Kevin Brant takes a look at the new CMP C15TA Armored Car multimedia kit from Mirror Models.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Very nice review and I have been noticing these vehicles in some new DVD's I have acquired.

One thing on these reviews (and I am not trying to make waves) but is there a way to include where they can be purchased from, or would that evolve some kind of advertising deal that would open up a new can of worms?

I would like very much to try this 'newer' company with a few soft skinned builds.










~ Jeff

Right now, I know the following are carrying it, and believe have stock.

http://www.olddogmodels.com/
http://www.luckymodel.com/

And from what I have seen, the prices here are reasonable.

Thanks for the review Kevin. Id agree with your assessment. OOB, this should be considered a multi-media kit, and not the normal injected kit with some extra details, etc.
I bought one of these and then got another as a present ... so there will definately be one of these from me in the not too far away future. Waiting for the vacuuformed tilt for one of them.

@Jeff. The kit can be bought directly from LZ Models if you cannot locate one Stateside.

Adam Kuller is building this kit on Military Modelling for those interested.

Thanks guys for the information.


We cannot live on armor alone (although it's fun trying) so these will be the ticket. So I will wait for Christmas to pass and make a few of these my "to do" list.










~ Jeff

I really don't like CD instructions. It is much easier looking over written instructions to study it, to look ahead, or to look back, and you don't have to make extra space on the work bench for a monitor or laptop, etc. I realize an included CD is cheaper than printed paper, but I would rather pay $5 more for the luxury of paper. Are these 'short-run' type models?

My purchase arrived last week, a fine looking kit. I can see the logic for the CD instructions but like others I prefer the paper type.

Still you can always print them off. This one will be a challenging build when I get around to it.

I got the C15A Lorry at the same time which does have the paper instructions so I'll probably build that first

Al

I just took a quick look at LZ and their price for the C15A truck version lists at 35 EUR (USD $44.60) as compared to the CMP F15 at 48 EUR (USD $61.17). Their prices reflect the actual cost of the kit, so why the great disparity between these two kits? Both are similarly sized and detailed.

Ahhhh, paper! I love paper!!

From what I have seen, especially for the upcoming Otter, is the kits look to becoming more mainstream kits, with more plastic, which requires a little more engineering of the molds. Plus I believe the F15A will come with the options of the Cab 11 and Cab 12.

I got this a few weeks ago, and it looks fantastic, multi media is right, Libor has added every type of plastic resin and metal anyone might need to make it as detailed as you want... but anyone that has met or talked to Libor knows he is a mad scientist of scratch building and detailing... I want to pile stowage all over this one... and I look forward to seeing more models from LZ in the future.

Many thanks for nice review Kevin, and all for your feedback. Truly we did not notice error in references we used for decals, and like said, these will be printed in correct shortly and sent to everyone on request to replace them. I have also learned a lot on our first release - Otter kit does not have any ejector mark at all, and you might have noticed also it is full plastic kit except resin radiator and wheels (here I believe the resin wheels are the best option to produce nice and detailed wheels for the kit) and so will be the others - full plastic kits. And because plastic injection technology has still limits like wall thickness and so on, and I simply cannot be happy with sheet metal fender thick in reality some 3cm, which is even too much for light armor, there still will be available PE parts together with additional details, but offered separately. For me in person details are most important part of the kit, and they make difference between scale model and toy...
All upcoming kits will have printed instructions, while hi-res PDF photo manual is available to download from our website.
Cheers
Libor

Good Review

I have the kit and it is better than other companies offers from the past. The decals are the only draw back. 5th Armd Div was maroon with yellow/gold leaf. The blue 43 should belong to a CZ unit. Research will be needed to get the right unit down with the correct markings. Care should be taken when looking at examples that are still around as they might have post war modifications.
CD instructions are fine, print them off and you have a paper copy to work with.

Plan to make mine an ambulance version......

Anthony

Also if it hasn't been mentioned the style of maple leafs are wrong also. Still going to get one though.

Anthony

That is one issue about the examples, most are museum restorations, and I have notice some, if not most, are incorrectly marked. And most of the war images are black and white, and difficult to see the markings.

As for the ambulance, that will be nice to see. I have some images of the one on the Canadian War Musuem if you are interested.

Kevin

Stevens International Distributors in New Jersey carries Mirror models, so the local hobby shop should have them on the shelves, if not they can order them.

HobbyTown USA in Columbia SC has it on the shelf!

Keith.

Well lets just say I had it on the shelf for less than an hour.......

Zoooom gone, sold at $50.00 US.

Nice kit by the way...

Now waiting for the Otter to become available...

Keith.

@ Keith:

Any chance of getting Stevens to provide the LZ Models No. 35414 "1/35 Detail set for C15TA Armored Carrier" and No. 35419 "1/35 C15TA backseats"?

These add the PE front fenders, the internal glass wind screen, rear seats, and some other details. (LZ also says they have a vacuform canvas cover that will be available soon.)

On the LZ Models' website, Stevens Int'l is listed as a US distributor, I've checked the Stevens' website, but these LZ products aren't listed. I can't find anyone else in the US listing them either.

So, is there any chance of getting Stevens to order these up?

About the model:

I'll second all of the earlier comments about the detail and potential - it should be a great build of a very neat subject. Printing out the instructions killed the ink cartridge on my printer, though, so more conventional paper instructions will be welcome if they come with the Otter kit.

I'm looking forward to starting the C15TA... Just need to find a nice No. 19 radio set for it. Anyone have one from the Bronco Staghound that they're not using?

Happy modeling!

I just got the first 2 in this week, depending on how well they sell, I will likely be getting the subsequent releases.

Libor is apparently going to tackle the CMP 30 as well at some point!

Anyway, you can find them here on my website:

http://www.elmcityhobbies.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=3_287&zenid=42314c4e1c134fdd07c39c00f4635f3b