fatfingers Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 How do chaps, As an antidote to the very nice but fiddly Dragon PzIII I'm doing for the Achtung Panzer GB I've made a start on this. This first came out in 1977 in the guise of the Crocodile Flame Thrower, and upon till the release of the AFV Mk III was the only plastic kit of the Churchie in 35th scale. It's still a lovely kit and it would be really good if Tamiya gave it a re-tool like the Matilda. Very much doubt they will tho due to AFV Club knocking out various marks at a rate of knots (still no Mk VII tho ) Detail is still good by current standards, but is a little chunky in places. This will be built from the box apart from the gun barrel which is from RB Models. I may use Archer Decals, but not decided as of yet. Drive wheels and sprockets. Front plate made up with MG in place. In place on the lower hull tub. Rear plate tow hook and smoke boxes(?) Road wheels and sponsons. Both sponsons in place on lower tub. Upper hull popped on and turret shell started with RB barrel in place. This took a bit of fetttling to make sure it was straight and not shooting round corners! I got this far by barely glancing at the instructions as its that easy to put together (I have built a couple of these before, so I guess that helps a bit! ) Really enjoying this and should have it put together in no time at all. Regards, Steve 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxy Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Cracking on again Steve me lad. Great work . You using brass MGs for the second 'ry armament on the turret . Foxy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatfingers Posted March 2, 2015 Author Share Posted March 2, 2015 Aye up foxy, Not this time, just the RB 75mm on this one. Regards, Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harfoot Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Will be following with interst, i have ordered the flame thrower version that has just been re-released. Can you tell me where you got the RB barrel from please? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatfingers Posted March 2, 2015 Author Share Posted March 2, 2015 Will be following with interst, i have ordered the flame thrower version that has just been re-released. Can you tell me where you got the RB barrel from please? I got this one from Telford a couple of years back. They're readily available on Ebay though (usually from Poland, but I've had them from there without any problems) Regards, Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Hi Steve, I will follow this with interest. I must have a go at a Churchill at some point, not sure it will be in 1/35 though, so I will be taking notes! Nice quick start so far! Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Seeing these old Tamiya kits is making me nostalgic! I might have to treat myself to one at some point, looking forward to seeing you work through this one. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Great start as I have this in the stash I will follow on and pick up any tips left behind Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Rogers Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 I've got the Crocodile version in the stash...which I can hear muffled shouting from the loft saying, 'Build me now!' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatfingers Posted March 2, 2015 Author Share Posted March 2, 2015 Thanks for the comments chaps. I've got the Crocodile version in the stash...which I can hear muffled shouting from the loft saying, 'Build me now!' Go on Doug, you know you want to! Some more done on the Churchie, After saying I would build this from the box i found some Sovereign 2000 flimsies and decided to put two on the back as they looked far better than the ones in the kit. A few more bits added to the hull sides. The Churchill crews had a habit of welding spare tracks from other Churchill's, Sherman's and even Panther and Tiger tanks to the front hull and turret sides in the belief that they would afford extra protection. In reality they tended to affect the turret traverse gear and push the weight up some what. Senior officers also tended to frown upon this practice. I doubt how some tracks would stop an 88 or 75 hyper velocity shell from a Tiger, Panther or PAK. I can only imagine it caused more fragments to take out some poor infantry men in the near vicinity if the tank was hit! I had some spare tracks which I've cut into appropriate lengths and attached to the hull front and turret sides as per period photo's. Some spare Sherman tracks will also be fitted to the front of the turret at some point (when I remember where I put them that is!) And finally for now, one with the lid on. More to follow soon, Regards, Steve 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Looks like excellent progress to me Steve! Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harfoot Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Coming along nicely, picked up the flame thrower version yesterday so following with great interest. Managed to order a gun barrel from Hannants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robw_uk Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 I've got the Crocodile version in the stash...which I can hear muffled shouting from the loft saying, 'Build me now!' Doug - you can always donate it to me to build on your behalf..... like the way this is progressing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatfingers Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 (edited) Cheers Rob. Been playing with some gauze wadding tonight. After a soak in thinned PVA this is what i did with it on the turret. Turret stowage box with a few bits added for interest. Also added a wee bit of stowage to the rear track covers. Apparently Churchill's were quite roomy inside, hence why you don't often see photo's of them piled with stowage on the rear deck like Sherman's and Cromwell's were. May have also been to do with the fact that the exhausts covered a fair bit of the rear deck too? The flat tarp will be painted in pink for an air recognition panel. And one with the lid on. I really need to stop playing with this one and get on with my Pz III in the Achtung Panzer GB, but i'm enjoying this one too much! Regards, Steve Edited March 5, 2015 by fatfingers 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robw_uk Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 like the camo net - have used the same stuff rolled up before but never stretched - may look to that for the M5A1 build I am slowly planning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Hi Steve, Fascinating stuff going on here. Great idea for the nets. Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Like your camo net idea, great work so far looking forward to more! Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Rogers Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Doug - you can always donate it to me to build on your behalf..... like the way this is progressing Trouble is you'd make a better job of it Rob! Might have a bit of an armour session actually, doing the Cromwell has reminded me how nice these older Tamiya kits are, and pretty easy to throw together. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 The Churchill crews had a habit of welding spare tracks from other Churchill's, Sherman's and even Panther and Tiger tanks to the front hull and turret sides in the belief that they would afford extra protection. In reality they tended to affect the turret traverse gear and push the weight up some what. Senior officers also tended to frown upon this practice. I doubt how some tracks would stop an 88 or 75 hyper velocity shell from a Tiger, Panther or PAK. I can only imagine it caused more fragments to take out some poor infantry men in the near vicinity if the tank was hit! I had some spare tracks which I've cut into appropriate lengths and attached to the hull front and turret sides as per period photo's. While the Tiger and Panther, and "88s" were the greatest fear, the greatest danger to an Allied AFV in 1944/45 was "the lone wolf" with a Panzerfaust. While a bit heavy for "standoff" protection, tracks worked well - especially on the front of a Churchill, where the armour was already 100 - 150mm thick. 4" extra would be enough to keep out a Panzerfaust hit. Canadian tanks' trademark was track protection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxy Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 Nice work Steve, have three to finish, two Tamiya and two AFV Churchill's. Started them all but could not decide to what unit/country they would go. I assume you have some idea for your build, maybe sneek the unit for one of mine . foxy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courtney Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Thanks for the detail pics. It should help with my airfix and psc wargames ones. It actually makes the airfix hull top seem not too bad seeing as it was released in the 60's/70's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robw_uk Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 was there any more progress on this? would love to see how it progressed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatfingers Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 Thanks guys. The build is currently stalled at the weathering stage. Will no doubt get back on with at some point soon. Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrancisGL Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 NIce progress for now, love the metal gun a their muzzle brake, cheers Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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