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This is the Tamiya Crocodile, set in a modest vignette representing a Croc of "B" Sqn, 141 RAC (The Buffs) at Brest, Aug/Sept 1944. B Sqn was sent to help reduce the fortifications that the US Forces were assaulting. The Crocs were used to flame Fort Montbarey with some success. By a quirk of fate, the 70 or so Germans in the Fort had arrived without respirators, but found a stock of them in the Fort, whereby they were able to hold up longer amidst the smoke of the flaming. The Germans were clearly terrified of the Crocs, and kept them from taking a more vigorous part in its defence.
The Tamiya Croc is a joy to build despite its age. As ever, there is always room to improve. I used the Eduard set in parts, sanded off the (post war) bulges either side of the main gun, and made some improvements to the rear of the Croc and the trailer (flexible flame tube, thill brackets, chains, weld seams, and so on). Accessories were from Accurate Armour, Italeri (jerrycans), and scratch built, such as the tent poles and the cam-net. Tracks were from the kit, as I was saving a set of Fruils for an upcoming NA75. However,they are still pretty good, especially if you are leaving all the track guards on as I was.
The figures were from Verlinden and Resicast. The groundwork is railway ballast and earth, with parts from an Italeri ruined building. Cobbles and stones are Plus Model.
The Croc was given a primer coat of Citadel black from a can, with a top coat of Xtracrylics British Khaki Drab. I post shaded with an acrylic mix of black/brown. Decals were a from mixture of kits + Archer, and placement was a matter of an educated guess. Sword was a B Sqn vehicle, and since B Sqn in its entirety was at Brest, I'm hopeful that bit was accurate! I followed this with an overall wash of raw umber oil paint. I then experimented with different coloured oil filters (white, blue, green) to break up the tone of the model and give it some depth.
I used a variety of references; Fletchers' "Mr Churchills Tank", Chamberlain & Ellis' "The Churchill Tank", Bryan Perretts "The Churchill", New Vanguard No4, and last but by no means least, Mark Bannermans excellent "Modelling the Churchill Tank" by Osprey. Highly recommended. Chris Shillitos www.armourinfocus.co.uk was also extremely valuable for all things Churchill.
Hope you like the vignette. Any comments, feel free.
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