Bronco 1/35 YW-750 Armored Ambulance

The Type 63 (industrial designation YW531) is a Chinese armoured personnel carrier that entered service in the late 1960s. It was the first armoured vehicle designed in China without Soviet assistance. The design is simple and is comparable to other APCs of its time such as the M113.

Approximately 3,000 were produced by Norinco, and around 2,300 are still in service. It also equips several armies around the world and has seen action in different conflicts including the Vietnam War, the Sino-Vietnamese War, the Iran–Iraq War and the Gulf War.

The YW-750 is the export version of the Type WZ750 armoured ambulance with the enlarged rear section. Based on the Type YW531C and equipped with a commander's cupola with Type 54 machine gun.

This one is molded in a tan plastic. The molding quality is very good, something we have come to expect from Bronco. The kit has individual track links and these are on plastic sprues marked for the right and the left side. Included in the kit is a nicely done photo etch fret. This fret is mostly for screens and various brackets around the vehicle, including those that hold on the side skirts. From what it seems, the kit cannot be fully built without using the photo etch fret. The usage is logical and not all that complex so those who tend to shy away from the medium should be OK with it.

The kit has no interior, yet all of the hatches and doors are very detailed on both sides and can be posed in the open position. The machine gun is a nice little construct in and of itself and is designed to be able to be elevated.

Instructions are in a booklet form with 21 well drawn construction steps. It is in color and provides painting information where it is appropriate. There are also small detail drawings for those items where it can help to get a close-up of where they fit. Markings are for two Red Crescent vehicles with one in overall sand and one with large dark olive green areas. Both are from the Iraqi Army during the 1991 Gulf War. Decals are nicely printed and should work very well.

Overall it is an interesting subject that I do not think has been kitted before. A fine and somewhat colorful addition to any modern armor collection.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_63_%28armoured_personnel_carrier%29

December 2010 

Thanks towww.dragonmodelsusa.com for the preview kit. This is available at your local shop or on-line retailer.

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