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Forums - Modelling / Kits |
The kits forum is for the discussion of model kits. Typically questions on availability or certain subjects and quality of existing kits are posted here. Short reviews are good here too. |
| Topics | 1301 |
| Messages | 7906 |
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| Subject: | Re: Tamiya Cromwell Mk IV |  |
| Date: | Apr 11, 2006 |
| From: | Gerald Owens | |
The Tamiya kit is based on the vehicle preserved at the Bovington Museum, and it does not have all the updates commonly seen on wartime vehicles--remember, the Cromwell entered production as the "Centaur," indicating tanks built with the old Liberty engine, and were updated into Cromwells when they received the new Meteor engine. Many Centaur features were replaced in a piecemeal fashion after the tanks were delivered, and not all tanks got every update. The gun was upgraded from 57mm Six Pounder to 75mm to produce the Cromwell Mk. IV, which was the standard gun tank in Normandy, but the Tamiya kit is a Mk IV with the Type C hull. Most vehicles were converted to the Type D hull before Normandy, which was just a new engine deck with a better arrangement of access panels (Accurate Armour offers a replacement part in resin). Also, most had the all-round vision cupola, where the Tamiya kit has the original cupola with just fore and aft periscopes. The driver's hatch was modified a couple of times as well, some vehicles having a split hatch with a diagonal divide between the front and rear panels. The rear panel was not attached at all, and could be lifted out, allowing a quick escape from a burning tank.
For more ambitious builders, you can update the kit to a Type F hull, which had twin side-opening hatches in the front hull, eliminating the original awkward driver's hatch which could be fouled by the gun mantlet. New stowage boxes were designed to be mounted on the turret sides instead of the mudguards, since the side opening hatches precluded their use there. This conversion is also available from Accurate Armour.
During the final winter of the war, a new, wider track became available, though not all tanks received it.
The new Osprey book has a lot more information on these details.
As for Tamiya's soft plastic tracks, I had two kits, and the tracks in both split before they could be painted (one from having been folded in the box during the packing of the kit at the factory). I suspect Tamiya was still getting the hang of the new chemistry when these kits were being issued eight years ago. Still, by all reports, enamel paint will attack and destroy even good batches of the so-called glueable vinyl, so use acrylics only, including washes. |
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 | Tamiya Cromwell Mk IV - Erik Forsgren - Apr 10, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Tamiya Cromwell Mk IV - Paul A. Owen - Apr 10, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Tamiya Cromwell Mk IV - Ron - Apr 10, 2006 |
| . . . . . . Re: Tamiya Cromwell Mk IV - Paul A. Owen - Apr 10, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Tamiya Cromwell Mk IV - Ron - Apr 12, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Tamiya Cromwell Mk IV - breaking tracks - Paul A. Owen - Apr 12, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Tamiya Cromwell Mk IV - barrrel - Paul A. Owen - Apr 11, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Tamiya Cromwell Mk IV - Gerald Owens - Apr 11, 2006 |
| . . . . . . Re: Tamiya Cromwell Mk IV - Erik Forsgren - Apr 11, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Tracks - Paul A. Owen - Apr 11, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Muzzle brake - Paul A. Owen - Apr 11, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Muzzle brake - Erik Forsgren - Apr 12, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Muzzle brake - Craig white - Apr 13, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Muzzle brake - Erik Forsgren - Apr 14, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Muzzle brake - craig white - Apr 15, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Muzzle brake - Erik Forsgren - Apr 15, 2006 |
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