British Challenger 2s in Operation "Telic" (2nd RTR)
Echelon Fine Details 1:35 Decal Sheet No. T35010
Review by Peter Brown

---

Among the units taking part in Operation TELIC in Iraq in 2003 was 7th Armoured Brigade which included 2nd Battalion The Royal Tank Regiment. This decal set allows modellers to depict their tanks in 1:35th using kits such as those from Tamiya, Trumpeter or Accurate Armour. They are in the usual Echelon style. The waterslide decals are printed by Microscale in the with each item on its own close-cropped section of backing sheet, all are clearly printed with a glossy finish which will need a top coat of matt varnish once in place.

At the time 2RTR were a Type 58 Armoured Regiment operating 58 Challenger 2 tanks plus 4 CRARRV, a Recce Troop with 8 Scimitars plus various FV432 and Warrior variants, Sultans and Spartans as well as softskin vehicles. Most of the MBTs were organised into four Squadrons named Badger, Cyclops, Egypt and Falcon. Tanks carried a small “logo” based on these names, Badger with a white badger’s head, Cyclops a single stylised eye - not to be confused with 1RTR’s “Chinese Eye” inherited from 4RTR when the two Battalions amalgamated - and Falcon a bird’s head with a few Egypt tanks sporting a scorpion. The red “desert rat” of 7th Armoured Brigade was also seen.

All the markings are all based on photos, either of tanks operating in Iraq with full uparmour package and dust-reducing skirts or shortly after their return with the simpler style of scalloped plates which allows for some additional choice of base kit. These cover tactical markings on turrets, fume extractors on gun barrel and hulls, individual vehicle serial numbers and names as well as bridge classification plates, various information and warning panels, first aid box labels and Union Flags. Locations are shown by colour drawings showing sides, fronts and rear or scrap views as appropriate.

The set provides enough decals to finish five vehicles from a choice of twelve options -
BADGER - BATTLEAXE, BEELZEBUB, BEAVER, BANDIT, BARON, BLACKBESS
CYCLOPS - CALIBAN
EGYPT - EXPLORER, EXQUISITE, EFFECTIVE, ELUSIVE
FALCON - FLANDERS

Conclusion:

To sum up, another top-class set from Echelon offering a range of markings for contemporary tanks.

Highly recommended 8/10.



Thanks to Larry of Echelon Fine Details for the review sample.