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 Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
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Hello all,
To my eye, the 'Matilda' MkIII/IV Infantry Tank is one of the prettiest British tanks ever to be built and certainly one of the best looking tanks from WWII - especially in the three colour ‘Caunter’ camouflage scheme, and I'm really looking forward to this build.
Some Type History:
During World War II, the British Army fielded slow, heavily armoured tanks, which were developed to support infantry advances. The ‘Matilda’, built by the Vulcan Foundry, was the second such infantry tank. Made from thick cast metal and rolled steel components it was, for the time, formidably protected, with 78mm frontal armour and had side armour that covered and protected the suspension. It had a crew of four, was armed with a 2-pdr main gun, it had a Japanese ‘bogie’ (not the sticky green stuff – LOL!!) type suspension for good low-speed performance, and two AEC diesel engines (from a London bus believe it or not!) which were located side by side and gave it a top speed of 24km/h. The Mk.II, which also featured an air-cooled coaxial machine gun in it’s armament, followed then followed initial Mk.1 variant. Newer Leyland diesel engines of 95hp, powered the Mk.III Matilda, which was introduced in 1940 and the later Mk.IV featured further improved engines with increased horsepower.
Matildas first saw major combat in May 1940, near the French town of Arras, where shells from German tanks and anti-tank guns simply bounced off the Matildas' thick armour as they disrupted the German advance. The Matilda was also sent to North Africa, where it swept aside Italian opponents (well that ain’t hard is it? Could of used a wheel barrow and a catapult to do that? LOL!) and was respectfully called “The Queen of the Desert” by German forces. During operation “Battleaxe” to lift the siege of Tobruk in Libya, in June 1941, German forces famously used their 88mm Anti-Aircraft guns in a near horizontal anti-tank role, since they were, at the time, the only effective counter against the heavily armoured Matilda tanks!! The Matilda was the British Armys’ main tank in North Africa until mid-1942 when British versions of several types of American-built tanks began to take over. Matilda production continued until August 1943, with many of the 2,890 examples produced by then being given over to Allied countries such as Russia, where they continued to perform well until the end of the Second World War.
The Model:
This is Tamiya’s brilliant little 1:35 scale ‘Matilda Mk.III/IV British Infantry Tank’, which is packed with detail as per the usual Tamiya style, comes with three different decal options and even includes three figures!! I think I'll be building this model with the figures as I have an idea for a diorama at some point in the future, so I'll be using them with that in mind. As far as any after market items goes, the model doesn’t really need any though I will be making use of the Eduard Photo-etch set which is available for it and maybe some stowage items from my spares box. Normally, I would also change the plastic kit barrel for a turned metal one, since most tank kit barrels are usually moulded in two halves longitudinally, which leaves an awkward seam to remove, but unusually this kits’ barrel is moulded (and pre-bored!) in one piece of plastic and looks rather good, so I may well stick with that, but I’ll wait and see. I would normally also replace the horrible ‘silicone rubber’ or ‘band’ type tracks that kit manufacturers normally include in their tanks models with the very nice but very expensive (more than the cost of the kit!) Fruilmodel cast metal tracks, but the tracks on this kit are very nicely sprue-moulded in hard plastic, with good detail and since most of the track is hidden behind the side armour on the Matilda, I think I’ll save myself some money and use the kit tracks this time!! For reference I’ll be using two very good books by ‘Osprey' which can be seen in the photos below. As far as choice of scheme goes, I love anything to do with 'The North Africa Campaign' and I really like the tan, green and pale blue ‘Caunter camouflage on the box top art, so that’s the version I’ll be doing. She was called ‘Phantom’ and was part of the 42nd Royal Tank Regiment, 1st Army Tank Brigade, which fought in the North Africa Campaign in 1941.
The photos below show the kit and its’ contents, the Eduard Photoetch set and my reference material for this build.
Well there you have it, the pretty little ‘Matilda’ Infantry Tank in 1:35 scale!!
Next update will see the start of some building work.
Please feel free to comment or criticise if you wish?
Kev 
ModelMania attached the following image(s):
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 Rank: Elite      Groups: Registered
Joined: 13/02/2011 Posts: 2,227 Points: 6,801 Location: UK
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Hi Kev, Just picked up your thread, a warm welcome back, you have been a way to long with your builds, I for one enjoy your work, so I am looking forward to seeing Matilda progress. Hope you are now settled and can show us your skills again. Regards Trev. Work in progress: Tombstone (Scratch) - San Francisco 2. -The Mayflower ( scratch by plan).
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Cracking little tank and a good kit, looking forward to seeing your build diary!!
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
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Looking forward to this as have a keen interest in tanks etc  and have this one in my loft somewhere.
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Hi Kev, Welcome back from me too! I've always liked the look of the old Matilda too and I'm looking forward to watching this one come together! You're right about the 88mm AA guns, apparently they were first used in that role during the Battle for France when the Matildas were keeping the Germans from reaching Dunkirk before the BEF. A reputed story goes that a captured British Officer remarked to his German guards that he thought it was 'dashed unfair to be using an AA gun against his tanks' to which the German Officer replied that he thought it was dashed unfair of the British to be using tanks that only an 88mm AA gun could knock out! Keep them coming Kev! Robin First wooden ship: The Grimsby 12 Gun 'Frigate' by Constructo Second: Bounty DelPrado Part Works Third: HMS Victory DelPrado Part Works 1/100 scale Diorama of the Battle of the Brandywine from the American Revolutionary War Diorama of the Battle of New Falkland (unfinished sci-fi), Great War Centenary Diorama of the Messines Ridge Assault Index for the Victory diary is on page 1
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 Rank: Vice-Master   Groups: Registered
Joined: 13/02/2012 Posts: 651 Points: 1,903 Location: croydon
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Hi Kev . I am so looking forward to your build . Best regards. Mark
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
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tf64 wrote:Hi Kev,
Just picked up your thread, a warm welcome back, you have been a way to long with your builds, I for one enjoy your work, so I am looking forward to seeing Matilda progress. Hope you are now settled and can show us your skills again.
Regards
Trev.
Hello Trev,
So nice to chat with you again mate, I've really missed you guys!!  
Thanks for the vote of confidence my friend and very pleased to receive such compliments from people like you, it means a lot to me. Glad to say things are all settled again and I've plenty of builds to show starting right here, so watch this space.
I've been watching your DeAg Spitfire build while I've been away and she's looking very good mate, a credit to your skills and I know you used to do (or still do?) a bit of R/C flying, so building all those wooden spars and ribs must be right up your street I bet?
Any more progress with your Airfix 1:48 Javelin? What a great kit that is (love those 1950's jets - my dad used to work on them) and you're doing such a fine job on her! I've read nothing but praise in all the reviews for that kit so I really should get one for my stash and maybe build it on here one day? Airfixs' new 1:48 Folland Gnat looks very nice too!?
Thanks for taking the time to look in and comment Trev, it's very kind of you and greatly appreciated.
Kev
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
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D.Bader wrote:Looking forward to this as have a keen interest in tanks etc and have this one in my loft somewhere. Thanks for looking in on my build and making comment D. Bader, (now there was a true British hero?!) very kind of you. You should dig that Matilda kit out and get building, it's a real little gem!!
Kev
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
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Plymouth57 wrote:Hi Kev, Welcome back from me too! I've always liked the look of the old Matilda too and I'm looking forward to watching this one come together! You're right about the 88mm AA guns, apparently they were first used in that role during the Battle for France when the Matildas were keeping the Germans from reaching Dunkirk before the BEF. A reputed story goes that a captured British Officer remarked to his German guards that he thought it was 'dashed unfair to be using an AA gun against his tanks' to which the German Officer replied that he thought it was dashed unfair of the British to be using tanks that only an 88mm AA gun could knock out! Keep them coming Kev! Robin Hello Robin,
Great to hear from you again and many thanks for the welcome back, very kind of you!!
Loved reading your little story about the German Officer, very funny - made me chuckle when I read it! HaHa! I bet the Matilda was a very abrupt reality check and quite a shock for them when they embarked on their 'Blitzkrieg' with their early Panzers and thought themselves unstoppable, eh?! She certainly stopped them dead in their tracks and gave them a cheeky little slap into the bargain for being so arrogant!! HaHa!! Lovely stuff.   
Thanks for looking in my friend, I've loved watching your World War 1 'Messines Ridge' dio develop, simply amazing work, soooo much detail in that build and a real credit to your very great skills - well done to you sir, you are a master modeller and no mistake!!
Kev
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
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mark 2 wrote:Hi Kev . I am so looking forward to your build . Best regards. Mark Hello Mark,
Thanks for looking in and your comment, very kind of you and glad you like it - it's a peach of a kit and should build into an equally good finished model!!
Kev
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Looking forward to this, one of my fave tanks. I wanted to call my first daughter Matilde but the x wife was having none of it  Jase “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
-Mark Twain
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
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 Rank: Super-Elite   Groups: Registered
Joined: 30/01/2013 Posts: 4,604 Points: 13,607 Location: Monmouthshire UK
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Although not entirely relevant to your build but "Matilda" is actually a name of German origin, meaning something to do with being strong and mighty in battle  Steve
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
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Rank: Vice-Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 06/06/2010 Posts: 566 Points: 1,657 Location: UK
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Nice subject to start with. Look forward to seeing this progress.
Wilfy
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Rank: Pro  Groups: Registered
Joined: 15/07/2014 Posts: 204 Points: 578 Location: Alabama, USA
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nice second build choice Kev. can't wait to watch the build. it's builds like these and other model space members that have given me the inspiration to get into modeling. best, Barry Building - DeAgostini HMS Victory, McLaren MP4-23, Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa, Harley Davidson Fat Boy, Lamborghini Countach
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,051 Points: -13,308
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Hello all,
The building work has started in earnest!! Tamiya has a reputation for producing kits that are easy to assemble, with perfectly fitting parts and great detail included as standard – this kit is no exception!! What I have done so far has proved to be a pleasure to put together and it was great fun too even if a little repetitive at times.
I will try to write this build diary in a kind of 'walkthrough' way that is as close to following the instructions in the suggested sequence as I can get, though there are times when, through experience, it is best to leave some stages until later in the build or even bring some forward, just to make the job even easier!?
Stage 1: - The instructions deal with the forward part of the hull and the drivers hatch. Strangely the hatch isn’t needed until Stage 12, so why it is included here I have no idea, but I built it anyway as it was only two small parts to glue together. Check out the lovely cast metal texture that Tamiya have achieved on the front hull in the second photo – gorgeous detail!!The first two photos below show some of the components before and after construction.
Stage 2: – One of those repetitive jobs that goes with the territory in military modelling, which is the laborious task of cleaning up and assembling countless sets of wheels and sprockets!! But, it has to be done, so on with the CD player, get yourself a drink and just get on with it. Before you know it, job’s done!! The next two photos below show a large number of components, before and after construction.
Stage 3: – Back to constructing the hull, this time with the three major parts and a few other fittings inside and out. The ‘table’ like thing at the front is the horizontal part of the drivers’ seat. Photos 5-8 show the components for this stage before and after construction:
Stage 4: – This stage deals with constructing the various bogies and suspension parts. Not quite as many parts to clean up as there was with the wheels, but close. Back on with the CD player and a fresh cup of tea!! Photos 9 and 10 below show the components for this stage before and after construction, including the fitting of the wheels from the previous stage.
Stage 5: – Is a continuation of the wheels and sprockets assembly and deals with the construction of the front ‘jockey’ wheels and their suspension. These are the final parts to be done in the 'wheels and sprockets' part of the build. Photos 11 and 12 below show the components from this stage before and after construction.
Stage 6: – Deals with fitting the completed bogies, jockey wheels and sprockets to the main hull sides but I will be leaving them off for a while just to make it easier to paint them later, though even then, most of all the detail that you’ve seen so far will be hidden behind the side armour plates, but hey, if you can’t do it right then don’t do it at all, as my dad always told me?! The front hull (Stage 1) is also fitted to rest of the hull at this point. Photos 13 and 14 below show the front hull fitted and the work done up until now with the main lower hull and the completed bogies, etc, ready to fit at a later stage.
That’s where we are up to so far in this build diary, a little repetitive at times but still great fun. Next update coming soon.
Please feel free to comment or criticise if you wish?
Kev ModelMania attached the following image(s):
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