Hi Roger,
Pics are few and far between. The only ones I found were in Italy and even then I couldn't match them to a unit.
Bit of artistic licence here. The original issue of 250/300 arrived in 42 just before the 2nd battle of Alamein. They were as you say all DV with the 3 piece transmission, early gun mantle and side skirts.
However, many were knocked out and destroyed so what replace them? More DVs? The changes were already happening to the Mk II. So were the replacements DVs or the mid production version?
I found reference to CLY taking over American Sherman IIs in Italy in their war Diaries. As the units weren't completely refitted they operated with a mix of Crusaders, Grants and Shermans well into 43 and beyond.
Tanks seem to have been swoped around, borrow here re-lent there. I can't say this version did exist but I can't say it didn't either. Tanks got salvages and repaired, and early turret with a later hull is quite possible.
I built this one for fun and practice as I want to do a DV version with the other kit I have so mine could be anywhere from Algeria throught Sicily to Italy. :-) :-) :-)
I haven't added the side skirts for that reason, just the idea of them.
Re the camo scheme I've seen Crusaders in Tunisa in April 43 with a similar scheme, at what point they got re painted I'm not sure. In CLY war diaries they complain about being given light paint and comment on having liberated some green and black which suited the terrain much better, that was around April time if I remember correctly ,as they were just starting to get more Sherman IIIs but still getting Crusaders as well.
Re the kit, the hull is the Dragon one and the turret from a Tamity M4 with the early Dragon 75 mm. I used a set of Tamiya tracks as I wanted to keep the others for another project but they pull the wheels up a bit, but when I place it I can fix that. There are no rivets around the suspension plates (72 in all LOL) and the plates themselves are a bit small and need replaced or added too. I added them on but it was a bit of a waste of time because once there is a bit of mud there you canl't see them anyway,
This is my first attempt at a desert scheme so it's been a fun learning experience.
Hope that helps a bit but, they were around in Italy if you want to do one , and as I say I don't know when they were repainted.
If you come across any pictures I'd be interested to see them. There are a couple on IWM but the unit is unclear, they are the mid production version though with the later gun mantle as per the kit.
Dough's Originals are really nice figures, the jeep driver/officer are next on the list.
Cheers
Al
