RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

[FredtheFrench]

Like me, Knupfer is your favorite shop???

[lmcq11]

Like me, Knupfer is your favorite shop???

Spent $300 in brass and aluminum stuff last month, and I am always missing something…

[FredtheFrench]

Spent $300 in brass and aluminum stuff last month, and I am always missing something…



Welcome in my world...

[lmcq11]

Hi, the following 2 posts are for the air intakes.

View of a Churchill Mk III air intake attached to each side.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

The Ludwig kit is providing parts for a Mk Vii, which has those 3 plates on top, the rest is similar.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

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View of the AFV Club kit Dieppe air intake, with attachment detail for the grill and also for the deep wading equipment, on option.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

View of the Ludwig kit parts for the air intake, its always a fun exercise to investigate what we have, verify dimensions, see how the puzzle fits together, and then decide what to use or discard.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

Its turns out the part are quite good, dimensions and shape. This is how it should always be. The main part with the pre-drilled Mk VII exterior plates shown earlier is reused by simply flipping it over with the flat back surface now exposed, a common trick that i often use to get rid of pre-drilled details or positioning holes that i do not like. All the braces that normally fits the positioning holes on the Ludwig hull are removed.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

Not sure why but the two inside part for the funnels going up are not provided, or at least i did not find them on any sprues. These need to be scratch built. All parts needed some rework and adjustments, but dimensions are good, which is really the only thing i ask for.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

The Churchill grills have a very specific long pattern that i did not find a way to authentically reproduce. The best thing i had was square mesh. It will have to do.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

Brass L shaped metal strips are used for the frame around the mesh grill.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

The core body of the air intakes are done.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

After some scratch detailing for small features seen on the AFV club kit, the air intakes are finished and ready for installation on the tank.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

Continuing on following post.

[lmcq11]

Walk around of the completed air intakes mounted on the hull.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

Regards, Louis

[lmcq11]

Hi,
The following posts are for the upper deck.

Overview of the 1/35 AFV Clup upper deck. As the Churchill deck is usually loaded with other equipment, the builder will never have a better view and measurements of what to reproduce.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

Checking the Ludwig kit parts for the upper deck. Sadly, not many items can be used. Items from the driver/machine gunner area can be reused, the rest has to be trashed as dimensions and shapes are not good, at least for a Mk III.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

Ludwig had centered the driver's hatch. They need to be reworked and shifted to the right as seen in references and 1/35 kit next to it.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

What is this The main deck part is designed to sit on top of the side armor edge and is way too large for it anyway. It also makes the hull 3mm to high. The parts need to be totally reworked so that the upper deck fit within the side armor's edges. I assume the wings were meant as support for the Track guards.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

View of the raised driver and machine gunner's hatches on the AFV Club kit. Notice the position of the upper deck within the side armor, not sitting on top.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

The Ludwig parts for the raised hatches, shapes and dimensions are good.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

The front of the Ludwig upper deck is cut just before the turret ring. The dimensions for the hatches is good. The deck being too large allows the builder to cut what is required to reposition it to the right and inside the armor.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

I calculated that the front of the side armor just before the machine gun need to be brought back by about 2mm as it is too far upfront.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

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As the top side armor is now exposed, it is important to reproduce the thickness of the armor. I calculated the 3mm armor should be brought to 4.3mm in thickness using 1.5mm plasticard overlay and them some sanding to get to the right thickness and seamless joint.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

Driver's and machine gunner's section deck is positioned to be removable.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

Continuing on following post

[lmcq11]

Front view showing the support put in place for the upper deck which needs to remain removable.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

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Switching to the turret ring area. View of the AFV Club kit. Notice the size and thickness of the ring. There is also a plate that protrude to sides.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

All the Mk III structures were confirmed with visual

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

A new central plate is created in 3mm plasticard with shapes and measurements extrapolated from the 1/35 kit.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

The notch on the armor side is needed for the central plate protrusions, with some details seen under it.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

The central plate fits inside the hull like a puzzle.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

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RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

Switching to the rings.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

Rings of proper dimensions are planned, drawn, dimensions verified, double and triple checked. You do not want to do these rings twice. The turret ring needs to be 4.3mm thick so i will use a 3mm and a 1.5mm plasticard glued in overlay with some sanding after.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

Rings are carved using a simple roundel cutter sold for a few dollars on Amazon. The blade itself is used when the plasticard is very thin. But on a 3mm plasticard like this, my trick to create roundels is to use the tool in reverse and slowly carve the roundel with the back of the blade, a 5 minutes job. This tool works best for large roundels. It is tricky to create small ones with it.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

continuing on following posts.

[lmcq11]

Hole on central plate is cut and the turret ring is installed.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

I will be using a large Vex Robotics wheel for turret rotation. Like the 1/35 kit, the sides under the deck need to be thinned a bit for the rotation wheel to turn.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

Turret ring installed. The inside roundels that were cut from the turret rings are kept for use later on the turret rotation system, they will match perfectly. Switching to the engine deck area.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

AFV Club kit view of the deck and 4 large hatches over the engine. Dimensions and shapes are extrapolated.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

The Ludwig parts. The hatches are too small. It is simpler to start from scratch than reuse this.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

The engine deck is 3mm thick and will be made of a 2mm base with a 1mm overlay with the details. The base is prepared and put in place.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

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It is very cramped under the hood. Good thing i earlier lowered the Mato gearbox a bit to position it better. It still needed some 0.5mm grinding on the plasticard area over the top motor in order for the deck base to fit in place.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

Deck plates and hatches are created in 1mm plasticard and glued on top of the base. And finally there was a last plate made in 3mm plasticard in between the engine and gearbox deck done earlier. All area of the upper deck are removable and slide firmly in place, no need for magnets.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

Overview of the upper deck structure.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

continuing on following post.

[lmcq11]

It is really starting to look like a Churchill Mk III chassis.

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

RC 1/16 Churchill Mk III - Dieppe Raid 1942 - Build

Next step, the bow driver's hatch and machine gun area.

Regards, Louis

[TheCrow3333]

Hi Louis,

i love your build. Very well and clean build. Your sense for the details is great.
I´m building an Churchill aswell. I chosed an MK VII. I designed the Model myself and Ludwig only cut the alloysheets for me.
I haven't come as far as you have with your model, but I thing I´m on a good way

I enjoy to see your further steps.

best regards from germany,

Dennis