CH-2 'Op TELIC'
Gulf 2003 Update Set
1:35 Set No.AO53G
Review by Peter Brown
With
C2 very literally in the news in service in Iraq earlier this year, Trumpeter scored
by having a kit available but it did not include all the add-ons seen on tanks
serving in the Gulf. This set from AA gives us those and also improves
the basic tank in several areas. This review is a first look ie before building
look at this set, which can be seen as covering two areas.
The first is a basic improvement set for the kit. Included are a new main gun barrel and coaxial machine gun, cross-wind sensor and "bubble gun" travelling light, loader’s hatch with machine gun mount and machine gun, commander’s rotating sight head plus smoke dischargers for the turret, while for the hull there are new headlights, rear view mirrors, fire extinguishers, gun travel lock, extra fuel tanks and towing bar. New exhaust outlets are also given but these are not needed when the thermal shroud are in place
Second part is the extra armour panels fitted in the Gulf. These comprise the thick passive armour side panels complete with the soft fabric skirts below them, as well as the extra plates on the top of the hull front and the reactive armour nose panels. New thermal shrouds for the exhausts are also included, plus the louvred CIP panels for the turret sides and rear and the flat plates seen on the turret front of C2 and Abrams. The CIP panels come in two parts so they can be assembled in working or off modes.
Most of the parts are resin, lengths of brass and plastic rod and a brass tow rope are included along with an etched brass sheet with parts for the rear section of the side skirts, cable reel and lots of smaller details such as padlocks. Instructions are in the form of the usual booklet, listing the parts and showing where each goes. In most cases, they are simple replacements for existing kit parts and photos show where each goes. Colour notes are given, though you will need to refer to your sources for an actual scheme and either adapt the kit’s big decal sheet or use aftermarket markings as none are included in this set.
Note that AA have three Challenger upgrade set available, as would be expected there are many items common to all but make sure you decide which version you want before you buy.
The A053 Challenger-2 Update Set includes the basic gun, turret and hull fittings but also includes etched brass side skirts and the exhaust outlet louvres but the exhaust shrouds which are not always fitted are NOT included in this set. Get this set though if you want to depict a Challenger in its day-to-day configuration in training in the UK, Canada, Germany or Poland. The "other" uparmoured version is that seen in Kosovo for which there is A053K Challenger-2 Update Set (KOSOVO), this has the extra side and front armour and exhaust grilles but NOT the fabric skirt extensions seen in the Gulf, nor does it have the CIP panels and exhaust shrouds. The etched set for the Kosovo version is the same as the Gulf one, a template is provided for the heraldic Lion Rampant which was painted on the side of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Commanding Officer’s tank and as far as I know this was not used in Iraq though I may be wrong.
Just to add to this, there is A075 Challenger-2 CIP Set which has all the panels for the Challenger 2 and there is also A053T Challenger-2 Turret Upgrade Set which is a replacement turret for those who want to go the whole hog.
Note also, none of the A053-series sets give you the previously released Challenger track or wheels update sets. The Trumpeter track is not a high-point of the kit and you may well want to improve your model with track from AA or elsewhere. As to the wheels, they are all but hidden under the skirts on the Gulf version so unless you feel pedantic or rich the kit wheels would be fine, for tanks without extra armour or serving in Kosovo they are a good option.
Overall, these sets will improve the Trumpeter kit no end but they come at a price. No matter which style you want to depict, you will need this Gulf set plus tracks for a vehicle on Operation Telic, A053K plus tracks and maybe wheels for a Kosovo or A053 together with tracks or wheels for a basic Challenger 2. While Trumpeter’s kit is priced at the lower end of the plastic kit price range, adding these sets pushes the total cost towards what you would be paying for a complete resin kit. As usual, your call what you spend your money on but this set should be popular with anyone wanting a "Gulf Challenger".
Recommended.
Page Created 13 October 2003