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Chuck's Matilda sextet in 1/72, courtesy of S-Model +1 Xtra
Posted: December 10th, 2017, 12:02 am
by Chuck Finley
S-Model, out of China, has a line of easy build armor in 1/72 that build into nice little kits. There are two kits per box and are great for wargaming or a modeler who wants something different. The S-Model Matilda II is the close-support variant that pretty much limits your markings to either Australian or Soviet. Fortunately there are conversion sets by Dan Taylor Modelworks and Modelltrans. My first Matilda II is a simple conversion that entails replacing the 3" howitzer with a brass 2 pdr and Besa machine-gun by Aber. The markings are from Dan Taylor's Operation Crusader set 1.
Matilda Mk. IIA, T-6968 'Phantom', 42 Royal Tank Regt., 1st Army Tank Brigade
The Caunter scheme was painted with White Ensign colourcoats and the picture setting is my model railroad.
Re: Chuck's Matilda quartet in 1/72, courtesy of S-Model
Posted: December 10th, 2017, 12:17 am
by Clashcityrocker
Looks like a nice little kit.
Nigel
Re: Chuck's Matilda quartet in 1/72, courtesy of S-Model
Posted: December 10th, 2017, 1:22 am
by Chuck Finley
Clashcityrocker wrote:Looks like a nice little kit.
Nigel
The next one I post will be a straight out of box Australian Matlida II CS. The kit even provides the front track guards and low cupola found on the Australian vehicles.
Re: Chuck's Matilda quartet in 1/72, courtesy of S-Model
Posted: December 10th, 2017, 1:39 am
by gnomemeansgnome
That Matilda looks great, Chuck. Those S-Model kits are pretty nice; I have a couple that I banged outlast year that turned out pretty sweet as well.
Re: Chuck's Matilda quartet in 1/72, courtesy of S-Model
Posted: December 10th, 2017, 3:14 pm
by ShaunW
That is a great looking small scale Matilda, Chuck. There is decent looking detail, topped with a nifty bit of painting in that Caunter scheme. All in all that is a really nice build, which looks good set in your model railway scenery.
Re: Chuck's Matilda quartet in 1/72, courtesy of S-Model
Posted: December 10th, 2017, 10:51 pm
by Chuck Finley
Re: Chuck's Matilda quartet in 1/72, courtesy of S-Model
Posted: December 10th, 2017, 11:52 pm
by PTB11
They both look great.
Re: Chuck's Matilda quartet in 1/72, courtesy of S-Model
Posted: December 11th, 2017, 12:35 am
by splash
Nice work, how do they compare to the Airfix Matilda?
Re: Chuck's Matilda quartet in 1/72, courtesy of S-Model
Posted: December 11th, 2017, 3:25 am
by Chuck Finley
splash wrote:Nice work, how do they compare to the Airfix Matilda?
For one the S-Model kits are for a Matilda Mk.II CS (close-support) with a 3" howitzer and the AIRFIX is the standard gun tank.
Second, the S-Model is larger at 1/72 scale compared to the Airfix 1/76.
Finally, the S-Model gives you a choice of two commander cupolas, one original size and the other later type that was lower. Also, the S-Model kit has the armored knuckles covering the front of the tracks that was an Australian modification.
Personally, I think the S-Model kit is the better the two if only due to the fact that the Airfix dates back to 1973 and is of what is now a unusual scale. Plus, all you need to convert the S-Model to a gun tank is simply replace the 3" howitzer with a Aber 2 pdr barrel. I picked up a second S-Model kit. I plan on using the Dan Taylor Modelworks BEF Matilda Conversion set to backdate one to a Battle of France version. The second will be converted to a Matilda Frog (Australian flame-thrower version) with a Modelltrans conversion.
The only area where the Airfix kit beats S-Model is with the decals provided in the new boxing.
Re: Chuck's Matilda quartet in 1/72, courtesy of S-Model
Posted: December 11th, 2017, 12:08 pm
by bobblelink
I thought that Australian Matildas also had an armoured ridge built around the turret ring, but was this standard on all their tanks?
Re: Chuck's Matilda quartet in 1/72, courtesy of S-Model
Posted: December 11th, 2017, 12:59 pm
by celt
My favourite tank the Matilda,I have just built the Hedgehog version.These S-Models look very good.Well tidy mun.
Re: Chuck's Matilda quartet in 1/72, courtesy of S-Model
Posted: December 11th, 2017, 4:55 pm
by iggie
Both look to be great little builds Chuck and good value too
Re: Chuck's Matilda quartet in 1/72, courtesy of S-Model
Posted: December 13th, 2017, 4:31 am
by Chuck Finley
bobblelink wrote:I thought that Australian Matildas also had an armoured ridge built around the turret ring, but was this standard on all their tanks?
I don't know if all Australian Matildas had the armored ridge. The S-Model kit didn't come with one. I plan on converting one of the models in my second S-Model duo (The other will be built as a BEF version) into a Matilda Frog flame thrower version. The Modelltrans conversion does have the ridge and the extra track links on the side of the hull.
Re: Chuck's Matilda quartet in 1/72, courtesy of S-Model
Posted: January 2nd, 2018, 5:22 am
by Chuck Finley
Re: Chuck's Matilda quartet in 1/72, courtesy of S-Model +1
Posted: January 7th, 2018, 7:55 pm
by Chuck Finley