Italeri are to release an all new tooled L6/40 Carro Armato and a 1/35 Crusader III AA Mk.1




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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Here's a pic of the Crusader III AA Mk.1

Hey Pat,
Always wanted to build a Crusader Mk. I AA, it's been a while waiting for Italeri to expand further upon their Crusader series.
I've had a copy of Airfix's Classics AFV No.1 for a few years now.
It has a plan view for a scratchbuild of the Mk. I and this just eliminates the need to kitbash.
The L6/40 looks great too, a welcome addition to anyone interested in Italian North African AFV's.
Cheers

jjumbo

The L6/40 definitely looks cool. They were used in the USSR, Balkans, Italy and Africa so there are plenty of options. With the interior included they are already more than halfway there for a semovente 47/32.

bellisimo!

Whoo Hoo!! I've been waiting for that L6/40! Got a couple of ideas for it already. One in the Balkins/Greece & one in Russia. Now I just need time, money, & figures.

But what's with the blue?

Jim

Hi Guys,

Does anyone know if this version of the Crusader III AA MK I saw service in Europe? I've heard that only the one with the one with the single gun shield did???

Thanks

Al

Hey Al,
Haven't seen or read anywhere that the Crusader III Mk. I was ever used in Europe.
There's very little in the way of information on the www., not even numbers produced.
I've only seen the couple of "posed" or demonstration photos of the Mk.I, none of any vehicles in combat units.
The only combat photos of Crusader AA tanks that I've seen are of the Mk. III and triple 20mm Oerlikon vehicles prior to D-Day and some in Normandy.
It's a good bet that the Mk. I's were only used for training or by units stationed in the U.K.
Hope you have better luck in finding more info, I really like the looks of this vehicle and plan on getting one for my stash.
Cheers

jjumbo

Hi Al and John

The Bofors-armed version of the Crusader AA tank definitely made its way to Normandy - though these were the versions without turret armour. There are several shots of them on the A27 travelling down to Gosport in David Fletcher's first book on British armour for Concord and also at least one photo of one landing in Normandy. They were used IIRC at corps level.

David

Bottom of the page here - last photo is one of the ones shot on the A27

http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2598&perpage=40&pagenumber=1

David

Hi David,

Thanks, very useful like.

Al

I have added a couople of photos of the L6 courtesy of Saul Garcia.

Hi Pat,

Thanks for the update. Although I didn't comment on the L6/40 it looks pretty good too.

Al

for anyone interrested, I'm currently building one on
http://benelux.kitmaker.net/forums/130954&page=1

greetz

Nice build. However, I cannot read the language on that other site that the in progress pictures are on...sigh.

I just bought the kit and am disappointed, taking the high price into consideration, that there are no crew figures, no engine compartment detail, very poor quality headlight lenses. Missing ammo racks (shown in the accompanying manual) and other details.

I see that there are a whole bunch of ejector pin marks in the model's hull floor to address too. I think that the PE parts, by and large, don't add a lot more detail to the kit and in most cases should have been molded in or done in styrene...exception being the muffler shield. The hatch hinges are flat and 2 dimensional. I wonder if they were not more 3 dimensional on the actual tank?

Don't get me wrong. I am not trashing this kit with my comments. I think it is great...as far as it goes. Just that it could have been better in some respects. Especially at the near 60 buck price. Which I think is too high for this kit.

Ray