BRITISH INFANTRY TANK MATILDA MK.III/IV TAMIYA 1/35

It is a Matilda tank built from March through July 2013.

This time, I choose MM300, Matilda which was released many years ago. Now the latest MM series number is 328. Among tank model fans in Japan, It’s strong attention what was the No.300 kit. Seemingly, former Tamiya Matilda is somewhat broader than a real vehicle from the chassis of the motor inclusion model.

I found the photos of Matilda previous work around 1998.
(10-March-2013)

The old Matilda kit has thinned in a fender and side armor. I had too strong tension of rubber caterpillar and the roller broke from the root. You can see the left caterpillar is shifted a little.
(10-March-2013)

Figure is shining… I should have airbrushed in mat clear. This time, I had the headset of Hornet, I intend to use this set for more detail.
(10-March-2013)

This camouflage painting is not bad, I remember that cutting and attaching the masking tape for paint is not the usual tank model working and difficult. It’s 15 years ago.
(10-March-2013)

There are small wheels and took assemble time.

These parts are almost covered after a side skirt is attached. So working without applying time and effort too much.

Trying to attach the rubber caterpillar. It seems no problem. There’s no slack, although the upper part is a form of not looking heavy caterpillar, but it’s not visible part. We can choose plastic parts and rubber parts according to your taste.

I choose the plastic part for easily adherence of paint.

Carefully looking, there are many injection marks on the caterpillar. It’s better to delete them before paint, only front and rear visible parts.
(12-March-2013)

I suppose the muffler and a piping are the most difficult parts of this assembly. There is a possibility of mistaking to adjust the parts on either side, unless read the instruction manual carefully in advance. To tell the truth, I mistook them.

Since I cannot see the inside of side armor after this process, I kept one shot.    Only the area which is visible through a driver’s seat, I airbrushed the inside in matt white.

Assembly completed. There are many parts, especially on the turret, it effects good precision feeling. Truly, it’s easy to assemble as usual Tamiya quality, I think this kit can be called a masterpiece.

The photo from back. The smoke guns’ detail is quite good.

A gun turret should be moved up and down but couldn’t. Adhesives were poured too much accidentally and it has fixed. Although I wanted the gun angle a slight degree parallel on the ground. I couldn’t adjust it since it pastes up quite firmly and there was fear of breakage. Maybe I can say the angle means “highly motivating for battles” hummmm……
(17-March-2013)

I thought to replace original heads to resin heads, but the expression of the attached figures were excellent, I decided to use them. They have very good expression.

Probably, only the head of this driver is visible after all, totally good detail, especially the mark of a beret.

I attached additionally the infantry soldier with the binoculars which were not made when I made a 2-pound anti-tank gun. This Vulcan kit figure is good, but the binoculars are not good molded. I thought it from other kit, but there are few excessive parts of binoculars. There are lots of extra parts of helmet, guns, knives and bags. I used the Vulcan kit included binoculars after all. Using a drill to detail up the lens pars.
(19-March-2013)

Blowing the first coat in mixed tire black and mahogany.

Preparing for next masking step. I decided to paint the first color light blue, it’s the highest brightness and easy to recover.

Finished the first color.

Roughly I completed the 3 color camouflage. 3rd color is mahogany. Straight line camouflage and masking is hard working.

Same as the upper shot with the color bottles.

Finished the second color sandy brown. Becoming Matilda like looking.
(02-May-2013)

I’ve been busy for business for a while, but I have a time for modelling this weekend. I pasted some of the decals and completed basic paint.
(15-July-2013)

Tank crew and infantry’s basic painting was completed.
(15-July-2013)

Now, Matilda which has been making since the beginning of March was completed. It took a lot of time since there are four soldiers.

The real vehicle was active in the North Africa front line from 1941 to 1942. Although speed was slow, robustness, such as maximum 75mm of the front armoring, were the features, the German army was afflicted. It’s a famous battle with the 88mm German Anti-aircraft gun at Halfaya Pass.

Matilda has monotonous images with the both side armor, not really flat because of many bolts etc.

I intended to drew mud and rust moderately on the rear side.

Shot from the rear.

It’s a commemorative photo before storing a driver in a cockpit. He has blond hair. It seems that he said “Hmmm… It’s too hot and cannot bear.”

Although we can see only driver’s head but the atmosphere changed very well.

I set up a commander here, he has a blond hair, too. I drew pupil with blue.

Loader is narrowing eyes, I only drew a dark line traced on the eyelid. In case we see it zoom up and it’s not quite satisfactory, but a lower photo, Distance lends enchantment to the view (faces).

Commemorative photo like the box art. Figure posing is excellent.

I suppose the British Army infantry soldier molding differs from the Matilda kit figure. Maybe a molder’s style affect some changes. The nature of the wrinkles of uniform, Tamiya’s better, I think.

Shot from back. Light blue blended camouflage is beautiful, although the vehicle itself is soiled thoroughly.

Since the transparent part was not contained in the kit, the light beside a hatch was made by myself. Feeling smart touch, when the transparent part shines.

Washing effect made irregular expression on the surface. But I need more detailed work, It’s a little rough.

On some place, I made chipping and real rust looking. I could control decal’s shinning with flat base blended color.

This marking is the 32nd Army Tank Brigade, Libya, 1941.

It seems that the Matilda tank is well popular, I think the reason is massive feeling and strong even if its size is compact. I love Matilda. Tamiya’s this kit is precise and easy to assemble, wonderful. The only infantry soldier is looking into the camera and smiling….
(20-July-2013)