A39 Tortoise - France, Winter '46

Designed and built to overcome the Siegfried line when France was invaded, it is more a mobile pillbox than a tank although with no turret, the term tank doesn't really apply. 25 were ordered but with VE, the order was scaled back to just 6, all prototypes. One made it to Germany for post war testing where it was agreed to be a good gun platform, it's 80 ton weight and physical size being major limitations.
In trials, its QF 32lb (94mm) gun was found to be effective against a Panthers armour at 3000 metres. Other armament consisted of a 7.92mm Besa mounted in the front of the hull and two further Besa's in a small turret

To this day, two survive, a complete, running examples (Prototype 1) resides at Bovington Tank Museum and the battered hull of another is a range target in Kirkudbright, Scotland.

Like the sound of this matey

Thanks chaps.

Bit old hat I know but it's a bucket list build so must be done.

Chaps.

While i sort a few detail things, i addressed one of the few shortfalls with the kit. Meng has done nothing wrong, they referenced the only surviving example which due to the lack of available history was the smart and only thing to do.
However, the Bovington example is I believe the only one of the six prototypes NOT to have the distinctive ammo loading port on the left rear of the fighting compartment.



Being a what if, you can easily get away with it but seing as the later prototype did at least leave the country and make it to Germany, I felt this needed to be rectified.

In steps AFV Modeler. A quick hop onto their website and three days later, two crisply cast, bubble free parts arrive.



Small downside is I will need to either trim the door or drill a hole in the hull if I want to model it fully closed, no big deal.

Nicely spotted Mence .
And very nice AM pieces too

It's a big piece for sure, will post a comparison as the build progresses.

In my mind, it will be pushing through France towards Germany although that may change...

I would call that a very worthwhile add, Mence. Those casts do look great.

Next small thing to address is on the front of the upper hull.

There sits a small triangular casting mark, applicable I believe to Prototype 1 only, it denotes the hull cast in mild steel only, not hardened. Modelling supposedly an operational vehicle, this had to go.



Furious swiping with a blade ensued followed by a smattering of my weapon of choice and yaay, another job, jobbed.



Ta

Top work on the seam and upper hull matey......that stuff i`ve not seen before i have to say