Lancfan's Operation Granby Challenger DNF

[lancfan]

I will start with this MB boxing for the Challenger I. it will be finished in Operation Granby markings using the Star Decals Desert Storm 1 sheet.



David.

[lancfan]

Time to make a start, Here are the sprues having just been washed ready to begin.


David.

[JamesPerrin]

I hope your tracks are more compliant than mine were.

[splash]

Looking at your photos it's interesting to see your kit is in white, brown & green, I have just got my hands on one and its in dark green and brown plastic no third colour

Regards Splash

[lancfan]

Alan, this kit has a Matchbox catalogue number- PK178, I have a second challenger in the stash with a Revell box number- 40178 and that has just the same two colours as your kit.

David.

[splash]

That makes sense, mine is the 40178 version.

Regards Splash

[lancfan]

I began by assembling the basic lower hull and turret.


David.

[lancfan]

With the turret assembled there were a number of changes to make to have it represent an Operation Granby Challenger I, the internal radio had to be cut away from the RH side and the kit bustle also had to go.


The additions/changes to the turret were made from sprue, plastic card, Balsawood and Aber mesh.



With that done work continued on the lower hull.



David.

[Gregers]

Nice work David. I'll be following this build.

All the best

Greg

[ShaunW]

Another one of your excellent armour builds shaping up here David, great work so far.

[JamesPerrin]

Great work on the mods. You must have good references. I struggled to even find non mk 2 images online.

The suspension arms are fun to try and get evenly aligned.

[lancfan]

James, I started by looking at the decal instructions as the drawings are quite good, I then googled "Granby Challenger I Tank" this brought up a number of images of these vehicles but they also revealed the same problem I had with my Centurion Granby builds from last year- no two tanks seem to be alike and in the end I followed the decal drawings for layout and checked them against pictures to generally prove the presence and appearance of the various pieces of kit on other tanks.

David.

[lancfan]

I next painted the lower hull, turret, wheels and inside the bazooka plates.



The bazooka plates were then fitted to the hull which is now ready for modification to Operation Granby standard.


David.

[splash]

David it's your fault I have just had a run of two eBay wins.

First I won a job lot of Airfix Cromwell & Churchill plus the Revell Challenger for less than £5 each which I thought was a bargain, then I won a trumpeter 1/72 Op Granby Challenger 2. Both sets of kits are currently somewhere in our great British postal system.

So a simple request. please stop building your excellent British tanks, because my stash is big enough as it is without you making me buy more

[ShaunW]

I know what you mean Splash. Looking at builds like this can make a modeller want to go out and start building the Royal Armoured Corps in miniature!

Please stop inspiring us David. Think of our wallets and ever increasing stash mountains