Australian Matilda Bunker Buster - Done !

[buzzbomb]

Australians used the Matilda a lot during the Pacific theater, even developing the Frog flame thrower. They were used a lot to winkle out bunker positions.
So my thoughts were, what if as we got closer to the Japanese Homeland, the bunkers became more elaborate and existing methods proved harder to bust the bunkers.
The Petard on the Churchill AVRE proved very successful during the European campaign post D-Day, so why not source a few of those and fit into the existing Matilda's, thereby not introducing a new type, just modifying existing vehicles.

I ended up getting a new mould Tamiya Matilda and it is terrific. Easy to build and very accurate. I got the desert version.
Mr Hindsight jumped in later to shout, very loudly, that I should have got the Russian version release as that had the more correct tracks for Australian use, being the heavy tracks.

So here is where we are at, out of the box except for the obvious Petard Mortar fitting ex AFV Club Churchill


Still working a way to load the Mortar as the room at the front does not have the room a Churchill does for the manual loading method. I am loathe to have the driver do it, so I am thinking a hatch may appear next to the driver somewhere maybe at the 1 o'clock or 11 O'clock position, that the loader has to worm up to to load a round into a semi mechanical rammer mechanism.

This will be in a holding pattern for a while until some stuff arrives from Firestorm, such as the Australian Matilda Mods (heavy front Mudguards, turret splash fitting etc) and some appropriate decals. And of course.. the Bronco heavy track set that Mr Hindsight is still sitting on my shoulder being smarmy about. 

[zenrat]

 

[NARSES2]

Really neat idea, looking forward to it

[Old Wombat]

I like where you're taking this, BT, but there isn't much room around the driver in a Matilda, so not sure where a loader would fit into this space.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVxBFzC6SYQ

[PR19_Kit]

I like where you're taking this, BT, but there isn't much room around the driver in a Matilda, so not sure where a loader would fit into this space.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVxBFzC6SYQ

Tank crews must have been MUCH smaller then! 

[ChernayaAkula]

This looks really cool! 

The big barrel gives it a vaguely Warhammer-ish look. Please consider adding a pointing commander wielding a katana. 

[chrisonord]

I like where you're taking this, BT, but there isn't much room around the driver in a Matilda, so not sure where a loader would fit into this space.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVxBFzC6SYQ

Tank crews must have been MUCH smaller then! 

Second  battalion  of the 3rd armoured  oompa loompa regiment . They differed from their civilian counterparts  in that they were khaki  skinned  and not orange, and had hinged  ear lobes to protect their hearing.
Chris

[rickshaw]

I like where you're taking this, BT, but there isn't much room around the driver in a Matilda, so not sure where a loader would fit into this space.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVxBFzC6SYQ

Tank crews must have been MUCH smaller then! 

Everybody was.  Which is one of the arguments against the Chieftain and his series of videos.  He's six feet 3 inches tall.  He'd be a giant amongst most WWII tankers.

[NARSES2]

I like where you're taking this, BT, but there isn't much room around the driver in a Matilda, so not sure where a loader would fit into this space.

If you turned the turret to face the rear would there be enough room between the interior and the engine to fit a loading hatch ? Might be safer for the loader as well.

[zenrat]

I have a friend who's father is/was (long time since we've spoken) 6'6".
Obviously when he joined the Navy they put him in Submarines...

[PR19_Kit]

I have a friend who's father is/was (long time since we've spoken) 6'6".
Obviously when he joined the Navy they put him in Submarines...

He must have bunked INSIDE a torpedo tube!

[rickshaw]

I have a friend who's father is/was (long time since we've spoken) 6'6".
Obviously when he joined the Navy they put him in Submarines...

Hopefully he didn't draw the short straw and end up in the bunk outside the mess.  It was only 4 feet six inches long on the O class boats!   

[NARSES2]

Dad was 6' and reckoned he never found a way to sleep comfortably in his hammock for the 6 and a bit years he spent in the Navy in WWII.

[zenrat]

I have a friend who's father is/was (long time since we've spoken) 6'6".
Obviously when he joined the Navy they put him in Submarines...

Hopefully he didn't draw the short straw and end up in the bunk outside the mess.  It was only 4 feet six inches long on the O class boats!   

Royal Navy. He was on HMS Andrew when they were filming On the Beach.

[buzzbomb]

So... where was I ?
Oh yes waiting for stuff.
I got the Bronco heavy tracks and was looking at some pictures of Australian Matilda's for track direction and noticed some anomalies to the Tamiya Matilida I was building
The Australian versions, were the later build, with the Heavy Tracks, but more importantly, Hinges on the track guards and the solid pannier covers


So now Mr AMS kicked in, much wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth led to my head near exploding and I bought the Russian release, which has all these features.
Mr Hindsight was by now ROTFL


I mentioned it is a great kit, had it together again in short order. Tamiya just make stuff that works and fits.


Then test fitted the Firestorm Australian Matilda mods. Next will be a couple of small changes around loading the petard then promptly to the paintshop.
Or Not.