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REVIEW
Resicast AVRE Mk IV Turret
keenan
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Posted: Friday, March 06, 2009 - 11:28 AM UTC


Alan McNeilly reviews Resicast''s "AVRE Mk IV Turret" conversion set.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
AlanL
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Posted: Saturday, March 07, 2009 - 02:01 AM UTC
Hi Shaun,

Thanks for your work on this one nice layout.

Hi Guys,

There are a few gallery problems so Shaun will load up the rest of the kit pics to complete the review later.

In the mean time a few reference pics:





Graham has some really useful sets coming up so if your interested in Mr Churchill keep an eye out for his new releases. Can't say much more, think watery things and even a new set of wheels.

it could get busy down on the beach this summer

Cheers

Al
AlanL
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Posted: Saturday, March 07, 2009 - 10:42 PM UTC
Hi Shaun, James,

No luck with the pics yet?

Al
AlanL
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Posted: Monday, March 09, 2009 - 06:41 AM UTC
Hi guys,

Well while we wait for the remainder of the kit pics, some more reference pics.







Don't know what the hold up is I've asked both James and Shaun to add the missing kit pictures!

Al

keenan
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Posted: Monday, March 09, 2009 - 11:14 PM UTC
Balance of the pictures of the kit parts are uploaded to the review.
Thank you for your patience.

Shaun
210cav
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Posted: Monday, March 09, 2009 - 11:27 PM UTC
Alan-- very nice rundown on what looks to be an expensive item. I just received word that my AFV Chruchill configured in AVRE mode is en route and I think the entire kit did not cost as much as this turret. I am anxious to see the kit and compare it with your write up.
Thanks
DJ
SEDimmick
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Posted: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 02:48 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Alan-- very nice rundown on what looks to be an expensive item. I just received word that my AFV Chruchill configured in AVRE mode is en route and I think the entire kit did not cost as much as this turret. I am anxious to see the kit and compare it with your write up.
Thanks
DJ



The AFV Club Churchill AVRE is the Mk III which wasn't as common as the Mk IV model that Resicast does
AlanL
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Posted: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 05:02 AM UTC
Hi DJ,

Yes, an AVRE in plastic absolutely brillient lol, lol. and who'd a thought it!!

You can build the AFV AVRE Kit OOB, the turret supplied is the Mk III and was used in Normandy and beyond. The Mk IV is the more common one at least as far as pictures go. I have written off to try and get some idea of numbers of Mk IIIs and Mk IV AVREs that were produced.

This one will convert either the Mk III Gun Tank or the Mk III AVRE to a Mk IV AVRE.

There is something about the size and shape opf this turret that just belongs on a Churchill. I did this one a fair while ago based on the older set for the Tamiya kit:



Scott,

Thanks for the input I thought I was posting to myself for a few days.

Shaun,

Glad you got the pics sorted, thanks.

Al
210cav
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Posted: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 12:04 PM UTC
Alan-- great workmanship on the AVRE. I note that on the majority of Churchill photos and models I viewed, the forward section of the fenders are gone.. Is this due to loss during movement or did they purposely leave them off the vehicle?
thanks
DJ
AlanL
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Posted: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 05:38 PM UTC
Hi DJ,

I've seen both. My understading is that they often took them off because rocks and the like would get caught, jammed underneath, I can imagine the noise as stone after stone scraped down the inside top of the fender.

The new AFV kit fender comes in sections so there will be no problem leaving off parts or all of the fender if you choose which offers modellers a lot more choice. From what I've read the sections are corrrectly made so should be no problem there.

A quick check through you reference pics should give a variety of examples.

Thanks for the comments, enjoy the build.

Al

210cav
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Posted: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 11:21 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi DJ,

I've seen both. My understading is that they often took them off because rocks and the like would get caught, jammed underneath, I can imagine the noise as stone after stone scraped down the inside top of the fender.

The new AFV kit fender comes in sections so there will be no problem leaving off parts or all of the fender if you choose which offers modellers a lot more choice. From what I've read the sections are corrrectly made so should be no problem there.

A quick check through you reference pics should give a variety of examples.

Thanks for the comments, enjoy the build.

Al



Al thanks for the response.
DJ
AlanL
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Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 06:41 PM UTC
Hi Guys,

About 400 plus folks have looked at this one so far. Of those 2 people ticked the thicky box. showing 1 of 2 people found this helpful.

I always wonder what the person who didn't find it helpful, actually didn't find helpful, if you know what I mean? At least if they said one might have an idea if the style or content need to be changed in some way.

Al
jjumbo
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Posted: Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 06:19 PM UTC
Hey Al,
Nice review, I must have missed this one the first time around.
This will make a nice companion piece with AFV Clubs Mk. III AVRE.
I wonder if AFV Club will eventually get around to doing a Mk. IV gun tank in plastic
Cheers

jjumbo
AlanL
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Posted: Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 11:36 PM UTC
Hi John,

Thanks, on AFV well anything is possible, if they develop the kit in the way they did the Centurion then a Mk IV would make sense.

Now they have the basic body, I would expect them to utalise it to the full.

Time will tell. Replicating the Mk IV turret is not an easy job, several other AM manufacturers have tried with varying degrees of success/failure. So far the Resicast Turret is the best example I've seen and the added interior is a plus too.

I'm looking forward to the arrival of the Mk III AVRE and as you say they will compliment each other well. Just a pity more pictures of the Mk III are so had to find.

Cheers

Al
jjumbo
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Posted: Sunday, April 19, 2009 - 12:52 PM UTC
Hey Al,
I'm really looking forward to AFV Club or someone either doing a conversion of the Chuchill NA75.
While most versions of the Churchill look interesting, the NA75 just has that different appeal for me.
It's definitely going to be a grand year for the Allied vehicle modeller.
Cheers

jjumbo
AlanL
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Posted: Sunday, April 19, 2009 - 03:07 PM UTC
Hi John,

If you haven't already come across this have a read on:

http://www.track48.com/articles/research/na75/index.html

really interesting story on the development of the NA 75mm

Al
jjumbo
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Posted: Sunday, April 19, 2009 - 03:18 PM UTC
Hey Al,
Yeah, I had already spotted and bookmarked that article but I had read somwhere else about how the powers that be warned Morrell that if he "F***ed up" a perfectly good Churchill with his experiment, any advancement ot his military career was at an end.
Like many from WWII, it's an interesting story of a need being the mother of invention.
What's truly amazing is that many of these tanks were still around and mustered out after the war ended.
It may have been antiquated and almost obsolete when first built but the Churchill proved it's worth !!!
Cheers

jjumbo
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