Originally tested in 1939, the Loyd Carrier was based on the 4x2 Fordson truck. The initial order of 200 carriers was fulfilled by Vivian Loyd’s own company, further orders were produced by the Ford Motor Company, Wolseley Motors, and others with a total of 26,000 carriers built by the end of the Second World War. The carrier was mostly used for towing the 6pdr anti-tank gun, known as the Tracked Towing configuration. One of the latest kits from Bronco Models depicts this anti-tank gun tractor.
Contents
20 plastic sprues, plus a separate tire
16 small springs
1 fret of photo-etched parts
2 lengths of string
1 sheet of decals
1 instruction book
Review
This Loyd Carrier has eluded modelers for a long time, and this new Bronco kit looks to fill the void very well. The kit is molded in green plastic, and from a look at the sprues the moldings are done very well. I found little to no flash, no sink marks, and the only ejector pin marks that really need to be cleaned up are on the inside of the canvas top. The surface details look great, and there are a lot of fine molded parts.
This kit includes a full detailed engine and transmission that will be mostly hidden when the model is complete. But there is a photo-etched screen on either end of the engine compartment, so you might get a slight view.
The running gear is also very well detailed, including metal springs in the kit to add that extra detail. The built-up bogeys will add to the detailed frame that will need to be constructed. From the instructions, this should go together relatively easily, even though there seems to be a lot of parts.
The interior detail extends into the driver's compartment as you complete the construction of the frame and floor. This includes adding the well detailed engine. The cover for the engine is in multiple parts, thus if you want to display the engine, it would not take much work.
The track included with this kit from Bronco is a length and link style. There are several lengths of molded track that will be connected using individual links, mostly around the idler and drive sprocket. The molded track looks great, very finely molded. I do personally find this style of track a little more difficult and time consuming to install as you have to get the individual links in the right spot to ensure lining up of the lengths.
With the lower frame and most of the interior detail added, construction then starts with the body armor plating. Again this looks relatively straight forward. The armor plates look to be well done with good looking surface detail on both sides, and what looks to be good scale thickness. A photo-etched storage bin is included, and will be a great place to add the stowage included in the kit. The kit does include 6pdr ammunition boxes with some loose 6pdr rounds. There is also some packs and weapons that can be added for stowage.
With the body built and stowage added, it is now time to add the top. Bronco has included some finely molded plastic parts to represent the framing. Over this is a solid molded canvas top that provides the option of having the sides rolled up or down. This is great to see inside the model, as a lot of producers usually don’t provide this option. If you are using the side down option, two lengths of string are included to represent the tie downs.
The instruction booklet has 41 build steps across 23 pages, and includes another 7 pages of paint and marking schemes. The build steps look relatively easy to follow, but I did find a couple that look rather busy. Paint colors are referenced for Mr. Hobby, Hobby Color, Humbrol, and Tamiya, but I did not find any paint callouts during the construction.
Paint and Marking Options:
9th Carpathian Rifle Battalion, 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division, Italy, Summer 1943
11th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division, France, June 1944
1st Netherlands Reconnaissance Squadron, Netherland Independent Brigade Group ‘Prinses Irene Brigade’, Sept 1944
1st Netherlands Independent Motorised Fighting Group ‘Prinses Irene Brigade’, Sept 1944
2nd Btn Gordon Highlanders, 15th Scottish Infantry Division, Netherlands, Oct 1944
2nd Netherlands Independent Motorised Fight Group ‘Prinses Irene Brigade’, Sept 1944
1st Btn East Lancashire Regiment, 53rd Infantry Division, Netherlands, Oct 1944
Conclusion
Overall this looks to be another great kit from Bronco Models. The subject is great and needed. The moldings are very well done and complimented by the inclusion of photo-etched parts, and great options for markings. While the kit does look like it will need some patience in some areas of construction, I would recommend the kit for more advanced modelers. The model does look like it will build into an excellent model and I would definitely recommend this kit.
SUMMARY
Highs: Great long awaited subject, great moldings, great details, options for canvas top.Lows: Instructions a little busy in spots, more recommended for advanced modelers due to some of the detail.Verdict: A definite must have, highly recommended.
Our Thanks to Bronco Models! This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.
I am an IT Consultant and father, with a passion for plastic models. I mostly prefer 1/35 Armor and 1/48 Aircraft. My main interests are anything Canadian, as well as WW2 German and British Armor and Aircraft. I have been building models since I was a young kid, got away from it for awhile, but r...
Maybe Armorama could have a separate forum or database or
something where each "member" could list all the words,
expressions, direct or indirect references and anything
else that they could get offended by ?
Then we could all check the list before we write anything
to try to avoid everyones sensitivities.
/ Robin
P.S. Don't use the german colloquial expression, used during WWII, for some types of the german manned torpedoes since that word could be considered offensive
I must admit to having missed all these virtual cat-fights (tongue firmly-in-cheek ) saying that, sometimes you put your foot in it without any bad intentions.
At the beginning I didn't see the polítical incorrectness at all, however, now it¡s been mentioned, I can understand how it could upset people.
Saying that, I still don't see it as an intentional racist slur.
Hi, easyco69. Do you live in Akwesasne? Mohawks and Iroquois (during the colonial eras) were awsome! Too bad Champlain went and made enemies of them. I knew a couple of guys from Kannewake years ago - cool guys.
I do not for one minute believe that Mike used the term he did, with the intention of insulting or causing offence to anyone; however as it has caused offence I have removed the term and the replies related to it for the sake of peace.
This does nothing but sweep the issue under the rug, the main issue is no one is willing to admit or take responsibility that a something said may be racial offense against someone, even if it was not known at first. It was brought to light, and it just seems everyone want it to go away and ignore it.
Nice looking kit. Might be interested in getting it... One day.
And my .002¢: if we do not intend to make an offensive comment and do not realize we are, how can we know that we are? Knowing that a comment is offensive is one thing, but not realizing it is different. And some people react to circumstances differently than others. Some act by blowing it off while others act by laughing it off and/or reacting sarcastically.
This does nothing but sweep the issue under the rug, the main issue is no one is willing to admit or take responsibility that a something said may be racial offense against someone, even if it was not known at first. It was brought to light, and it just seems everyone want it to go away and ignore it.
[/quote]
I read the original post and the aftermath. As no offence was intended I didn't see anything racist nor offensive about it other than part of a sentence being taken out of context. The context and meaning in this case were clear and as such should have offended no one. You can take part of any sentence and turn it into something else if you have a mind to, in-fact it happens all the time.
The English language is a wonderful language but I find the PC brigade all a bit OTT as they have taken much of the fun out of life, not to mention trying to ban Christmas and other characters and true themes in life. I find it quite offensive that anyone should tell me what to say or how to think, too much like George Orwell's 1984 and the Thought Police.
Whilst many peoples speak English their use and meaning of the words is often much different, and this can be seen across all English speaking people, so I'm probably on a beaten docket here, but it's for that reason I won't tell the joke about the Irishman who asked the Doctor how he could tell if his wife to be was a virgin or not, as it might offend Doctors, wives, virgins or non virgins or perhaps Chinese speaking people and even some Irishmen or Irish Women. (One can never tell, and as that possibility exists it would be something akin to flogging a dead horse).
Disclaimer:
"It should be noted that no dead horses were flogged, nor dockets beaten, nor were any Doctors, Wives or non wives, virgins or non virgins or other nationalities or peoples or animals, insects, birds nor fish harmed in the making of this post nor was any offence implied or intended to any living or deceased creature no matter how small or of what persuasion, colour, size or shape and that all words were taken from the English Dictionary which does not imply that there are not other words from other languages that would equally well express the thoughts portrayed here, nor that the use of the said language in anyway suggests that it is or greater or lesser importance than any other known or unknown language. Whilst preference was expressed as to the impact of the PC Brigade on normal life this in no way implies that they do not have the right to express such opinions nor that those opinions are not of equal value."
Now back to the topic, an excellent release that I've been much looking forward to and the first of several versions I hope.
Thank you for your punishment Sir.
Al
Comments