In Box Review of Tamiya 1/35th Scale
Churchill "Crocodile" or Churchill Mk. VII with trailer
Series no. 100, Kit no. MM200-1500
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $37.99 at Sprue Bros. in the 1994 re-released box.
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $37.99 at Sprue Bros. in the 1994 re-released box.
HISTORY:
The Tank, Infantry, Mk IV (A22) Churchill was a British heavy infantry tank used in the Second World War, best known for its heavy armour, large longitudinal chassis with all-around tracks with multiple bogies, its ability to climb steep slopes, and its use as the basis of many specialist vehicles. It was one of the heaviest Allied tanks of the war.
The origins of the design lay in the expectation that war in Europe might be fought under similar conditions to those of the First World War, and emphasized the ability to cross difficult ground. The Churchill was rushed into production to build up British defences against a possible German invasion. The first vehicles had flaws that had to be overcome before the Churchill was accepted for wide use. After several Marks had been built, a better armoured version, the Mark VII, entered service.
The Churchill was used by British and Commonwealth forces in North Africa, Italy and North-West Europe. In addition, a few hundred were supplied to the USSR and used on the Eastern Front
The Churchill Crocodile was a Churchill VII which was converted by replacing the hull machine gun with a flamethrower. The fuel was in an armoured wheeled trailer towed behind. It could fire several 1 second bursts over 150 yards. The Crocodile was one of " Hobart's Funnies" – another vehicle used by the 79th Armoured Division. A working example can still be seen at the Cobbaton Combat Collection in North Devon.
The Tank, Infantry, Mk IV (A22) Churchill was a British heavy infantry tank used in the Second World War, best known for its heavy armour, large longitudinal chassis with all-around tracks with multiple bogies, its ability to climb steep slopes, and its use as the basis of many specialist vehicles. It was one of the heaviest Allied tanks of the war.
The origins of the design lay in the expectation that war in Europe might be fought under similar conditions to those of the First World War, and emphasized the ability to cross difficult ground. The Churchill was rushed into production to build up British defences against a possible German invasion. The first vehicles had flaws that had to be overcome before the Churchill was accepted for wide use. After several Marks had been built, a better armoured version, the Mark VII, entered service.
The Churchill was used by British and Commonwealth forces in North Africa, Italy and North-West Europe. In addition, a few hundred were supplied to the USSR and used on the Eastern Front
The Churchill Crocodile was a Churchill VII which was converted by replacing the hull machine gun with a flamethrower. The fuel was in an armoured wheeled trailer towed behind. It could fire several 1 second bursts over 150 yards. The Crocodile was one of " Hobart's Funnies" – another vehicle used by the 79th Armoured Division. A working example can still be seen at the Cobbaton Combat Collection in North Devon.
THE KIT:
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes shrink-wrapped in a tray and lid type box.
The box art is one of Tamiya's signature one with the kit subject posed against an all-white background.
It shows a Churchill Crocodile with trailer in overall OD it has a red triangle on the left front fender and a inverted triangle on the right front fender that is yellow with a black center with a white steer's head on it. On the side of its hull is the white word BANNER.
The trailer is overall OD also with no marking shown on it. One corner of the box art shows a side view of the Crocodile and trailer.
One side panel has a 2-view in color of a Churchill Mk. VII in a heavy coat of winter white-wash. It has the white word BRITON on the sides over a white serial no. T251625. Low on the bow of it is a black no, 40 on the left and a white 157 with a line under it. This is followed by a paragraph in Japanese that may be the history of the tank?? Next is color illustrations of 2 crew figures and mention of Tamiya being in Shizuoka City, Japan.
The other side panel has a color side profile of a Crocodile in the box art scheme, followed by another paragraph in Japanese and a color illustration of a rear view of the trailer.
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes shrink-wrapped in a tray and lid type box.
The box art is one of Tamiya's signature one with the kit subject posed against an all-white background.
It shows a Churchill Crocodile with trailer in overall OD it has a red triangle on the left front fender and a inverted triangle on the right front fender that is yellow with a black center with a white steer's head on it. On the side of its hull is the white word BANNER.
The trailer is overall OD also with no marking shown on it. One corner of the box art shows a side view of the Crocodile and trailer.
One side panel has a 2-view in color of a Churchill Mk. VII in a heavy coat of winter white-wash. It has the white word BRITON on the sides over a white serial no. T251625. Low on the bow of it is a black no, 40 on the left and a white 157 with a line under it. This is followed by a paragraph in Japanese that may be the history of the tank?? Next is color illustrations of 2 crew figures and mention of Tamiya being in Shizuoka City, Japan.
The other side panel has a color side profile of a Crocodile in the box art scheme, followed by another paragraph in Japanese and a color illustration of a rear view of the trailer.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 5 dark green trees, a loose dark green hull tub and hull roof part, black vinyl tracks, the decal sheet and 2 instructions.
The first instructions is a single sheet that accordion folds out into 8 pages in 7 1/4" x 10 1/4" page format.
The whole thing is in Japanese only...sigh.
Page 1 shows a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme, followed by a lot of Japanese text, which I assume is the history.
Page 2 through 5 give a grand total of 9 assembly steps for the tank.
Page 6 has a 5 view of the Churchill VII in the winter white-wash scheme.
Page 7 has a 3-view of the box art scheme "Banner", a side view of "Briton" and a 3 view of a Churchill VII with a shield with a cross on it on the left front side of the turret, a yellow circle with a black no. 40 on it on the left side of the bow and a white 157 which is underlined on the right of the bow. It has white stars on top of the fenders at the front. The rear of the turret has a no, 2 on it and the rear of the hull has the white 157 in the center and the shield with the cross on it to the right of the number.
Page 8 is the parts trees illustrations.
The second instructions is for the fuel trailer. It is all in Japanese only also. It is a single sheet printed on both sides in 10" x 7 1/4" page format.
The face side shows a cutaway showing the fuel lines running through the Churchill. The first 3 assembly steps are shown also.
The reverse side of the sheet continues with a grand total of 5 assembly steps. Around these step drawings, letter L are 2 illustrations of the trailer as a front and rear view, a illustration of the Crocodile and trailer from above and a black and white photo of the Crocodile and figures made up in the box art scheme.
Too bad both these instructions are in Japanese only.
Dark green letter A parts tree holds: drive sprockets, road wheels, idler wheels, jerry cans, shovels etc. (67 parts)
This kit contains 5 dark green trees, a loose dark green hull tub and hull roof part, black vinyl tracks, the decal sheet and 2 instructions.
The first instructions is a single sheet that accordion folds out into 8 pages in 7 1/4" x 10 1/4" page format.
The whole thing is in Japanese only...sigh.
Page 1 shows a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme, followed by a lot of Japanese text, which I assume is the history.
Page 2 through 5 give a grand total of 9 assembly steps for the tank.
Page 6 has a 5 view of the Churchill VII in the winter white-wash scheme.
Page 7 has a 3-view of the box art scheme "Banner", a side view of "Briton" and a 3 view of a Churchill VII with a shield with a cross on it on the left front side of the turret, a yellow circle with a black no. 40 on it on the left side of the bow and a white 157 which is underlined on the right of the bow. It has white stars on top of the fenders at the front. The rear of the turret has a no, 2 on it and the rear of the hull has the white 157 in the center and the shield with the cross on it to the right of the number.
Page 8 is the parts trees illustrations.
The second instructions is for the fuel trailer. It is all in Japanese only also. It is a single sheet printed on both sides in 10" x 7 1/4" page format.
The face side shows a cutaway showing the fuel lines running through the Churchill. The first 3 assembly steps are shown also.
The reverse side of the sheet continues with a grand total of 5 assembly steps. Around these step drawings, letter L are 2 illustrations of the trailer as a front and rear view, a illustration of the Crocodile and trailer from above and a black and white photo of the Crocodile and figures made up in the box art scheme.
Too bad both these instructions are in Japanese only.
Dark green letter A parts tree holds: drive sprockets, road wheels, idler wheels, jerry cans, shovels etc. (67 parts)
Dark green letter B parts tree holds: tow cables, tools and various panels (34 parts)
Dark green letter C parts tree holds: the hull sides, mantle, hatch doors, machine gun, etc. (35 parts)
Dark green letter D parts tree holds: crew figures, main gun barrel, turret roof and sides, rifle, binoculars, rolled tarps, shovel, canteen etc. (27 parts)
Dark green letter E parts tree holds the trailer parts (65 parts)
Next are the individual dark green hull tub and hull roof parts.
There are 2 black vinyl runs of the tracks. These are the old type that need to be heat welded or glued into loops. Not the newer glueable type.
The four poly caps for the idler and drive sprocket.
The decal sheet completes the kits contents.
The decal sheet completes the kits contents.
Parts trees are in 4 sealed cello bags.
This is a neat 2 in 1 kit, that can be built as a straight Mk.VII or the Crocodile version with the flame gun and trailer.
I bought my kit at my local hobby shop back in the 70's.
This is a neat 2 in 1 kit, that can be built as a straight Mk.VII or the Crocodile version with the flame gun and trailer.
I bought my kit at my local hobby shop back in the 70's.
Highly recommended.