Claymore's AH AFVs: Take 2

[Buzzbomb]

I like how this is progressing. The shape is workmanlike and practical against the backstory, so bravo.

This has got me thinking about the Cromwell and what would have happened if development of the 6 Pounder had been followed through further. It is documented that the 6 Pdr could out penetrate the 75mm against armout, the lack of viable HE shell holding it back.
Slightly different turret shape, longer 6 Pounder.. hmmm.. do I have a Cromwell still in the stash ?

[Claymore]

Go for it! 

[Claymore]

Cruiser Tank Vigilante Update:

A milestone reached in that the hull is pretty much complete - stand fast the spare track links and jerry cans which still need their strapping and the track guard/fender ends which I have left off while fettling the tracks. Anyhoo, Colonel Hamish McDougal of the General Staff has given it the once over and has given his nod of approval to advance the project to the next stage - the turret. Gawd help us all!

[Frank3k]

It looks great! I have a "Colonel Hamish McDougal" as well, although I haven't painted him. The beefy hull looks like it can handle a large gun and turret. It would also look good as a shoot and scoot recon tank with a smaller gun.

[Claymore]

It looks great! I have a "Colonel Hamish McDougal" as well, although I haven't painted him. The beefy hull looks like it can handle a large gun and turret. It would also look good as a shoot and scoot recon tank with a smaller gun.

Thanks Frank.  I hope to build the turret so that I can mount both the QF 6pdr Mk V and QF 75mm - but obviously not at the same time! 

[Old Wombat]

Cruisin'! 

[Claymore]

 

[apophenia]

The hull looks great! And, as Frank alluded, is so low-slung that it could be a recce tank 

As for future difficulties with turret construction, does Colonel McDougal look like he harbours any doubts? 

[Claymore]

The hull looks great! And, as Frank alluded, is so low-slung that it could be a recce tank 

As for future difficulties with turret construction, does Colonel McDougal look like he harbours any doubts? 

Thanks mate, much appreciated. 

As per my initial backstory, the Vigilante will indeed be primarily a recce vehicle and, as such, be the de facto predecessor to the Cromwell in that role.

The Colonel is happy enough and continues to whisper words of encouragement into my ear.  Unfortunately, the turret of my line drawings, like certain parts of the hull, suffers from certain 2D representational issues of the 3D object it is portraying - a line here and there that just can’t be in true 3D.  I’m working through them but the turret is a complex shape and sometimes my head hurts! 

[Claymore]

Cruiser Tank Vigilante Update:

So, I think that is the build element of this project complete.

As I expected, the turret design ended up being a bit of a nightmare. My original plan was to 'construct' it myself using my Tinkercad (computer aided design for 8-year olds) program but I quickly realised that the basic shape was far more complex than I could realistically generate. So on to Plan B - same design program but starting off with an imported Valentine turret using a Cults3D stl file. This gave me a good starting point but was still far from the desired shape. Unfortunately, Tinkercad (being such and elementary program) isn't particularly elegant when it comes to cutting and pasting shapes and I needed to make a lot of changes. To cut a long story short, I quickly found the extreme edge of Tinkercad's capability where it just will not allow any more changes without crashing. Fortunately, I was almost there and that which was left to do could be made and printed as separate pieces. The end result, is pretty much what I had in mind at the start.

Primer coat next...

Vigilante Mk IIIA (QF 75mm)








Vigilante Mk IIIB (QF 6pdr Mk V)

[Jeffry Fontaine]

At first glance I thought I was looking at a Sherman turret on your hull but then realized it was in fact a completely different design though similar shape albeit a bit smaller.  Nicely done! 

[apophenia]

At first glance I thought I was looking at a Sherman turret on your hull but then realized it was in fact a completely different design though similar shape albeit a bit smaller.  Nicely done!

Nicely done, indeed! That turret does have a bit of a Sherman Firefly feel about it. Looking forward to primer 

[Claymore]

Thanks chaps. 

It must be a trick of the light or something - hopefully, a coat of primer will highlight the turret’s very un-Sherman-like credentials… 

[Old Wombat]

Another disappointment, turret sans scratch-bashing. 


Nah, she's looking great, mate! 

I, too, saw a touch of Sherman at first glance, but a closer look revealed the Valentine heritage. Well done! 

[Buzzbomb]

well I think it is great.

My first impression was the Valiant tank (WW2 Version). The lines and structure of the final build here though leaves the Valiant behind.

Great work... now looking of the paint work to give the final bit of Mo twirling goodness. 

[Claymore]

Thanks chaps.

In designing the Vigilante, it was important that I tried to keep the Vickers-Armstrongs Valentine heritage alive whilst completely changing their iconic infantry tank into an effective cruiser.  With the suspension changing completely, the instantly recognisable engine deck was a must for keeping as was the general shape of the Valentine’s straight sided turret.  Of course, the Vigilante’s turret, with its QF 75mm/QF 6pdr Mk V and 3-man gun crew, needed to be much larger. 

As a final plug for CAD and 3D printers, I openly admit that this build would never have happened had I not been able to design the shapes I needed (albeit within the frustrating, edge of my pants limitations of Tinkercad) and print the results.  My whiffing world has become a much larger place!