Armorteks next model

[Richard Sharp]

Having almost finishing my Churchill Mk IV it’s certainly not a simple tank to model, there’re probably no common parts with any of the Allied tank that Armortek have produced, but I guest I wouldn’t have built mine if they weren’t such a good subject.

[Phil Woollard]

How many hours so far Richard? I'm guessing around 1000 plus?

[Stephen White]

I did a quick straw pole by pm in 2017 to judge whether there was a market for Chieftain and got fourteen names without really trying.

Chieftain was in front line service for thirty years in the UK and was bought in large numbers by Oman, Jordan, Iran, Kuwait and Iraq. The Israelis would have bought it had export licences been forthcoming. By the Mark 5XY/Totem Pole mod state, reliability was perfectly acceptable although it would always have been a better tank had the British alone not followed the flawed NATO attraction to multi-fuel engines and adopted a diesel much earlier. Mobility was never lacking and firepower and protection were better than any other tank in its class worldwide.

It's fashionable to see Chieftain as a mechanical lame duck but not amongst those who've actually served on them for any length of time. AMX-30 was a toy, Leopard 1 was fatally lacking in protection, M-60 was too big, its 105mm gun was outclassed and it lacked protection. None of the potential enemy tanks - T-55, T-62 etc were a match for it. The only tank which gave Chieftain any cause for concern was.......Chieftain, in the Middle East.

No matter, would it sell as a model? Well, it's neither German nor WW2, which could be seen as a negative but not for those looking for something different. The FAMO and RR showed that there is a market for a wider choice than the panzers. Would it be impressive as a model? Without any doubt, yes. As Phil said, it looked and sounded fantastic and certainly did have the best gun in the world. Even if the original had been automotively a portmanteau of night-soil, the model would be utterly reliable - it's Armortek after all. For those who enjoy extra detail, there is always the option to fit an extra smoker to replicate the cylinder liners failing. As for colour schemes, more scope there than most other MBT, Berlin urban scheme, BATUS sand and spinach, BAOR green and black, Middle East exotic or naked aluminium.

A Churchill offering has recently surfaced elsewhere, with which an Armortek offering would be in direct competition. Whatever Armortek produce next, it will be outstanding and will sell. Now, back to the Cent, Comet and Tiger in that order.....

Stephen.

[Richard Sharp]

Yes Phil it’s been a few late nights probably three years worth, ultimately being a CNC programmer does have its advantages,
Test runs have gone pretty well and it climb just as well as the real thing. I think the long contact patch and aggressive pattern of the track link give great purchase.

Anyway what would I like to see next I quit like the idea of that Opel truck or may one of the Scammel recovery trucks.

Good tiding to all

Richard

[Brian Ostlind]

Holy cow! That Churchill was scratchbuilt? Amazing. I have to say my favorite British tank is the challenger. I just saw this picture and it took my breath away! It’s so fun to play this game...

[Robert Reid]

Well, I am sure none of these will make the short list... but if 'the exotic' is what people are craving:















I am a particular fan of that giant self-propelled gun. But given Armoretek's more pressing opportunities, maybe in year 2034 it may make the short list.

Then again, if Armortek would make these in 1:1 scale... I would be holding out my credit card so fast that it would make heads spin!





Cheers,

RPR

[andyquirot]

Hi All
I would like to see a SdKfz 303 'Goliath' in 1/6 scale as it may make a nice affordable kit for people like me.
Regards Andy Q

[Stephen White]

Pierce, what a great list of exotica. I’d love to see an M-50, if only for the name given it by the USMC : “Ontos - the thing with a sting”. Another of its Vietnam compatriots which would make a great m9del is the M-42 Duster:

A3774F59-E7CB-40C3-A37E-7913F3440B31.jpeg (329.46 KiB) Viewed 3749 times

Stephen

[Michael Cecil]

"Hopefully one with the British 120mm L11A5. will be on the Armortek books soon."

Or even better, maybe an L7A3??

(I can hear you groaning already, Stephen!!)

Mike

[Stephen White]

Mike, that wouldn't be a sneaky reference to the M68 gun or maybe the Bofors L74? No, I know it isn't, you're actually talking about the Australian choice. It would make for a good model, even if the real thing was short of armour and not a tank with which to face a serious enemy. As someone one quoted in their fine record of the type in Australian service, "Only aircraft out-run Leopard tanks cross-country.... and nothing out-runs APDS". They might have added "or pretty much any weapon above 20mm in calibre". Still, if wars are won by running around at high speed, the Leo 1 was a winner. Over to you Mike.... (in the spirit of festive cheer). Happy Christmas, friend.

Stephen

[Michael Cecil]

Sneaky?! Not ME Stephen! I thought it was a pretty blatant plug for Leopard 1, with my personal preference being the 1A3.

After all, Leopard has some pretty good credentials: used by 14 countries (including a variant by the Brit MOD), 4,744 MBT and 1,628 variants produced, operational deployments viz Bosnia and Afghanistan, lots of variations in paint schemes & markings, and some unusual variants to attract the more serious scratch-build model maker. What's not to like? But I do have some images you would like of what a 120 mm Prac round does to Leopard - not nice, and only reinforces your comments about protection/agility/lethality - neglect any one at the peril of your crew. (But Leopard still looks and sounds great, nevertheless)

And a Merry Christmas to you, too, mate.

Mike

[Pete Nash]

OK, I've had enough of this

I'm going to settle what is goiing to be Armortek's next model, the greatest machine ever made..............................

Thunderbird 2......make up what you want to go in your pod


With that, a Merry Christmas to everybody and may your God be with you for 2019

[dennypatterson]

Pete. I like it!!!!! Denny

[Robert Reid]

Wait a minute... since precedent has been set with the RNAS Armoured car, if we're going to talk about greatness:



If it helps, I have the paint code, courtesy the Special Air Service Land Rover Paint shop.

Everyone have a wonderful Christmas and I wish you all... an Armortek box (or 4) under the tree!

Cheers,

RPR

[Steen Vøler]

My wish for the next model would be a re-run of the StuG 3

It's been on my want list for a loooooong time

Merry Christmas everyone