Hi everyone, sorry for the long long long delay but the perks of being away from home means no WiFi internet so I can't upload any photos as it wont let me do it over my mobile internet. Any ways I'm waffling. So over the last few weeks I went out and treated myself to a Tamiya Churchill tank.

As I said on one of my early forums I'm looking at making an European Farm Diorama but over the last few weeks I've been thinking more and more what I'm going to put in it, and the verdict is its going to be a the lead spear head of the British Army advancing over northern France. With that I'm going to look at adding some British Infantry, a couple of Universal Bren Gun Carriers and a Churchill tank.

So with out further do, I introduce my Churchill tank. As with all my models I always start now with a coat of grey primer.



I kept the model broken down into its main parts. Actually made it so much easier to paint.

I know the picture doesn't really bring up the colours well but this is the main parts sprayed up with tamiya's XF61 I think it was, and then added some brown and gave certain areas that field of depth in the colour.





From there I added the decals and then gave it a good dry brushing with a light vellajo green which worked surprisingly well.







After a few more coats with some silver and green dry brushing I gave it a good blasting over with the silk matt coat to lock it all in then put it all together.





















So all that's where I'm at now with the tank. Now just to start the weathering process and then that's the first part of the Dio all done.

Hello Si;

LOOKS GOOD !! I like it, and your Dio, sounds like a Winner. The Churchill was one of my Favorite British vehicles, esp; the Petard Version. I will be Following your build with great interest.

CHEERS; MIKE.

Cheers Mike, I'm off out today so I might treat myself to the bren gun carrier as the second part of the Dio.

thanks!!

Looks great! I am currently building the same kit. I look for to seing the dio progress

Thank you mark, not sure how your finding it but i think its a really good model, nice an simple and a pleasure to build

Hi Si;

Your choice for the second vehicle sounds Good also,
and maybe one of Hobarts Funnies.

CHEERS; MIKE.

Churchill - one of my favourite WW2 tanks. I've built a few and absolutely love the AFV Club versions - especially the AVREs. But, I have to say that despite its age, the Tamiya kit has scrubbed up beautifully thanks to a wonderful effort by you. Well done

Gary

Mike - Well I was thinking maybe a funny or a recovery tank, but I'm imagining it more that's it's the most forward of British troops, so the reconnaissance veh (Bren gun carriers) breifing the infantry and the Churchill. But I've just been out today and I've just treat myself toone of Tamiya's Universal Carrier. So stand by for more WIP of that.

Gary - Thanks Gary, yeah really nice model. I built a AFV Dorchester a while back and absolutely loved it, real quality model.

Si

Greetings, any more progress on your dio? I am just getting into armour. Commonwealth tanks and just got a church il VII for 5$ I guess that is a good deal right. I too have it planned for a dio with troops in a street. I am following yours with interest as I have an idea for a farm yard with an m10.

Eugene

Hi Eugene, yeah $5 is a steal lol Hope you enjoy it.

The Dio's coming along slowly, been in the process of getting a house so my time has be used for other things, however this is the link to the dio build if you want to keep a watch on it.

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/222886&page=1#1883690

Looking forward to seeing your M10 dio, what idea have you got in your mind???

Cheers

Si

5 bucks for that kit is a steal! It's a great kit, but does need a few things to make it totally accurate for trhe Normandy period. Out of the box it's suitable for very late WW 2 and Korea.

I'd replace the gun barrel at least as the kit one is significantly undersized.

Regarding the Universal Carrier, the one reall problem with the kit is the tracks which arfe simply awful. The links are almost twice a large, lengthwise as they should be. There are far too few links in the Tamiya track and the sprocket, therefore has too few teeth. A close look at photos of the real thing will show the difference.

Other than that, the kit is much simplified and quite out of date. However, the new Riich kit is like building several scale wristwatches as there are a huge number of parts and many of them are very, very, very small.

Resicast offer updates for the Tamiya kit that cost more money, but are a good compromise between the Riich and the Tamiya.

And regarding AVREs being at the head of the assault, for the attacks on the Channel lports, the AVREs were right up there as an integral part of the assaults, frequently shooting the Canadian and British soldiers into their objectrives and silencing strongpoints. Remember, AVRE stands for _Assault_ Vehicle Royal Engineers.

:)

This is not to say anyone _has_ to do any of what I suggest, just that there are options that can increase accuracy if you want it.

Paul