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Christmas vacation build - Crusader Mk II (Border Models 1:35)***Finished***


SimonL

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I was gifted this for my birthday a few weeks ago:

 

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Ideal as a Christmas vacation build.

 

I’ve still got the Asuka Sherman Mk 1 Hybrid on the go, but as it’s a bit warm today here in Perth I thought I would take the sprues of this kit out for a look.

Turret, sand shields and top of hull, and parts for the sides are on three sprues.

 

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Wheels and a single length of track are on two duplicate sprues:

 

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Tracks and associated pins (gulp):

 

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Some photoetch brass, rather nice turned brass main armament and machine gun, some clear bits and poly caps. Oh, and a rather nice resin Afrika Korps figure (which I will not be using - so if anyone has an appropriate British figure to swap…)

 

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I’m going to be doing this simple scheme, which I believe is all over Light Stone.

 

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I think it’s a tank from the 10th Royal Hussars, 1 Armoured Division?

 

Looking forward to getting started.

 

Edited by SimonL
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My sympathies Dan!

 

Thought I might make a start by having a go at the tracks. I found @diablo rsv build of the Mark III helpful with this.

 

 

It was fiddly, but in the end worked out ok after some practice. In the interests of complete openness, I present my first and second attempt. The first attempt will be used in a place where the rather scruffy attempt will not be obvious. I’m going to take the same approach Wayne did - use the straight piece of completed track on the base of the wheels and not bother with where the track is hidden by the sand shields.

 

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Yeah, the knock out marks are a pain.

 

It being Boxing Day, as traditionally for me I switched the radio on to the Test Match at the MCG and got down to business.

 

The lower hull came together really quickly, of course I forgot to take a photograph in the process!.

 

For the top of the tank, there are lots of boxes etc the need to be built and then attached, with a small number of photoetch items. It was fairly quick work, with the softish plastic working well with my usual Tamiya Extra Thin cement. It all fitted really well together.

 

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I then started on the turret. Here are the main parts, including the nice metal gun barrels.

 

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Part way through construction.

 

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And done. The gun barrel is front heavy and dips down, so I have temporarily fixed it in place with a blob of blu-tack inside the turret. I will fix it in place properly once painted.

 

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I also quickly put the little auxiliary turret together, and here everything is so far as a dry fit.


p?i=b238798d030c9ab1816f5f3ae6284ced

 

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Good start Simon. Have this on my "wishlist" so will keep an eye on your progress.

 

The tracks look a major pain, but nice that Border give you the metal barrels. Shame they don't give you the third one though.

 

Keep up the good work and enjoy the cricket. Looks like a good first day for Oz.

 

George

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Ah, no. My skills (and patience) would not be up to the task. Happy to leave it as is. 

 

My first issue, the back “grill” broke off the lower completed tub. May be a blessing in disguise as it did make it easier to add the photoetch (not nearly as neatly as @diablo rsv )

 

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I also deviated slightly from the instructions by completed all the bits on the lower hull before adding the top.

 

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A bit of a jump ahead, main construction  more or less complete, the fuel tank is just a dry fit.

 

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Stufffed up one little bit of photoetch where the fuel line from the fuel tank enters the rear of the hull, will need to fake that up with a little bit of scrap plastic.

 

Also made the start today on brush painting the wheels, probably needs another thin coat.

 

p?i=6e61dbdf0aed1de84a91c163567bc693

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Finished off painting the wheels by painting tyres with Vallejo dark rubber and glued the two halves of each wheel together trapping the little poly-cap in between. I left the “front” wheel attached to the sprue to act as handle to hold them by while starting the weathering process. First I gave them a gloss coat with Italeri Acryl gloss, then followed up with some washes of dirty mix of Vallejo Dark Grey and Brown Model Washes.

 

I have a tendency to overdo this step with desert camo tanks, so hopefully a bit more restrained this time.


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Meanwhile I fixed the pipe work to the fuel tank and fixed up the little bracket that will eventually attach it to the hull with some plastic card.

 

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Progress today. I gave the running gear a wash of Vallejo Desert Dust Model Wash before sliding them onto their axles. I weathered the lower hull in a similar fashion to the wheels, although most will be hidden by the sand shields. 
 

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The straight bits of track got their first thin coat of Vallejo Track Primer and I finished off painting the main colour on the turret.

 

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Last but not least I attached the auxiliary fuel tank to the back, pretty happy with the little bit of scratch building I did to replace the photoetch I messed up.

 

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I don't know if i mentioned it before but i've got a similar kit in the stash. Also from border model. So i'm following this build with much interest. 

Looking great so far!!! 

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Thanks John - trying to not overdo it for this one!

 

Time to deal with the tracks. First I attached the single length of track to the bottom of the main wheels with cyanoacrylate glue.

 

p?i=6ae6f01dfd7f5bdb20331d49a176b860

 

It was then a slow process of linking the small lengths of track together (with quite a few breakages). In the end I used some of the extra thin cement and while they were still flexible draped positioned them appropriately. Once almost dry, I removed them, painted them and then superglued in place. They were still a bit flexible as the cement hasn’t totally “cured”. I did it in stages - idlers first and then the sprockets. It isn’t as neat as Wayne’s but once dried is pretty robust, and just needs a little tidying up and touching up with paint. The sand shields went on easily, and the long thin “rack” on the left hand side of the tank - somehow managed to remove that from the sprue without breaking it. So other than the aerials and headlamps, that’s the construction pretty much done.

 

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I’m very happy with how it’s turned out. Definitely on track to finish before I go back to work next Monday.

 

There are few odd bits left on the sprues, including these, which look to my eye to be British helmets. They are not mentioned in the instructions at all. Does anyone know the significance of these? Rather odd.

 

p?i=b015621ea04656f602602db1fef475bd

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59 minutes ago, SimonL said:

Thanks John - trying to not overdo it for this one!

 

Time to deal with the tracks. First I attached the single length of track to the bottom of the main wheels with cyanoacrylate glue.

 

p?i=6ae6f01dfd7f5bdb20331d49a176b860

 

It was then a slow process of linking the small lengths of track together (with quite a few breakages). In the end I used some of the extra thin cement and while they were still flexible draped positioned them appropriately. Once almost dry, I removed them, painted them and then superglued in place. They were still a bit flexible as the cement hasn’t totally “cured”. I did it in stages - idlers first and then the sprockets. It isn’t as neat as Wayne’s but once dried is pretty robust, and just needs a little tidying up and touching up with paint. The sand shields went on easily, and the long thin “rack” on the left hand side of the tank - somehow managed to remove that from the sprue without breaking it. So other than the aerials and headlamps, that’s the construction pretty much done.

 

p?i=fbf6a0833f9dd93b4c37309806ff1106

 

p?i=1e260db8c9a3af59ddc81e483d124dde


p?i=00649b3360eee0f00501668dc1f8a886

 

I’m very happy with how it’s turned out. Definitely on track to finish before I go back to work next Monday.

 

There are few odd bits left on the sprues, including these, which look to my eye to be British helmets. They are not mentioned in the instructions at all. Does anyone know the significance of these? Rather odd.

 

p?i=b015621ea04656f602602db1fef475bd

They look like helmets to me too. Can't think of anything else tbh

Do the instructions show anything on the sprue photo's? Often they show wich parts are not needed on the kit. 

The build itself looks awesome. Feel like starting on my own Crusader. First i have to finish my Churchill. 

Edited by Maddoxx77
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I would guess they are from the original British version of this kit. Just checked scalemates and they are not mentioned on the instructions for that either. Quite a few manufacturers chuck in some spare stowage if they are nice 🙂

 

George

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That's looking very good Simon.

I hadn't realised they had released a Mk.II. 

I enjoyed building the Mk.III, it's a nice kit to build apart from those ejector pin marks on the track links. 

 

Wayne

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On 1/4/2023 at 6:14 PM, Maddoxx77 said:

They look like helmets to me too. Can't think of anything else tbh

Do the instructions show anything on the sprue photo's? Often they show wich parts are not needed on the kit. 

The build itself looks awesome. Feel like starting on my own Crusader. First i have to finish my Churchill.

No indication of parts not needed, but I think the general consensus is they are helmets. After taking a look on-line I can see they are often seen hanging off the turret as John  said. Thanks for the positive feedback!

 

10 hours ago, diablo rsv said:

That's looking very good Simon.

I hadn't realised they had released a Mk.II. 

I enjoyed building the Mk.III, it's a nice kit to build apart from those ejector pin marks on the track links. 

Thanks Wayne - your earlier build thread with the Mk III was very helpful with sorting the track. 
 

1 hour ago, Keeff said:

Your build is proressing well and looking great. 👌 

 

Keith

thanks Keith!

 

On the final stages now. Managed to get a third think coat of paint on followed by a coat of Italeri Acryl Gloss. The limited number of decals went on very well - very thin and pretty strong as well. I also took the opportunity to fix the main gun in place and replace a handle at the rear that must have got knocked off at some point (thank heavens for spares on the sprues!). I also added the pre-painted shovel. It looks a bit vibrant, but from past experience will tone down nicely when I get to the weathering stage. I’m going to leave this build stowage free and save the helmets for my next Sherman build.

 

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