Here is a nicely documented build of a Churchill AVRE.
Alan does a good job on all the details.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Hi
Nice build but a need to point something out.
No stay for exhaust between pipes, no support for stay, no rings on trunking ties, and no corner supports on air intakes.
This is something i just been researching on Friday. Which you might have noted from a previous disscussion regarding afv club.
The spare bodies wheels on the rear deck was only bolted there by 26 assault Squadron

Nice build but most tanks dumped the trunking buy the time they hit the beach. If you are doing them as fitted you also have to do the turret cover, air vent cover on hull and hull mg cover.

Other then that a very nice build Ossie

Hi Ossie,

Thanks for the comments, always room for improvement. I built this one about 18 months ago based on best advice at the time.

Am I right in thinking 2F was your Dads tank? The extra boggies suit the build though.

The exhaust stay is an easy addition have you got an example of "no rings on trunking ties, and no corner supports on air intakes" - that would be useful.

This is a neat picture:



There will be a lot more interest in this one now AFV have come out with their kit.

Would these not have been removed immediately on landing "turret cover, air vent cover on hull and hull mg cover" - again any reference pics would help. I had added a cover for the hull MG!!

Thanks again, I do love this vehicle.

Al

hi alan

yes 2F LIFEGUARD 82 assault squadron yes was my farthers. But no boggies attached to track guards. the tank museum have a book and its shows alot of refrenaces to mk7 but the mk4 picture is fascinating and opened my eyes .
looks like a crusader AA gun
ossie

Hi Ossie,

Your Dad landed on Nan Red then in support of the Canadians and 48 RM Commando, at least if my info is correct.

Thanks for the tank name I shall add it.

Yes, it's a good pic, and you're right that's a Crusader AA with the 40mm without the shield.

I imagine they ditched the stacks at the earliest opportunity, once the beach area was reasonable clear.

Cheers

Al

Hi Guys,

Just a couple of things to note:

I used the older Resicast Set for this conversion set 531170 which if now discontinued as are the wading trunks 352209. These were both designed for the Tamiya kit.

If you looking for the older set Historex still have it listed in the OOP items.

Both sets were re-tooled with the arrival of the new AFV Club Churchill and the correct D Day exhausts and spare boggies are now included in these sets.

I review both new sets here on Armorama:

AVRE Mk IV Turret:
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/3896

Deep Wading Trunks:
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/4033

Also if you are looking for early pattern tracks these are available too:

Churchill Early Tracks
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/3899

Having released the AVRE Mk III it will be interesting to see if AFV Club follow it up with a Mk IV version. We are living in interesting times.

Al

Hi Alan. Another nice build.
Its always the case that new details crop up when you´ve finished a project, but its still a great model. The stowage, figure and decals add nice contrast to the dark green. Will you attempt the AFV Club version now?

Hi Frank,

The new info is good so I can add/amend as necessary. This one was a major challenge at the time I undertook it, so a very good learning experience.

Yip, I have the new Mk III and another conversion set for a Mk IV Also coming out is the Frame for a Facine version so yes, I'll be doing a few more of these vehicles.

Ossie's premis that the wading stacks got dropped straight away, isn't necessarily correct as the picture above shows. There are pics of them on the beach with the stacks removed, but I assume that enemy activitity played a big part in when they got dropped off, the priority would be clearing the weapons for action.

When we look at a picture it's easy to forget that the actions took place over many hours and whilst pictures often give a date they rarely tell the time, so the mix I felt was OK.

Thanks for looking in and the comments, appreciated. Lots more fun with Mr Churchill to come.

Al

Another nice build Alan.

Thank you Jeff.

Al

Hi Ossie,

Thanks for the information. I was checking the instructions on the new wading set for the AFV Club kit and they conform to the data you sent. I see what you mean now about the little angles at the top of the stacks and the stay configuration on the side stacks. Should be able to fix that up with a little patience.

Thanks again for the info.

Al

Hi Al
Great work, it reminds me i must finish my AFV club Churchill with the Mk Iv AVRE conversion.
Your's looks fantastic and will inspire me onwards. Thanks also for the combat picture so much to take in, in that shot , very atmospheric.

Cheers

paul

alan
your welcome any time ossie

Hi Paul,

Many thanks, enjoy the build, I'll look forward to it. I'm going to wait a while before I start the next one and see what else might come out. I'd really like to do one with an interior. I have the engine for the AFV kit, so possibilities there.

It's brillient to see the new choices coming out from AFV Club.

Gotya Ossie.

Thanks guys.

Al