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A11 Matilda Mk 1


Selwyn

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Just picked up the  Resin 1/48 1st corps Matilda Mk 1, nice kit, lovely moulding. 

The kit does not come with any painting instructions or decals. I have  sourced the correct colours and  a reasonable camoflage pattern   but unit markings are a bit of a mystery.  Can anyone point me to any good reference/profile material on this tank?

I don't think there are any 1/48 decals produced for the A11, can't find any. But if anyone could point me in the direction of  a good generic source of BEF decals in this scale? Otherwise its make my own!

 

Selwyn 

 

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This book (below) might help.  Possibly the most authoritative on the general subject.  The A11 is poorly served for literature.  Markings were sparse and small.  The white square seen here could be cut from white decal sheet.  T numbers and the civilian registration are straightforward text for which the likes of Echelon or Archer probably have something to suit.  Divisional markings would be a problem as BEF markings aren't exactly common in any scale.  But A11s didn't seem to carry them, just a simple AOS of a red square with white top stripe and a single white number.  Again, it should be possible to make that fairly easily.

 

It seems that you're most probably looking at the white square each side and on the engine deck, white T number either side of the driver's position, possibly a name below the turret, white on black square civilian registration front and rear and the Red/White AOS on a plate on a bracket front and rear.  The markings on the 2 A11s at Bovington are accurate to contemporary photos and there are many photos online to find.

 

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OnTheWay model review page has Dan Taylor's 1/72 instructions for BEF decals.  They at least provide some specific detail markings for the Matilda:

https://www.onthewaymodels.com/reviews/DanTaylor/AlMagnus_DanTaylor_DTM-T-76019_preview.htm

AMagnus_DanTaylor_DTM-T-76019_pg3.jpg

 

The white recognition squares were 30.5cm, according to the old Blitzkrieg publication by Steven J. Zaloga.

 

Surprisingly, two webstores that deal only in 1/48 vehicles (Track48 and France's Quarter Kit) have nothing useful in the decal department.

 

regards,

 

Jack

 

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An option for custom decals is in the Netherlands, http://www.blackliondecals.nl/

 

They already have markings for one Matilda in 72nd scale, maybe inquire about having it resized and printed to 1/48?

item no. 72055

72055.jpg

 

 

Otherwise, if you want something more specific, you have to draw it up yourself in vector file format and email it to them.

 

regards,

Jack

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4 hours ago, Das Abteilung said:

This book (below) might help.  Possibly the most authoritative on the general subject.  The A11 is poorly served for literature.  Markings were sparse and small.  The white square seen here could be cut from white decal sheet.  T numbers and the civilian registration are straightforward text for which the likes of Echelon or Archer probably have something to suit.  Divisional markings would be a problem as BEF markings aren't exactly common in any scale.  But A11s didn't seem to carry them, just a simple AOS of a red square with white top stripe and a single white number.  Again, it should be possible to make that fairly easily.

 

It seems that you're most probably looking at the white square each side and on the engine deck, white T number either side of the driver's position, possibly a name below the turret, white on black square civilian registration front and rear and the Red/White AOS on a plate on a bracket front and rear.  The markings on the 2 A11s at Bovington are accurate to contemporary photos and there are many photos online to find.

 

spacer.png

This book is just about unobtainable now.

 

Selwyn

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4 hours ago, JackG said:

OnTheWay model review page has Dan Taylor's 1/72 instructions for BEF decals.  They at least provide some specific detail markings for the Matilda:

https://www.onthewaymodels.com/reviews/DanTaylor/AlMagnus_DanTaylor_DTM-T-76019_preview.htm

AMagnus_DanTaylor_DTM-T-76019_pg3.jpg

 

The white recognition squares were 30.5cm, according to the old Blitzkrieg publication by Steven J. Zaloga.

 

Surprisingly, two webstores that deal only in 1/48 vehicles (Track48 and France's Quarter Kit) have nothing useful in the decal department.

 

regards,

 

Jack

 

The white recognition squares were 30.5cm

Dont think so. Britain didn't use metric units in 1940, now if you said 1Foot square I would believe you!

 

Selwyn

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