British Rolls Royce Armoured - CarPattern 1914/1920

It’s an interesting looking thing isn’t it ? I know there have been previous releases of this subject, but when the Meng kit was released it immediately made it’s way onto my build list. The shape and design of the vehicle clearly have one foot planted in the First World War, but interestingly the vehicle saw action in the Second World War which added another tick to the ‘must have’ column.

 I’ve always found those cross-over subjects interesting. The designs that clearly didn’t belong in the 40’s but obviously served a purpose as they were rushed into service as the need dictated. The FT17 is another great example of what I am talking about, and this Rolls Royce is no exception.

 The concept of the Rolls Royce becoming an armoured vehicle derived as early as 1914 where a couple of vehicles were armed with Machine guns and patrolled the area of Dunkirk in an attempt to spot any possible enemy incursions. The vehicles would also go on to be armoured with additional steel plates. So successful was the vehicle in this role that the order went out to convert all of the Rolls Royce Silver Ghosts’ to armoured cars. There were around 120 in total converted for this role.

The initial design of the vehicle was known as the 1914 Mk.1 Pattern and was armed with a regular water cooled naval 0.303 cal Vickers Machine Gun, but the most recognisable elements of the design was the wire spoke wheels (an option that is available in this kit).

 In 1920 it was decided that the armoured car needed an upgrade. This would be known as the 1920 pattern and saw thicker armour around the radiator as well as modernised wheels and an upgrade to the armament of the machine.

 The vehicle saw service through the 20’s during the Irish Civil War and was used heavily during the African campaign against the Italians in the Second World War.

 Its quirky lines paired with the unique Caunter scheme some of them presented with was just too much for me to resist, so I set about building my own little piece of British wartime manufacturing history.