StuartH

Superb work Carius and I love how you've done all the stowage 👏 Great work

Great work Milan. Very nicely done 👍

Brilliant work and great job in getting it finished Very nicely weathered and not bad for a death scale 😂

Thanks so much guys for your kind comments and glad you like the dio! Very much appreciated 👍

Outstanding model and the weathering is so good! Brilliant work 👏

Outstanding job and wonderful creativity. The canvas covers are superb 👏👏

Fabulous diorama. Beautifully done 👏

Great recovery with the white paint airbrushing and that interior is looking superb. Beautifully painted and weathered 👍

Superb painting and weathering. Great work 👍

Great job on the engine. A little model in itself! Coming along very nicely now 👍

Hi John. Many thanks for the thought. I've had a look but can't find anything like that in 1/48. There is a Black Dog set of stowage but just tarps, sandbags and such like. I've already got the flimsies so a rack should be fairly easy to scratch build. Many thanks again 👍 Many thanks TeeELL that is very helpful and makes complete sense. I wasn't sure if it was like the Firefly barrel in terms of distorting its outline but given the sunny conditions in the desert the shadow reasoning seems spot on. Many thanks 👍 Great to have you along Paul and hope you find it of interest. Much appreciated 👍 Many thanks Ed that's much appreciated. Arguably they might be a bit oversize but I'm happy enough with them. Hopefully no more to do! Many thanks Maddoxx. Very much appreciated 👍

Many thanks Providence and glad you like the modifications. Very much appreciated 👍 Hi Pete. I think it may be a White-Ruxtall 922 6x4 18 ton tank transporter.

I've also got these pictures if of any interest:

A start has been made. First up were the road wheels and tracks. Surprising how narrow the tracks are.. Lots of ejector pin marks...those on the lower sections filled with superglue. The upper section of tracks will be hidden by the sand shields so not sure they will even be added in the end to be honest. Upper and Lower hull sections have been put together. Brush guards made with 0.6mm copper wire, the photoetch spare track retainer been added and I've deliberately left off one of the retaining bars. Some metal texture added to some of the armour plates. Grab handles replaced on the rear deck with 0.4mm copper wire Photoetch metal louvres placed on rear panel. The spacing between louvres does not seem to be exactly the same though this was dictated by the attachments used. I think once the rear spare fuel container is attached it shouldn't be too noticeable Air filters placed along with the photoetch side handles. I'm really not sure what to do about the sand shields at the moment. I'm thinking I will paint them separately then attach once the running gear has been suitably painted and weathered. The 2 tone camo pattern will make things a little awkward. Ignoring the stuck lorry and the disguise netting there is an extra storage rack on the back of this Crusader. Are they 4 gallon flimsies? Maybe something to scratch build 🤔 Hopefully back in a week or two with some more progress! Thanks for looking.

That looks superb. Great work 👏 I love how you've done the wood effects on the tool handles and the rest of the stowage.

Thanks so much for your generous comments Ed. It's very much appreciated and glad you like the scene! Whitewashes can be a bit hit or miss though definitely a good challenge. Many thanks again👍

Excellent work with the mud effects and painting. Have you weathered your keyboard as well? 😂

Many thanks Ian for your kind words and really pleased you like it. I enjoy doing the bases and if it provides any inspiration for future projects then fantastic! It was great building this model alongside its sister vehicle the M8 that you superbly built in the GB. Thanks again 👍

Great to have you along Ed. Hope you find it of interest! I'll try and add a few more photos through the build as I find it always makes a project come to life. Many thanks Milan. Glad you like this tank too....I think it has a very classical design so looking forward to making some progress!

Thank you! Excellent advice and much appreciated 👍 I think I will mainly stick with the 2 gallon and 4 gallon flimsies from the allied set I've bought. Do you know how long the Mk II Crusader stayed in North Africa /Tunisia for? Was it beyond May 1943? Many thanks

Many thanks John and glad to have you along 👍

Hi, For my next project I will be making the Tamiya 1/48 Crusader tank (32541). The kit allows either the Mk I or II. I think I will be going for the Mk II depicted at at El Hamma, Tunisia, 1943. I have added a set of photoetch from Hauler, RB barrels for the QF 2 pdr gun & BESA machine gun and a set of jerry cans from MiniArt for some stowage: I have seen some mention of the underside of the main barrel being painted white (as in this photo). Does anyone know anything about this? The kit instructions have it in the 2 tone Black and sand colour as per the rest of the tank. Some more reference photos: Hopefully I'll be back once I've made a start. Thanks for looking! Stuart

Outstanding model Francis. I love the heavy, grimy finish you've achieved with the metallic chipping, mud and dirt effects. What a monster! Great work 👏

Many thanks Nemanja for your kind comments. Pleased you like the whitewash and vignette. It's very much appreciated.

Very unusual and brilliantly finished. Nice work 👍