Brews Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Because my Panther is just going so sweetly and will be finished in no time flat ... Box Art: Contents: You will note the bulge in the hull for the batteries. Not to worry. This is accommodated in the sponsons, so no need to cut these off! What you can't see won't hurt you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted June 11, 2014 Author Share Posted June 11, 2014 (edited) I was cheerfully assembling this last night (while my beloved was watching Glee) but I soon saw a need to paint. No primer - the plastic was already light grey Edited June 11, 2014 by Brews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arniec Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 That is a nice kit. I have build the normal Churchill kit about ten years ago and I found it quite pleasing to build. Cheers, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted June 11, 2014 Author Share Posted June 11, 2014 I found that the running gear moulding was mismatched, and it needed quite a bit of cleaning up. At first, I thought I'd not clean it up, because it was very fiddly with all those nooks and crannies around the springs, and not very visible. However, it is visible, and I wasn't happy with making it with visible seams, so I cleaned it up. Not a very productive job in the overall scheme of things. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Be careful about which decals you use, 141RAC didn't come under the command of 79AD until July and they don't appear to have seen action under that command until September.....This was what stopped my Crocodile build (for the time being). The war diaries of 141RAC are available online here: 1944 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/8549277@N04/sets/72157623114067912/ 1945 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/8549277@N04/sets/72157622989742665/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted June 12, 2014 Author Share Posted June 12, 2014 Thanks, Andy. I was planning on using 79th Armoured Division markings. I thought they'd be ok. I'll take a close-up photo to be sure. When I came home from work, I looked at what I did this morning, and was shocked to find that I'd installed all of the bogie wheels on one side incorrectly, despite the instructions being quite clear to take care. Fixed, but frustrating. An annoying evening because my wife is at a seminar about 5min away, and because the parking is dire, she asked me to drop her off and pick her up. Dropping her off wasn't such a big deal, because I was on my way to the pool anyway, but picking her up now means that I have about 10 mins to go and start some spraying, then go. I hope I don't forget about her. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted June 12, 2014 Author Share Posted June 12, 2014 Ah, I see what you mean. Here is a link to the kit instructions regarding the decal placement. What I thought was 79th Div is 141st Regiment in the 79th Arm. Div. The alternate markings are for 107th Regiment in 34th Arm. Div. http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10032037t3/60/2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted June 12, 2014 Author Share Posted June 12, 2014 It's worth remembering that 2 days before D-Day, Rome fell. Mark Clarke had glory for 48 hrs, then everyone in Italy were termed "D-Day Dodgers". This link reminded me of that. http://worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii0054 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Funny you should mention that Bruce.....Reading various references for this GB served to remind me that the 70th anniversary of Monte Cassino passed almost unmentioned. (As did my dreadful spelling! ) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted June 12, 2014 Author Share Posted June 12, 2014 The 70th Anniversary of the storming of the Gothic Line is coming up .. time to make amends? I could make my Dragon Panther Ausf A for that one 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I've got two Italeri/Modelltrans 1/72 Churchill NA-75 Conversions and a Cromwell Models 1/72 Mk.III for that very job.....Just need to sort the decals out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted June 13, 2014 Author Share Posted June 13, 2014 Speaking of decals, what should I do? The 141st are no good for Normandy in this time frame, and I'm not sure whether the 34th Armoured Division (US 2nd Army?) are appropriate or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 What you need are markings for 141RAC prior to it joining 79AD.....My understanding is that the first Crocodiles from 141RAC (which was an independent unit at that time) deployed to Normandy on D-Day, 6 June, at H+45, here's a thread on the subject: http://www.ww2f.com/topic/20217-141-royal-armoured-corps-the-buffs-churchill-crocodiles/ The unit did not become part of 79AD until July. I've got fairly good references for Crocodiles in action under 79AD command and the first of these actions appear to be in support of the attack on Brest in August/September: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_for_Brest Hope this makes sense.....Sorry for the multiple edits. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted June 13, 2014 Author Share Posted June 13, 2014 What did these markings look like, Andy? Does anybody make them? Surely ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 As soon as I can answer that I'll let you know.....The decal set I've ordered from Dan includes markings for a Crocodile on Gold Beach. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted June 13, 2014 Author Share Posted June 13, 2014 Thanks! Meanwhile, although I didn't do much of anything last night, I did get the trailer mostly assembled. Sweet little thing it is, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted June 27, 2014 Author Share Posted June 27, 2014 I joined the tracks some time ago, but they both either broke or nearly broke at other points, so I glued those together yesterday with superglue. I assembled most of the turret last night. I'll keep it buttoned-up. If I ever do another Chuchill, I may use the AFV Club item and tart up the interior but there's no point opening up a big model if there's nothing to see inside IMHO. Need to respray some dark green, spray and wash tracks and bogies ... It's a lot closer to completion than it presently appears. Progress Pic: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted June 27, 2014 Author Share Posted June 27, 2014 I just got the Osprey Vanguard "Churchill Crocodile" Kindle edition for $10 from Amazon. Hoping that will help me with a few queries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman2 Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 The 31st Regiment RAC, 141 RAC Churchill Crocodiles would have these markings in June 1944 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted June 28, 2014 Author Share Posted June 28, 2014 The Osprey book suggests that the 2nd of Tamiya's markings options operated from Gold Beach on June 6. I'll run with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I was going to scan my decal sheet, but you have most of what you need there already.....Anyone know of any tank names from 141st RAC? Or of any pictures of them in action prior to August? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman2 Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 I was going to scan my decal sheet, but you have most of what you need there already.....Anyone know of any tank names from 141st RAC? Or of any pictures of them in action prior to August? http://northirishhorse.net/articles-2/Units/141stRAC.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted June 29, 2014 Author Share Posted June 29, 2014 The Tamiya decals include "Banner" but the tank number is out by 10 ... T173258 instead of T173268. Would anyone notice, or should I cut and paste a "6" from the other decal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Well they will now! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 I might take the easy way out and dab a bit of paint onto the "6" to make it look ambiguous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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