Banderas 1/72 Minerva Armoured Car m/1914

The Army of Belgium was quite to the forefront when it came to motorization before 1914, and they were the first to field Armoured Cars in any quantity. From the beginning of the war they used Machine Gun equipped motor cars in combat, and already from mid-august many of them were equipped with armour plating, of some 5mm thickness. Most of these were based on a standard motor car, model 38CV with a 4 cylinder engine, manufactured by the Antwerp firm of Minerva. (The only modification was that the standard single back wheels were substituted for double ones.) The vehicle was open-topped, lacked entry doors - the crew had to climb in and out over the sides. Later marks - produced from 1916 - had the fighting compartment fully enclosed. The total weight was some 4 tons, the maximum speed some 40 km/h. Some 25-30 vehicles of model 1914 were built, until the Minerva Factory was overrun by the Germans in October 1914. This AFV was basically sound, and the last vehicles were not withdrawn from the Belgian Army until 1935! The German Army used four captured Minervas, and some of them were employed in the invasion of Rumania.

The Bandera Miniatures produces a mixed media kit of the Minerva m/1914, with the body done in a light yellow Resin, and wheels, fenders, axles and the MG done in White Metal. The outline and proportions are correct, but the mouldings are adequate but somewhat crude. (The kit is obviously aimed at the Wargaming market.) The spokes on the wheels are, by necessity, rather hefty, but adequate. My main complaint is the thickness both of the crew compartment sides, and of the fenders. At least the last ones can be replaced with Plastic Card, but it's tougher to do anything with the crew compartment sides, except to thin them down with a knife. The interior is quite empty, save for two seats in the front. (Perhaps this can be hidden with the aid of some crew figures.) The Hotchkiss MG, MG pedestal and shield are also rather heavy, and are best replaced. No instructions are supplied, neither for building nor marking. It can be mentioned that many of the Minervas of this mark, were painted mid-grey, with either the insignia "S.M." - Service Militaire - or the word "MINERVA" in capital letters painted on the back, front and sides. This kit can be bought with the aid of this site.