1/35 Cromwell Mk.IV
This is the Tamiya kit that dates from 1997. It's also the first armor model that I've posted here on imodeler. I actually started it several years ago and ran out of steam to complete for various reasons.
I spent January happily working away on my Hasegawa Lancaster kit until the famous Polar Vortex hit Chicago on the 31st. I was at the painting stage with the Lanc, but really didn't feel like airbrushing and exhausting heat out of my basement workshop with outside temperatures of -28F. Not one to waste modeling time, I pulled this kit out that had already been sprayed with its basic paint job! I intended to do a bit of work on it and get back to the Lancaster. I started having so much fun, that I just finished it. It's built pretty much out of the box except for the Hessian tape camouflage netting and some stowage that I added from a couple of aftermarket sets that I picked up. I also added some railroad chain to the bow of tank. I made the nets from Pegasus netting and Tamiya tape strips, cut and painted with various greens. The entire model was painted with Humbrol enamels. It's finished as a 2nd Battalion, Welsh Guards vehicle from the Market Garden timeframe. I'm not a very good figure painter and decided to hold off painting the commander until I study up a bit! This was a lot of fun and I have a couple other armor projects in mind to tackle in the near future. Up until now, I've been good for one tank kit per decade. The last two were a King Tiger built in 2005 and an Is-2 Stalin done in 1995. Thanks for looking.
That is one awesome looking Cromwell, John! Congrats for pulling it off after so many years!
Thanks, Michael. It’s an interesting vehicle with those enormous bolts on the turret armor.
Wow wow wow. What a wonderful model. A great job.
Thank you!
For not building armor all that often, you really knocked this one out of the park ! I especially like the camouflage wrap on the main gun barrel, and stored on the rear fender.
As a former US Army tanker, I can say from personal experience that yours looks spot on... I say go for it and build up some more.
Like you I have several armor builds planned for this year. Once in a while it's a welcome change to build something different. Two thumbs up my friend !
"liked"
Thanks, Louis! Compliments coming from a guy who operated these things is much appreciated. I just researched images of Cromwells and studied up on armor techniques online. I ended up doing this real old school, Shep Paine style. A style that I really admire. One thing I noticed is that these Welsh Guards Cromwells seemed to carry less stowage then Shermans. Maybe because they were the reconnaissance element of the Guards Armored Division? Anyways, I tried to make it interesting without loading it up unrealistically. Thanks again!
John, this is excellent, I really like the overall look and especially the nice touch with the weathering. Well done !
Thanks Terry!
Good looking Cromwell Chuck, nicely done.
Thanks, Tom.
Excellent target you achieved there!
Thanks, Greg.
I finally painted the figure!
Great looking Cromwell, it really has a realistic hint on it, well done