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REVIEW
Trumpeter British Challenger 2
c5flies
Joined: October 21, 2007
KitMaker: 3,684 posts
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Posted: Saturday, June 19, 2010 - 01:42 PM UTC
Darren Baker provides an In-Box review of the Challenger 2 with Enhanced Armour, a new release from Trumpeter in 1/35.
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If you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
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If you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
martyncrowther
Joined: September 12, 2007
KitMaker: 1,548 posts
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 12:47 AM UTC
Great review Darren! However I think those ration boxes are US! 
ninjrk
Joined: January 26, 2006
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 03:49 AM UTC
Lovely review, darnit. I have the Tamiya kit but it looks like this one may be worth picking up. Heck, just to avoid masking the no-slip it might be worth it.
Matt
Matt
barkingdigger
Associate Editor
#013
Joined: June 20, 2008
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 04:05 AM UTC
Darren,
Thanks for the review of this interesting kit! I really like the bar armour... And they were very clever with the ejector pins on this one - the marks all around the very decent MG show how Trumpeter avoided marring the parts.
Are the tracks as rubbery as they look? (On a par with Revell's gooey rubber?) I'll be interested to see when you've tried painting them.
It might just tempt me to move away from my love for Leopards!
Tom
Thanks for the review of this interesting kit! I really like the bar armour... And they were very clever with the ejector pins on this one - the marks all around the very decent MG show how Trumpeter avoided marring the parts.
Are the tracks as rubbery as they look? (On a par with Revell's gooey rubber?) I'll be interested to see when you've tried painting them.
It might just tempt me to move away from my love for Leopards!
Tom
CMOT
Editor-in-Chief
Joined: May 14, 2006
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 04:43 AM UTC
Martyn I believe you are correct about the ration packs, however if there is one thing the British squaddie will do it is swap items. It would not be uncommon to see another countries rations being eaten by or in possession of British troops. I believe most countries troops make a habit of swapping rations, along the lines of “What have you got in your sandwiches? Want to swap?”.
Matt I do believe you will be happy with this kit, I cannot however tell you yet how well it goes together as it will be a while before I start it. The Anti slip coating is very light as stated in the review and I hope that some of the close ups show you just how light.
Tom the tracks are typical Trumpeter as regards material used. They are just so thin and with the gap between each track link being present too flimsy. Trumpeter here I believe have tried to be accurate at the cost of survivability, as I said in the review though it is just my belief not a fact. I will do some work on these tracks when I get time however I am looking at using the Bronco workable tracks on this model.
Thank you for your comments.
Matt I do believe you will be happy with this kit, I cannot however tell you yet how well it goes together as it will be a while before I start it. The Anti slip coating is very light as stated in the review and I hope that some of the close ups show you just how light.
Tom the tracks are typical Trumpeter as regards material used. They are just so thin and with the gap between each track link being present too flimsy. Trumpeter here I believe have tried to be accurate at the cost of survivability, as I said in the review though it is just my belief not a fact. I will do some work on these tracks when I get time however I am looking at using the Bronco workable tracks on this model.
Thank you for your comments.
PantherF
Joined: June 10, 2005
KitMaker: 6,188 posts
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 05:58 AM UTC
Thanks for the review Darren, very nicely done. I'm a gettin' this one for sure soon! 
- Jeff
- Jeff
pseudorealityx
Joined: January 31, 2010
KitMaker: 2,191 posts
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 08:17 AM UTC
Very nice review. Thanks.
For anyone knowledgeable about Chally 2's. Besides the slat armor, are there any other large differences between a vehicle from this era, and the desertized versions? Basically, could one use the anti-slip hull and turret pieces from this kit the earlier Trumpeter Chally 2?
For anyone knowledgeable about Chally 2's. Besides the slat armor, are there any other large differences between a vehicle from this era, and the desertized versions? Basically, could one use the anti-slip hull and turret pieces from this kit the earlier Trumpeter Chally 2?
CMOT
Editor-in-ChiefJoined: May 14, 2006
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 09:02 AM UTC
Jeff I am glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful.
Jesse as far as I am aware there are no external difference between the 2 types of extra armoured Challenger 2s, so by leaving off the bar armour it should also make an accurate desertised armour variant.
Jesse as far as I am aware there are no external difference between the 2 types of extra armoured Challenger 2s, so by leaving off the bar armour it should also make an accurate desertised armour variant.
hugohuertas
Joined: January 26, 2007
KitMaker: 1,024 posts
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 10:19 AM UTC
I believe that the armored side skirts are also different, since the so called desertized version has few armor blocks than this later version.
There are lots of pics on the web showing Chally's 2 during the earlier stages of Operation Telic
But referring only to the turret, it should be fine for either version.
There are lots of pics on the web showing Chally's 2 during the earlier stages of Operation Telic
But referring only to the turret, it should be fine for either version.
CMOT
Editor-in-ChiefJoined: May 14, 2006
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 01:46 PM UTC
Jesse Hugo is correct that the very rear armour panel is missing along with the skirt below the side armour panels.
pseudorealityx
Joined: January 31, 2010
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 02:02 PM UTC
Very cool. Lucky Model has the older Desertized version for ~$12. For that kind of money, I can buy both and not have to deal with attempting anti-skid.
Just use the additional skirts and side armor with this hull/turret.
Just use the additional skirts and side armor with this hull/turret.
CMOT
Editor-in-ChiefJoined: May 14, 2006
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 03:05 PM UTC
Jesse the 2 middle Challenger 2s that Trumpeter have done I believe also contain a reasonable partial interior.
pseudorealityx
Joined: January 31, 2010
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 05:00 PM UTC
Thanks Darren. Are you planning on doing a build log on this kit?
CMOT
Editor-in-ChiefJoined: May 14, 2006
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 05:26 PM UTC
I will do but I have a few unfinished items to get done before I get to it, I am trying to get my AS90 blog finished for starters.
ptruhe
Joined: March 05, 2003
KitMaker: 2,092 posts
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 05:41 PM UTC
Here is a file for Modern British GP rations:
http://flashpages.prodigy.net/ptruhe/armormod/britratsgp.pdf
There is a 4 man pack which might be more likely for a tank.
Paul
http://flashpages.prodigy.net/ptruhe/armormod/britratsgp.pdf
There is a 4 man pack which might be more likely for a tank.
Paul
ninjrk
Joined: January 26, 2006
KitMaker: 1,381 posts
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Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 02:31 AM UTC
Well, then I shall be buying this bad boy down the line. One thing that I haven't figured out is why both Tamiya and Trumpeter don't have pieces to blank the cutouts in the turret roof for the handles. It's not that tough a fix but man does it stand out as obvious if you don't fix them.
Matt
Matt
CMOT
Editor-in-ChiefJoined: May 14, 2006
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Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 04:27 AM UTC
Paul Thank you for the MRE cases.
pseudorealityx
Joined: January 31, 2010
KitMaker: 2,191 posts
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Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 09:52 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Well, then I shall be buying this bad boy down the line. One thing that I haven't figured out is why both Tamiya and Trumpeter don't have pieces to blank the cutouts in the turret roof for the handles. It's not that tough a fix but man does it stand out as obvious if you don't fix them.
Matt
Matt,
I'm not too familiar with the Chally turrets. Could you explain what you mean a bit more? Are there cutouts for handles that don't exist on this tank or what?
ninjrk
Joined: January 26, 2006
KitMaker: 1,381 posts
Armorama: 1,347 posts
Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 10:41 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextWell, then I shall be buying this bad boy down the line. One thing that I haven't figured out is why both Tamiya and Trumpeter don't have pieces to blank the cutouts in the turret roof for the handles. It's not that tough a fix but man does it stand out as obvious if you don't fix them.
Matt
Matt,
I'm not too familiar with the Chally turrets. Could you explain what you mean a bit more? Are there cutouts for handles that don't exist on this tank or what?
The square opening on the turret roof have a plethora of handles and toggles underneath. Here's a reference to one of the walkarounds from the invaluable primeportal.
http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/ulrich_wrede/challengerii/images/challengerii_32_of_36.jpg
CMOT
Editor-in-ChiefJoined: May 14, 2006
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Posted: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 - 12:56 PM UTC
Matt I have been giving this some consideration and I would have thought that due to the design of the turret it would be easy to have made a panel that attaches below it and provides all that recessed detail.
bill_c
Campaigns AdministratorJoined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 - 03:47 AM UTC
Excellent review, Darren, I will think about adding this one to my slowly-growing stash of modern AFVs. 
Petition2God
Joined: February 06, 2002
KitMaker: 1,526 posts
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Posted: Friday, July 09, 2010 - 08:08 AM UTC
Hmmm. Decisions, decisions.. So if I have to choose between the Tamiya Challenger 2 (desertised) vs. this Trumpeter kit, which one would you guys recommend?
ninjrk
Joined: January 26, 2006
KitMaker: 1,381 posts
Armorama: 1,347 posts
Posted: Friday, July 09, 2010 - 09:30 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Matt I have been giving this some consideration and I would have thought that due to the design of the turret it would be easy to have made a panel that attaches below it and provides all that recessed detail.
You could fairly easily I'd think. There are some tabs underneath that would need to be cut off. I played with using U-stock on mine and didn't care for how it looked. My biggest issue is it's not clear exactly what the configuration is of all the stuff below, so I suppose imagineering will be my approach!
Matt
CMOT
Editor-in-ChiefJoined: May 14, 2006
KitMaker: 10,954 posts
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Posted: Friday, July 09, 2010 - 05:39 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Hmmm. Decisions, decisions.. So if I have to choose between the Tamiya Challenger 2 (desertised) vs. this Trumpeter kit, which one would you guys recommend?
James it really depends on if you want the meanest looking which to my mind is the desertised Challenger 2 which would require you to buy 2 kits (I would suggest this kit and the Trumpeter desertised version for ease), the other option would require you to apply the anti slip coating. Or you could build this from the box and have a reasonably accurate Challenger 2.
CMOT
Editor-in-ChiefJoined: May 14, 2006
KitMaker: 10,954 posts
Armorama: 8,571 posts
Posted: Friday, July 09, 2010 - 05:43 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextMatt I have been giving this some consideration and I would have thought that due to the design of the turret it would be easy to have made a panel that attaches below it and provides all that recessed detail.
You could fairly easily I'd think. There are some tabs underneath that would need to be cut off. I played with using U-stock on mine and didn't care for how it looked. My biggest issue is it's not clear exactly what the configuration is of all the stuff below, so I suppose imagineering will be my approach!
Matt
Matt unless there is some secret under there I think I could probably get the answer.
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