British Armoured Tender
in RAF Middle East Service

Copper State Models, 1/35 Scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Summary

Lancia Improvised Armoured Cars in British Service

Among the many improvised armoured vehicles fielded by Britain during and immediately after the First World War, the Lancia-based armoured cars occupy a small but intriguing niche. Born of necessity rather than doctrine, these vehicles reflected both the ingenuity and the constraints of wartime and post-war security operations, particularly in colonial and internal security roles.

The British Army and Royal Naval Air Service had embraced armoured cars early in the war, but production never matched demand. As a result, a wide range of commercial chassis were pressed into service. Italian-built Lancia trucks, valued for their robust construction and reliable engines, became one such platform. British workshops fitted these chassis with improvised armoured bodies, typically constructed from flat steel plate, with open or partially enclosed fighting compartments and simple machine-gun armament, most commonly the Vickers.

These Lancia armoured cars appeared late in the First World War and more prominently in the unsettled years that followed. Their relatively high road speed and long range made them well suited to policing roles rather than frontline combat. In Ireland during the War of Independence and subsequent unrest, Lancia armoured cars were employed by British forces for convoy escort, patrols and show-of-force duties. Their presence was intended as much to deter as to fight, providing mobile protection in an environment where ambush and sniping were constant threats.

Further afield, Lancia armoured cars also found a home with the Royal Air Force in the Middle East. Following the formation of the RAF in 1918, armoured cars became an integral part of its air control strategy in territories such as Iraq and Transjordan. Operating alongside aircraft, RAF armoured car companies used vehicles like the Lancia to patrol vast desert distances, protect airfields and project authority with minimal manpower. In this environment, mechanical reliability and endurance mattered more than heavy armour.

By the mid-1920s, purpose-built armoured cars were gradually replacing these improvisations. Even so, the Lancia armoured cars stand as a reminder of a transitional period in British military history—vehicles that bridged the gap between wartime expediency and the more structured armoured doctrine that would follow.

FirstLook

Copper State Models’ 1:35 scale British Armoured Tender in RAF Middle Eastern Service comprises 162 parts in grey plastic, six clear parts, decals for four marking options, and a full-colour 18-page instruction booklet.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

In common with their previous WWI aircraft and vehicle releases, CSM’s moulding quality is world class, with crisp detail throughout and narrow sprue attachment points.

A full engine and radiator are provided, along with separate steering gear, leaf springs, floor support beams and cross-members. The engine hatches may be removed or posed folded up.

Surface textures are particularly impressive, combining raised rivets, finely rendered see-through vents, access panels in relief and restrained recessed panel lines.

The armoured body is broken down into separate side, front and rear panels, with a poseable rear hatch provided as a separate part. Inside, the modeller is treated to a petrol tank, structural frames and wooden bench seating. The engine compartment also features separate armour panels on the front and sides.

The driver’s position is nicely detailed, complete with a comfy looking quilted seat cushion. Steering wheel, gear lever, pedals and instrument panel are all included, with the dials represented by decals.

The wheels are moulded in plastic, with the tyre and hub on one side and the opposite tyre half with a blank inner hub on the other. This mates with a corresponding blank disc on the axle, ensuring both a strong joint and perfect alignment.

Additional details include side and rear lamps, headlights, a rear stowage box, and armament options including a Lewis gun and Vickers machine guns.

Clear parts are supplied for light lenses.

Four RAF Middle East marking options are supplied: three vehicles in overall Sand and one Armoured Tender finished in overall Green.

The Cartograf-printed decals are well printed, in register and sharply defined.

The instructions are presented as a clear, colour-keyed 18-page booklet, with logical assembly sequences and integrated painting guidance. Note that while the instructions also cover Irish Civil War versions, in this boxing, decals are provided only for the RAF Middle Eastern vehicles.

Colour call-outs are included throughout.

Conclusion

Copper State Models’ British Armoured Tender combines excellent moulding quality, thoughtful engineering and rich surface detail to deliver a well detailed and authentic kit.

Interior and mechanical detail are particular high points, offering plenty of visual interest even without aftermarket additions.

This kit will appeal equally to armour modellers looking for something a little different and to those with an interest in RAF ground operations.

This Armoured Tender stands as another impressive release from Copper State Models and a welcome addition to the 1:35 scale catalogue.

Purchased by the reviewer.