Carro Bilbao

Name
Panzerauto Bilbao Modell 1932 /kit # 1/

Producer
Steelwork, Germany

Packing
Sturdy box featuring a professionally designed label

Type of kit
Resin (solid body)

Quality

Manufacturing quality is excellent, living up to standards set by Alby or Mars. The parts are very cleanly cast in lightweight pale yellow resin with practically no flash so cleanup should be minimal. The bulky outline of the vehicle is well captured, and the rivets are nicely in scale when compared to historic photographs. The smaller parts are delicate, quite thin but never brittle and their fit is excellent, reminding of quality injected kits.

Care needs to be taken when removing the parts from the casting bars but as the attachments are very thin scoring with a sharp knife does suffice in most cases.

Instruction sheet
Single sheet with historical overview including photographs, technical data, parts list and color reference; assembly is shown in ’explosion’ type diagram.

Decals
non

General impression

The ’Bilbao’ was a light , WW1-style armored car on Ford V8 chassis, armed with a 8mm Hotchkiss machine gun. It was produced in moderate numbers in 1932 for the armed police Guardia de Asalto (Assault Guard), a force used by the Spanish Republican government as a counterweight to the gendarmerie Guardia Civil which was widely suspected of lacking in loyalty to the young and heavily left-leaning republic. After the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War the majority of the Bilbaos remained in Republican hands.

Steelwork’s debut is a fine kit providing all Spanish Civil War cracks with a sorely missed model. With little work it will provide an eye-catching replica of a characteristic AFV unique to this conflict.

I am having some doubts about the shape of the front fenders which look pointier than on photographs but the producer admits this has been the most difficult part. The kit would be a dream if hatches could be displayed open but I am aware this means asking for the moon AND the stars....

Anyway the manufacturer deserves much praise for undertaking this venture; as further SCW kits are in the pipeline even now look out for more surprises!

Available directly from Steelwork: steelwork@gmx.de

Reference: J. de Mazarrasa: Blindados en Espana, 1^a parte pp.26-29; Quiron Ediciones, Spain, 1991 ISBN 84-87314-03-1

Name	Panzerauto Bilbao Modell 1932 /kit # 1/
Producer	Steelwork, Germany
Packing	Sturdy box featuring a professionally designed label
Type of kit	Resin (solid body)
Quality	Manufacturing quality is excellent, living up to standards set by Alby or Mars. The parts are very cleanly cast in lightweight pale yellow resin with practically no flash so cleanup should be minimal. The bulky outline of the vehicle is well captured, and the rivets are nicely in scale when compared to historic photographs. The smaller parts are delicate, quite thin but never brittle and their fit is excellent, reminding of quality injected kits. Care needs to be taken when removing the parts from the casting bars but as the attachments are very thin scoring with a sharp knife does suffice in most cases.
Instruction sheet	Single sheet with historical overview including photographs, technical data, parts list and color reference; assembly is shown in ’explosion’ type diagram.
Decals	non
General impression	The ’Bilbao’ was a light , WW1-style armored car on Ford V8 chassis, armed with a 8mm Hotchkiss machine gun. It was produced in moderate numbers in 1932 for the armed police Guardia de Asalto (Assault Guard), a force used by the Spanish Republican government as a counterweight to the gendarmerie Guardia Civil which was widely suspected of lacking in loyalty to the young and heavily left-leaning republic. After the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War the majority of the Bilbaos remained in Republican hands. Steelwork’s debut is a fine kit providing all Spanish Civil War cracks with a sorely missed model. With little work it will provide an eye-catching replica of a characteristic AFV unique to this conflict. I am having some doubts about the shape of the front fenders which look pointier than on photographs but the producer admits this has been the most difficult part. The kit would be a dream if hatches could be displayed open but I am aware this means asking for the moon AND the stars.... Anyway the manufacturer deserves much praise for undertaking this venture; as further SCW kits are in the pipeline even now look out for more surprises! Available directly from Steelwork: steelwork@gmx.de Reference: J. de Mazarrasa: Blindados en Espana, 1^a parte pp.26-29; Quiron Ediciones, Spain, 1991 ISBN 84-87314-03-1