John Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 I probably shouldn't be entering any more GBs just now given my crash-and-burn rate in the last couple and I won't be starting this for a while but this is a project that has been on my mind for some time, prompted by the announcement of Rubicon's new Valentine kits. One has duly arrived from the good people at Rubicon Models UK: It not only has parts for a MkIII CS but also comes with the NZ Divisional markings. Hopefully I'll get a start some time before the GB ends...🙄 John 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 Welcome aboard John, Im learning more about armor use in the pacific. Never knew the Valentine served on any island campaign. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted February 15, 2021 Author Share Posted February 15, 2021 Day off today so I've had the chance to open the box and have a fondle of the parts, if nothing else 😃 I've developed a real fondness for these Rubicon kits over the last few years. This one is their latest release, and it's a beauty. There are 4 sprues of well moulded ABS plastic with many alternative parts for various early marks of Valentine: The instruction booklet is in the usual house style: The first class decal sheet has the Kiwi and Dragon markings for the NZ Squadron, so that's a head start: John 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted February 20, 2021 Author Share Posted February 20, 2021 Not build progress, but I've bought a book: No excuses now... John 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 (edited) Nice subject,..... I have a Kiwi Valentine on my `to do' list,...... and never heard of this kit before. The separate track links on 1/35th Valentine kits that include the parts available for a suitable Valentine with the larger turret have always put me off building it,..... despite having one in the stash! I do like the scheme used by Kiwi tanks during the Island campaign,.... I also bought this book by Jeffrey Plowman when it was first published and wondered whether the newer book that you have, has much more info in it to justify buying it too; https://www.mcleodsbooks.co.nz/p/non-fiction-new-zealand-armour-in-the-pacific-1939-45 Cheers Tony Edited February 20, 2021 by tonyot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted February 22, 2021 Author Share Posted February 22, 2021 The book arrived this afternoon and I've left it on my desk so I can have a leaf through it tomorrow. Initial impression is of a very comprehensive collection of photos but since I haven't seen the older book I can't really compare them. More than good enough for this project though. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 Hi John Hows your Valentine doing ? Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted March 23, 2021 Author Share Posted March 23, 2021 In terms of the tank, no time so far but I did buy some 28mm Chindits which I'm painting up as New Zealand troops to support the armour: John 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 Hi John A bit of inspiration for your Valentine Mine from the recent MTO III GB Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted April 16, 2021 Author Share Posted April 16, 2021 Very nice. I'll check out the thread. I've finally found the time to make a start: More soon, hopefully. John 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted April 17, 2021 Author Share Posted April 17, 2021 The turret is a complex little assembly that repays care in putting all the bits together. The kit has options for the earlier or later pattern turrets: I didn't notice that the tanks used in the Pacific campaign had their headlights removed - ah well...🙄 The complex Vickers suspension system assembles simply but looks effective: John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted April 25, 2021 Author Share Posted April 25, 2021 I've done a bit of rebuiding of the front plate, having removed the headlights and filled the mounting slots: Close examination of photos suggests that the marker lights on the track guards were removed from the NZ tanks in the jungle, so they were removed and the resultant holes filled with a sliver of Microstrip, glued in place and trimmed. This work also removed the raised detail on the track guards, so this was carefully reinstated with short sections of Microrod. Finally, I had managed to leave a small gap behind the front plate, where it butts up against the main hull. The gap was filled with fine Microstrip, sanded down when it had cured. The base colour of the NZ Valentines was Khaki Green G3, with Dark Green upper surfaces and Lime Green spots. Khaki Green is one of these colours I have a bit of trouble getting a handle on. Using Mike Starmer's mix I concocted a sample of his suggested full-size colour, then went hunting through the paint store for something suitable for a smaller scale kit. I came across an old standby - Humbrol MC21 French Artillery Green: The turret and upper hull are Humbrol 163. John 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 2, 2021 Author Share Posted May 2, 2021 The jungle scheme is one of the more unusual camouflage patterns carried by Commonwealth armour. Photos show the scheme to be low contrast, so patterns are difficult to make out. Similarly, published drawings aren't particularly clear so there's a bit of guesswork in this. Spots are 80 Grass Green. You can see that this would have been quite an effective scheme under the jungle canopy. John 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 6, 2021 Author Share Posted May 6, 2021 The distinctive and much copied Vickers running gear installed: John 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 8, 2021 Author Share Posted May 8, 2021 Photographs of the Valentines being offloaded from US LSTs show them fitted with auxiliary fuel tanks, which seem to have been removed before they went in to action. They also had towing hitches, as they were photographed pulling American 90mm anti-aircraft guns onto the island so a search through the spare parts box will be needed to try to locate something suitable. I've also fitted the exhaust and the exhaust shroud and painted the tools. Metal parts are matt dark grey then rubbed over with pencil lead for a metallic finish. Photos show a storage box outboard of the exhaust so I'll have to look carve off the moulded on pickaxe head to make room. John 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 9, 2021 Author Share Posted May 9, 2021 The main structure of the vehicle is pretty much complete, time for decals, detail and stowage: John 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 Very nice indeed,..... I hadn`t realised that the lower hull was a lighter colour to the rest of the tank,..... and the colours look great,...... agreed,... a very effective looking scheme. Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted May 10, 2021 Share Posted May 10, 2021 On 5/3/2021 at 12:59 AM, John said: You can see that this would have been quite an effective scheme under the jungle canopy. Hi John, Sorry hadn't caught up with you on your build before now. My Grandfather (Maternal) fought in the Solomon's with the New Zealand Army during the WWII Pacific Campaign, so most likely would have seen tanks like yours during that very bitter campaign. I don't doubt that He would have been very thankful for such armour to help in the fighting. My Grandmother/Mother told me about some of the horrific things that happened..... Unfortunately never got to meet my Grandfather, as he passed long before I was born, buried in the Soldiers Cemetery in Waikumite Cemetery here in Auckland. Thanks for sharing your build with us Regards Alan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 12, 2021 Author Share Posted May 12, 2021 I've been studying the available photos of these vehicles in the field and as a result I've made a change to the camouflage scheme. Photos seem to show that the lightest spots are a higher contrast against the dark green than the scheme I've applied, so I repainted some of the spots in 78 Cockpit Green, making some of them bigger in the process and painting out others. Then I gave the whole lot a thinned coat of dark green overall to pull it together: I think, by the time I get a varnish coat and some weathering on it, it will look a bit closer to the effect you see in photos. John 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 Terrific job John, delighted to see this one progressing and it's really distinctive Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 16, 2021 Author Share Posted May 16, 2021 Time to start sticking on the transfers. The supplied decal sheet has the Kiwi and the 3rd Division Tank Squadron Dragon markings but not the divisional identifier of a white 26 on a yellow square. Front and rear were they were created from Xtradecal sheets. I also found a towing cleat in the spares box which has been attached to the rear plate. Next job is to decide on a specific vehicle. John 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 19, 2021 Author Share Posted May 19, 2021 A combination of kit sheet, generic sheets and the spares collection: John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 22, 2021 Author Share Posted May 22, 2021 Photos show the Valentines getting very muddy, so a start on weathering is made with Humbrol Dark Brown Enamel Wash. I like these washes, they are very well pigmented and can take a lot of thinning: John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sardaukar Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 Interesting kit, it took me a double take to realise the scale, it didn't look like any 1/72nd Valentine kit I've seen . Rubicon are really spoiling you with the decal options. Is that a Cromwell I spy in the background too? Nice camo scheme. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 14 hours ago, sardaukar said: Interesting kit, it took me a double take to realise the scale, it didn't look like any 1/72nd Valentine kit I've seen . Rubicon are really spoiling you with the decal options. Is that a Cromwell I spy in the background too? Nice camo scheme. Thanks. It's a Comet: Needs a bit of finishing off, but it provides an interesting illustration of British tank evolution. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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