Mirror Models Ltd. 1/35 CMP F15 Italian Service Gun Truck Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

The F15 truck was a Ford-manufactured 15 ton 4x2 utility truck built to Canadian Military Pattern (CMP) specifications (including right-hand drive. The F15 was powered by a 239 cubic inch V8 engine rated at 95 horsepower. Like most of the CMP trucks, the F15 was supplied to Commonwealth armies during World War II, and many of those captured were pressed into service by the axis armies.

Mirror Models Ltd. is a model company based in Ireland and like most other model companies these days, has their kits produced in China. This release is the first kit of this subject I've seen in styrene and it looks to be an AMS modeler's dream. The kit is molded in gray styrene and presented on 14 parts trees plus an extensive set of photo-etched details and five rubber (vinyl) tires (duplicate parts trees not shown). There are over 300 plastic parts plus the photo-etched details.

Among the features and options in this kit:

• Detailed Ford engine
• Detailed engine compartment
• Photo-etched radiator grille
• Detailed chassis and drive train
• Choice of full cab or cut-down (no top or windshield)
• Detailed Breda 20mm gun
• Optional fuel can racks

The instructions are better than previous releases and consist of 12 pages of drawings with a few photographs to walk you through the assembly process. Some of steps identify which parts should be used for the gun truck subject of this release but the kit does have other parts included to render other configurations. You can find a PDF version of these instructions on their website..

Aside from the instructions, this kit should be an AMS modeler's dream as all of the basics are here inside and out. All one needs to do is select a subject and add the appropriate 'kit' for the crew and perhaps some figures as well.

My sincere thanks to Stevens International for this review sample!