Modelling the Churchill Tank

Review by Peter Brown

While there have been several small scale kits, for many years anyone wanting to model a Churchill in 1/35th only had the Tamiya kit, though available in two versions it depicted the late-style Mk VII with and later without the Crocodile flamethrowing trailer. This limited the versions which could be depicted as these tanks had many differences, both obvious and hidden, from the earlier versions. Over the years there have been many conversion sets available to produce mostly the cast-turret Mk IV-V-VI versions and the Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers variant based on the IV, some have been better than others and some are no longer produced though several such as the current Legend and Resicast ones are reviewed elsewhere on this site.

The situation has changed in recent months with the release of Cromwell Models series of all-resin kits, although this book briefly mentions them these kits came too late to be included in detail. As such all the models depicted use the Tamiya kit as the basis, with a mixture of aftermarket and scratchbuilt items to convert to various subjects.

As is typical of the series, it begins with an brief overview of the tank - though I would advise caution on the comments on the Mks IX to XI and the "Super Churchill" being the A41 Centurion - which includes photos of several vehicles in museum collections, then a short section on the tools used to build the models.

The main part of the book covers detailed builds on four subjects -

• Mk III at Dieppe, this is one of the Canadian manned tanks landed in France which was the first time the Churchill saw action. It uses a Castoff Mk III conversion and various other parts, and includes some original photos of tanks which were used in the action.
• Mk VII Crocodile in Germany 1945 is the base Tamiya kit with added details. Although the only aftermarket set used is the Fruilmodelismo white metal tracks, a lot of items have been scratchbuilt which greatly improve the model. It is also painted in winter white and the text describes how this was achieved.
• AVRE with SBG Bridge uses the Resicast AVRE conversion with the Small Box Girder bridge scratchbuilt from plastic and wood which is a model project in its own right. Anyone wanting their own model will perhaps be relieved that there is a bridge available from Resicast!
• Mk V in Holland 1945 uses the KK Castings AVRE conversion with a Tamiya Centaur barrel to produce a tank with 6th Guards Tank Brigade. The completed vehicle is part of a diorama showing it moving through a newly-liberated town, details of the figures, buildings and groundwork are included.

Several other models are also shown in less detail, though the techniques used to produce them are similar to those in the longer chapters. Subjects covered are -

• AVRE in Normandy using the AL-BY conversion
• NA75 in Italy with KK Castings parts
• Mk VI in Belgium using Resicast AVRE parts with a kit barrel
• Mk III at Alamein using KK Castings parts
• 3" Gun Carrier from the IMA conversion
• AVRE with CIRD is a major build of the Canadian Indestructible Roller Device made in metal, while the work is only covered briefly a full build feature is in Military Modelling magazine Vol 35 No 11. This is more engineering in miniature than what most would call modelling...
• Mk I with two 3" Howitzers uses IMA parts to produce one of these unusual tanks used in Italy
• Mk III in Russia service with the Castoff conversion set

Rounding off are sections listing reference books and websites, available kits in several scales, a "tweaks list" for backdating the Tamiya kit, notes on weathering, making a scratch-built Mk I or II turret and finally a colour chart which can be cut out and used separately.

While the book may seem to be simply a set of how-to articles on building the one series of tanks, construction details and tips are applicable to most models so there will be something for most modellers here. Some may be disappointed at there being no 1/72th or 1/76th models included, certainly one would have increased the range covered.

All in all, for anyone wanting to model Churchills this will be a very useful book and it will teach techniques if the builds are followed.

Highly recommended.

Page created September 22, 2005