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Tamiya Matilda Mk. III/IV great
jjumbo
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: August 27, 2006
KitMaker: 2,012 posts
Armorama: 1,949 posts
Posted: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 07:59 PM UTC
Just picked up the new Tamiya Matilda Mk. III/IV today.
Upon opening the box, everything looks very promising !!!
Definitely some other versions are in the planning.
You get 2 variations of the 2pdr cannon, one with a stepped barrel and large muzzle cap.
What appears to be 3" CS howitzer is also included so a Close Support version may be in the works.
Unlike the original 1970's Matilda, there's no gun mantlet with the Vickers water cooled casting included.
The detail compared to the old Matilda is amazing, the nose casting is all one piece so no seams to fill and re-texture.
There's indications of a version with turret ring armour and a low rise cupola is included but not mentioned in the instructions.
The set comes with link and length tracks along with glueable "rubber-band" tracks, both types look very useable.
A nice coloured pamphlet courtesy of the Jacques Littlefield and Bovington Tank Museum Collections is included.
Where's my glue ????
Cheers

jjumbo
jjumbo
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: August 27, 2006
KitMaker: 2,012 posts
Armorama: 1,949 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 15, 2009 - 02:43 PM UTC
100 of you peeked and no one's commented ?
Has anyone else picked up this kit?
Cheers

jjumbo
metooshelah
#011
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Jerusalem, Israel
Joined: February 06, 2009
KitMaker: 1,507 posts
Armorama: 1,304 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 15, 2009 - 11:57 PM UTC
yep, I have it too
It's a great kit indeed. It's just a shame they only added cotton rope instead of metal wire.
DT61
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: September 18, 2005
KitMaker: 1,226 posts
Armorama: 819 posts
Posted: Friday, October 16, 2009 - 12:16 AM UTC
John

I've seen a number builds of this kit and it looks sweet!
I've asked Mrs Claus (swmbo) to add it to her list
Darryl
jjumbo
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: August 27, 2006
KitMaker: 2,012 posts
Armorama: 1,949 posts
Posted: Friday, October 16, 2009 - 02:40 AM UTC

Quoted Text

yep, I have it too
It's a great kit indeed. It's just a shame they only added cotton rope instead of metal wire.



Hey Matan,
Not a deal breaker, always replaceable.


Quoted Text

I've seen a number builds of this kit and it looks sweet!
I've asked Mrs Claus (swmbo) to add it to her list.l



Hey Darryl,
I actually grabbed two as the price at my LHS, $53.75 CDN including taxes, was too good to pass on.
Definitely looking forward to some variants, maybe an Aussie Frog or Hedgehog.

Cheers guys !!!

jjumbo
AikinutNY
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Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 21, 2003
KitMaker: 683 posts
Armorama: 630 posts
Posted: Friday, October 16, 2009 - 05:13 AM UTC
I am thinking about getting it in case I want to do one of the mine flail versions
jjumbo
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: August 27, 2006
KitMaker: 2,012 posts
Armorama: 1,949 posts
Posted: Friday, October 16, 2009 - 07:09 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I am thinking about getting it in case I want to do one of the mine flail versions



Hey Jim,
A Scorpion mine flail would be cool, I could see someone doing a resin update for that.
I imagine someone will do a Canal Defense Light variant too.
That's the beauty of a new kit, all the possible conversion variants that could result.
Cheers

jjumbo
bill_c
Staff MemberCampaigns Administrator
MODEL SHIPWRIGHTS
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
Armorama: 8,109 posts
Posted: Friday, October 16, 2009 - 07:21 AM UTC
There is a review of the kit in the editing process right now.
jjumbo
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: August 27, 2006
KitMaker: 2,012 posts
Armorama: 1,949 posts
Posted: Friday, October 16, 2009 - 03:27 PM UTC

Quoted Text

There is a review of the kit in the editing process right now.



Thanks Bill,
That's a review that I'll thoroughly read.
Cheers

jjumbo
cpt_Hobo
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England - North, United Kingdom
Joined: August 28, 2009
KitMaker: 33 posts
Armorama: 32 posts
Posted: Friday, October 16, 2009 - 07:15 PM UTC
Very nice glad there wasnt just the ruber tracks???? belive theres some after market tracks now? cant remember who by maybe bronco???
AlanL
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: August 12, 2005
KitMaker: 14,499 posts
Armorama: 11,675 posts
Posted: Friday, October 16, 2009 - 07:33 PM UTC
Hi John,

Are we going to see the build? Look forward to it.

Al

jjumbo
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: August 27, 2006
KitMaker: 2,012 posts
Armorama: 1,949 posts
Posted: Friday, October 16, 2009 - 10:29 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Very nice glad there wasnt just the ruber tracks???? belive theres some after market tracks now? cant remember who by maybe bronco???



Hey Phil,
Bronco's supposed to be releasing 2 versions of the Matilda's tracks, spudded and smooth: Bronco News

Quoted Text

Are we going to see the build? Look forward to it.



Hey Al,
Will do, if I can get my da*n camera to work and figure out how to post the pictures !!
Cheers

jjumbo
Grizzly
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Arizona, United States
Joined: November 17, 2002
KitMaker: 347 posts
Armorama: 223 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 17, 2009 - 05:47 PM UTC
I just got this kit myself, was a fan of Tamiya's older offering but this one is really nice! but I am not digging the color or marking options given this kit so am looking around for info for something different, maybe an Australian or something.
Kenaicop
#384
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Nevada, United States
Joined: August 23, 2005
KitMaker: 1,426 posts
Armorama: 1,316 posts
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009 - 09:20 AM UTC
it is a great kit, got it, fondled it, waiting to clear the bench so I can give it my full attention. Looks like a dream to build. I tend to build Tamiya kits to relax, strait from the box with no bells or whistles.
Gunner-steve
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Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Joined: October 20, 2009
KitMaker: 60 posts
Armorama: 56 posts
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009 - 01:08 PM UTC
I bought one last week. Waiting for the Firestorm Conversion kit to arrive before embarking on a 3" CS version from the PNG/ Bougainville campaigns. It looks like a great little kit.
Belt_Fed
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: February 02, 2008
KitMaker: 1,388 posts
Armorama: 1,325 posts
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009 - 01:22 PM UTC
The hard edge camo scheme is the only thing keeping me away from this kit. I'm the king of stupid reasons
Henk
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: August 07, 2004
KitMaker: 6,391 posts
Armorama: 4,258 posts
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009 - 02:00 PM UTC
Oddly enough, my LHS had both the original 70's kit, and the new one on the shelf a while ago. Although to be fair, a direct comparision is not possible, because they are differnt Mk's. Still, the new one looks the better kit, but at a price.

Dangeroo
#023
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Zurich, Switzerland
Joined: March 13, 2009
KitMaker: 2,058 posts
Armorama: 1,656 posts
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009 - 07:16 PM UTC
I got one of those beaties 4 days ago, it is a wonderful kit. The price was OK for such a new kit at 50 francs (which at current rates is 50$...). Compared to Dragon kits which sell at 75 francs (for the M4A3E8 I bought as well).

Looking forward to some progress pics!

Cheerio!
Lateral-G
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United States
Joined: November 25, 2007
KitMaker: 96 posts
Armorama: 89 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 23, 2010 - 11:03 AM UTC
I'm building one right now and hope to have progress pics soon.

This is a very nice kit.....as if you guys probably already didn't know that.

Jeff
aussiemodeler
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: May 23, 2007
KitMaker: 266 posts
Armorama: 212 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 - 10:46 AM UTC
i have four, silly me after i opened the box to realise that an Aussie/Russian kit is likely in the pipeline!!!!! oh well .....
isitwindyyet
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: January 13, 2007
KitMaker: 8 posts
Armorama: 6 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 - 02:35 PM UTC
Yep a nice kit, just picked it up on the weekend.

Ron
kriegsketten
Vendor
ECHELON
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Singapore / 新加坡
Joined: November 12, 2007
KitMaker: 283 posts
Armorama: 177 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 - 09:13 PM UTC
Just want to add that Bronco's tracks are a must have if you want to improve on the kit's (not that they are not good). The detail definition on Bronco's workables are really sharp. Due to the way they are molded and assembled the guild tooths are hollowed - looks really nice on the suspension as well as spares! I received my set a day ago, started work today and both runs (except for the final last pieces where you finalised the attachments permanently) took approximately 1 and a half hour to complete! The gluing bit wasn't tricky at all, just don't slap all the areas with glue - a few strategic points, place the guide horns on and the high viscosity properties of the glue (I use Tamiya's green cap bottle) will make sure the parts stays well glued without affecting the other links. For a tightly wound track (no sagging), use 70 links per side instead of the 71 as recommended. And it fitted around the kit's sprockets like a glove (just like PMMS stated)! I'll get more sets when I build more Tamiya Matilda the next time! Highly recommended upgrade!
jjumbo
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: August 27, 2006
KitMaker: 2,012 posts
Armorama: 1,949 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 - 10:14 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Just want to add that Bronco's tracks are a must have if you want to improve on the kit's (not that they are not good). The detail definition on Bronco's workables are really sharp. Due to the way they are molded and assembled the guild tooths are hollowed - looks really nice on the suspension as well as spares! I received my set a day ago, started work today and both runs (except for the final last pieces where you finalised the attachments permanently) took approximately 1 and a half hour to complete! The gluing bit wasn't tricky at all, just don't slap all the areas with glue - a few strategic points, place the guide horns on and the high viscosity properties of the glue (I use Tamiya's green cap bottle) will make sure the parts stays well glued without affecting the other links. For a tightly wound track (no sagging), use 70 links per side instead of the 71 as recommended. And it fitted around the kit's sprockets like a glove (just like PMMS stated)! I'll get more sets when I build more Tamiya Matilda the next time! Highly recommended upgrade!



Hey Lawrence,
I picked up the two types of tracks from Bronco.
Haven't had a chance to build them up yet but found the details excellent, nice casting numbers on one of the sets.
Glad to hear that they fit so well.
Cheers

jjumbo
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