Gents !!!!
In this new year, I plan to empty out my closet ... And since this is the proposal, it's time for a new project: Chevrolet CMP C15TA Armored Ambulance (#35106), from Mirror Models. I think it will be interesting to follow this project as it will be a comparison between the old kits CMP Peerless (who just built) with this new release. It will be my first build with this brand...
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Chevrolet CMP CT15AA armored ambulance |
History
The C15TA Armoured Truck was produced in Canada by General Motors following the doctrine of use the American White
M3 Scout Car. The success of the White M3 Scout Car, being used it its role of an armoured lorry, clearly showed the need for such a thing. When in 1943 the Americans decided to phase the M3 out of production, the British War Department decided a replacement was needed. They came up with a prototype design: a CMP field artillery tractor, with a fully enclosed armoured body, which was known as the 'Cupola'.
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M3 Scout Car White |
The Canadians carried out some drastic re-design and came up with the
C15TA, a 15-cwt 4x4 armoured truck based on the Otter LRC. It employed the same GM six cylinder 270 cid engine, but was fitted with a two ratio gearbox. The British placed contracts for 3,000 late in 1943, the remainder going to the Canadian Army. The C15TA was manufactured by General Motors of Canada, with hulls supplied by the
Hamilton Bridge Company.. During 1943/1944 GM Canada built 3,961 C15TAs at their Oshawa (Ontario, Canada) plant at a price of $4.500 each. These open-topped vehicles were equipped as trucks, eight-seater personnel carriers or ambulances. Extremely popular wherever it served, the C15TA lasted for years after the war, but never succeeded in ousting the White, which at one stage looked like going on for ever.
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C15TA armoured trucks loading an element of Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI)
in Scheldt Estuary Battle. Holland, October, 1944. |
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Chevrolet C15TA armored personal carrier |
After the end of the hostilities, many vehicles were left in Europe and were subsequently employed by armies of the liberated European countries, including
Belgium,
Denmark (as M6 Mosegris), the
Netherlands (which received at least 396 units),
Norway. In addition about 150 were sold by Canada to
Spain. Trucks left by the British forces in
Vietnam were taken over by the
French, which used them in
Indochina and later transferred to
South Vietnam.
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Canadian 15-cwt GM C15TA Aromored Truck as convoy escort, Vietnan |
Many C15TAs were employed by the police forces of the
Federation of Malaya. In 1955
Portugal received a number of vehicles, known as "Granadeiros", that were later used in the African wars. Some vehicles remained in service until the 1960s.
The Ambulance version is somewhat rare to find with its documentation and photos challenging findings in the literature.
Specs:
CT15AA Armoured Ambulance |
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Type | Armoured ambulance |
Place of origin | Canada |
Production history |
Manufacturer | General Motors Canada |
Specifications |
Weight | 4.5 t |
Length | 4.75 m |
Width | 2.34 m |
Height | 2.35 m |
Crew | 2+1 |
Passengers | 6 |
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Armour | 6-14 mm |
Engine
Transmission | GMC 6 cyl. gasoline
104 hp @ 3000RPM
4-1 (fwd-rev) |
Power/weight | 22.2 hp/tonne |
Suspension
Tyres | 4 x 4 wheel, leaf spring
10.5x16 |
Speed
Fuel capacity
Range
Fording deep | 70 km/h
189 L
714 Km
610mm |
The kit:
As I said before, this is my first contact with a kit of this brand. The box is small and the box art is a little disappointing (the sepia tones add no references ... a waste of opportunity).
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Mirror Models box art...eeewwww!!! |
The kit is multimedia: injected parts, PE parts and resin (fine casting). The injection is very, very good, with no burrs or defects. The "logic" of parts is a little different from other Industries and many parts of it you should run, with metal wire, plasticards, etc. ... The worst part is the booklet: based on photos, omits many, many steps ... A real nightmare. But, let's go:
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The kit in my workbench. The box art is depressing...
Notice in the background, right, my M4A3E8 (75) waiting (yet. ..)
the tracks that do not arrived in the mail ... |
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The chassis frame, transmissions and axles for driveshafts.
This photo sums up the multimedia feature of the kit. |
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With wheels. I always install the wheels at this stage
to ensure perfect alignment of the chassis. |
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Notice the engine, very detailled... |
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With the body...The girl is growing... |
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The front grille is heavy...The parts fits perfectly... |
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A very busy guy...The canvas is in dry-run... |
The Ambulance returns to the workbench...
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Building the interior. My model will be closed, but some details are important... |
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doors... |
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The engine hood, fenders... |
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Rear mirrors... |
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Rear view |
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White primer in the interior |
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Again, the canvas in dry-run... |
Next step, painting details in the interior and exterior...
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Painting the interior...My girl will be built closed...
She's a very coy girl (... and I, very lazy guy...) |
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Wheatering... |
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And the top is glued in position. Putty... |
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Spare wheel rack... |
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rear tarp (made with very thin plasticard....) |
Now, colors and markings. In a
Missing-Lynx topic, Andrew Tomlinson mentioned the possibility of the existence of two these girls. How I hate paint kits based on markings of Museums (usually wrong),I made this markings diagram (below) based on existence of another girl than the Canadian Museum. Tom Kaszas post an incredible pic (new for me...) with articulated ladder in the vehicle's rear.
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Chevrolet CMP CT15AA - rear view
Discussion Only - Font: Missing-Lynx |
And Chris Grove questioned the Z prefix in the census number painted on the ambulance of Canadian Museum. The correct ( and i agree...) would be the prefix CA. Well, I must build this ladder...but I'll stay with the single cross on the back ... I think more beautiful!
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Chevrolet CMP CT15AA Ambulance
1st Canadian Army - Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps
8 Field Surgical Units - CA5822761 - "NELL" |
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Colors...Green and khaki |
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ups and downs in the color tones... |
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Future to prevent silvering... |
And the best part: the decals. Colors of 1st Canadian Army
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Deacals made by Panzerserra Corporation ltd. |
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Nell was born .... |
Well, tanks. The Canadian girl was ready. The Mirror Models kit is very good. But not for newbies...The booklet is a nightmare, but nothing that can not be bypassed with a lot of research and care. My ambulance belonged to 1st Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, in duty with 8 Field Surgical Unit, in Germany, 1945.
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Chevrolet CMP CT15AA Armored Ambulance - 1st Canadian Army
Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps - 8 Field Surgical Unit- Germany, 1945. |
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Chevrolet CMP CT15AA Armored Ambulance - rear view |
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Chevrolet CMP CT15AA Armored Ambulance - right side |
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Chevrolet CMP CT15AA Armored Ambulance - left side |
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Chevrolet CMP CT15AA Armored Ambulance with Kojak, for size comparison. |
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Austin Tilly with Chevrolet CMP CT15AA |
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Sherman with Chevrolet CMP CT15AA |
Thanks for follow, Tankers !!!
Very nice model and well detailed for this kind of kit.
ResponderExcluirI like allways your historical and technical notice, it's very important especially for this less known vehicle. Good job for the further stages.
Merci, Alain...Love the historical aspect of the vehicles...
ResponderExcluirStay tunned, my friend...
Love this build!
ResponderExcluirHi, Anonimous!! Thanks, my friend!! Hugs!!
ExcluirHello, I have a wartime picture that shows one big door at the rear, were there more prototypes, or was it changed? the survivor shows the double doors. Thanks, Alex
ResponderExcluirHi, Alex... Thanks for your visit... About your question, here's a good question... Photos of this vehicle are not very common, even more so in a rear view. Really, I can't answer you for sure... In my searches, I didn't find anything like that... Would it be possible for you to send me the photo so that it could be published here??? Citing your contribution, of course... A big hug and waiting...
ResponderExcluir