Hello,
A while ago, I bought the old Churchill Crocodile from Tamiya together with the AVRE conversion kit of K&K casting via ebay. The SBG Bridge comes from Resicast. I bought it after it was reissued last year. As I am not common with British armour I did some research first. No bad idea as I learned. The Crocodile is a Churchill MKVII but the AVRE’s were based on MK IV. The main differences are the square side doors, big bolt hats alongside the running gear, different looking front side skirts and track covers. Driver and bow mg gunner had only one periscop each and the vent was located in the middle between driver and bow mg gunner. A edge was cut out of its housing to fit the offset of the two hatches. Unfortunately, the conversion kit doesn’t offer many parts to convert an MK VII into an MK IV. Only the rectangular side doors are provided, as well as the bow section and the AVRE turret. The typical engineer tool mounts and the loaders hatch are not contained. As you can imagine there will be some scratch building necessary. Regarding its age, the Churchill itself is not as bad as I estimated. Only the running gear carriers fit was poor and I had to add some rivets at the front and rear of the side walls. Despite the vinyl tracks aren’t so bad I could not withstand and added the fruilmodel metal tracks. They look very realistic and are a real enhancement to the kit as I think. After assembling both tracks there where nearly 30 links left. Very welcome for additional armour or spare track links.
The S.B.G. bridge is relatively easy to build. There are only two major hints. Check the length of the left and right frame. The part number is 1 and 2 and there are 4 of each. If there are differences, use the parts with the same length together and the assembly will be straight forward. I run into this problem and had to struggle a bit to correct this. The second is building the booms. Glue the rods to the lower end pivots ( part C9 ). Let them tilt to the bridge and cross them. They should cross at an inner length of 12 cm. Cut them rectangular to the bridge and glue part C10 on top of them. But now it’s time so show some progress pics, more and larger pictures can be found in my gallery. Please follow the link

Churchill AVRE with SBG bridge









to be continued

happy modelling
Harald

That is one sweet looking AVRE. I can't wait to see it finished.

Looking good Harald, keep us in the picture. Can't wait for paint.

Ciao
Luciano

Hi Harald,

Thanks very much for the info on the build. I'd like to do some of the 'Funnies' one day when my skills are a bit better.

If you keep posting in this thread I'll bookmark it for the future :-) :-) :-)

Looking excellent so far, it's a pity there aren't a range of these in plastic.

Thanks for sharing this one and keep us posted on developments.

Tracks look great. WIll you have to weight the vehicle to stop it tipping?

Great work.

Cheers

Al

Very nice!
Is the bridge scratchbuilt?

Very nice build! I'll be looking forward to seeing it painted! Keep us posted!
Cheers and happy modelling!
Prato

Thank you for the flowers.

I will post updates in this thread.
@ Alan : the AVRE-conversion itself is not so difficult when you have the right kit. I guess Resicast's is the best. Legend makes one too with all parts needed to backdate the churchill to an MK IV. Old style tracks are provided too. The molding is realy good but the turret is far away from the original in shape and size. The K&K kit is good with some details in the turret but you have to do the backdate yourself. This work is not so difficult cause the parts you need are simple. I can give you the measures or templets if you like.



I didn't test it. I have to do the cables first, but i think it will be necessary.

happy modeling
Harald

Hi,

Nice work. I've scratchbuild one some years ago.

You does put counterweight in the tank if the bridge is in travelling position.

Another thing, did you make the specific AVRE side attachements ?
Like this :



and this



Sorry for the poor (old) paint job

Cheers

Hello Pascal,




not yet. It's the next job I have to do.

Happy modeling
Harald

Excellent work Harald!

Ok Harald u got urself on my "to follow" list , here on armorama, can't wait to see it finished!!
Love the model!!

Greetz Peter

I have finished the pioneer tool mounts and added them to the tank. Some details like the rivets and the towing cable were added too. For larger pics follow the link

Churchill AVRE with SBG bridge









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Great job! I am amazed! Keep us posted with your progress! I can't wait to seeing this one all finished!
Cheers and happy modelling!
Prato

Very nice AVRE Harald!
Sometimes I see models and I say to myself I wish I could do that.
This is definitely one of those.

Regards,
Roger

WOW makes me want to pull my Cromwell AVRE and My Resicast SBG Bridge out and start them! Great Work!
Cheers
Jeff

Magnificent workmanship. Keep those pictures coming.

I'd like to add deep wading trunks to the kit. Does someone know if these kits were attached to the AVRE's witch layed the bridges against the german seawalls at D-Day?

Hi Harald,

Apologies for the delay in replying. Looks like you making good progress, excellent stuff.

Re you last, a PMs on it's way - many thanks.

AL

I am not sure of the book , something about D-Day covered all the beaches with a lot of first hand stories. There was a passage from a AVRE tank commander how the landng craft commander Asked him to lower the SGB because it was acting like a sail and causing him to go off course. He raised the bridge just before they landed. Once ashore he motored up and dropped the bridge against the enbankment, then started to blow up baracades with his Flying Dustbins.

So, if any of the Churchills that came ashore on the first couple of waves had the wading gear he would have had it also

Hi my German friend,

First of all: great project and great progress so far. It's a subject I really like!

About the wading gear and d-day: iirc I've got a pic here somewhere showing a LCT on it's way to the Normandy beaches with Shermans and Churchills (also a SBG) all with wading gear. So I think you're safe using wading trunks for a d-day Churchill SBG!

But why not make it one used during the Walcheren '44 operations? Much more interesting

Martin

Hello Martin,

thanks for the info.




I thought it would be easy to build a section of the seawall and the seawall is a nice subject to use the bridge.
I didn't know that AVRE's with SBG bridges were used at the Walcheren assault. My reference only states DD's, Buffalos, Terapins, AVRE's and crocodiles.

happy modeling
Harald