Mence
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Post by Mence on Dec 12, 2018 14:47:58 GMT
Chaps The next unfortunate kit to fall under my scalpel is this.  A nice box of styrene goodness. 
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Mence
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Post by Mence on Dec 12, 2018 15:01:57 GMT
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.
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Mence
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Post by Mence on Dec 12, 2018 15:04:27 GMT
My intention is to do an example that may have been used in anger should the invasion of Europe happened the following year.
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Post by Boots on Dec 12, 2018 15:20:37 GMT
Like the sound of this matey 
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Post by Paul B on Dec 12, 2018 16:04:31 GMT
This is great build Mence  , even if the running gear can cause the use of colourful language  . You have brought back memories of my Operation Musketeer version  , so I am certainly looking forward to seeing your European Theater Active Service version  . Seat taken, beer and nuts at the ready 
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Mence
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Post by Mence on Dec 12, 2018 17:02:52 GMT
Thanks chaps.
Bit old hat I know but it's a bucket list build so must be done.
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Post by JEFF on Dec 13, 2018 10:15:04 GMT
Oh yes. Count me in please. 
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Mence
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Post by Mence on Dec 13, 2018 14:16:56 GMT
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.
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Post by Boots on Dec 13, 2018 14:37:35 GMT
Nice bit of referencing work there matey....good spot  , replacement parts do look good 
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Post by Paul B on Dec 13, 2018 15:27:48 GMT
Nicely spotted Mence  . And very nice AM pieces too 
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Post by nito74 on Dec 13, 2018 15:36:49 GMT
That must be a huge kit. Meng being Meng... you'll love the tracks for sure !!  So France Winter 46, will it be invading Germany / defending France from the Germans / defending France from the Russians / something else ? 
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Mence
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Post by Mence on Dec 13, 2018 16:13:43 GMT
That must be a huge kit. Meng being Meng... you'll love the tracks for sure !!  So France Winter 46, will it be invading Germany / defending France from the Germans / defending France from the Russians / something else ?  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...
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Post by nito74 on Dec 13, 2018 16:27:46 GMT
That must be a huge kit. Meng being Meng... you'll love the tracks for sure !!  So France Winter 46, will it be invading Germany / defending France from the Germans / defending France from the Russians / something else ?  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... With the yellow jersey guys all over France... it won't make it to Germany. 
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Post by JEFF on Dec 13, 2018 21:12:11 GMT
I would call that a very worthwhile add, Mence. Those casts do look great. 
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Mence
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Post by Mence on Dec 14, 2018 8:54:20 GMT
Chaps. Not a great deal of sticking yet, just three parts, attaching the frontal glacis?. Nasty join line is the result as well as a prominent seam further down. Out with the weapon of choice.  Big fan of this product and very useful for replicating rough cast armour. Splat some on and we're good, very light sanding later and trust me, it looks spot on. 
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Mence
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Post by Mence on Dec 14, 2018 9:00:57 GMT
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
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Post by Paul B on Dec 14, 2018 11:00:09 GMT
Very nicely spattered indeed Mence 
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Post by Boots on Dec 14, 2018 11:28:57 GMT
Top work on the seam and upper hull matey......that stuff i`ve not seen before i have to say 
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CarlRF
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Post by CarlRF on Dec 14, 2018 23:27:00 GMT
Nice fix .
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Post by SteveM on Dec 15, 2018 8:02:47 GMT
This’ll be good, I’ll pull up my seat and munch me popcorn 
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