Arbelest - Crusader SP 17 Pounder

[Buzzbomb]

Remember the Crusader with the 5.5 inch ?
I got that out.. then decided to trash that idea. A few minutes contemplation then decided to go more '46 weapons.
Back story synopsis.
With the surprise Soviet attack on Western Europe in July 1945 there was an acute need for more anti Tank weapons. Of course the 17 pounder was one of the best in the inventory so an expedient SP mount was developed using obsolete Crusader Chassis. Taking the que from the Soviet and German Tank Killers like the Su-85 and Jagdpanther a box like superstructure was quickly developed to mount the 17 Pounder. These severely taxed the chassis and most of the Crusaders speed and agility was compromised, but still the Arbelest as it came to be called was a terrific stop gap until more Centurions and Comets came on line.






The gun is "on loan" from an Academy Achilles. I know this has been done before but it just had to happen.
It was either this or an early British Anti Tank Guided Weapon carrier, perhaps using the R-7 Missiles, but decided to go the more practical Stop gap measure of the SP 17 Pounder.

[ChernayaAkula]

Looks just "right"!  :)

[raafif]

looks like what they'd do ... inevitably a bit Su-100-ish ..... can you do something to make it look a bit outrageous ?

[Rickshaw]

Needs a square mantlet, I think.  The "Pigs Head" mantlet looks too German to me.

[GTX_Admin]

Needs a square mantlet, I think.  The "Pigs Head" mantlet looks too German to me.

Ah but remember that if this is after July 1945, then the Germans would be on the Western Allies side presumably...

[Buzzbomb]

Needs a square mantlet, I think.  The "Pigs Head" mantlet looks too German to me.

Ah but remember that if this is after July 1945, then the Germans would be on the Western Allies side presumably...

Pretty much what he said. The thoughts I had were that the Brits had the opportunitity to take what was available and access to some Stug wrecks may have made Pigs Head Mantlets readily available.
Besides.. I had one of the pigs heads and would have had to build a square version :) :)

Laziness wins yet again.

Still, probably still may be able to doctor it a bit, perhaps a round flange, something like on the Tortoise perhaps to un Germanify it a bit.

[Feldmarschall Zod]

Great looking SP. I envy people like you who can scratchbuild. :) I can see the gun matlet you added being used. It is a smaller target. This ties in with a book series I am reading. Operation Red Gambit.

[Buzzbomb]

This ties in with a book series I am reading. Operation Red Gambit.

Read that series (so far) and it is prime inspiration for most of my current crop of '46 builds. Some great concepts in those books and a good story. Could be time for a Japanese Panther next perhaps.

Thanks for the kind words folks.

Tagging this as pretty much done





Nothing really special, a quick build and whip some paint and weathering on.

Cheers
Brian

[uncle les]

Nice one Brian - I'll let my BAOR friend aware of this one...      :)

[GTX_Admin]

 :)