Tankers !!!
This is my new project: a triple building on these early models of Churchils: two versions of the standard Churchill Mk II (2 pdr. gun in turret and MG Besa in the hull) and one Churchill Mk I reworked, adapted in Italy to carry two 3 inches howitzers (the original in the hull and another in the turret), with Pz III cupola to improve the vision range of the commander.
This is my new project: a triple building on these early models of Churchils: two versions of the standard Churchill Mk II (2 pdr. gun in turret and MG Besa in the hull) and one Churchill Mk I reworked, adapted in Italy to carry two 3 inches howitzers (the original in the hull and another in the turret), with Pz III cupola to improve the vision range of the commander.
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| Churchill Mk I with two howitzers and Pz III cupola. |
The Tank, Infantry, Mk IV (A22) was a heavy British infantry tank used in the Second World War, best known for its heavy armour, large longitudinal chassis with all-around tracks with multiple bogies, and its use as the basis of many specialist vehicles. It was one of the heaviest Allied tanks of the war. The origins of the design lay in the expectation that war in Europe might be fought under similar conditions to that of the First World War and emphasised ability to cross difficult ground. The Churchill was rushed into production in order to build up British defences against an possible German invasion and the first vehicles built had flaws that had to be overcome before the Churchill was accepted for wide use. After several Marks had been built a better armoured version - the Mark VII - entered service.
The Churchill was used by British and Commonwealth in North Africa, Italy and North-West Europe. In addition many were supplied to the USSR and used on the Eastern Front.
About development and versions of this tank, see the article in the Bunker, here.
I'll build these three girls:
- Churchill Mk I CS (reworked) - field adaptation: armed with two 3in. howitzers and Pz III commander cupola:
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Profile corrected with help of Chris Meddings (Inside the Armour) and Mike Starmer
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- Churchill Mk II (early version):
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| Profile corrected with help of Chris Meddings, from Inside the Armour |
- Churchill Mk II (reworked):
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| Profile corrected with help of Chris Meddings, from Inside the Armour |
Specs:
Churchill Infantry tank - (A22)
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Type
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Infantry tank
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Place of origin
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United Kingdom
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Service history
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In service
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1941–52 (British Empire)
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Used by
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Production history
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Designer
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Manufacturer
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Produced
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1941 to 1945
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No. built
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5,640 approx.
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Variants
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Specifications
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Weight
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Length
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7.44 m
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Width
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3.25 m
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Height
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2.49 m
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Crew
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5 or 6 (commander, gunner, loader/radio operator, driver, co-driver/hull gunner + AVRE engineer)
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Armour
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Main armament |
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Secondary armament |
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Engine
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Bedford 12-cylinder, 4 stroke, water-cooled, horizontally opposed, L-head petrol engine
350 hp (261 kW) @ 2,200 rpm
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Power/weight
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9.1 hp (6.7 kW) / tonne
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Transmission
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Merritt-Brown 4-speed constant-mesh epicyclic gearbox
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Suspension
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Coiled spring
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Operational range
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90 km
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Speed
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24 km/h
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Steering system
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Triple differential steering in gearbox
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The kits:
To do this project, I'll use 03 Churchills Mk III, from AFV and 03 resin conversion kits from IMA International Models Asia ltd. - Churchill Infantry Mk I/II conversion kit - (IMA ·000235)
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| Churchill Mk III AFV - a fantastic kit ... |
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| Conversion kit from IMA - old, but honest... |
The history of these huge machines are here, in my post about the Churchill Mk I. About the history of Mk I CS, see here, in this incredible page.(go to page three, for this particular vehicle...).
The kits:
Starting the job, by the book:
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| Mass production ... Starting by the suspensions ... |
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| Springs... |
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| 3 pairs of shoes ... |
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| Wheels !!! |
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| The sponsons are ready... |
Stop the presses!!!
While the building of the kit progresses, I continue with the research ...And I found this rare thing: See the pic below (from page 29 this David Doyle's incredible book): Penelope shows characteristics of early and reworked versions, mixed: a true hybrid:
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Notice in Mk II "Penelope":(discussion only)
early air intakes and tracks and enveloping fenders
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Very cool ... I redrew the profile, to facilitate the building: I'll build the PENELOPE.
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| Churchill Mk II - hybrid "PENELOPE" |
The girls are growing...
I replaced the resin barrel of the howitzer (slight buckling) by Plastruct tube. Much better.
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| Two howitzers barrels for BUSHMILLS... |
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| The 3 girls... |
The girls:
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| PENELOPE in close: notice the early air intakes and reworked fenders. Turret with RBModels metal barrel (2pdr.) and Besa MG (RBModels) in the hull. |
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| BACKER in close: notice the turret without stowage boxes. Exposed tracks. Turret with RBModels metal barrel (2pdr.) and Besa MG (RBModels) in the hull. |
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| BUSHMILLS in close: notice the turret with stowage boxes. Turret with Plastruct 3 inc. howitzer. Front armour in resin |
Well, Lads...new advances: I replaced the vinyl tracks (characteristics of the later models) for the early type, compatible with the Churchills Mk II:
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| AFV workable tracks: very good in details and building... 03 sets !! |
The Girls with shoes...
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| Penelope with complete fenders |
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| Backer with exposed tracks... |
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| Bushmills. Notice the comander cupola from an old Zvezda Pz III kit (from my spare parts box) |
Adding details in the turret and hull
I had an old conversion kit from Resicast in my closet: Wadding gear for the Backer
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| exhausts from Resicast |
As my conversion kit was incomplete (too old...), I had to make the risers in scratch ...
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| acupuncture needles and Plastruct for the risers... |
The three Girls almost ready for painting...
Primer Vallejo:
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| The girls primed... |
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| Lights and shadows with acrylics... |
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| Girls shining... |
I'm waiting the decals for BUSHMILLS (Inside the Armour). Not arrived yet ... I already have the markings of BACKER (Echelon) and the markings for PENELOPE, I'll do myself with my Laserjet Color.
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| Decals |
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| Background in white - front view |
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| Background in white - rear view |
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| AoS in position... |
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| Rear view... |
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| Colors... |
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| Penelope growing... |
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| Two girls ready for weathering... |
After the decals for BUSHMILLS (Inside the Armour) arrived , I finally finished the threefold project: More 03 Churchills to my collection.
PENELOPE: Churchill Mk II "hybrid" (air intakes early and enveloping fenders)
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| Churchill Mk II PENELOPE early reworked ( partially ) 148th Regiment Armoured Corps -33rd Armoured Brigade - 3rd (mixed) Division |
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| Churchill Mk II PENELOPE - right side |
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| Churchill Mk II PENELOPE - left side |
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| Churchill Mk II PENELOPE with Kojak |
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| Churchill Mk II PENELOPE 148th Regiment Armoured Corps 33rd Armoured Brigade - 3rd (mixed) Division |
BACKER: a reworked Mk II, with colors (Echelon Decals) and equipments of Operation Jubilee:
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| Churchill Mk II (reworked) BACKER with wading gear 14th Canadian Tank Regiment - B Squadron Dieppe, France - Operation Jubilee, 1942 |
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| Churchill Mk II (reworked) - left side |
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| Churchill Mk II (reworked) - right side |
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| Churchill Mk II (with Kojak |
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| Churchill Mk II (reworked) BACKER 14th Canadian Tank Regiment - B Squadron Dieppe, France - Operation Jubilee, 1942 |
...and finally:
BUSHMILLS: a Mk.I Close Support reworked with field modifications: she shows two 3 inch. howitzers and a commander cupola from a Panzer III. The decals are Inside the Armour:
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| Churchil Mk I CS BUSHMILLS (reworked and modified) 21th Army Tank Brigade - North Irish Horse regiment - B Squadron |
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| Churchil Mk I CS BUSHMILLS - left side |
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| Churchil Mk I CS BUSHMILLS - right side |
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| Churchil Mk I CS BUSHMILLS with Kojak, for size proportion |
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| Churchil Mk I CS BUSHMILLS (reworked and modified) 21th Army Tank Brigade - North Irish Horse regiment - B Squadron |
The 03 girls, togheter:
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| Churchills Mk I and II side by side... |
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| Irish, British and Canadian... |
Well, there this !!! Thanks for the patience to follow!!!
See you in my next postage...
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