I've been wanting to build this one for a long time. For some reason or other, this tank has caught me

anyway, here are the pics:

The box. you can see a link for AFV Club workable track set (that I have already cleaned and is waiting to be built):


just marking my way through instructions:


My method to attach the workable suspension: two rubber bands on the 2 running gear parts. NO glue for this stage. then, I make a small gap between the 2 running gear parts, add the spring and the boogie arm. rinse and repeat for all parts. then, I add glue in very small portion so it doesn't get into the suspension itself:





more running gear parts:


I again hold them with a rubber band (this time, to make sure the glue gets everything together as the springs make it a bit difficult):




I think that adding parts G1, G5 and T2 BEFORE adding B1 is more comfortable:




That's all for now, enjoy

Hi Matan,

Nice work so far, your ahead of me, I've only washed all the parts but almost ready to make a start on the Gun Tank vehsion.

The AVRE makes for a great looking model,

Cheers

Al

Great start Matan

Did you say you had the workable track link set? If so there are way more than enough links to replace those rubber 'spare tracks' in the kit if you want to

Looking forward to seeing this one develop

Chris

@ Alan: thanks for the nice comment. Every time I see your build update, I rash to have a look got the Churchill III in the stash, and the interior looks great.
@Chris: That great! I wasn't sure if the workable set has enough links. But now that I do, I'll swap 'em

getting it to look like a tank. got the hull built. I'm starting to really like AFV club kits.


Modeling the driver flap open just for fun:

Hi Matan,

Again nice progress. I've read that once you get the suspension units built the rest goes together with no major issues.

Keep up the good work, it was the AVRE that really started my interest in the Churchill as a vehicle.

Al

yep, once you tackle that one it all flows together. the rubber band thing made the suspension lots easier.

Nice work Matan, are you going for a normandy one with the low profile cuppola and air intakes without the armoured covers, or a postwar one?

Chris

@ Chris: Yeah I'm going for the Normandie version.





A little method to get these parts out without damage: I put a toothpick in the hole, cut the sprue attachments and it's all good



For some reason, this part doesn't sit well (there's a gap). If you place it as the instructions says the fenders won't sit as they should.




oh, what are these, and what color should they be?




I have lost the spring, so I've just made a new one:

Hi Matan,

If you're going for the Normandy version (and sincere apologies if you already know this) Then don't use the All Round Vision cuppola or side air intakes with three armoured covers. You need the MkII low profile cuppola and the air intakes with no covers under the louvres. Luckily both should be in your kit on the sprues shared with the the MkIII gun tanke release

The gap by the fender is because you've forgotton to fit the armoured cover in front of the bow MG position (easily done, its not very obvious in the instructions). Once this is on you'll be able to get a good positive location to attach the forward fenders

The parts at the back are the smoke candle racks and exhaust deflector. All should be the same colour as the rest of the tank, but from memory the smoke candles themselves (cylinders inside) are dark grey or black

I lost the spring too (ping - boooiiiing )

Great progress, and well done on not losing those eyelets. definitely looking forward to more

Chris

Thanks for the info!
Now i just need to find that addon armor... Or just hide it with some equipment

Matan, excellent work !!!!

I do the same method in my (suspension) AVRE CIRD build...

Following your Churchill !!!

Go, British !!!

Hey,

preshading, overall paint job and future. I plan to add the Union Jack on the storage box on the turret's back, a magazine for the driver to read and a map for the commander have no idea if I will succeed, but trying is half the fun

tips / comments on the preshading are much welcomed:

Hi Matan,

Great progress you're flying along.

Al

two runs of wash to add some shadows and depth. what do you think?

hi i am building the AVRE as well buit post war like yours .
ossie

Hi Matan,

Looking excellent.

Al

Ossie good luck with your build. it's a great kit.

Alan d'you think I should go for a 3rd layer of wash? I'm afraid to make a big black stained mess out of it as it's coming along real nice.

Looking very nice indeed Matan

As for another wash, I think it all depends on what else you have planned for the weathering, and the order of steps you use?

Incidentally, the headpads on the hatches could be a littlegreener in tone if you want. I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to climb inside a crocodile (the tank not the amphibious lizard) at the weekend, along with a centaur, and the leather used on the seats and headpads was a sort of olive/brown

Thanks for the picture! looks like it was in the past some kind of brown (the edges still have it vaguely) but all the dirt and probably re-painting by the crew got some green there.

I want to keep this tank on the lighter side of weathering, though I want it to be used: something along the lines of "OK, we got off the beach, now lets do some maintenance work on the tank". so it's weathered, got some dust and sand, grease here and there and some very light scraping on the edges near the running gear.

as in concerns steps it'll be pin wash (when the line wash is decided ), matt coat (BTW: can you AB MM dullcote?), filters (first a mix of olive green and titanium white for fading, then a very thin layer of brown / sandy shade, some drybrush and scraping and pigments.

Hi

I was involved with the design of the kit, look at the front page. I am having to rebuild mine as the last one got melted opps !!

I am building mine as a post war have not decided yet to build a 1947 or 51 or 53 vehicle
With a dozer blade, metal fascine , jumbo bridge instead of a SBG Bridge
Or nothing.
or I could do it in the colours for SUEZ as they were put on ships to go but never left UK.
the Petard AVRE’s actually served alongside MK7 AVRE’s this was until around 1955.
o have some personal pictures from my father, god father of this period and some others so I am looking forward to building it.
I wont be putting te spare tracks on the rear tarck guards as they were only 26 assault squadron for D Day only..
anyway I am using all of the extras, I have for my kit I have to build it:-
AFV avre kit,
AFV tracks.
AFV RIVETS ( all ready fitted those)
hobby fan add on stowage and figures
Eduard etch brass for Mk3 and Tamiya Mk 7
heap of pictures.
I keep you posted Ossie

so you're Ossie Osbourn i'd thought they'd just heard a lot of his CD's
you're build ideas sound very interesting

went on with pin wash:








what d'you think?

Looks Good Matan and good build.

So how many do you have going at one time?

Good luck on all of them.

thanks Jeff.

I have 3 at the moment

tried some pigments washes. tried something like a vehicle that had roled from the beach blowing some obstacles in the way. don't know if i did a good job with it.
what d'you think?