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Carl Christensen
48 articles

Airfix 1/35 Austin K2 Ambulance

January 9, 2024 · in Diorama · · 10 · 377

Airfix and Gecko released their 1/35 Austin Ambulance kits fairly close together. Gecko put me off right from the get-go due to its overly heavy use of PE parts (some love it, but I model to destress, not increase it haha). I think the part count for this kit is around 150. The Gecko kit is over 400. And at the end of the day you end up with the same result. The Airfix armour kits are very much like Tamiya kits, simple and go together with zero fit issues. I really enjoyed this build, It's a great wee kit. I have however used the Gecko allied causality kit which is 3 figures on stretchers. The others are a selection from my spares box that always magically has just what I'm looking for after some deep foraging down to the bottom of the box for a 3rd or 4th time.

Here I have done a casualty evacuation point in the African desert around 1941. I like the sharpness off the desert camouflage design used then which was a wee bit of a masking challenge around the cab and engine area. But I'm happy with how it went.

Reader reactions:
10  Awesome 1 

10 additional images. Click to enlarge.


10 responses

  1. This diorama looks fantastic, Carl @carlpud
    A very dynamic scenery.
    What did you use to get the ambulance so dusty.

    • I'm a pretty simple modeler at heart. I just spray the model in its basic colors. Use old school dry brushing in light grey over whole thing, then dry brush over it again in flat earth or similar. Where I make mistakes or go to heavy I just dry brush over again with the original base colour. Then I use the flat earth or similar and do a very light spray of whole model standing back from it, as if you get that wrong, it goes REAL wrong especially around the windows. I'll normally mask over them then just take it off at very end so it's only a very light coat on them. That's it, no need for expensive washes or powders etc.

  2. (@carlpud) Carl this is amazing! I love the details in both the scene and the ambulance, how you captured the dusty environment in the desert. Even the dusty windscreen and the wiper! The whole build is inspiring! Well done sir! (bowing and lifting my hat) 🙂

  3. That looks GREAT. Haven't seen this model around anywhere. Guess I have to 'Net it. Very good desert finish and figure paint job. The rocky terrain is well reproduced too.
    Just can't figure out, why camouflage a vehicle and then stick red crosses on it? Just stripe the whole thing like a barber pole to start with.

  4. Looks fantastic, Carl!

  5. Gorgeous! The diorama is telling a story and the car looks great!

  6. Great scene, Carl, looks like Airfix have scored a hit with this kit.

  7. Looks great, Carl!

  8. That's a great looking diorama! @carlpud

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