Military Model Scene

The Churchill 3in Gun Carrier was born out of a War Office requirement to find a way of up-gunning the Churchill to improve on the 6 pounder gun as the turret ring of the Churchill didn't allow for a larger main gun.  The proposal was to fit a (obsolete) 3in anti-aircraft gun in a ball mount in a fixed, boxlike superstructure.  100 guns were allocated to the project and a pilot vehicle was satisfactorily tested in 1942.  However, developments with the 17 pounder and Challenger along with the use of the general purpose 75mm gun in the Sherman and the Churchill gun tank led to the Gun Carrier being shelved.  There were 50 examples actually built but as far as we know they were not used in combat.  There are a number of wrecks that have been recovered (from range targets in particular) so maybe one day we may see one fully restored.

Cast in polyurethane resin, the main hull and track units are an impressive single piece casting.  Additional parts are details such as the hatches, the gun barrel, side stowage boxes, driver's visor, rear fuel drum and cover for the exhausts.  The only significant task is to remove the casting plugs from the bottom run of track, the rest is quite simple clean-up.  So the detail is excellent and beautifully cast while assembly is quick and simple.  No instructions are provided (always common to Cromwell kits) but checking out some reference photos freely available on the internet is all you need if you are uncertain about anything.

It's a resin model so a coat of primer is needed before you add your paint scheme.  I use Halfords Grey acrylic primer from a spray can which is readily available and then gave it a coat of British Khaki Drab using another spray can from The Plastic Soldier Company in their War Sprays range.  Tracks and the black camouflage were brush painted using Lifecolor acrylics plus a coat of Ammo of Mig Jiminez Track Wash on the tracks and a Brown Wash for Green vehicles over the whole AFV (excluding the tracks).  It just remains for me to decide on potential markings and some final weathering.

Another addition to the Cromwell Models range of 1/72 resin models.  They have been awkward to get hold of in recent years, but Matador Models do keep a selection in stock, and it was from their stand at the MAFVA Nationals (the 2018 event) where I managed to get hold of my example.  The colours are 'representative' as it never went into front line service.

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Robin