Getting Stuck In with the Churchill 3
Alright, so I finally got around to tackling that Churchill 3 kit that’s been sitting on my shelf. Been meaning to get to it for ages, just one of those things you keep putting off, you know? Anyway, last weekend I decided, right, let’s do this.
First thing I did was lay everything out. Opened the box, took out all the plastic sprues – those frames holding the parts. Always feels a bit overwhelming at first, seeing all those tiny pieces. I grabbed my usual tools:
- My trusty side cutters
- A sharp hobby knife
- Some plastic cement
- Sandpaper and files (different grits)
I always like to give the main parts a quick wash in soapy water first. Gets rid of any greasy stuff from the factory, helps the glue and paint stick later. Just swished them around, rinsed, and let them air dry while I had a cuppa.
The Build Itself
Okay, parts dry, time to actually stick things together. I usually start with the big bits, makes me feel like I’m making progress. So, the main hull came first. The instructions were… well, they were okay. Mostly pictures. Had to squint a bit sometimes. Glued the main hull sides, bottom, and top together. Needed a bit of clamping here and there while the glue set, just used some rubber bands and clothes pegs. Worked a treat.
Next up was the suspension and the wheels. Oh boy, so many wheels. That’s typical for these tank models. Clipped them all off the sprue, cleaned up the little connection points with the knife and sandpaper. Took a while, gotta be honest. Glued all the suspension arms on, then attached the wheels. Had to be careful to get them all lined up properly, otherwise, the tracks wouldn’t sit right later.
Speaking of tracks, these were the link-and-length type. Some long straight sections, some individual links to go around the sprockets and idler wheels. Bit fiddly. Glued the straight bits first, then started wrapping the individual links around the curves. Used liquid cement for this, gives you a bit more working time. Let that whole assembly harden up properly before even thinking about moving it.
Then I moved onto the turret. That was more straightforward. Glued the main turret halves together, attached the gun barrel. Made sure the gun could still move up and down – always like that little bit of movement. Added the hatches and other little bits and bobs that go on the turret.
Finally, it was time for all the fiddly details on the main hull. Headlights, tow hooks, spare track links, tools… all those tiny pieces that really bring it to life but also test your patience! Tweezers were essential here. Dropped a few parts, swore a bit, found them again. You know how it goes.
Finishing Touches (Sort Of)
I haven’t painted it yet. That’s a whole other job for another weekend. For now, it’s fully assembled. Looks like a proper tank, which is the main thing. Seeing it all come together from those flat sheets of plastic is pretty satisfying.
Overall, it wasn’t too bad. Some parts were a bit tricky, especially getting those tracks lined up, but nothing impossible. Just needed a bit of patience. Quite pleased with how the basic build turned out. Now I just need to decide on a paint scheme…
