discussion 28mm Churchill Project - Mk,III, Mk.IV NA75, Mk.V CS, Mk.VIII Crocodile

[Steve-the-Duck]

So, my quest to kit every in-service version and variant of the mighty Churchill continues

Left to right

Mk.III KIngforce El Alamein October 1942 - Warlord / Italeri plastic kit with Warlord metal figures
Mk.IV NA75, 28th Armoured Bde, North Irish Horse, Italy, September 1944 - Warlord / Italeri with 3DJson figures
Mk.V CS, 6 Guards Tanks, 4th Grenadier Guards, Nijmegen February 1945 - Warlord / Italeri with 3DJson figure
Mk. VII Crocodile, C Sqn 7RTR, 79th Div, Bergeb-Belsen, April 1945 - Warlord resin

The Italeri kit has the options to build Mk.IIIs, IVs, Vs, VIs, and AVREs, depending on the turret and armament. No stowage is included, but there are even markings for Russian ones!

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Mk.III


Half-a-dozen MK.IIIs were deployed, as part of the scratch 'Kingforce' in time for second Alamein, the first deployment of the Churchill since their first operation at Dieppe. This particular example, commanded by 2LT Howard, was knocked out on 2 November, having suffered several 50mm and 75mm hits. Interestingly, the most significant hits were two 57mm hits that jammed the turret. The 57mm is better known as the Six-pounder, a British gun. Apparently it was an Aussie AT that were finishing off the disabled vehicle

I added a frame bar to the sides, to hang the kit. This was probably the frame for the 'Sunshield' Lorry disguise. The apron added to the front was a dust shield added asthe Churchills would kick up great clouds on start-up. Some sources other than the one I used, have the disruptive camo as Slate or Blue-grey

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Mk.IV NA.75

The NA.75 was a field modification to add the 75mm off a Sherman to the Mk.IV.
This is based on a photo of this tank driving through an Italian street, and it's absolutely covered in dust. I could have just painted it sandy-grey! Unfortunately, the photo doesn't show the name, but all the North Irish Horse tanks were named after Northern Irish towns, and 'Amorgill' is on the list!

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Mk V CS
The Mk.V was the Close Support version of the Mk.IV, mounting a 95mm howitzer. 1944 and we STILL couldn't quite get away from Infantry support tanks
The 3DJson figs I use come with berets or helmets, and are in 'true' proportional 28mm rather than 'chunky/heroic' sizing. They're available off eBay in multiple scales, up to 1/32!

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Mk.VIII Crocodile flamethrower tank

Thiis resin and white-metal kit is also available as a standard Mk.VII. This was the mark were the hull and side-hatches changed in a major upgrade

Well, that's six Churchills down, only another twenty-one to go. And maybe a Black Prince too, though I'm trying to steer away from non in-service variants. Lots of 'funnies' on my list, and I must get around to posting the completed Bridgelayer too

 

[flyjoe180]

Great line up of Churchills Chris. 21 to go...