I love the British armour !!!
These beasts are ugly, full of angles, and strange, because these characteristics, attractive!
My victim:
A13 Cruiser Mk III - Bronco - 1/35
Well, first of all, the presentation of the main character, the protagonist of our story:
The Cruiser Mk III (A13) was the first British cruiser tank to use the Christie suspension system which gave higher speeds and better cross-country performance, previous models of cruiser tanks having used triple wheeled bogie suspension, like its predecessor, the A9 Cruiser:
The Mk III began production in 1936. He weighed 14 long tons (14,200 kg) had a crew of 4, a Nuffield Liberty V12 petrol engine with 340 hp which gave a top speed of 30 mph (48 km/h) and was armed with a 2 pounder gun and a .303 Vickers machine gun. However, when it was introduced into service in 1937, the Army still lacked a formal tank division.
Sixty five were built, the original order being for 50. The order was completed by mid 1939.
Like most British cruisers, the A 13 was very fast but under-armoured. Most were lost in the French Campaign in 1940. The basic design was used for the Cruiser Mk IV.
The photo below is classic. Shows an A13 Cruiser Mk III the 1st Armoured Division abandoned by its crew, close to Dunkirk:
Specs:
Weight: 14.2 tonnes
Length: 6 m
Width: 2.5 m
Height: 2.6 m
Crew: 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)
Armour: 6 - 14 mm
Primary armament : QF 2-pounder gun (87 rounds)
Secondary armament: .303 Vickers machine gun (3,750 rounds)
Engine: Nuffield Liberty V12 petrol (340 hp)
Suspension: Christie
Operational range: 90 miles
Speed: 30 mph
Well, enough of History and go to the construction of the kit...
The box is large and made of a cardboard a little thin for my taste. Presents a fine illustration of a Mk III in combat. Pity that the figure of the Commander is not included:
The content:trees of parts packed in individual term-sealed bags:
The low hull: one fine piece...
Vinyl tracks:
Some commented that the tracks are short!
A little test ...
Uops... :o :o
As Scarlett O'Hara said:
"Tomorrow. I think about this ..."
Continuing with the presentation of parts...
Nuts butterfly style:
Transparency:
Photo-etcheds. Involved in a double plastic film and very, very thin:
Upper-hull:
Close-up:
Turret parts:
Mantlet in close-up:
Suspension parts:
... and the rest:
The instructions booklet:
and a nice decal sheet:
......
Gents, start your engines !!!
The fun starts by the suspension:
The plastic is soft and good to work:
But the booklet is awful !!!! Confusing instructions out of order ...
Definitely, not a kit for beginners ...
Aligning the armor of the suspension. The arrows point to tractor wheel parts which must be below to the alignment of the rest of the armor:
The upper-hull. See the white marks in the plastic, due to warping of the upper-hull:
Done:
Rear parts:
Reinforcing gaps:
and;
Using PE´s:
Tractor wheels:
Driver´s place:
Exhaust pipes..Very fine!
Gluing and align the main wheels:
Here, a little trick:
Back the holes of support of the idler-wheel in 2 mm, to try to improve the problem of small track ... It is a great news that Bronco finally launched the LBL tracks in the market to solve this problem ...
On your feet!
Dry-run with the tracks:
Too tense...deforming the wheel and the track:
I will try to use the technique of boiling water to fix it! !!!!
A little good after-market: The gun is good, but metal is better...
With the turret:
There this...for now!!!
Stay connected and suggestions for painting and finishing are welcome !
Regards, from Brazil !!
