KevinT Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 This is the new Airfix 1/35th scale Cromwell Mk IV kit no. A1373. The road wheels were replaced with Sovereign 2000 Cromwell/Challenger ( damaged tyres ) kit no. S2KA013 as these have the correct number of wheel nuts 8 as opposed to 6 on the Airfix kit. I also replaced the majority of the turret and side plates from a Tamiya Cromwell, kit no. 35221, as these had the 4 bolts on the pistol port as oppose to none on the kit part. I also added a turret bin from the spares box. The tracks are the rubber flexible tracks, the kit gives the option of a choice of link and length too. I am undecided as to which to use yet as I also have a couple of sets of Hobby Boss Cromwell tracks, kit no. 81004, individual links. HB suggests 123 links per side where as Airfix has 121 on the link and length set but this is where the track rests on the top of the middle 3 wheels. All it needs now is some wiring to the spot light and side lights, the hawser adding ( no cord/twine provided in the kit ), aerials and possibly the cowling. Now to painting and marking. Despite the issues with the road wheels and pistol port to name a few it was all in all nice build with no fit issues at all even with Tamiya and Sovereign replaced parts. Hopefully Airfix will release other Cromwell/Centaur versions such as AA, ARV and dozer WITH CORRECTED PARTS – Airfix if you are listening. Cheers Kevin 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinT Posted April 12, 2021 Author Share Posted April 12, 2021 This is T189511 ACHILLES A Sqn 5 Troop 1st Royal Tank Regiment, 22nd Armoured Brigade, 7th Armoured Division. In the end I went with the Hobby Boss individual track links which although a pain to complete had little or no clean up required as the Airfix had sink marks on all of the individual links and regular sink marks on the length pieces. None of the stowage has been secured down as I am not sure of the layout as yet. Despite the issues with the wheels and the turret the rest of the kit was a nice build with little or no other issues. Cheers Kevin 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rootes75 Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 Looking very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinT Posted April 13, 2021 Author Share Posted April 13, 2021 Hi, Thank you. It was a fun build despite the various issues with details. Cheers Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzkpfw-e Posted April 14, 2021 Share Posted April 14, 2021 Most impressive. Weathered realistically too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzkpfw-e Posted April 14, 2021 Share Posted April 14, 2021 Most impressive. Weathered realistically too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinT Posted April 15, 2021 Author Share Posted April 15, 2021 14 hours ago, Pzkpfw-e said: Most impressive. Weathered realistically too. Thank you. A nice build despite its issues. Cheers Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barzi Posted May 3, 2021 Share Posted May 3, 2021 Hi Kevin This is brilliant, good job on it! Is there any reason you put the markings on to make is T189511 ACHILLES? The reason I ask is that I have been helping a friend research her family history and this specific tank is a part of that history. I've not been able to locate any photos of it yet and this is the closest. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinT Posted May 3, 2021 Author Share Posted May 3, 2021 Hi Unfortunately I don't have a photo either, at least I haven't come across one yet. If I come across one I will post a link to it. The only other piece of info I can add is that one of the crew was a Sgt. W. Tibbles. Cheers Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barzi Posted May 4, 2021 Share Posted May 4, 2021 Thanks Kevin, Here is some further research about the tank you made the model of. 1 RTR landed in Normandy on Gold Beach on 07/06/1944 (D+1) as part of 22 Armoured Brigade. By 10/06/1944 XXX Corps, of which 22 Brigade were part, had linked up with US Forces advancing from Omaha Beach. On 14/06/1944 1RTR were in a blocking position holding an area around the village of Briquessard (West of Caen) facing a Panzer counter attack from the south. During the battle T189511 "Achilles" of A Sqn was knocked out by enemy action. Three of the five crew were killed in action. They were Sgt Walter Charles Tibbles (7884989) of Daglingworth, Gloucestershire who was the commander. He was known as Jack to his family and on the local war memorial. He was newly married when he died aged 29. Trooper Albert Foxcroft (3455962) of Everton, Liverpool was 24 years old and married. Trooper Wilfred Edward Swift (4615818) aged 28 from Holmfirth, Yorkshire and married. All three are buried in the Bayeux War Cemetery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinT Posted May 4, 2021 Author Share Posted May 4, 2021 Hi, Thanks for the additional crew names, I will add them to the crew name list against this tank. I am still searching for where I got Sgt. Tibbles name. I thought I had found Achilles in a film on the IWM film collection but it was from 2nd Northamptonshire Yeomanry. I will check all the individual Cromwell photos but it think I have done that once already. I will try the British Pathe and Critical Past sites. If I find it I will let you know. The reason I chose Achilles from 1st Royal Tank Regiment is that I like to use names from my database and fancied something different from the options provided for the Airfix kit. As I don't have a photo as yet I cannot confirm that the location of the name on the front and the census number on the turret side are correct. Cheers Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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