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On the workbench - Churchill tanks 51 RTR

Just been upgrading and finishing my Churchill tanks mostly of 51 RTR 25 Tank brigade. This unit fought in Tunisia and Italy.
Three gun tanks from A squadron Audacious, Agile and Achilles.  Two of these are Mk IV's from the PSC kit I added the Black Dog stowage to one and added Lancer British stowage to the other. The third is a Mk III mark up as the HQ is the Dragon kit. They're good for scale (unlike the diabolical Airfix Crocodile which is 1/76 not 1/72 as advertised just for a starter.)

Churchill tanks of 51 RTR lined up below a crest near the River Foglia, 30 August 1944. The tanks were supporting infantry attacking across the river. Wikipedia accessed 2020. 





 I have just completed two conversions the first is A Churchill Mk I Close Support Tank from North Irish horse the senior regiment tom 51 RTR in 25 Tank Brigade. Each regiment had 6 of these Close support tanks in 51 RTR they where held with HQ squadron. The North Irish Horse had them in B squadron. The standard MK 1 had a 3" howitzer in the hull and a two pounder in the turret with a co axial BESA  machine gun. In the field NIH had replaced the two pounder with a second 3 inch howitzer in the turret. They also added a Panzer III commander cupola - presumable to improve commander viability. This is the Hasegawa kit of MKI / MkII Churchill with a 3" barrel from the bits box and a Panzer cupola from a PSC kit. The commander is also from PSC 25 pounder gun  kit. NIH used Irish towns to name most tanks so this is Bushmills. I marked it up for 21 Tank Brigade after 25th Tank Brigade was broken up in late 1944.




 The last of the my Churchill tank projects. I have had this planned for a while a Churchill Crocodile. This one is Cyclops of 25 Armoured Assault Brigade 1945. The formation 51 RTR moved  to after 25 Tank Brigade was disbanded. Two companies of these Crocodile A and C compnaies. B company was flail tanks as well as  ARK bridging tanks - a project yet to come.

 Lots of kit bashing to get a decent crocodile model. This one is a made from the Airfix wee kit and the PSC Churchill ( a mark VI).  All crocodiles where on Mk VII so extensive conversion of the PSC Kit was needed. A MKVII / Crocodile conversion kit from PSC would certainly fill a gaping hole in the 1/72 plastic market for the later model churchill. Crocodile trailer and top of the turret from the Airfix kit  as well as flame thrower mantlet and sponson and drivers hatchets. The hull and gun from the PSC kit. I am very happy with the result







These are two extra turrets I have prepped to give more flexibility to the list making a Churchill NA75 (North Africa 75 added a Sherman 75mm gun to the Churchill turret) and the 95mm close support tank





Appendix 1 Names of Churchills in 51 RTR

HQ squadron
BLENHEIM
IRON DUKE
OUDENARDE
MALPLAQUET
RAMILLES
SWEET SUE
WELLINGTON
A squadron
ADDER
ADVENTURER
APOLLO
ARDENT
ARROGANT
ASP
ATHABASKA
AUDACIOUS
AVENGER
B squadron
BARHAM
EXETER
GURKHA
SEVERN
TIGRIS
WARSPITE
C squadron
CAMBRAI
CAWNPAW
CHARITY
CYCLOPS

Others
AMAZON - Daimler AC
BLACKFOOT  M3 recce troop
LONDON - Mk V Sherman
FAITH
HOPE

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