I’ve been preoccupied with quite a bit of personal admin recently, so I’ve been reduced to commenting, not building. My latest task has involved the onerous Application of Probate prompted by my Dad’s demise late last year, which at long last, now appears to be coming to fruition. To restart the modelling juices I’ve shelved a couple of schemes and resurrected this one, the mighty Conqueror, itself sadly half-started some time ago.
I plan to depict it as on the ranges, partly inspired by this reference picture:
I hope to be able to show a shell case being ejected to add a bit of interest.
A bit of the background scenario:
The year is 1957; post the Suez debacle the previous year, the Army is trying to get back to a state of steady jogging; Conqueror was introduced in 1955 – to deal with the Soviet 122mm gun threat (viz JS-3, T-10, ISU 122, et al) in NATO’s Central Region - and the Royal Armoured Corps are still working hard to train crews on the new tank. The Mk 2 version is being issued to the armoured regiments in BAOR. Meanwhile, back at the RAC Centre, Mk 1s labour on in the training regiment. This doesn’t imply that the training regime was slacking; in the previous year the Soviet Union had given a sharp reminder to European nations and the US that it would impose its will wherever it deemed it necessary, in this case Hungary, all a reminder to those forces contributing to NATO.
A dry run of the plan; the figures are not the ones that will be used in the final portrayal; the secondary vehicle is the Austin Champ (courtesy of Accurate Armour) and will be modelled as if the Officer Commanding the Gunnery Wing has come to see how the shooting is going on. Note; I am not even sure if the Gunnery Wing had an OC back then, or even if it was known as the “Gunnery Wing” but bear with me(!):
And some construction shots; I had to paint some areas as I went:
I used Friuls as the kit ones were not the click-together type Amusing Hobby later provided.
A few mods: a metal gun barrel from Aber. A tape and card sleeve around the cable reel, and an etched buckle - not really visible. A replacement MG from Academy, and a scratched range flag (plastic rod and masking tape) inserted into the hatch support/stop, modelled as lashed to the support (fuse-wire); I’ve since found out that this support housed a release catch mechanism so the flag would probably have just been inserted, however, given the unforgiving nature of super-glue I’m afraid it’s staying where it is and as shown. I also added lead wire to replace the rather weedy conduits for the smoke dischargers.
Mantlet cover from Milliput, though not one of my better efforts.
Another view of the turret, showing the ejection port and the Fire Control Turret
More to follow in due course.
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