A brace of Cromwells

[bigfoot]

This is going to be a build of two different variants of Cromwell, a IV with an F hull and a Vw with the welded hull and extra armour. I like to build vehicles based on actual vehicles from photographs so I’m going to be basing my builds on these pictures:

 

 

an F hull Cromwell IV of welsh guards, GAD knocked out in Germany. I bought the kit and most accessories as one of the first kits when I got back into modelling but has sat in the stash until I’d got my skills up. I really like all the extra ammo can storage on it but it’s only recently I’ve realised it’s an F hull as my knowledge of Cromwells has increased. I believe it’s a 75mm rather than a 95 based on its markings.

 

the second welded hull Vw will be based on one of 4CLY sharpshooters knocked out at Villers Bocage, based on these photos and a couple more in Dan Taylor’s through the Lens book on VB.

 

 

 

The kits and aftermarket that will be going into these builds:

 

 

I recently bought off eBay one of these Cromwells that came with all the AA upgrades for both the F hull and welded hull for a very decent price.

 

Now some of the AA parts are incorrect such as the F hull engine deck and the front plate for the up armoured hull so I’ll either be correcting those or making my own parts. I’ll be using @Bullbaskets welded hull Cromwell build log plus various photos I’ve collected and a good walk around video on YouTube for the corrections for the welded hull variant.

 

The build has started with the rear hull. Appropriate Rivets have been removed from the welded hull along with the towing shackle mounting plates as these were welded directly onto the hull. I’ve also removed the first aid box from the rear with  a razor saw that will be saved for reattaching later. The upper part will have a section of styrene attached over with weld beads added. 
 

Welded hull at the bottom with comparison to the riveted hull to show which rivets and plates have been removed.

 

 

 

Pin marks have been filled since taking photos.

Edited July 8, 2020 by bigfoot

[Bullbasket]

Good choice and nice work so far. Personally, I wouldn't bother with the AA engine deck, and go straight for a conversion of the Tamiya deck, by filling and rescribing. Good luck with the build, and I'll be following along.

 

John.

[Hamden]

 

 

Interesting project mind if I tag along

 

       Roger

[bigfoot]

Thanks John. I would have done, but as I’ve got the AA one I might as well use it!

[Dads203]

That’s a whole heap of AM that your throwing at this one, looking forward to seeing this epic build take shape 

[bigfoot]

1 minute ago, Hamden said:

 

 

Interesting project mind if I tag along

 

       Roger

Thanks Roger, please do!

[bigfoot]

5 minutes ago, Dads203 said:

That’s a whole heap of AM that your throwing at this one, looking forward to seeing this epic build take shape 

It’s not often I like to build out of the box. I don’t really like to build kits that have been built a thousand times before. This is more AM than I normally use though. 😏

[PDH]

Watching with great interest, got a few of these in the stash. Love the Tamiya kit and we have the new Airfix one due soon.

 

P

[bigfoot]

Thanks PDH. My original plan was to wait for the new airfix mk vi and convert it to a 75mm for the F hull before I found this lot.

[diablo rsv]

The Cromwell is on my to do list so I shall watch your progress with interest.

 

Wayne 

[fatfingers]

Aye up Bigfoot,

 

Nice to see you back with what looks to be a great pair of builds. Will enjoy seeing this progress.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

[bigfoot]

Thanks both for the interest. My other projects have stalled at the painting stages as we are having a house extension done so I’ve lost my airbrushing space in the garage temporarily and most of my man cave is taken up with boxes so I can only build at the moment. Was supposed to start in February but only just started now.

 

I got some more work done last night, mostly just adding weld beads to the rear of the Vw. Will hopefully post progress pics tonight.

[bigfoot]

Update time. I’ve finished the welded rear hull of the Vw using epoxy putty.

 

 

and started on the major surgery to the upper hull. Both tanks have had the drivers hatch area cut away to take the AA resin plates; Vauxhall hatch for the Vw and the side opening hatch for the F. Vw on the right, rivets also removed from the front upper plate.

 

Unfortunately the resin top plates in both upgrade kits  are about 2mm too small in each direction so going to have to do some work to get them to fit.
 

 

You will also notice I’ve filled and rescribed  the engine deck hatch panel lines on both hulls to change them from the C layout to the D/F layout , still got the handles and locking catches to replace and to sand down the filled panel lines. Originally I was going to use the AA engine deck and rescribe the panel lines that are in the wrong place as I had it to use, but again it is 2-3mm too short. Easier to just change the Tamiya hull. To be honest, not overly impressed with the AA upgrade sets and wouldn’t recommend most of them if other people are thinking of doing the same conversions.

 

 

Next jobs will be to add the resin panels to the front and add the weld beads to the Vw glacis and add the locks/handles to the engine decks.

 

Thanks for looking in.

[Hamden]

 

Nice work so far, looking forward to the next instalment

 

         Roger

[Bullbasket]

Good work with the changes so far BF. As to the AA products, I feel your pain. Sometimes, they are a bit hit and miss.

 

John.

[bigfoot]

15 hours ago, Hamden said:

 

Nice work so far, looking forward to the next instalment

 

         Roger

Thanks Roger, hopefully another update next week.

 

1 hour ago, Bullbasket said:

Good work with the changes so far BF. As to the AA products, I feel your pain. Sometimes, they are a bit hit and miss.

 

John.

Cheers John, whilst the detail is good it is let down considerably by the sizing issue. I don’t know if I just have a bad batch with shrinkage issues or if they’re all like this. I’ve used their accessory/stowage stuff before but this is the first conversion kit I’ve tried. I’d be more annoyed if I’d paid normal price for them rather than getting them in a bulk purchase.

[scoopey]

Nice, I got a 1/72 Airfix Cromwell to build...actually I got two, the second one I'm converting to a Centaur, with bits from Dan Taylor Modelworks