin marks located sensibly; these appear to be in places either invisible or barely visible after construction.
• Very nice link and length tracks.
• Slide moulded MG barrels.
• Newly moulded hull parts.
• Highly detailed, almost fully complete, interior; including transmission and engine, radiators, drivers/fighting compartment. Even tiny PE foot pedals are included but no ammo stowage. Wiring will improve the look of the engine itself.
• Many hatches can built open to show off the interior; except the radiator compartment. I’m pretty sure the distinctive curved radiator won’t be seen after construction but I stand to be corrected.
Conclusion
This model portrays one of the most important AFV’s in the Italian inventory during WWII so it carries some historical importance, and while I’m not an Italian armour fan I find this kit very appealing, probably because I do have a penchant for these little tankettes. This is very well produced and looks less complex than other Bronco kits. For such a diminutive vehicle there is a really great level of detail and the kit does look accurate, although I have to confess to only having the references below to go on. The inclusion of the new hull with separate transmission hatch is a great improvement over the older Bronco CV3/33-35 kits and means more of the interior can be seen.
On saying that and maybe I’m being picky I would have liked to see the rear radiator hatch as a separate part and the inclusion of ammo stowage would have been nice. So would a crew member or two but on saying that MiniArt offer a figure set of Italian Tankers that would look great with this kit.
Very highly recommended.
References
I’d like to thank our own Bullardino for the help with the research and supplying me with the two photo links below;
militarymodels.co.nz/2012/11/07/photo-walkaround-italian-cv-33-tankette-part-2-the-interior
militarymodels.co.nz/2012/11/06/photo-walkaround-italian-cv-33-tankette-part-1-the-exterior
forum.worldoftanks.com/index.php?/topic/200193-italian-tanks/page__st__2680
Gonna be a busy Spring! At least this won't take up much space.
