The Unofficial Airfix Modellers' Forum

As far as I can remember this is the first kit I ever built. At the very least it's the first tank I built and still one of the few tanks kits I've made. A newsagent had this in a display in the centre of the shop and I would look at them every week when I went in with my mum. The closer I got to them the more the owner scowled at me. Eventually I got mum my to buy me one, though I doubt this put a smile on the newagents face.



When I got it home my distinct memory is being perplexed at the number of wheels I had to construct. When I complained my mum replied succinctly "Well it's a tank isn't it". I have know idea how much further I got with the kit and whether I finished it at all.

I wasn't too sure if this was the actual kit, the only recollection I have apart from all the wheels was that it was Matchbox and a desert tank. I worry though I'm mixing later memories. Regardless this build shall stand whether in reality or metaphorically as my fist kit!

I had an hour to myself after knocking down walls in the garden and so decided to crack on. After reading another thread about how the wheels on the spruce lined up with their mounts I had a thought that maybe I could do something similar with the two halves of the road wheels - there are rather a lot you know. I cut the outer faces as strip from the sprue and found that they matched up perfectly with their inner halves.





After 33 years I triumph!

50 mins of relaxing building got me this far.



The ammo store is not a great fit and will need a touch of filler. The hatch doesn't fit into the copula without a bit of trimming but generally everything fits where it's meant to.

Great tip about the wheels. I remember someone mentioning it re the Churchill tank, may just have to see if it works for every tank kit.
(Don't hold your breath though.)

Nigel

JamesPerrin wrote: The ammo store is not a great fit and will need a touch of filler. The hatch doesn't fit into the copula without a bit of trimming but generally everything fits where it's meant to.

Looking at pictures I now see that the ammo store is separated from the turret. One less job to do!

Clashcityrocker wrote:Great tip about the wheels. I remember someone mentioning it re the Churchill tank,

Yeah that's the one I saw.

A lovely kit, still have the one I built 30 years ago

Can't wait to see what you do with this James.

jssel wrote:Can't wait to see what you do with this James.

I won't spoil it for you Jeff but it will involve paint

Despite me making sure the hull was nicely aligned they appears to be a gap along the front edge of the upper and lower hull join. I therefore added a shim of card and trapped it between the two and then trimmed it back once dry. I have a box of little bits of card off cuts on my desk so there is always something of appropriate thickness to hand. I added the return rollers as I reckon I can airbrush around those. The end of the gun was drilled out which makes a hell of difference to the look of the thing.

I always knew this would be a late finisher but I rather not be this close! Progress has been slow and steady.

It got coat of RAL 8020 braun, which is basically a sandy colour care of Hu 94 with some pink added, this helpful link recommend Hu61 flesh but I've not had any of that for many years. In fact as I had no other foreseeable use for Hu 94 I added the pink to the tin.

The instructions suggest a very fine crazy paving like camo using what looked like dark earth, I though that would be a bit too much of a challenge in 1/76 and was inspired by this later Panzer IV. Pinwash and dry brushing. Then after settling the decals with Klear, I gave it a coat of Xtracrylic Matt Varnish with some pale sandy acrylic mixed into it in a attempt to give it a dusty finish. Final weathering down with a soft pencil.

The 'orrible very soft vinyl tracks where given a wash of sand colour as well as the matt dusting in an effort so portray sand in them rather than on them. The base was painted with Citadel acrylics and came out a bit more cartoony than the tank which I'm pretty pleased with.

You have made a cracking job on that James. The base looks great, I have a few afv's but weathering them puts me off starting them.

Great looking piece of armor

Nice work James I like the base the scull sets it off nicely.

Regards Splash

Suddenly I'm in the mood to build some armor..... Now i need to figure out what to build

Gee James that is really nice work.

That looks great, James, you have really captured the essence of the model when it was first released including the same clever use of the lens that Matchbox employed in the catalogue that makes it look a lot bigger then it actually is...