Tamiya Models has released a 1/35 scale Crusader Mk.III and here Kevin Brant adds glue and paint for a build review.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

looks interesting

It still appears to build up nicely. I am certain that if a new-tool from Tamiya was released that there would be some differences and yet this old model looks to hold up well.

looks like they have retooled the hull to correct the "step" at the front of the fenders

I had thought there was some re-tooling done, but the plastic itself really reminded me of Italeri. It is possible Italeri did the re-tooling.

I really like these odd-ball British tanks as they seem almost 19th century with their exposed bolt heads and heavy, angular lines. And being a Tamiya product it should be a fun build for all levels of modellers. That's something that the hobby desperately needs to lure and keep new members to the styrene fraternity.

Compared to my old release Crusader III some re-tooling was done to the turret top, the hatches and the fenders. The original kit had a smooth turret top with no casting detail.

Italeri has been re-tooling and up-dating a lot of their older kits so we might see this version show up in an Italeri box (minus the Tamiya gear and figures?) Actually I'd rather see a re-issue of Italeri's Crusader Mark II but that's me.

I recently built the Italeri early Crusader I and upon finishing had to get the Italeri kits of the Mark II and III so I will have a shelf of these guys eventually. I've loved the Crusader cruiser tank ever since I did the ancient Airfix 1/76 as a kid.

Im sure they "retooled" the price too

Not really. The Tamiya runs a few dollars more than the last reissue Italeri did which did not have the re-tooling or new figures (in fact it was a retro-old box-art issue)

Naturally you could probably find one really cheap at a show but you can do that with nearly any older kit. Short of that, figure on $30 for an Italeri one and $40-45 for the new Tamiya.

This decidedly is not an old dog of a kit. An old dog of a kit is Tamiya's M113 or M3 Lee not the Italeri Crusader.

Pretty disappointed with this - minimum retooling - no transparencies or photo etch. And the tracks are a disgrace - they are way too big - not something that could have been missed by Tamiya but they clearly thought "CBA, let the customer sort it out, they had hide the mess under the fenders". A missed opportunity.

And watch, a year or two down the road Italeri releases their new re-tooled CrusaderIII and it'll include new link and length track, clear lenses for the search light and photoetch.

I agree, I appreciate why people are defending but this being released in the same price bracket as the all-new SU-76 and Valentine.

There is a world of difference between the Cusader effort and those two and compared with them, the Crusader is well over-priced.

Cheers,

Nigel

Nice job Sgt. Cute little kit.

Hello, this is the 6 pdr version?

Yes, the Mk III was the six-pounder version.

The tank used the short-barrelled 6 pounder.