discussion A Tale of Two Churchills

[Windy]

Hi all. I'm afraid I've ground to a halt with the Sherman build. I don't know why but I just can't summon the enthusiasm to crack on with it. So as a mojo restorer and inspired by a series of original colour pictures, I dug out a PSC Churchill IV that I had in the stash. At the same time I ordered Dragon's version of the same variant so I'll be building them one after the other.

Here's one of the original pictures, it's one of a series depicting Churchills of A and B Sqns of 51st RTR in Italy in July 1944. They're so covered in dust that it's not easy to tell what colour the tanks actually are but I've gone with SCC 2 for the first build.

View attachment 380754

The PSC kits are very basic as you can see from the instructions but they paint up ok.

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Here it is with the base coat of SCC 2. Roughly 50/50 mix of Humbrol 29 and 98.

View attachment 380756

 

[Guest]

Alex.
Is this 1/72 ? Might be easy to build as you say, but the detail certainly isn't simple.
Shall grab a seat before the rest of the Rabble turn up .

 

[Windy]

Hi John. Yes sorry, forgot to mention that, they're both 1/72. The PSC one is just about done now so I should be able to make a start on the Dragon version tomorrow. More pictures to come!

 

[Guest]

Looking fwd to seeing more Alex.

 

[Steve Jones]

Nice duo of Churchills Windy. Will you be putting them on a base as per the photo?

 

[Guest]

Nice to see this Alex. They look like very nice kits.

 

[Guest]

Hi Alex,
I have the same trouble with Shermans, open the box, stir the contents, close the box and move on...
Good to see the old Churchill getting some air time, and twoo at the same time - well done.
Just had a quick browse through the Mike Starmer book and I would say you are on safe ground with 'Light Mud' as your base colour. But the mix he quotes is -
6 x Humbrol Sand 187
1 x Humbrol Slate Grey 31
1 x Humbrol White 34
(credit to M. Starmer)
Hope this helps.
Mike.

 

[Windy]

Thanks guys. Unfortunately had to go into work today but will update later. As to putting on a base, probably not together as the differences are too pronounced. The PSC one is more an experiment in weathering but I might see what I can do with the Dragon version.

 

[Windy]

Hi Alex,
I have the same trouble with Shermans, open the box, stir the contents, close the box and move on...
Good to see the old Churchill getting some air time, and twoo at the same time - well done.
Just had a quick browse through the Mike Starmer book and I would say you are on safe ground with 'Light Mud' as your base colour. But the mix he quotes is -
6 x Humbrol Sand 187
1 x Humbrol Slate Grey 31
1 x Humbrol White 34
(credit to M. Starmer)
Hope this helps.
Mike.

Thanks Mike. I think it's darker than that, though it's hard to tell from the original photos. They're slightly over-exposed which gives everything a greenish tinge and besides that the tanks are completely covered in dust. I fiddled around with hue on this one and I reckon it's either SCC 2 or SCC 15. Probably the latter. What do you think?

View attachment 380823

 

[Windy]

Hi all. Managed to escape from work as there's bugger all going on so a quick update. I decided to leave this one in SCC 2. I gave the whole thing a wash of very dark brown (almost black) then a heavy dry-brushing with the base colour. Then I picked out the details again and gave the tracks, machine guns and tow cables a dry brush with oily steel. Then it was time for the decals.

View attachment 380874
View attachment 380875
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[The Smythe Meister]

I`m a bit late!
That looks excellent Windy,i love the finish you`ve managed to achieve paintwise :thumb2: ,
The washes worked well,and the details pop for sure........ hard believe it`s 1/72nd,
Top work mate.
Cheers,
Andy

 

[scottie3158]

Alex,
That is seriously nice that is a lovely detailed kit.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Mike. I think it's darker than that, though it's hard to tell from the original photos. They're slightly over-exposed which gives everything a greenish tinge and besides that the tanks are completely covered in dust. I fiddled around with hue on this one and I reckon it's either SCC 2 or SCC 15. Probably the latter. What do you think?

I agree it looks to be 'green'. But for the period you are talking and depicting I would stick with the 'Mud'. But then again when was this photo actually taken? As the vehicles that were sent to Algeria went in green (15). And I like the way you have finished off your version.
Mike.

 

[Windy]

I agree it looks to be 'green'. But for the period you are talking and depicting I would stick with the 'Mud'. But then again when was this photo actually taken? As the vehicles that were sent to Algeria went in green (15). And I like the way you have finished off your version.
Mike.

Thanks guys! I'll get pictures of the weathering up in a bit.

Mike, the photos were taken in July 1944. 51st RTR stayed in North Africa for nearly a year after the Tunisian campaign finished and handed over their old Mk III's before sailing for Italy in April '44, where they were re-equipped with Mk IV's on arrival in Naples. SCC 15 became the new service colour around the same time, superceding all camouflage colours with the exception of SCC 2. So unless they were already in the latter colour I think they would have been repainted.

 

[Steven000]

Very nice work Alex, especially since it's 1/72! :thumb2:
Steven

 

[Windy]

The final stage for this one was weathering with powdered artists pastels. I used a mixture of yellow ochre, white and vandyke brown mixed up with white spirit. I gave it a thin wash on the upper surfaces and built it up quite thickly on the running gear and sides of the hull. Then I used a stiff brush to scrub it off in places and a slightly damp brush to create a streaked effect, especially on the turret sides. I was trying to replicate the filthy look of the vehicles in the original photo.

The start of the process:
View attachment 380902

And the final result posed against an old ammo box which is painted Service Brown (SCC 2). You can see how much the dust alters the colour!
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Time to make a start on the Dragon version now. Watch this space!

 

[tr1ckey66]

Hi Alex
Mighty fine Churchill. Looking forward to seeing it's brother. BTW, I see the Sherman lurking in the background and it's almost crying out to be finished!!!
Nice work

Paul

 

[Neil Merryweather]

Very nice indeed,Alex :thumb2:

 

[Windy]

Thanks guys! And don't worry Paul, the Sherman is not abandoned. I was just having some issues with it that resulted in a temporary suspension. These Churchills are getting me back into the swing again.

 

[Guest]

I reckon it's either SCC 2 or SCC 15. Probably the latter. What do you think?

July 1944 in Italy? I would go with SCC 2. The order for SCC 15 only came in April that year, off the top of my head, with the proviso that existing stocks of SCC 2 were to be exhausted first and vehicles should only be repainted when it was actually necessary. The Italian front being a backwater, I doubt it would have been high on the list for shipments of SCC 15.