Cromwell Mk 4 1:16 scratch build Ludwig kit

[43rdRecceReg]

Thanks for the generous support, Alwyn and Painless...hic, hic. Here's a minor update to the Cupola. I rubbed it down and gave it a light coat of olive drab. Minor imperfections will disappear beneath final coats of paint later. In fact, fine abrasion marks are consistent with the rough and ready surface of the real thing, anyway. Looks like I won't have to use much Mr Surfacer

One light coat of Olive drab later...

Thing about this Humbrol No 155 Olive Drab, is that it looks like the US no. 9 Olive drab on US tanks, as well as the Shermans supplied to the UK. No major model paint maker actually makes the SCC15 Olive drab used on all British tanks between 1944-45, although Humbrol do an enamel version, I think. Then again, I understand that Enamel and Acrylic don't make for a happy marriage
Update:.... I have just noticed that 'Ammo Mig Jimenez' apparently produces an acrylic version of the paint. Thing is, I've never heard of Mig Jimenez. Anyone tried his paints?

[c.rainford73]

Thanks for the generous support, Alwyn and Painless...hic, hic. Here's a minor update to the Cupola. I rubbed it down and gave it a light coat of olive drab. Minor imperfections will disappear beneath final coats of paint later. In fact, fine abrasion marks are consistent with the rough and ready surface of the real thing, anyway. Looks like I won't have to use much Mr Surfacer

Cupola Update.jpeg

Thing about this Humbrol No 155 Olive Drab, is that it looks like the US no. 9 Olive drab on US tanks, as well as the Shermans supplied to the UK. No major model paint maker actually makes the SCC15 Olive drab used on all British tanks between 1944-45, although Humbrol do an enamel version, I think. Then again, I understand that Enamel and Acrylic don't make for a happy marriage
Update:.... I have just noticed that 'Ammo Mig Jimenez' apparently produces an acrylic version of the paint. Thing is, I've never heard of Mig Jimenez. Anyone tried his paints?

I've yet to use his paints but he has a lot of information about his products on YouTube and many people rave about them

There is one series of videos about him and his products at a model Expo.

https://youtu.be/SEVBp530bEU

I actually just ordered some washes from him that are enamel based.

Excellent work there on your build

[43rdRecceReg]

Thanks for that, Carl

Got a little distracted there by the female sporting the leather jacket, and wearing the illegally tight pants. That's dangerous for someone of my advanced years She looks like Mig's acrylic groupie, and modelling cheer-leader. Nonetheless, he certainly seems to command some considerable respect. Maybe I'll give his paints a spin....

[c.rainford73]

Thanks for that, Carl

Beautiful Cromwell Mr 43rdRR

[43rdRecceReg]

I'm just working on a few domestic details whilst waiting for a variety of nylon spacers to arrive, for aligning the suspension. A note of caution here, for anyone contemplating building the Cromwell or Comet, I've found it tricky to fit the sprockets and idlers with the mudguards in place. . To remove the sprockets, it's necessary to remove the gearbox first, or there's a danger of fouling- and even damaging- the mudguards. If I did this again, I'd be tempted to put hinges in the guards...
First detail. The Cromwell has some sort of access plate on the back of the turret. Maybe it's there to facilitate installing the gun. Whatever it's for, it needs to be made from scratch:

Access plate from rear of turret

Next, some 2mm hex bolt heads. Cutting these is annoyingly like Tiddlywinks..ping..wheee... I've learned to roll and cut them simultaneously, to avoid peppering the room with hex plastic...

Turret access cover. Compass hole to be filled later

this is where it goes:

Access plate in place

On the top of the Turret, the Cromwell has a small stretched oblate port for launching defensive grenades. It's next to a periscope on the left (seen from the front). Again, it's something I have to make although Chris sells
a metal version:

Defence portal in metal

I've had to guess the scale by comparing the component with other parts (like the periscope, for instance) Scaled up on the real thing..this would make an 8in aperture; easily enough to launch a 2in grenade!

Creating defence portal in styrene

Little spectacle repair vice always handy..

The little vice I bought for repairing watches and specs is a little treasure. I thought I would be free of vices at my age; but I appear to be acquiring more and more of them
While that's drying, I'll bond the Mantlet support brackets to gather, and fit them in the Turret. I may need to modify them later when the recoil unit I've ordered finally arrives

Mantlet brackets..

Then glued into the turret:

Mantlet support pivots fitted..

I have also cut out and fitted floors to the turret storage bins (not an easy task; but they were a perfect fit in the end). The storage bins/units are meant to be glued to the mudguards/trackguards but I opted to fit them to the sides of the upper hull. This way, once the hinged lids are fitted, they can actually be used for small scale storage More importantly, I can put a concealed screw in the bins either side of the upper hull to hold the upper and lower hulls together. Or, I could contrive to do it with inbuilt (and concealed) magnets

Storage bins now have independent bases

[c.rainford73]

Excellent work Coming along nicely

[43rdRecceReg]

A wee bit more. I've been busy fitting 2mm. 1.5mm and 1mm hex heads to the Cromwell to give it that characteristic Industrial Revolution chic look..or is perhaps Stephenson's Rocket...anyway, it's very time consuming.
Pity I didn't opt for the later welded version

Hex hell..

Also fitted some tyres to the Cromwell wheels. No jack needed, luckily or AA man..

Getting a grip..not a gripe

Here's view of the sprockets (temporarily) in place, as well as a fairly full complete of bolt heads on the Tank's sides. I based the number loosely, as well as the configuration, on the Cromwell at Bovington... I like the fact that Bovvy Cromwell looks a bit rough and ready, as there's no doubt than mine is going to look just a bit 'lived in' too...

Cromwell with sprockets and bolt heads..

Sorry about the barrel droop. Nothing to do with beer; but everything to do with it not being attached to a recoil unit. If I'd opted for the 95mm howitzer barrelled version, it would have been possible to fit an airsoft unit inside, I think. Maybe I'll do that with the Comet, if I happen to buy that kit..

[tomhugill]

Make sure you threadlock those bolts in when they go in properly, mine worked loose almost immediately!

[Dr Phibes]

I would just like to say, this has been a fascinating build to follow. Watching this fabulous, and quite uncommon, tank emerge from a few sheets of styrene has been truly riveting (no pun intended). Really excellent work 43rd and a credit to your sizable scale modelling skills. And I agree about the those sprockets, they are almost just too gorgeous to paint (but I think I would, eventually ).

As a relative newcomer to RC tanks I did notice the shortfall in British armour in particular (in 1:16 RC at least) so I think it is really a good thing that people like Chris of Ludwig's put so much work into creating these kits and builders/modellers like yourself take the time to show us how to go about creating a stunning tank from them. To be honest I would love to see some WW1 tanks kits (and/or RC tanks) surface too as, at present, there just seems to be next to nothing of the kind in 1:16, RC or otherwise.

Anyway, keep up the great work 43rd, I'm looking forward to seeing how you take this project through to completion

[43rdRecceReg]

Make sure you threadlock those bolts in when they go in properly, mine worked loose almost immediately!

Thanks for the tip, Tom, there's nothing like letting others learn the hard way.... for you, eh?! Don't forget to post some pics of your Cromwell's Turret inner works...