Alan McNeilly shares with us his build of Italeri''s Crusader Mk III using a conversion set from Accurate Armour.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Alan,

A real corker of a build! I'm tempted to get one myself...

Thanks for the build log and feature!

Tom

Hi Tom,

Many thanks. The conversion kti is a fairly old one. I spoke with Derek from AA about it and the kit was produced with the best data at the time. The side hatch fix is fairly easy, even given that I didn't find out about it until after the build, but then that's often the way.

I makes for an interesting vehicle and should go well with the 17pdr when I get it built.

Cheers and thanks for looking in.

Al

Hey Alan,

You have sneaked this one through and it looks like you have invested quite heavily in time to come up with such a great representation of an unusual vehicle that I have never even heard of. I need to learn a little more about our vehicles and not concentrate on the German side, as I have done for most of my life.

The stowage makes it look nice and busy, with the figure allowing a sense of scale. The weathering is just enough to tie everything together, without being too excessive.

Great build mate.

Aye'

John

A nice easy to read feature with plenty of explanation and pics. I like it.
(And thanks for the nod. )

Excellent as always, Al.

Hi John, Ken and Bill,

Thanks for dropping in folks and the comments.

John, you have to move away form the dark side

Cheers

Al

Im assuming the base is only a temorary affair then? Who makes it and also the same question regarding the figure. Theres no mention of either of them in the article.
Nice build again Alan .... pulling the 17 pdr will really give this the edge. Its good to have this as an article ... Im sure when the 17pdr is readily available, more will be looking for something suitable to pull it!!

Hi Frank,

Yes, just a temp base. It's from SB Models one of Stewarts SB Scotia Range. I've review some of his products here.

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showmaker&makerid=428

The figure is the RA Officer in Greatcoat from Resicast for the 25pdr, just added for scale, again review the fig here:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/6043

I have a couple fo the SB Scotia bases I just use for fast pics, always better to have something to hand rather than my blue background.

Thanks for looking in, and glad you found the article useful.

Cheers

Al

Alan, nice job, as always. Very good and informative feature. Looking forward to it with 17 pdr.

Cheers!
Stefan

Hi Stefan,

Glad you found it useful.

Cheers

Al

Hi folks,

Just for info. If you happen to be looking for a donor kit I was over on the Italeri web site this afternoon. I see they have re-released their Crusader Mk III under their 'Vintage Collection' label.

Al

Not too bad a price at £23 too. I might just get one to replace the old one I did years ago. I can add the Eduard fenders too.

Hi Ken,

I haven't built this one as a Gun Tank yet so I may well get one to add to the collection too.

Al

This is probably the fourth or fith time I've read this article. A lovely building job and an entertaining text. Well done, Alan! Well done, indeed!
This build is certainly going into my To-Do list. (Hoping that Bronco and HB, keep up bring plstic kits of such off-the-beat-track kits).
Cheers,
Guido

Hi Guido,

Thank you for the kind comments, and I'm glad you enjoyed the build and article.

You probably raised a question many are wondering, will there be a 1/35 plastic version. I haven't heard of anything yet but with the increased interest by palstic manufacturers in all things British it is possible. Still they have yet to produce any new trucks to tow this new line of artillery but I am hopeful there.

The AA conversion is quite an old kit but Italeria have just re-released the Gun Tank at a reasonable price so it should be affordable and do-alble by many.

Cheers

Al