Hi all.
I've started to build Italeri's Crusader III AA in Polish painting. It will be only OOTB.






It's little strange model. It has detailed suspension, but after assembling it will be not much visible. And when I install wheels, there will be completely nothing to see. On the other hand, in some more visible places there is lack of rivets.

Tomek,

Wait until you get onto the guns, fitting the magazines is a nightmare. I've done mine and I still think they are in the wrong place. I have a feeling that a tarp over the cew compartment will be in order.

Cheers

Craig

Thanks for warning Craig.

And my work goes on.
I have used Tamiya Surface Primer.


But more important is that I have painted all wheels already.

I can confirm that guns are nightmare and I'm not sure if put them right, too.

This time I want to show you test fit of the turret parts.




Primed.


And of course I don't know how to fix this ammo drums to guns.
Maybe someone of you have pictures or drawings of turret interior to help me?

Hi,

after priming the interior of the turret with Automotive primer I used Humbrol White ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE , Mr. Muscle is comming out this afternoon and back to plastic (oh and a bad cough for an hour or two)

I think that I'll have to dry brush white, black wash then dry brush silver (or is there something wrong with Humbrol Matt 34?

Craig

Finding photos of the interior of the turret is something of a challenge, even the Armor Photogallery book doesn't have them.

You may be able to get some idea from the pics of the Accurate Armour conversion here

http://www.accurate-armour.com/ShowProduct.cfm?manufacturer=0&category=5&subcategory=38&product=95

though note the guns are staggered, as shown in pic 42 in this build article

http://www.militarymodelling.com/news/article.asp?UAN=246&v=3&sp=



David

Thank you very much for your interest and help.

And now I put off turret for a while and I have painted hull sides in Olive Drab.

My build slowly moves on. Hull is more or less completed.






And how do you think - should I fill this hole in back wall of tower or should I leave it as is?

Hi Tomek

I'd fill the hole in as the plate on the outside is bolted over a larger hole than that. Then wedge a back-pack down behind the commander's seat to make sure no-one can see anything

How have you got on sorting out the guns?, I've now got one of the AA tanks and am wondering how to deal with the problem.

And I've also found a photograph of the Polish tank on the markings sheet and the few markings visible in the photo seem to match the model. The same photo also shows where the shovel goes, which is lucky as I was wondering why the Saumur tank had extra tool clamps on the left sie rear bin.

David

Hi there

This looks promising, and a nice neat build so far.

For a minute I thought you had put the decals straight onto the plastic without paint. How strange I said, but then realised it was just a really tidy paint job. Good work, one question though.....

How did you get the rear decals to go over the bolt heads so nicely? I thought they would have creased around the bump.

Thanks

Stuart

Thank you for your answer David.



Splendid idea. Fortunately I have spare rucksack and by your leave I avail your conception. :-)
As for the guns I trying different settings and finally I've ended with drums fixed like this:




In Google I've found photos and plans of ordinary 20 mm Oerlikons. But when I placed ammo drums just like in drawings, guns don't elevate fully.



I have picture of vehicle from Italeri's decals. Do you maybe have the same or different?


From Militaria XX wieku magazine



Thank you Stuart and I'm very happy that you like my build.



It's service of Gunze Mr. Mark Setter and Mr. Mark Softer fluids for decals. And I must say, that they works great.

Hi Tomek

That's the picture I have, I think it was taken in Breda, Holland. You can just make out the shovel below the number and white star.

The Eduard photoetch set for the Crusader AA tank has a stowage bin to put on the inside of the turret rear, where the hole is. You should be able to find the intructions via this link

http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=ED35867

As for the guns, Military Modelling has a new article on the tank, which still doesn't quite answer our question

http://www.militarymodelling.com/news/article.asp?UAN=369&v=3&sp=

I think Italeri have used a bit of imagination on the fitting of the guns, and I believe the bulge on the turret roof is to allow the guns to depress fully. But there should only be one, so they can't be mounted symmetrically. Still more puzzling to do.

David

Thanks for explanations and links David.
This article on Military Modelling looks very interesting. First time I see photos of the Crusader AA interior.

I wonder how Tamiya managed with guns on their new 1/48 model. There are 3 pictures of it on PMMS
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/tamiya.htm

And do you maybe know how long and in what color antennas should be?

Thanks Charlie.

Now I've started to weather the vehicle.

Aerials are easy

The A set aerial (on the centre line of the tank) should be about 35mm long (or 70mm, it came in sections) and the B set aerial (offset to the left) should be about 15mm long. Colour is probably the same as the exterior.

David

Once again thank you very much for your help David.

Your build is coming along quite nicely. I applaud you on the guns. They do look really good.

I can't wait to see the rest of this looking great model

Thanks for your comments guys.

Tracks are on their places now.

Time goes by so it's proper to finish this model at last.

Using Gunze fluids I've laid down decals on the turret.



Then I've weathered inside the turret.





As always any comments are welcome.

Finally I have completed my Crusader, but unfortunately I don't have time to make pictures.
Without antennas it looks like here:



More photos soon.

Hi Tomek,

Really interesting thread and you've done an excellent job on the kit.
10/10

Excellent stuff, I've bookmarked this for future use.

Cheers

Al

Thank you very much for your kind words Alan.

Great work Tomek! I like the way you weathered your models.

I can see you had problems with turret top decal. I found it impossible to place it in troubleless and correct way.