The Atom Furnace: Avanti Savoia! Italeri M13/40 in 1/56

I've always had a soft spot for the hapless Italian forces in WWII. With a too-small industrial base, pawns in Mussolini's quest for Empire, their ground forces were usually outclassed by their opponents. But they made-do with some outdated designs which have a certain steampunk-rivety aesthetic.

Looking for new areas to explore in Bolt Action, I thought western desert, 41-42, Ariete Division; present in many key campaigns and battles of that time and place, always a factor if not always successful. My entre would be their most commonplace AFV, the M13/40. The kit I chose was Italeri, as with a touch of creativity, the model can swap parts between the base M13/40 and the Semovente 75/18, providing some gaming flexibility.

The kit is molded in a reasonable desert yellow for those whose goal is speed and gaming as opposed to modeling. I chose to build all bit the tracks, and prime all in Army Painter desert yellow. The kit is not complex and builds quickly, although a steady hand and some dry fitting is recommended for the turret and upper hull(s), made of multiple

pieces where 1 or 2 might have served, and no alignment other than "by eye" is provided.

The tracks were primed in black, highlighted in silver, and assembled on the painted chassis. As I had already mounted the fenders, I had to remove a locator tab on each upper track, but this cannot be seen and caused no problems.

Next, I used some Coat d'arms flesh wash to provide somw deprh for panel lines and rivets, in a desert pallette.

This provides some depth and shadow, and makes the rivets pop.

Next the kit provides a good assortment of decals, applied and decal-set in place. They are sturdy and opaque. It seems odd after years of Allied and German armor, but they used no national insignia, just Division and organizational markings, and their "license plates".

You can't tell how dainty this 13 ton medium is except side by side.