Alan McNeilly provides an In-Box Review of the ARK MK I Conversion Set, a new release by Resicast for the AFV Club Churchill Mk III.
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REVIEW
Resicast Churchill ARK Mk Ic5flies
California, United States
Joined: October 21, 2007
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Posted: Monday, March 02, 2009 - 04:29 PM UTC
C_JACQUEMONT
Loire-Atlantique, France
Joined: October 09, 2004
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Posted: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 07:48 AM UTC
Great review, thanks!
I've got some doubts about this excerpt though :
I asked Resicast at Trucks & Tracks 2009 last week if some of the ARKs depicted by this conversion could have used the later style of tracks (included in the AFV Club kit) and they said no...
Cheers,
Christophe
I've got some doubts about this excerpt though :
Quoted Text
Modellers interested in the set may also want to note kit no 35.2311 which provides Churchill early pattern tracks often seen on these vehicles.
I asked Resicast at Trucks & Tracks 2009 last week if some of the ARKs depicted by this conversion could have used the later style of tracks (included in the AFV Club kit) and they said no...
Cheers,
Christophe
Posted: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 08:13 AM UTC
Hi Christopher,
You're welcome, it looks like a great conversion.
Not sure I follow your gist. The tracks I mentioned are the early style tracks that you see on these vehicles.
Quote
"I asked Resicast at Trucks & Tracks 2009 last week if some of the ARKs depicted by this conversion could have used the later style of tracks (included in the AFV Club kit) and they said no..."
Unquote
?? - sorry I have no idea what you mean unless it is that if you want to do this conversion you need to use the early style tracks I mentioned, or similar sets.
I don't have reference for every ARK made so I can't say that absolutely no vehicles had a set of later tracks, as with any build your reference pics will be you guide.
You kinda lost me here.
Al
You're welcome, it looks like a great conversion.
Not sure I follow your gist. The tracks I mentioned are the early style tracks that you see on these vehicles.
Quote
"I asked Resicast at Trucks & Tracks 2009 last week if some of the ARKs depicted by this conversion could have used the later style of tracks (included in the AFV Club kit) and they said no..."
Unquote
?? - sorry I have no idea what you mean unless it is that if you want to do this conversion you need to use the early style tracks I mentioned, or similar sets.
I don't have reference for every ARK made so I can't say that absolutely no vehicles had a set of later tracks, as with any build your reference pics will be you guide.
You kinda lost me here.
Al
Removed by original poster on 03/03/09 - 20:17:36 (GMT).
Posted: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 08:19 AM UTC
Try again,
This is the link to the early style tracks review.
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/3899
You see these both on the Gun Tanks and The Engineering vehicles.
Al
This is the link to the early style tracks review.
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/3899
You see these both on the Gun Tanks and The Engineering vehicles.
Al
C_JACQUEMONT
Loire-Atlantique, France
Joined: October 09, 2004
KitMaker: 2,433 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 07:04 PM UTC
I meant your sentence could be read as if late tracks could be used as well ("often" doesn't mean "always" in my book).
Cheers,
Christophe
Cheers,
Christophe
Posted: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 05:29 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I meant your sentence could be read as if late tracks could be used as well ("often" doesn't mean "always" in my book).
Cheers,
Christophe
Ah well, I don't have definative proof that later tracks were never used. Do you? If so please share.
It's a bit like saying no M4 Sherman DV Mk Is were used by the British in Normandy, which actually turned out not to be the case or that saying the Italeri large hatch M32 was never used when in fact it was.
Never Say Never Christopher and of course there is always modellers choice!
Al
C_JACQUEMONT
Loire-Atlantique, France
Joined: October 09, 2004
KitMaker: 2,433 posts
Armorama: 2,325 posts
Joined: October 09, 2004
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Posted: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 05:38 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Ah well, I don't have definative proof that later tracks were never used. Do you? If so please share.
It's a bit like saying no M4 Sherman DV Mk Is were used by the British in Normandy, which actually turned out not to be the case or that saying the Italeri large hatch M32 was never used when in fact it was.
Never Say Never Christopher and of course there is always modellers choice!
Al
I just say your sentence is ambiguous and yes Resicast told me the late tracks were never used. I trust they know better than us mere mortals...
Cheers,
Christophe
Posted: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 06:18 AM UTC
We try to please most of the people most of the time but can't please all the people all the time.
So if it helps. All the picstures I have seen of this vehicle have shown the use of the Early Style Churchill Tracks as can be seen in the review link above. For this reason I specifically mentioned them in the Review of the ARK Mk I, but as always you should check your references, personally I don't have definative proof that this was always the case.
I don't doubt what Graham told you in the least. However, I was told, by several very credible sources that M4 DVs were not used by the British in Normandy, All were later proved wrong.
So never say never!
Al
So if it helps. All the picstures I have seen of this vehicle have shown the use of the Early Style Churchill Tracks as can be seen in the review link above. For this reason I specifically mentioned them in the Review of the ARK Mk I, but as always you should check your references, personally I don't have definative proof that this was always the case.
I don't doubt what Graham told you in the least. However, I was told, by several very credible sources that M4 DVs were not used by the British in Normandy, All were later proved wrong.
So never say never!
Al
Posted: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 07:30 AM UTC
Hi Guys,
What's you opinion of the tracks on this ARK, early or late?
Al
What's you opinion of the tracks on this ARK, early or late?
Al
paulchatfield
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: May 27, 2008
KitMaker: 144 posts
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Joined: May 27, 2008
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Posted: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 07:56 AM UTC
Great to see this one released, i can wait to get my hands on one. If it's anything like as good as the new Mk IV AVRE conversion, which I'm about half way through, it'll be another gem.
Thanks for the detailed description Al, only made me all the more eager.
Cheers
paul
Thanks for the detailed description Al, only made me all the more eager.
Cheers
paul
Posted: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 09:15 AM UTC
Hi Paul,
I'm looking forwrad to doing both another AVRE Mk IV and the ARK. The AFV AVRE when it comes I will build as a Mk III, which will make a neat contrast, but I have the Churchill doner kit for these two so all I need mow is more build time.
Any thoughts on the pic? It looks to me like those might be late pattern tracks which would be unusual but my eyes aren't what they used to be .
Al
I'm looking forwrad to doing both another AVRE Mk IV and the ARK. The AFV AVRE when it comes I will build as a Mk III, which will make a neat contrast, but I have the Churchill doner kit for these two so all I need mow is more build time.
Any thoughts on the pic? It looks to me like those might be late pattern tracks which would be unusual but my eyes aren't what they used to be .
Al
paulchatfield
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: May 27, 2008
KitMaker: 144 posts
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Joined: May 27, 2008
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Posted: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 10:03 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Any thoughts on the pic? It looks to me like those might be late pattern tracks which would be unusual but my eyes aren't what they used to be .
Al
Hi Al I have a slighly larger version of that picture, and to me the ends of the track links look like the later type also here's the pic
I'm not sure of differences between MkI and later ARKs, or if you meant only MkIs had early tracks, but i also have this picture, which i believe maybe a later model. I reckon this one has late tracks too.
cheers
Paul
Posted: Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 04:00 AM UTC
Hi Paul,
Thanks for the better pics, yes I'd agree these are sporting the later style tracks.
The majority of the pics I'd seen showed the early style so it is probaly fair to say they were more common or at least though to be, but I didn't say they were only used on the early Mk Is as you see this style of tracks on gun tanks and other vehicles too, including the AVRE's whether Mk IIIs or MK IVs, so they will be a useful set.
It was Christopher who said my reference to them:
( Modellers interested in the set may also want to note kit no 35.2311 which provides Churchill early pattern tracks often seen on these vehicles.)
was ambiguous which as you can see it wasn't.
The picture I posted was taken in Italy, lots of rivers there There are some good pics of them on IWM.
Lots of good things in the pipe line form Resicast, it's going to be a very interesting year for Mr Churchill.
Al
Thanks for the better pics, yes I'd agree these are sporting the later style tracks.
The majority of the pics I'd seen showed the early style so it is probaly fair to say they were more common or at least though to be, but I didn't say they were only used on the early Mk Is as you see this style of tracks on gun tanks and other vehicles too, including the AVRE's whether Mk IIIs or MK IVs, so they will be a useful set.
It was Christopher who said my reference to them:
( Modellers interested in the set may also want to note kit no 35.2311 which provides Churchill early pattern tracks often seen on these vehicles.)
was ambiguous which as you can see it wasn't.
The picture I posted was taken in Italy, lots of rivers there There are some good pics of them on IWM.
Lots of good things in the pipe line form Resicast, it's going to be a very interesting year for Mr Churchill.
Al
paulchatfield
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: May 27, 2008
KitMaker: 144 posts
Armorama: 136 posts
Joined: May 27, 2008
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Armorama: 136 posts
Posted: Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 10:09 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Lots of good things in the pipe line form Resicast, it's going to be a very interesting year for Mr Churchill.
Al
Hi Al
Yes should be a bumper year for Churchill fans, (I'm a new convert having been beguiled by the working Churchill at Tankfest 2008) i understand Graham is retooling the SBG among other things. This is great news especially after seeing the fabulous movie footage on ML earlier this week. I'm planning to build the ARK conversion for SMMI and have already started an AVRE Mk IV with the drop in engine set (also resicast). I'm still waiting on the AFV Club Mk III AVRE, so started this one in the mean time
Paul
Posted: Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 06:09 PM UTC
Hi Paul,
Yip, the test footage was great. Without giving the game away completely lots of watery things in the pipeline, some with wheels!!
Another reference pic
The new engine will add a lot of dio possibilities, who knows we may even get a basic interior which would be great.
It will be a while before I get started on this one, other projects to complete first, but I'm really looking forward to it. The Mk III gun tank builds I've seen look great and there are lots of possible combinations with the tracks and fenders by the look of the kit so good fun ahead.
Cheers
Al
Yip, the test footage was great. Without giving the game away completely lots of watery things in the pipeline, some with wheels!!
Another reference pic
The new engine will add a lot of dio possibilities, who knows we may even get a basic interior which would be great.
It will be a while before I get started on this one, other projects to complete first, but I'm really looking forward to it. The Mk III gun tank builds I've seen look great and there are lots of possible combinations with the tracks and fenders by the look of the kit so good fun ahead.
Cheers
Al
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2009 - 07:18 AM UTC
Hi Paul,
Here's one being used as a Facine Carrier.
and another 'March of the ARKs'
Al
Here's one being used as a Facine Carrier.
and another 'March of the ARKs'
Al
paulchatfield
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: May 27, 2008
KitMaker: 144 posts
Armorama: 136 posts
Joined: May 27, 2008
KitMaker: 144 posts
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Posted: Friday, March 06, 2009 - 07:48 AM UTC
Thanks for the extra pics Al, I've got the one with the Sherman but the two bottom ones are new to me.
Posted: Friday, March 06, 2009 - 08:23 AM UTC
Hi Paul,
The ARKs used in Italy differed considerably to those used in NWE. They were produced locally by REME wksp and known as Churchill ARK Mk II (Italian Pattern).
The Picture of the one with the Facine is an ARK Mk I and the picture you showed, shows the ARK Mk II (UK Pattern) and has the widened trackway on the Left Hand Side to allow small vehicles to cross and the longer hinged ramps with the vertical king post fitted to the front towing eye bracket.
Both Churchill Mk III and IV were used as the base vehicle, Graham's kit therefore sits very firmly in the 79th Armoured Division arena.
This one is a well know picture:
Al
The ARKs used in Italy differed considerably to those used in NWE. They were produced locally by REME wksp and known as Churchill ARK Mk II (Italian Pattern).
The Picture of the one with the Facine is an ARK Mk I and the picture you showed, shows the ARK Mk II (UK Pattern) and has the widened trackway on the Left Hand Side to allow small vehicles to cross and the longer hinged ramps with the vertical king post fitted to the front towing eye bracket.
Both Churchill Mk III and IV were used as the base vehicle, Graham's kit therefore sits very firmly in the 79th Armoured Division arena.
This one is a well know picture:
Al
newfish
England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: June 23, 2008
KitMaker: 2,329 posts
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Posted: Friday, March 06, 2009 - 08:53 AM UTC
Alan superb review !
I wouldnt mind building one of these, i like the picture of three stacked up on top each other!
I wouldnt mind building one of these, i like the picture of three stacked up on top each other!
Posted: Saturday, March 07, 2009 - 03:32 AM UTC
Hi James,
there is a good dio of the 3 somewhere on site , it's a well know picture.
Another one for the list
Al
there is a good dio of the 3 somewhere on site , it's a well know picture.
Another one for the list
Al
Posted: Monday, March 09, 2009 - 06:46 AM UTC
A couple more
Al
Al
Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 02:36 AM UTC
Thanks James.
Al
Al
Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 05:03 AM UTC
Hi Paul,
Did you see the footage in here of the trials
http://www.limelighthd.tv/WorldWarII/
These reels are a real gem.
Al
Did you see the footage in here of the trials
http://www.limelighthd.tv/WorldWarII/
These reels are a real gem.
Al