SleeperService

Paul at RED ZEBRA is making me a pile of individual track links to enable partial or completely removed Churchills, or act as extra protection. Zip him a message on the contact page if you want some. Other 1/48 guys are advised to do the same as this is likely a onetime offer. Worth a look for all AFV modellers actually as he does some good stuff. I've found the tire information I was looking for which may be on interest and put it on my Google Drive LINKY Also got an overview of 21AG vehicle markings which may help some as well ALSOALINK

Thanks for the information @Kingsman It may look bad but the Tamiya hub centre seems right. The rim should be 12.3mm dia but is a little oversize at about 12.8mm. This continues to the tyre overall dia which should be 22.1mm but the kit is 23.8mm. The tyre width at it's widest is 8.34mm a scale 15.76inches. The rim is a scale 11.4 inches wide at most which gives the tyre a strange profile with the tyre walls lacking the ribs which make the tread bars flat to the ground. My brain fired up I think the tyres on the Bovvie Crocodile trailer are from a Saracen/Saladin. The picture from the Walkround section is below, I believe the four through holes are an AEC feature as, IIRC, they had four short studs to reduce load on the wheel studs. I need to check that. I think 3D printed Matador items would be the way forward with the Tamiya hub, or even centre disc incorporated. Note the four through holes may need adding although they are present on the Tamiya wheel. If you are on FB then Holden8702 does some nice wheels which I've used before. On the other hand build a Crocodile which has dropped it's trailer or make a standard gun tank I think I've found the reason for the myth that the Crocodile trailer tilted down at the front... Back in 1971&2 Geoffrey Futter did a series of articles on The 'Funnies' and his 1/76 plan had the trailer angled down at the front despite the photo in the book of the series showing quite the opposite. I'm currently searching for clear photos of the trailers for both the tyre size and when the later pattern appeared. So far all the photos of the Brest attack show early trailers with the three doors. Ever onward.

The 1/48 kit trailer isn't the same as the 35th one which is good. The Croc Trailer wheels are 23.6mm dia. which is a little larger than @Kingsman measured but near enough. The top of the flame trailer is horizontal which matched wartime photographs. So Tamiya changed something, the trailer rear is the early version while the sides have the later fittings for the man-handling staves stowed on the angled sides. The staves, mounts and brackets on the sides can all be removed without much fuss. The main issue with the 1/48 kit is that there is no top run for the tracks which, given that many units removed mudguard sections to avoid turret jamming, is a pain. You'll need 24 links to fill the run completely for something like an ARK which didn't have mudguards fitted. Friendship Models offer 1/48 tracksets for both early and late types with a sponson top plate. ITA used to do a very useful etch set for the 1/48th kit which really makes a difference I hope they release it again (along with their Albion Truck set).

I suspect you may be right but at least you will have the gratitude of model-makers with good taste everywhere.......

So it needs 'care in assembly' then?? Is the decal sheet usable so @PhantomBigStu can get some value from his Pyrrhic victory tailwheel purchase.... I've brought a couple of their 'Hurricane' kits in 1/48 just for the decals before.

Switching back to 1/48 are the Italeri U-2 kits any good? Especially the TR-1A/B as I'm quite attracted to the NASA white aircraft.... If not the Black Velvet will be good too.

I've been having a read through my references and seen remarks stating that the trailer is 30% undersize but the first mention on line seems to be an unverified statement on Missing Links in 2007, however I later found THIS which includes dimensions. I trust both Chris and Dick Taylor so somewhere around 10% undersize seems about right. Then I went to Panzerserra's PAGE on the Crocodile which shows details that are different from the Bovvie trailer. THIS explains why but basically there was an early trailer with the central hinged door and two bolted access covers on the rear, the support leg for when the trailer was unhitched. Later four lugs were added and two large poles added on each upper side plate to assist manhandling the trailer. Note how the trailer roof is horizontal when on level ground. The trailer wheels are the same as the Matador according to THIS and HERE is a thread about scratch-building a 1/72 trailer, in 1/35 I think you could use the Tamiya detail parts but check the trailer sit and adjust if needed. Finally THIS gives a pretty good overview of operations in NWE. HTH somebody.

Err.... Thanks for the observation I'd missed that. Back to re-reading your posts for 1/48 options. I've just opened the box and can see why I stopped..... wing cutouts aren't even. But I have both Airfix and Special Hobby kits to hand which may be helpful.

Would it be possible to either post or PM me the link please? I've got a long abandoned Mk.XII build in the Mountain of Doom which has been visible for a few days now.....

I feel for you there Friend, I suffer from migraine clusters as well, since covering my face and head with a damp cool towel when one strikes I've found that the after-effects are much reduced. Not sure if it's because my migraine is worrying about water boarding or an actual real thing but it seems to work....

The Churchill Gun Carrier was an emergency response to suspected German heavy tanks about to enter service, before the 17pdr became available. In April 1942 it was decided that selected Army Tank Brigades would be issued with 9 vehicles additional to their establishment although no increase in personnel was authorised. These were to be used if enemy heavy armour appeared. One unit which certainly was issued with vehicles was the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade as the vehicles recovered all appear to be from this unit. By this period the anti-Invasion role had been allocated to specialist formations allowing Infantry and armour to learn how to operate in ever larger exercises. Thus the coastal defence role wouldn't apply to these vehicles. There's more including a list of registration numbers HERE the R suffix denoting reworked to new specification is correct as B.P. were busy rebuilding Gun Tanks and marking the Gun Carriers as reworked would avoid the risk of them being sent round the system again. There was one 'variant' of the Gun Carrier which was called 'Wurlitzer'. This carried 50 Bangalore Torpedoes in long gas pipe tubes above each track. These were launched out using a standard rocket projectile screwed onto the rear and fired electrically. The only photographs are of a Gun Carrier casement fitted onto a standard gun tank hull retaining it's T-xxxx registration number. There is a very short clip of this thing in action but it wasn't adopted when the equipment to equip the 79th AD was being demonstrated and then selected. They were built at Bayer Peacock in Manchester using new inner hull side plates with the casement sides incorporated. BP also had to design many of the interior fittings as Vauxhall had drawn the casement and gun mount and very little else. As the Mk.III/IV was the current production model the Carriers were mechanically the same. No tank was 'converted' after the prototype. At this time the basic colour of AFVs was SCC.2 Brown which I believe all of those built would carry for all their lives. The one exception MAY be the prototype Wurlitzer which appears to have survived at a West Country base well into the Post-War era. It is possible that a post war xxZRxx number was added but accounts differ. HTH Any other questions please ask away I have a soft spot for this beast.

Those are the ones I'm after but in the larger 35" diameter ideally. Been looking at plenty of photos that my mate has found being a fan of Alaskan Aviation. Good luck with the CAD learning, I've tried myself but I struggle with it so much that I think my brain just isn't wired for it. That's a good solution I'll look into r/c wheels when I go into town next where there's a large store which carries such stuff. I've found some info on the common sizes fitted so I can start to go through resin options, or possibly styrene ones that someone has replaced once I know what I need. I'm kicking myself for not thinking of 'O' rings. Now I know the sizes of the tyres I will start looking. That's easy for the Master of 3D design and print to say. Thank You all for the suggestions and I'll feed back the options I discover so others may benefit from your wisdom.

Is there any further information on this kit?

Hi Everybody. Been on BM for a while but I think this is my first time here. I'd like to build a Piper Super Cub with the large Tundra wheels in 1/48 as seen in the photo of N329DP seen HERE I believe these are the 35" size. Can anybody advise on availability of these or how I might reproduce them please. Can I also ask what you'd suggest for strut material. I was told about Strutz or Struts brass strut material but I can't find any trace of it. I'm looking for sizes up to float struts in 1/48 and 1/32. Any help and suggestions gratefully received, I know military stuff but have developed an interest in civilian lightweights recently, now I realise that I need to work out and ask about stuff I don't know at all. May you avoid glue fingerprints on your ready for paint masterpieces. Thx.

Like @Bullbasket I was going to (continue to) step back from GBs for another year but I'm up for all the AFV options including this one. Sadly my Pershing builds from the FIRST GB are almost exactly as they were.