Valentine II -- 46 Royal Tank Regiment, Tunisia March 1943

Here is the AFV Club Valentine IV (Russian) built as a Valentine II of 46 RTR. The Valentine II and IV were identical, the differences being the engine and transmission. I was inspired by a photo of a Valentine, possibly of 46 RTR / 23rd Tank Brigade in Gabes, Tunisia in March 1943. The kit matched the photo pretty well, as it didn't have the full sandshield arrangement that Valentines usually sported. It was also very dirty, battered and covered in stowage, which I liked.

 

I scratch built the Bren magazine box on the turret, and added individual link tracks from a Miniart Valentine I. The AFV club vinyl track weren't quite good enough, but they will be OK when hidden under the sandshields of the Miniart kit.  Stowage is from Value Gear, Resicast, Accurate Armour and the spares box.  The commander figure is by Miniart.

 

I'd like to thank Dick Taylor for his help and advice in this project. Dick, who authored the seminal work on the Valentine "Into the Vally" kindly offered up his view on the unit and colour scheme of the tank - I don't think anyone else is better placed to hazard an opinion, so thanks Dick.

 

 

Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf J

Here is the older DML Pz IV Ausf J, with some Aber etched brass details, and Thoma Schurzen made from Reality in Scale fine mesh. This replaced the awful plastic mesh in the kit which is totally useless. I painted it in three-colour camouflage with the "big dot" ambush scheme. The figure is a mish mash of parts with a Hornet head.