Airfix's fifth new-tooling of 2022, a 1/35 Austin K2/Y Ambulance, has royal connections and its release coincides closely with Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
With its release just around the corner, the time is ripe to give AMW readers a close-up preview of this delightful kit (an exclusive build will feature in August’s issue). Contents comprise four styrene runners, including one for transparent parts and a separate bonnet; as attested by the accompanying photos, the mould quality is superb throughout. A full-furnished cab is joined by a splendid replica of the type’s suspension and transmission, while the box-bodied cabin is fitted with benches and stretchers.
Above: Runner D supplies most of the transmission and suspension, along with the radiator grille, engine sump and fuel tanks.
Above: Moulded detail on the wheels is commendable, from the bolt heads on the hub to the well-rendered tread on the tyres.
Above: Arguably one of the most impressive items is part D28, which provides the radiator grille and an integrally moulded Austin company logo.
Above: Refinement is similarly apparent on the transmission housing, with well-defined bolt heads.
Above: Chassis components are supplied on Runner A, along with the cabin roof and rear doors – options for folded or lowered access steps are also included.
Above: The driver’s seat is suitably spartan in appearance (comfort was never a strong point with British Army vehicles) and has attachment points on the side and lower surface.
Above: Airfix has broken the ladder-type chassis frame down into separate side frames, which allows for greater detail to be moulded integrally, easing construction.
Above: All main coachwork parts are supplied on Runner B, along with a set of stretchers to equip the rear cargo area.
Above: The K2/Y’s floor comes as a single item, onto which the rest of the structure is added – note the representation of the panelling common to this type.
Above: Airfix has opted for single-piece stretchers to ease construction, but even so, they are well moulded and include a ‘dip’ to emulate the fabric material sagging.
Above: A single piece bonnet features attached side panels plus well-defined grille detail.
There’s a generous offering of four markings schemes, covering machines deployed in North Africa, northwest Europe and the Auxiliary Territorial Service – this last choice has the royal connection, with the vehicle being that driven and maintained by the-then HRH Princess Elizabeth (our current monarch) during her wartime service. The choices are:
- Austin K2/Y Ambulance, 30 Corps, Motor Ambulance Convoy, Royal Army Service Corps, Northwest Europe, 1944
- Austin K2/Y Ambulance, British Army, North Africa, 1940
- Austin K2/Y Ambulance, British Army, Alexandria, Egypt, 1942
- Austin K2/Y Ambulance, A1212251, Auxiliary Territorial Service, England, 1944 - The Queen’s ‘Katy’
More details on this and other Airfix releases are at: www.airfix.com.
