Challenger A 30 pretty please

[radu]

There is no 1/72 Challenger anywhere to find. Extratech made one at a price around 30+€, but none is available anywhere, and I did search. No armoured reconaissance regiment can go without one Challenger in a troop. Armourfast made a very very good Cromwell, one of their best kits. It will be much easier to offer us a Challenger, by adjusting the hull, lenghtening the track and making the fairly simple turret, than starting a new project from scratch. The advantage is that it would interest not only wargamers, but modellers as well. The strength of Armourfast is in the correct sizing of its products, the weakness is in the bareness. Tanks and other closed AFVs, like the Humber scout car not available in 1/72, are much better suited for Armourfast treatment, than softskins.
I hope to get some feedback here.

[Armourfast-Colin]

Hi Radu,
Given that the hull needs widening, the track lengthening (& IIRC an extra wheel) & then a new turret I think that saying that is "much easier" than starting from scratch is incorrect.

Certainly that's true of the Sherman, Panzer III & IV versions, but they can reuse hull bottoms & tracks in entirety. There's much more work involved in the Challenger

Also, if you don't mind a resin kit, then quite a nice one is available in the Ready to Roll range from Raventhorpe Miniatures

[radu]

Thank you Colin for the reply. I should have specified that the design phase of the Challenger I thought would be easier, by reworking from the design for the Cromwell. As an added bonus, there would be perfect compatibility with the AF Cromwell for the wargamer. I still hope you could consider it.
Thank you for advising on Raventhorpe Ready to Roll. A hard to find brand, but available nonetheless. Unfortunately the models come with a fixed base, and they seem only a bit better than Brittania Miniatures, from which I stay away. In 1/76 there is a good offer of Challengers, but they do not mix well with 1/72 Cromwells.

[Armourfast-Colin]

HI Radu,
Just playing catch up.
I take on board your point regarding the bases for the RTR "kits" - but I base all of my tanks, anyway (to save tracks & wheels breaking off - yes, I started doing that before Armourfast & so now continue "because I've always done it that way ) - so the base "listing up" the Challenge isn't a problem for me.

As to size, my RTR Challengers sit quite happily next to my AF Cromwells - I'm at the wargaming club tomorrow, so I'll try to get a couple of photos & post them here for comparisons.

Cheers
Colin