Crusader Mk.I
6th RTR

Here's my latest build. It should represent an early Crusader Mk. I, from the time it was first used in combat, in Operation Battleaxe. It is based on a particular tank that belonged to 6th RTR, one of 52 Crusader tanks assigned to the regiment on May 17th, 1941, after arriving with the Tiger convoy, on May 12th (67 Crusader tanks arrived in total). This tank and its crew participated in several battles between the 15th and 17th of June and it is one of the tanks that was captured by the Germans (there were 16 Crusaders left on the battlefield).

It is interesting to see in German reports after the battle. Their evaluation of Crusader Mk. Is, that they first encountered during the battle, was that it was thinly armored and very easy to knock out with a variety of weapons, but it was impossible to chase because it was very fast.

The model is an old Italeri kit, No. 6432, with quite a lot of AM stuff added. 3D printed E.T. model tracks, two Royal Model upgrade kits (one for fenders and the other for the rest of the model detailing), Master BESA machine guns, Eureka XXL tow cables, and a mix of different stowage items from a spare box. There were some scratch building involved as well, like air filters, a version that is very specific for this particular batch, some changes on the fenders, antenna (?) mount on the side of the turret, rack on the back, and maybe few other changes here and there.

It's painted in a Caunter camouflage scheme, based on the Mike Starmer drawings, with a combination of MRP, Vallejo, Gunze and AK Real Color, but mostly MRP. Masking was PITA (I hate masking Caunter camo), but not as close as my previous build (AEC Matador).

Did just some subtle weathering. Chipping and pigments (first sprayed and then additionally rubbed on places).