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The Ford
Tfc was an Armoured Car made in Poland during 1920, an improvisation really, setting an armoured body with an originally
German MG, upon the well-tried Ford T chassis. (By the way, the designer, Tadeusz
Tanski,
was later murdered by the Nazis in Auschwitz.) The first prototype was
completed in just two weeks time, in June 1920. The urgency came from the fact
that the newly independent Republic of Poland was at war with the Soviet Union,
and threatened by invasion and annihilation by the newly created Red Army.
The trials were successful: although plagued by a weak back axle, and a cramped interior, the Tfc proved fast and manoeuvrable, and the simple and tested Ford T-design made the vehicle easy to repair and maintain. The vehicles were also pretty silent, at least compared with other armoured vehicles, and their armour quite sufficient to protect against all small-arms fire and shrapnel. Sixteen (or possibly seventeen) Tfc:s were built. The Tfc:s were sent into combat as soon as they were completed. In the summer of 1920 they were first used for reconaissance and to cover the Polish retreat. Then they were used in the decisive so called "Battle for Warsaw" in August that year, when the Red tide was turned. Later, in the autumn, Tfc:s were employed with effect during the fighting in the Ukraine, when the Poles were on the attack. 12 Tfc:s remained after the war, and they served in the Polish Army until 1931, when they were finally withdrawn. |
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is made from RPM:s fine little kit, and built pretty much out of the box. The kit MG is a bit crude, so it was substituted for a resin one, taken from an aircraft kit. The mantlet, and armour at the back and front lower chassis were replaced by plasticard. (The pick-axe was also added, as such a tool can be seen stowed in some photographs.) Click on the thumbnails below if you want to see more pictures of this model:
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Weight Maximum Armour Maximum Road Speed Armament Crew |
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