PlaStix Posted December 27, 2015 Posted December 27, 2015 (edited) Designed and manufactured by Nuffield Mechanisations and Aero Ltd. the Crusader tank was one of the main British cruiser tanks during World War 2. In total over 5,000 were built and mainly saw action in North Africa where they made important contributions to British victories in the North African Campaign.I'm going to be using this kit of the Mk.III Version and, because I've got quite a few GBs planned in the next few months, I'm going to make it OOB:The tank I'm going to make it as is T126799 from the 6th Armoured Division in Tunisa:As of me posting this, the start of my thread, it's currently the only tank in this GB - so it would be good if we could have a few more British AFVs to keep this company.I'll get some photos of the sprues, metal lower hull and other bits and pieces when I get chance over the next few days - I'm currently trying to get my Australian Centurion finished in the Vietnam GB.Kind regards,Stix Edited April 6, 2016 by PlaStix 1
Troy Smith Posted December 28, 2015 Posted December 28, 2015 Hi Stix you may wish to read this on British tank colours http://www.mafva.net/other%20pages/starmer%20camo.htm The Middle East section has quite a variety, but what scheme and colours you require I'm not sure. this page has Mike Starmer's Tamiya mixes. http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234913729-british-ww2-tank-colors/ Mike Starmer is a member here so he might know, you could always PM him. There is a build here, http://models.modelart7.com/crusader-mk-iii/ which has this photo, which maybe of use. HTH T 3
fatfingers Posted December 28, 2015 Posted December 28, 2015 (edited) Aye up Stix That's a lovely kit, got one in the stash. I'll be pitching into the GB with something clanky and tanky. Not quite decided which one yet tho 😊 Regards Steve Edited December 28, 2015 by fatfingers 1
Col. Posted December 28, 2015 Posted December 28, 2015 Welcome to the GB Stix and good to see a British AFV getting some attention. At least this isn't going to be a collection of things with wings with such a great variety of subjects already 2
Shermaniac Posted December 29, 2015 Posted December 29, 2015 Armour wise, so far it looks like you and me Stix. OMG I'll be taking part in 3 simultanious GB's Yikes! 2
Blastvader Posted December 29, 2015 Posted December 29, 2015 I'll be following along with this one Stix. Your armour builds are great and I do love this series of tanks. 1
PlaStix Posted December 30, 2015 Author Posted December 30, 2015 (edited) Hi Stix you may wish to read this on British tank colours http://www.mafva.net/other%20pages/starmer%20camo.htm The Middle East section has quite a variety, but what scheme and colours you require I'm not sure. this page has Mike Starmer's Tamiya mixes. http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234913729-british-ww2-tank-colors/ Mike Starmer is a member here so he might know, you could always PM him. There is a build here, http://models.modelart7.com/crusader-mk-iii/ which has this photo, which maybe of use. HTH T Hi Troy,Thank you for stopping by and thank you for the great information - fascinating stuff. I'm hopefully off to a model shop tomorrow to pick up some suitable paints. Aye up Stix That's a lovely kit, got one in the stash. I'll be pitching into the GB with something clanky and tanky. Not quite decided which one yet tho Regards Steve Hi Steve. Yes it does look good - I've got a few photos to post below of the bits and pieces in the box. I'm looking forward to seeing what you build for this GB.Welcome to the GB Stix and good to see a British AFV getting some attention. At least this isn't going to be a collection of things with wings with such a great variety of subjects already Hi Col. And thank you. Yes it looks like this should be an interesting mix of different models - gonna be a great GB! Armour wise, so far it looks like you and me Stix. OMG I'll be taking part in 3 simultanious GB's Yikes! Great stuff! Yeah I"m going to have at least three on the go at times this year! ...........should be fun!I'll be following along with this one Stix. Your armour builds are great and I do love this series of tanks.Hi Bladtvader and thank you. Looking forward to following your build too.Hiya Nigel!Right - some photos of the stuff in the box - Sprues: Some detail photos: The metal lower hull: The decals: The instructions: Looks like it should be fun! Kind regards, Stix Edited December 30, 2015 by PlaStix 3
wimbledon99 Posted December 30, 2015 Posted December 30, 2015 A "metal lower hull"?? Haven't seen one of those before Stix. Where do you find your models? They always to seem to be different in some way which makes for something new every time I'm guessing the weight will add a nice feel to the model. I hear that some people pack the hulls for that such effect. Anyhow, thoroughly looking forward to this! 1
CliffB Posted December 31, 2015 Posted December 31, 2015 A nice choice Stix. Looks like I might be running out of excuses not to build my Bolivian (Chaco War) Vickers E....... Cheers Cliff 2
PlaStix Posted December 31, 2015 Author Posted December 31, 2015 A "metal lower hull"?? Haven't seen one of those before Stix. Where do you find your models? They always to seem to be different in some way which makes for something new every time I'm guessing the weight will add a nice feel to the model. I hear that some people pack the hulls for that such effect. Anyhow, thoroughly looking forward to this! Hi Nigel. The metal lower hull is something Tamiya seemed to include with all their earlier 1/48 armour kits - it's only fairly recently that they swapped to plastic lower hulls and now, usually, provide weights to add into the lower hull instead. I have made one with the weights to add and it does give a nice amount of weight to the model. This will be my first metal hull. Reading online reviews of Tamiya's kits with the metal hulls it's evident that these metal hulls have much less detail. I think, from reading the reviews, that Tamiya wanted to make these kits so they could be motorised - so hence the metal hull. Much of the missing detail is mostly hidden by wheels when the kit is finished so I'm not going to worry about it too much. A nice choice Stix. Looks like I might be running out of excuses not to build my Bolivian (Chaco War) Vickers E....... Cheers Cliff Hi Cliff and thank you...........and yes I agree - I think it's time for the Vickers E Kind regards, Stix 1
PlaStix Posted January 2, 2016 Author Posted January 2, 2016 I got up early this morning as I was very keen to get started on this one. First off I added the front and rear sections of the hull. As it's a metal hull I used CA glue: Then I started on painting the wheels using a flat brush: Then I got some paint on the hull: I also started to get the tracks sorted ready for painting. I have to say I was a bit disappointed because every other track link has two ejection pin marks - they're either side of the guide horns. I couldn't be bothered to get rid of them all so concentrated on those which will be easily seen. I'm hoping to get some more done later. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix 4
CliffB Posted January 2, 2016 Posted January 2, 2016 The paintwork looks great so far - respect! Cliff 1
bull-nut Posted January 2, 2016 Posted January 2, 2016 Looks like a good start. I've built one of these myself, and it went together like a dream, typical Tamiya fit. I do like 1/48 armour, got several in the stash, to the wifes dismay (she much prefers things with wings). 1
BerndM Posted January 2, 2016 Posted January 2, 2016 Happy modelling with this kit ! Guess it will be again another stunner. Tamiya gives his 1/48 tanks a "scale weight " Maybe it improves the stand. Is this the same camo scheme, used on Sherman Mk.IIIs ? 1
fatfingers Posted January 2, 2016 Posted January 2, 2016 Aye up Stix. Looking good thus far Regards, Steve 1
PlaStix Posted January 3, 2016 Author Posted January 3, 2016 (edited) The paintwork looks great so far - respect! Cliff Thank you Cliff. I was a bit concerned about how well the metal lower hull would take paint but I needn't have worried - if anything it was easier to get a decent coat on than the plastic parts!Looks like a good start. I've built one of these myself, and it went together like a dream, typical Tamiya fit. I do like 1/48 armour, got several in the stash, to the wifes dismay (she much prefers things with wings).Hi bull-nut and thank you. Thank you too for the info about your experiences with Tamiya 1/48 kits. I must admit I fancy having a go at a few more of their kits!!! Just need the money and the time! Happy modelling with this kit ! Guess it will be again another stunner. Tamiya gives his 1/48 tanks a "scale weight " Maybe it improves the stand. Is this the same camo scheme, used on Sherman Mk.IIIs ? Hi Bernd and thank you. I think the weight should mean it will sit more firmly on a base. I might have a go at making one. I'll probably need some figures to go with it but I'm struggling to find any suitable ones. Not sure about the camo scheme....sorry.Nice start Stix! Thank you Nigel. Aye up Stix. Looking good thus far Regards, Steve Thank you Steve.Right today I did more work on the hull, wheels and tracks. On the wheels I started the weathering - just washes and dry-brushing at this stage and I also started to paint the tires: The tracks were given a couple of coats of Anthracite followed by some dry-brushed Gunmetal: More next week. Comments and suggestions welcome. Kind regards, Stix Edited January 3, 2016 by PlaStix 8
Col. Posted January 3, 2016 Posted January 3, 2016 You are exhibiting great subtlety in that paintwork Stix. Inspiring stuff 1
stevej60 Posted January 3, 2016 Posted January 3, 2016 Looking forward to this Stix I built the Airfix 1/32 scale one donkey's year's ago,I,m planning to build the Airfix Land Rovers after the Siskin so that,s another couple of vehicles in the GB I,m sure there will be more.I would like to have a go at one of Tamiya's 1/48 tank,s in the future. 1
Kallisti Posted January 3, 2016 Posted January 3, 2016 Pulling up a deckchair for this one (its the sand you know) 1
PlaStix Posted January 5, 2016 Author Posted January 5, 2016 You are exhibiting great subtlety in that paintwork Stix. Inspiring stuff Thank you Col. I'm finding the darker plastic slightly more challenging to get the paint to go over but I'm getting there. Looking forward to this Stix I built the Airfix 1/32 scale one donkey's year's ago,I,m planning to build the Airfix Land Rovers after the Siskin so that,s another couple of vehicles in the GB I,m sure there will be more.I would like to have a go at one of Tamiya's 1/48 tank,s in the future. Hi Steve. Looking forward to your builds. I've only done one of Tamiya's 1/48 kits before but it was a joy to build and this one seems the same so far. I'm sure I'm going to make some more in future. Pulling up a deckchair for this one (its the sand you know) I'm really looking forward to the weekend when I can get some more done on this. ***While I think about it - does anyone know of any 1/48 WW2 British, North African tank crew or troops figures? I'm struggling to find anything suitable. I found some made by a company called Art of War (who I hadn't heard of) but they seem difficult to source and are, apparently, a little too big for 1/48. Ideally I would like to do a small desert scene for this Crusader. Kind regards, Stix
bull-nut Posted January 5, 2016 Posted January 5, 2016 Dartmoor Military Models do two sets of British western desert tank crew in 1/48. Cast in white metal,they are a little bigger than Tamiya or Revell 1/48 figures, but look fine next to my Crusader Mk III. You can find mine Here when I can get back to it. 2
PlaStix Posted January 5, 2016 Author Posted January 5, 2016 Dartmoor Military Models do two sets of British western desert tank crew in 1/48. Cast in white metal,they are a little bigger than Tamiya or Revell 1/48 figures, but look fine next to my Crusader Mk III. You can find mine Here when I can get back to it.Hi bull-nut. Thank you for the link to Dartmoor Military Models - I will try and get some ordered. And thank you to the link to your build - I do like what you've done with the tank and the base. Kind regards, Stix
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