If that's the Churchill AVRE (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) it's been out for a year or so. Picked mine up when it first came out, very complex working running gear that will take a lot of work to get right but looks like a really nice kit overall. Now if I can only find some time to build the thing..... 

I believe Masterbox is coming out with a set of British sappers with mine clearing equipment that would look great with her.

Honestly, people say the KV 2 is ugly.

Is it true that the mortar spigot had to be loaded externally?

Gamera

If that's the Churchill AVRE (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) it's been out for a year or so. Picked mine up when it first came out, very complex working running gear that will take a lot of work to get right but looks like a really nice kit overall. Now if I can only find some time to build the thing..... 

I believe Masterbox is coming out with a set of British sappers with mine clearing equipment that would look great with her.

It actually looks like the new Mk V Churchill from AFV Club with the 95mm gun.

So any idea if the small box girder (SBG) bridge will be kitted as either an accessory set, or be included in a future boxing?  I know it will be stupendously huge, but what a kit that would be!  (I know Resicat has a conversion set, but I would like one in plastic.)  One of my Holy Grail kits.

And yes, the mortar had to be manually loaded from the outside of the turret.  I would not fancy that job while the vehicle was taking fire.  Which is usually when the mortar needs to be reloaded!  Man those Brits knew how to make frustrating weapons.

That is a Churchill CS armed with the 95mm Close Support howitzer, not the Churchill AVRE with the Petard mortar.

Sorry, my mistake.

Now I know.

And knowing is half the battle.

(The other half is waiting for AFV Club to do the AVRE w/ SBG bridge.)

AFV already has two different Churchill AVRE kis. Different Mk base hulls IIRC. This is just another welcome addition to thier growing Churchill line up. A bridgelayer would be great too... all of the "funnies" would be great I think. No need to say sorry. the CS and basic AVRE do look quite similar with their short gun tubes

Ugly can be cool......

stikpusher

AFV already has two different Churchill AVRE kis. Different Mk base hulls IIRC. This is just another welcome addition to thier growing Churchill line up. A bridgelayer would be great too... all of the "funnies" would be great I think. No need to say sorry. the CS and basic AVRE do look quite similar with their short gun tubes

Mike & SP: Sorry guys, with the crazy looking gun barrel yeah I just assumed it was the AVRE

Though I think the AVRE is even more butt ugly than this AFV.

Stickpusher,

I'd also like to see some funnies, especially the Sherman Crab.  I figure DML would be the company that could figure out a way to make those giant bicycle chain flails.  Not so much to make them flop around, but rather to allow the builder to drape them realistically before brushing on the liquid glue.  Yeah, I know Resicast has a conversion (I had both it and the SBG bridge kits right in front of me at a vendor's table, but decided against buying them.)

I had heard that AFV Club will be doing a Churchill NA75, aonother one to get.

Real G

Stickpusher,

I'd also like to see some funnies... 

Manstein,

Oh ha ha!  Personally, I like "Pearls Before Swine".  Gotta love them stupid crocs, always plotting against their "zeeba neighbor".

I should have said "British funnies".  Then we'd see something British.  And military.  (Someone cue the Monty Python skit please.)

The Petard Mortar's projectile has a nickname of the "flying dustbin". It was spring loaded which is why the crewman had to load it from the outside. It was more for use in destroying emplacements than in fighting in combat.

The British usually had a CS (close support) vehicle armed with the 95mm (3.7 in howitzer) in each company. This was becaue the 2 and 6 pounder guns that these vehicles originally were equipped with did not have an HE shell. We thought different and the Sherman with the 75mm gun had an excellent HE shell to suppress anti-tank guns and infantry.

Mike T.

After Christmas I may buy one of the AFV Club's Churchill's.  Definitely look cool.  Although I wish they would make a proto-type variant armed with the 17 pounder, the "Black Prince".  If other manufacturers can make "paper panzers", they should be able to make proto-type allied armour too.  I know that some resin company used to make this kit but I'd like/prefer it in plastic.

woodrow76

 If other manufacturers can make "paper panzers", they should be able to make proto-type allied armour too. 

yup... from the stuff coming out of Japan and China, would think the Hitlerites won the war At least Academy and AFV give us the armor that DID win the war without drowning us is paper panzers or the overtime production batch of St Pauli Girl Day Febuary 30th Mk IVs...

Personally, most British tanks rank about the same as new/old Japanese tanks on my "gotta have" list.

A big "MEH?" on this one for me.

stikpusher

woodrow76:

 If other manufacturers can make "paper panzers", they should be able to make proto-type allied armour too. 

yup... from the stuff coming out of Japan and China, would think the Hitlerites won the war At least Academy and AFV give us the armor that DID win the war without drowning us is paper panzers or the overtime production batch of St Pauli Girl Day Febuary 30th Mk IVs...

Personally i'll take another new Panzer over a British tin can or a ronson any day. Unless it is in German markings that is.

 I am sure theres a couple of Paper panzers that haven't been covered yet.