I'm building Tamiya's Churchill VII with Eduard's PE set, and I'm in the process of forming the part (there are actually two of them) ringed in the photo from the PE to replace kit part B8. The PE instructions imply this can be built "open" or "closed". Can anybody tell what this thing is? I want to build the tank at rest rather than running, so should this thing be open or closed?

I've looked in the Osprey book on the Churchill, but can't find a reference in there. The photo's of Bovington's Churchill VII, taken when I visited last year.



Thanks in advance,


Sean

It's a smoke emitter. It serves the same purpose as the smoke candle racks you see on the rear of early German tanks or the grenade style launchers.

Hi Sean,

Geoff's spot on. It held a couple of smoke candles that could be ignited from within the tank to proved well - smoke. You see the same structure on the back of the M4A4 Sherman Firefly.

In this case the wiring must run from the back directly into the tank.

Cheers

Al

Thanks lads - very helpful

Sean

I always wondered what that was!