Mr Panzer's (ex-DA.GA) 1/72 Fiat 18BL Truck
by Jörg Schneider

This light lorry was developed as a replacement for the earlier Fiat 15 TER. The Italian Army was very short of vehicles and the War Department asked Fiat to give top priority to developing a standard military wagon comparable to foreign war subsidy types. The resulting 18BL was a rugged and sturdy design with a four-cylinder engine which developed 38 h.p. at 1.300 r.p.m, that allowed a speed of 28 km/h. It had four speeds and one reverse but final drive was by chains in enclosed casings.The vehicle was produced in great numbers from 1915 to 1921. It speaks for the particular quality that it was not only used by the Italian army but by the British, French and Russian allies as well.

For more info on the Fiat BL18, click here!

Click on the pictures for an enlarged version! 

The cardboard box contains gray resin parts  and a plan with a short history and  technical data in Italian. The plan is very good.

In my case, one forward spring was broken. But I could  easily repair it. Some other parts still had to be freed from surrounding moulding material. I liked especially the fine detailed lamps and the bonnet. At only two parts I had to use some putty: the joint between engine block and chassis and the silencer.

Be careful when separating the forward wings from the sprue. I added a starter crank made from wire. Although there already exist number plates for front and back, I decided to make bigger ones from plastic sheet. As the kit provides no hood, I made my own  from a paper handkerchief.The supports came from a wire. Don’t forget both ropes that fix the driver’s roof with the forward wings.

The angry driver making an unpolite gesture is a former pilot from an always useful soft plastic figure set from Orion (Ukraine).

I painted the body of the lorry in a dark field gray and the tarpaulins in a tan colour. For the number plates I took two old Esci WW2 decals beginning with RE. I replaced both letters by red SM letters meaning here Servicio Militare or military service. I also used only four of the black digits. I put the same designations at the tarpaulin’s sides though this time in big white letters. This work wasn‘t done so easily because the wet decals wouldn’t stick on the painted paper.

This kit can can be bought through Tracks & Troops in Belgium.

This is one of only two available kits representing Italian softskin vehicles during WWI. Enjoy the good quality (almost Al.By) and the helpful advice you will get for your money.

(Peter Kempf: I can only agree. This is one of the best WW1 softskin models that I have ever seen. Accurate, very fine moulding, well thought-through construction. Excellent!)