...when this 1/48th armour bug bites it bites hard doesn't it!

Well the Mk.I Universal Carrier is in hand thanks to feedback from this forum, thanks to all that replied, my niece and nephew bought me a belated birthday present yesterday, the Tamiya Crusader Mk.I/II, being a perverse type I figured I'd try to backdate it to represent an early Mk.I to go with the early U/C...

There are two sets on the market, each providing different variations on the Mk.I, the Battalion Bits set and the recent MR Modellbau set, anyone have any comments as to which would be more suitable? The MR set seems to include things like the early pattern small headlamps, but also has the early air filters too, the Battalion Bits set omits the headlamps and filter boxes but has the virtue of being slightly cheaper and I've always liked the quality of Mike Belchers aircraft details and kits.

Anyone have any comparisons or comments on the two? From the pics I've found online Mikes set seems to fit the bill but as always being an aircraft modeller my references are pretty thin on the ground.

The kit by the way is a little beauty and I find myself having to treat the kids to a visit to the pictures now to see the new Transformers movie out of gratitude

Regards.

Les/J99 ex-Jackal Squadron Webmaster

I have the Battalion Bits set (purchased from Meeta right here on Tr48), but I haven't installed it on the Crusader yet. The parts are nicely moulded, no problem that I can see. One thing, though, the illustration shows early pattern sand shields which are NOT included. There is a paper pattern for them, however. And making a set from plastic card shouldn't be a challenge.

...the sandshields were the bit I was wondering about and are the feature I wanted to include, plastic sheet should do the job.

Regards.

Les/J99 ex-Jackal Squadron Webmaster

Hi Les I have both sets and although the Batalion set is good the MR set is so much better as you get the options on the MG turret, drivers hood, Mantlet, air filters, track guards and complete wheels so in my opinion it is a more complete option (sorry Mike)

Thats what I was after, someone who could offer advice on both sets, like I said Mikes aircraft stuff has always impressed me, but the MR set looked more complete, it's just that the images on the website are a bit poor to judge the quality.

Many thanks for the info.

While I've got you, I noticed the Kengi A13 you have in the gallery, I'm quite keen on one of these and was wondering if you had any comments about the quality of the casting and how it built up? The new 11/39 looks excellent, is the A13 to the same kind of standard?

Regards.

Les/J99 ex-Jackal Squadron Webmaster

Les, buy any Kengi kit with complete confidence. I have the Grant conversion, Staghound, a couple of the Stuarts and the A13, and they are all beautifully mastered and produced. The instructions are photocopied photographs so a bit hard to work out sometimes, but otherwise they make up really well. I can't think that lovely Italian tank will be any different!!

Tim

www.fighting48th.com

of Ken's new M11/39 is probably molded in one-piece major assemblies with perhaps the wheels added. I would suspect the assembly will be fairly normal. With resin, you can get enough undercuts and fine detail you sometimes don't have to mold everything separately. It is a beauty, isn't it?

As you can see I've not only got the 48th bug bad but also developed a soft spot for all things British! That will be down to the Tillys and UC's!

Cheers, much obliged to you for the information. I'll drop Ken an e-mail.

Regards.

Les/J99 ex-Jackal Squadron Webmaster

I agree with Tim, and have to say the A13 is one of those put the glue in the box and shake kindof things there were no dramas to it at all it also has Ken's soft rubbery track sections to make fitting easy