AL.BY:s 1/72 Latil TAR Artillery Tractor

The French Automative Firm of Latil (now long since absorbed by Renault) built the worlds first fourwheel-drive trucks in the late 1890-ies. During WW1 they started to manufacture trucks primarily intended for use as tractors for heavy artillery pieces. The Latil TAR used a 4-cylider, 4200cc, 35hp gasoline motor. It had a loading capacity of 4000 kilos.

Using motor vehicles to pull artillery pieces was one of the novelties introduced during WW1. Only heavier guns were moved in this way. Field Artillery and other guns under 6 tons was still moved exclusively by horse, which was judged to be a more reliable and less complicated mode of transportation then by motor car. And motorized transport relied on fairly good roads and firm ground. But it had advantages: the speed was greater than horse transport, and also, the physical length of the marching columns was shortened considerably. Motorized transport could also cover longer distances than those units using La traction hippomobile. The Latil TAR was used to pull guns like the 155mm GPF, the Schneider 220L and the Schneider 280.

Latil Trucks were also employed by the American Expeditionary Force during the War. The relative quality of the truck  can also be judged by the fact, that the French Army kept it in Service all through the 20-ies and 30-ies, and it was also used in opening years of WW2 - but by then it was finally obsolete. 

Contents of the kit:

Click on the pictures for an enlarged version! 

The kit comes packed in that small bubble-top box typical of Al.By. And when it comes to small scale resin kits the name of Al.By guarantees you an absolute top notch product. And this is the case with this kit as well.

As with all other Al.By kits the moulding is flawless, save for some easily cleaned off moulding flash. The level of detail, and the sharpness of the moulding is the best.

Mind you, this is not an easy kit. There are plenty of small details, especially when it comes to the cab and drivers compartment. And the whole construction of the truck is - as was the case with the original truck - a bit complex. You get a pretty good plan: it's not perfect but adequate. As I see it the kit  can be built straight Out-Of-The-Box, and you will get an excellent replica of this brutish-looking softskin truck.

But again: the only real problem with the kits of Al.By is not building them, the snag is getting them! It has always been tricky, but I understand is well near impossible now, with the Al.By people in principle only producing kits for the local market.

To see the built kit, click here!

With a fair chunk of luck you can, perhaps, get this kit from Tracks & Troops. The best bet is probably to contact Al.By themselves directly!

What can you say? This is an Al.By kit, and Al.By equals perfection, well almost. Alain Laffargue, you are the man! They make the best small scale resin kits in the world, save for JMGT. Get it if you can. Can't recommend it highly enough!