Hi Guys,
As mentioned in my other dio thread 'the road to bardia' I'm currently at a stop on that one while I sort out some scenic materials, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to introduce this one
This is 'Breaking the Hitler Line' and the intention is to depict a small vignet of events immediately prior to an assault on the line by the Canadian 1st Infantry Division.
The division was supported by the British 25th independent tank brigade, part of which were the Churchills of the North Irish Horse. The brigade was to be of such assistance to the Canadians that after the line was breached and the battle won, their Commanding Officer would award the brigade the right to add the white maple leaf to their brigade black diablo insignia
The build began as a desire to dipict ASHBOURNE a Churchill MkIcs. ASHBOURNE was one of a pair of Churchill MkIcs tanks modified in North Africa to change the turret 2pdr for an additional 3in Howitzer (not to be confused with the more standardised version where the turret and hull gun were simply trasnposed)
Perhaps more interestingly though, in response to the complaints of commanders who had to try and command their tank while 'buttoned up' during mortar attacks using only two periscopes, the REME workshops in North Africa grafted on ARV cuppolas to these two tanks from PzIIIs
Here is ASHBOURNE
and her sister tank (and the only other MkIcs in this configuration) BUSHMILLS
and here is my build of Ashbourne using the Tamiya MkVII converted with an International Models Asia MkI conversion, AFV Club MkIII parts, Accurate Armour heavy track and a little scratch work:
and painted:
MORE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
As mentioned in my other dio thread 'the road to bardia' I'm currently at a stop on that one while I sort out some scenic materials, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to introduce this one
This is 'Breaking the Hitler Line' and the intention is to depict a small vignet of events immediately prior to an assault on the line by the Canadian 1st Infantry Division.
The division was supported by the British 25th independent tank brigade, part of which were the Churchills of the North Irish Horse. The brigade was to be of such assistance to the Canadians that after the line was breached and the battle won, their Commanding Officer would award the brigade the right to add the white maple leaf to their brigade black diablo insignia
The build began as a desire to dipict ASHBOURNE a Churchill MkIcs. ASHBOURNE was one of a pair of Churchill MkIcs tanks modified in North Africa to change the turret 2pdr for an additional 3in Howitzer (not to be confused with the more standardised version where the turret and hull gun were simply trasnposed)
Perhaps more interestingly though, in response to the complaints of commanders who had to try and command their tank while 'buttoned up' during mortar attacks using only two periscopes, the REME workshops in North Africa grafted on ARV cuppolas to these two tanks from PzIIIs
Here is ASHBOURNE
and her sister tank (and the only other MkIcs in this configuration) BUSHMILLS
and here is my build of Ashbourne using the Tamiya MkVII converted with an International Models Asia MkI conversion, AFV Club MkIII parts, Accurate Armour heavy track and a little scratch work:
and painted:
MORE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
