Ferret Scout Car Mk.1

Airfix, 1/35 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Background

The Scout Car, Recce, Ferret, also commonly known as the Ferret Scout Car, is a British armoured fighting vehicle designed and built for reconnaissance purposes. The Ferret was produced between 1952 and 1971 by the UK company Daimler. It was widely used by regiments in the British Army, as well as the RAF Regiment and Commonwealth countries throughout the period.

The Ferret was developed in 1949 as a result of a British Army requirement issued in 1947. 'Light reconnaissance cars' existed during the Second World War, notably the Daimler Dingo. Given its experience with the successful Dingo (6,626 produced and one of two British AFVs produced throughout WWII) Daimler was awarded a development contract in October 1948, and in June 1950 the first prototype of the Car, Scout, 4×4, Liaison (Ferret) Mark 1 was delivered.

Ferret suspension consisted of pairs of transverse links and single coil springs, the wheels driven by Tracta constant-velocity joints, but the Ferret benefited from epicyclic reduction gears reducing transmission torque loads, essential with the six cylinder 4.26 litre water-cooled Rolls-Royce B.60 petrol engine. Connected by a fluid coupling to a pre-selector five speed epicyclic gearbox, all gears available in reverse, in its original form, the Ferret produced 116 bhp (87 kW) at 3,300 rpm and 129 bhp (96 kW) at 3,750 in its final form.

Ferret Mk.1/1

Mk. 1/1 was similar to the Mk.1 but was fitted with thicker side and rear hull plates during manufacture.

It also featured thicker side and rear hull plates and it had a sealed hull for fording.

Ferret Mk.1/2

The Ferret Mk.1/2 was mostly per the Mk 1/1 but had a fixed turret with hinged roof hatch.

The Mk.1/2 had a crew of three.

FirstLook

After two years, Airfix follows up their 1:35 scale Ferret Scout Car Mk.2 with this Ferret Mk.I.

The model may be built as a Mk.1/1 with a flat, open top plus optional fabric cover or as a Mk.1/2 with a raised superstructure and large folding top hatch.

The new Airfix 1/35 scale Ferret Mk.1 comprises a fairly modest 186 parts in medium green coloured plastic, eight parts in clear plastic and decals for three marking options.

This is entirely an Airfix product, not a rebox or rework.

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Thumbnail panels:

The kit's plastic is pleasingly somewhere between hard and soft. Goldilocks would approve.

Surface textures are well done with a combination of pressed metal effect and crisply recessed panel lines, supplemented by a bunch of appropriately raised structural features.

The hull is supplied as a flat pack with separate sides, front, rear and top panels.

The turret is broken down in a similar fashion.

There are a number of ejector pin circles but these are mostly located in places that will be hidden once the model is built.

Detail is more than adequate. The kit boasts a partial interior. Two nicely detailed alternative radio sets are included.

The driver's compartment also offers the rear firewall, seat with backrest and steering wheel.

Absent items include (or should I say exclude) the instrument panel, pedals and handles. The instrument panel is a particularly surprising omission although, to be fair, it would be barely visible in the depths of the forward hull.

No engine or associated parts are provided either, although the engine hatches are separate parts. Perhaps Airfix will introduce a special edition, or the after-market will likely supply a detailed compartment before long.

Hull hatches are well detailed, being made up from separate inside and outside halves. The hatches may be posed open or closed.

The Mk.1/1 offers the option of a closed fabric cover for the fixed turret roof. This is moulded with a loose fabric drape / texture.

Wheels are all-plastic and provided as two parts each. There is no raised lettering on the sidewalls although it is shown on the box art. If you are not happy with the kit wheels, there are a number of nicely detailed aftermarket replacements available now.

Running gear and steering are fixed flat and straight ahead.

Tools are a little chunky snd simplified. The shovel has a strange 45 degree angled rim around the blade.

Some attention with a sanding stick will improve this.

Optional sand channels are made up from three parts.

A couple of Bren Gun variants are offered. The instructions clearly indicate which configuration should be fitted to what variant.

Different styles of antenna base, indicators, parking lights and taillights are on the sprues too.

The big folding Commander's hatch may be posed open or shut.

Clear parts are supplied for the headlights.

Decals are supplied for three varied marking options.

The small decal sheet is glossy and in register.

Conclusion

In common with the 1:35 scale Airfix Ferret Mk.2 released in 2023, detail of the new Mk.1 is good, the partial interior will be welcomed by detailers and ignored by others who don't care, hatches may be posed open or closed and the parts breakdown is modeller-friendly.

Airfix's 1:35 scale Ferret Mk.1 should be a fast build too, if the Mk.2 (which I have built) is anything to go by!

Purchased by the reviewer