Rhino Australian Scout Car Prototype (1942)

eBay Seller moss72, 1/35 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Summary

B a c k g r o u n d

The Rhino heavy armoured car, designated Car, Armoured, Heavy (Aust), was an armoured car designed in Australia during the Second World War. Due to enemy action and design problems the project never got beyond a prototype stage.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, the United Kingdom was unable to meet the needs of the Commonwealth for armoured fighting vehicles. This led many Commonwealth countries to develop their own AFVs.

In mid-to-late 1941 a specification for a heavy armoured car was issued by the Australian Directorate of Armoured Fighting Vehicles Production. Two prototype hulls and turrets were built and tested on the same chassis in 1942. The vehicle suffered from excessive weight and in 1943 the project was cancelled.

The vehicle utilised a Canadian Military Pattern truck chassis and engine produced by General Motors Canada, the rear-engined Model 8446 with GMC Model 270 engine. The same chassis as used for the Canadian Fox Armoured Car. To this a welded armoured body fabricated from Australian Bullet-proof Plate (ABP-3) of 30 mm (1.2 in) thickness to the front and 11 mm (0.43 in) to the sides and rear was fitted. The vehicle was completed by a welded turret with 30 mm all-round protection similar in design to that of the Crusader tank. The armament consisted of a QF 2-pounder Mk IX gun and a coaxial .303-inch Vickers machine gun.

A pilot model of an armoured personnel carrier with an open-topped hull and no turret was also built.

* historical text sourced from Wikipedia

F i r s t L o o k

This model caught my eye on eBay.

The kit feels very “cottage industry” with no branding, graphics, instructions or decals.

What we do get is a good quality 3d printed model of a rare prototype that we will likely never see as an injection moulded plastic kit.

MOSS72 is the eBay trader’s name, so I will use this as the brand.

MOSS72 1:35 Rhino Australian Scout Car Prototype comprises just seven 3d printed resin parts. All the parts are almost ready to go straight from the box. Test-fitting suggests good fit throughout although the turret sits a little high. You’ll just need to trim a little off the turret’s mounting ring to bring it flush against the top of the hull.

The resin parts are all solid with the exception of the separate turret hatch. 

There are no instructions supplied but assembly is very straightforward. The only exception is the turret hatch. I assume this will be the same lift-and-slide mechanism as the Crusader tank, so check out Crusader references before you fit the turret hatch in place.

Printing quality is generally very good with minimal pin holes. There is a bit of rough edge at the bottom rear of the engine deck cover and visible striations on the front mudguards but these will be easy to fix.

Gun barrels are hollowed out and the hull chains are impressive.

MOSS72’s 1:35 Rhino Australian Scout Car Prototype looks to be a fun and fast project. I don’t think mine will stay in the box for too long!

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 

Thumbnail panels:

Purchased on eBay.

Recommended.